ATP-3-09-30 Observed Fires Download
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Special Munitions 28 September 2017 ATP 3-09.30 6-17 RANGE AND DEVIATION 6-67. Adjust range and deviation for illumination missions by using standard observed fire procedures. The adjustment of the illumination to within 200 meters of the target location is considered adequate because of the size of the area illuminated by the flare. Range and deviation correction of less than 200 meters should not be made. POSITION OF FLARE 6-68. The best position of a flare in relation to the area to be illuminated depends on terrain and wind. Generally, place the flare to one flank of the target area and at about the same range. In a strong wind, the point of burst must be some distance upwind from the area to be illuminated, because the flare will drift. If the target area is on a forward slope, the flare should be on a flank, at a slightly shorter range. For illuminating a very prominent object, visibility is better if the flare is placed beyond the object so the object is silhouetted. HEIGHT OF BURST 6-69. The proper height of burst (HOB) allows the flare to strike the ground just as it stops burning. Make any HOB corrections in multiples of 50 meters. Variations in time of burning between individual flares make any finer adjustment of the HOB impractical. Note. When using a night observation device, the observer should ensure that the flare burns out appreciably (100 mils) above the adjusting point so as not to cause the device to wash out. 6-70. When burnout occurs during descent, estimate the HOB correction from the height of the flare when it burned out. When visibility permits, measure the spotting (height of the burnout above the ground) with binoculars. Multiply the HOB spotting (in mils) by the observer-target factor to determine the height of burnout (in meters). Express the HOB correction to the nearest 50 meters and send as a DOWN correction. Example The flare burns out 20 mils above the ground. The observer-target factor is 3 mils; 20x3=60 meters ≈ 50 meters. The correction is DOWN 50. 6-71. When the flare continues to burn after it strikes the ground, a correction is required to raise the HOB. The length of time, in seconds, that the flare burns on the ground is counted and multiplied by the rate of descent (see Table 6-14). Express the product to the nearest 50 meters and send as an UP correction. Example The flare burned 23 seconds on the ground; 23x5 (rate of descent for M845A2) = 115 meters. The correction is UP 100 (expressed to the nearest 50 meters). COORDINATED AND CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION 6-72. When the observer has located a target suitable for HE or other fire, initiates a call for fire in the normal manner. If no better means of designating the location of the target is possible, use the burst center of the illumination as a reference point. 6-73. If the observer decides to adjust the illuminating fire and the HE fire concurrently, the observer prefaces corrections pertaining to illumination with the word ILLUMINATION and those pertaining to HE with the letters HE; for example, ILLUMINATION, ADD 200; HE, RIGHT 60, ADD 200.