ATP-3-09-30 Observed Fires Download
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Special Munitions 28 September 2017 ATP 3-09.30 6-19 Example The observer hears a number of armor vehicles at an azimuth estimated at 5800, but cannot detect any lights and the entire area is in complete darkness. Judging from the sounds and a study of the map, the observer estimates the source of the noises to be approximately, grid NB616376. This location is about 2,000 meters from the observation post. The observer sends the following call for fire to a 155-mm battery using M485A2. P53 THIS IS P67, ADJUST FIRE, OVER. GRID NB616376 ALTITUDE 105, OVER. VEHICLE NOISES, SUSPECTED TANKS, ILLUMINATION, OVER. The first illuminating round bursts about 100 mils left of the suspected area and burns out 40 mils too high (measured with binoculars) (see figure 6-10). Using an observer-target factor of 2, the observer transmits the following: DIRECTION 5800, RIGHT 200, DOWN 100, OVER. (Deviation = 100 mils X 2 = 200 meters. HOB = 40 mils X 2 = 80 meters ≈ 100 meters.) The second round bursts short near the observer-target line but is too low. It burns 6 seconds on the ground. The observer requests ADD 400, UP 50, OVER (6 X 5 = 30 ≈ 50). The third round bursts at the appropriate height over the suspected area. The observer identifies the target, waits until the target is best illuminated, and then transmits ILLUMINATION MARK, OVER. The observer then proceeds into the coordinated illumination phase of the mission. COORDINATED ILLUMINATION, OVER. The next transmission after the observer calculates the enemy location is ADJUST FIRE, GRID NB621382, ALTITUDE 195, OVER. 2 TANKS AND A PLATOON OF INFANTRY, ICM IN EFFECT, OVER. The observer may also have sent the target location by polar plot (ADJUST FIRE, POLAR, OVER) or by shifting from the center of the illumination (ADJUST FIRE, SHIFT, ILLUMINATION, OVER). For any illuminating round that in the observer's judgment provides maximum or enough illumination for the mission, the observer may transmit ILLUMINATION MARK. A separate marking round is a waste of ammunition. Figure 6-10. Initial illuminating round