ATP-3-09-30 Observed Fires Download
Page 150 of 204
Chapter 6 6-20 ATP 3-09.30 28 September 2017 INFRARED ILLUMINATION 6-77. Infrared (IR) illumination provides illumination that is visible through night sights, but not to the naked eye. The 155-mm IR illumination round provides infrared illumination out to 17 kilometers for a minimum of 120 seconds. 6-78. The call for fire for IR illumination is very similar to regular illumination. Instead of requesting ILLUMINATION, the observer requests IR ILLUMINATION. Example P53 THIS IS P67, ADJUST FIRE, OVER. GRID NB616376, ALTITUDE 145, OVER. VEHICLE NOISES, SUSPECTED TANKS, IR ILLUMINATION, OVER. CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKE 6-79. When used correctly smoke can significantly reduce the threat's effectiveness both in daytime and at night. Use smoke to reduce the ability of the threat to deliver effective fires, to hamper hostile operations, and to deny the threat information on friendly positions and maneuvers. Smoke reduces the effectiveness of laser beams and inhibits electro optical systems including some night vision devices. The four types of smoke are: Obscuring smoke is placed on or near the threat to suppress threat observers and to minimize their vision (see figure 6-11). Screening smoke is a smoke curtain used on the battlefield between threat observation points and friendly units to mask friendly forces, positions, and activities (see figure 6-12 on page 6-21). Deception smoke is a smoke curtain used to deceive and confuse the threat as to the nature of friendly operations. Signaling smoke is used to establish a reference for friendly forces. Figure 6-11. Obscuring smoke 6-80. Use obscuring smoke to: Defeat flash ranging and restrict the adversary’s counterfire program. Obscure adversary observation posts and reduce their ability to provide accurate target location for adversary fire support assets. Obscure adversary direct fire weapons and lasers.