ATP-3-09-30 Observed Fires Download
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Special Munitions 28 September 2017 ATP 3-09.30 6-27 MEANS AVAILABLE 6-111. Before requesting a smoke mission, the observer and FSO must consider the means available. The FSO advises the supported commander on the best means of providing the smoke to accomplish the task. The FSO also provides tactical information that could affect the fire support available. AMMUNITION 6-112. The amount of smoke ammunition in basic loads is limited. Expenditures of smoke ammunition vary considerably with each specific mission. All observers must know the amount of ammunition available and how much smoke it will provide expressed in terms of length and duration. Large requirements for smoke may require redistribution of the basic loads of several units or an issue of additional smoke ammunition for a specific operation. Combat experience has shown that smoke ammunition will not be available to support all smoke requests. THREAT 6-113. When considering smoke employment, the threat's electro optical capability and the likely positions for their weapons systems and observers that may threaten friendly forces should be known or anticipated. Based on the commander's plan, observers and FSOs should determine when smoke employment would enhance friendly operations and hinder threat operations. Some general rules are: Fire smoke on threat artillery observation post and gunners to greatly reduce their effectiveness. Fire smoke and HE on the threat when deploying from column to line formation. The HE will keep the enemy buttoned up. The smoke will cause maximum confusion. Fire smoke and HE on minefield to cause maximum confusion. (Avoid concealing threat breaching operations.) Understand the effects of smoke on friendly positions. Smoke used without enough thought and planning reduces the user’s effectiveness more than that of the threat. MISSION COMMAND 6-114. The supported commander for whom the smoke is planned must approve its use. When the commander issues the plans and concept for an operation, the commander should state guidelines on the amount of smoke to use and any restriction on its use. To ensure responsive smoke, the FSO must request this smoke planning guidance if it has not been stated. The supported commander responsible for the operation must coordinate smoke operations with all units participating in or potentially affected by the operation. The operations officer is responsible for integrating smoke into the maneuver plan. The FSO must keep the supported commander advised on the availability of munitions and delivery systems. Soldiers must be well trained in smoke operations and comprehensive unit SOPs must be available to and known by all. This shortens reaction time. SMOKE DELIVERY TECHNIQUES 6-115. Smoke is normally employed by use of immediate smoke and quick smoke techniques. The objective of immediate smoke is to obscure the threat's vision. Suppression of a small location can be achieved by use of immediate smoke. The objective of quick smoke is to obscure the threat's vision or to screen maneuver elements. Obscuring the threat is required, but the urgency of the situation does not dictate immediate smoke procedures. Generally speaking, quick smoke missions are almost always planned missions whereas immediate smoke missions are generally targets of opportunity. Characteristics of the two delivery techniques are outlined in table 6-19 (on page 6-28). Note. The use of immediate and quick smoke techniques does not preclude the use of smoke on other occasions or for different objectives.