ATP-3-09-30 Observed Fires Download
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Chapter 5 5-4 ATP 3-09.30 28 September 2017 Figure 5-3. Deviation spottings UNOBSERVED SPOTTING 5-8. At times, the observer may be able to make a spotting even though the round impact may not be able to be seen. Example The observer hears but does not see the round impact, and the only possible place the round could have impacted and not been visible to the observer is in a ravine beyond the adjusting point. The burst is assumed to be beyond the adjusting point and spots it as UNOBSERVED, OVER. LOST SPOTTING 5-9. If the observer is unable to locate the round (either visually or by sound), the round is spotted LOST. A round may be lost for various reasons: It may be a dud (nonfunctioning fuze), resulting in no visual or audible identification. The terrain or weather may prevent the observer from spotting the round or its smoke. Adversary fire may prevent the observer from hearing or seeing the round. The forward observer simply may have failed to spot the round. Errors by the fire direction center (FDC) or the firing piece may cause the round to be lost. GPS malfunction or fin or canard deployment malfunction for a precision-guided munition. 5-10. When dealing with a lost round, the observer must consider own experience, the level of FDC and or gun section training, and the location of friendly elements with respect to the target. The observer should take corrective action based on the confidence in the target location, the accuracy of fire on previous missions; whether the lost round is an initial round or a subsequent round, and the urgency of the mission. 5-11. The observer must take one or more of the following corrective procedures when a round is lost: Begin a data check throughout the system, starting with the target location data and the call for fire.