ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 4 4-6 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 4-29. The FAB’s main command post fires cell includes operations and counterfire, target processing, and fire control elements. These three elements form the nucleus of the FAB main command post’s current operations integrating cell. Each of the other elements in or working closely with the fires cell (fires, information operations, air defense airspace management [ADAM], air support and liaison) assists these current operations core elements by providing additional expertise or dedicated manpower on an as needed basis. Note: Depending on mission variables and the desires of the FAB commander, the targeting element may be part of either the fires cell or the intelligence cell. 4-30. FAB organic assets include a BSB, a signal network support company, a target acquisition platoon and a headquarters and headquarters battery. The FAB and each of the subordinate elements can be augmented (task organized) as required. This may include a combination of one to five MLRS or HIMARS or cannon field artillery battalions, as well as other enablers, such as counterfire radars, information collection, information operations, and cyber electromagnetic activities assets. MLRS AND HIMARS BATTALIONS 4-31. The MLRS and HIMARS systems assigned to FABs support BCT operations as needed. For example a FAB MLRS battalion or battery (equipped with either tracked M270A1 or wheeled M142 launchers) may reinforce the cannon field artillery battalion of a BCT conducting a division’s decisive operation. In very rare cases, an entire FAB could support the operations of a single BCT (such as when a BCT is the covering force for a corps). For more information on MLRS and HIMARS operations and munitions capabilities, see FM 3-09 and ATP 3-09.60. FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE CANNON FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALIONS 4-32. Cannon field artillery battalions typically have a command or support relationship with a BCT or a FAB. A cannon field artillery battalion assigned or attached to a FAB is typically further given a command or support relationship to support the whole force or to augment the fires of a specified field artillery unit. Based on the mission variables of METT-TC, the division may augment a BCT’s field artillery battalion with one or more FAB cannon field artillery (155-mm) battalions. The FAB cannon field artillery battalion may be either self-propelled or towed: The M109-series self-propelled 155-mm cannon field artillery battalion is restructuring from two 8-gun firing batteries to three 4-gun firing batteries. The M777-series towed 155-mm howitzer field artillery battalion has three 4-gun firing batteries. TARGET ACQUISITION PLATOON 4-33. Each FAB has an organic target acquisition platoon that includes radar sections, a target processing section, and a combined meteorology and survey team: The radar platoon is organized and equipped to detect, locate, classify, report, and communicate the point of origin, predicted point of impact, radar cross-section, and velocity of indirect fire systems; it can also confirm the actual air burst or impact location of friendly fires. The target processing section recommends and coordinates radar sectors of search, monitors operations, develops targets, requests battle damage assessment and acts as net control station for the target acquisition command and intelligence net. The combined meteorology and survey teams provide the meteorological support and common survey needed to ensure the accuracy of indirect fires; survey data can be provided to other systems (such as signal) when assets are available.