ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
Page 151 of 308
Coordinating Fire Support 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 5-35 COUNTERFIRE OPERATIONS 5-146. Counterfire is fire intended to destroy or neutralize enemy weapons (JP 3-09). The counterfire battle is not a separate battle, but one aspect of the overall combined arms fight. Depending upon the mission variables of METT-TC, the BCT’s execution of counterfire can be supported by resources from echelons above the BCT. 5-147. Where more than one field artillery battalion is available to support the counterfire effort, the FSCOORD may recommend to the supported maneuver commander the establishment of a counterfire headquarters to control the counterfire effort. Counterfire has two complementary components: proactive and reactive. PROACTIVE COUNTERFIRE 5-148. Proactive counterfire is, in reality, nothing more than targeting. In proactive counterfire enemy indirect fire systems, including their command and control, sensors, platforms, and logistics, are targeted and attacked before they engage friendly forces. The proactive measures consist of zone management, site analysis, and position survivability considerations. Proactive counterfire process begins with targeting during the military decisionmaking process and continues throughout the operation. The BCT intelligence officer and the fires cell targeting officers develop named areas of interest and target areas of interest where the enemy indirect fire assets are expected. The objective of proactive counterfire is to identify, locate, and attack the enemy’s indirect fire capability before it can impact friendly operations. 5-149. Proactive counterfire in support of BCT operations uses organic target acquisition and fires capabilities, as well as allocated division, corps or joint assets to acquire and engage attack components of the enemy's indirect fire system. Examples of target sets include cannon, rocket, and missile delivery units, prepared launch sites, artillery ammunition storage facilities, fire direction centers, counterfire radars, forward observers, fixed or rotary wing airfields, and fire support communications infrastructure. REACTIVE COUNTERFIRE 5-150. In reactive counterfire, the BCT field artillery battalion (or supporting FAB battalion) provides immediate indirect fires to neutralize, destroy, and suppress enemy indirect fire weapons once acquired. The fire support systems respond primarily to enemy mortar and artillery fires during or immediately following enemy engagement of friendly forces. 5-151. Reactive counterfire usually requires quick response capabilities for optimum effectiveness and can benefit from the establishment of quick fire channels. In reactive counterfire, the BCT cannon field artillery battalion or FAB battalion serves as the counterfire headquarters by planning coordinating, and delivering fires in reaction to enemy indirect fire activity. As with proactive counterfire, the field artillery battalion or counterfire headquarters employs organic and allocated target acquisition assets to accurately locate firing enemy indirect fire systems and establishes necessary sensor-to-shooter links to rapidly attack the enemy systems. INTEGRATION AND SYNCHRONIZATION WITH THE SCHEME OF MANEUVER 5-152. As part of the combined arms battle, counterfire must be properly integrated and synchronized with all aspects of the BCT commander’s plan. The BCT commander, who has overall responsibility for the planning and conduct of counterfire, receives input and recommendations from the FSCOORD (the BCT cannon field artillery battalion commander), brigade FSO, S-3, S-2 and other staff officers involved in counterfire operations. The commander issues decisions and guidance as necessary to direct counterfire efforts, to ensure effective coordination occurs, and to ensure that counterfire is synchronized with all other battlefield operations. Supporting reinforcing (R) field artillery units receive this counterfire guidance through the BCT.