ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
Page 191 of 308
Planning and Integrating Fires for BCT Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 6-31 that support military decisionmaking. For fire support planning, this process can help determine how long it will take to engage a target, how much ammunition is required, and where and when fires’ triggers are needed. Although these calculations do not provide certainty, they do improve the likelihood of success. There is a danger in "over quantifying" planning: for example the more you must assume as you calculate, the less realistic and accurate your work may become. The real benefits of these calculations occur with practice. As the staff consistently employs the calculations, the process becomes routine and results in better developed and more detailed plans and orders. Fires cell planners and targeting officers begin such calculations as a part of course of action development. The fire support planning process is streamlined and more effective when the FSCOORD and brigade FSO can rapidly build feasible fire support. This enables the commander to have realistic expectations of fire support. 6-115. These fire support calculations assist in achieving the required effects by helping plan decision points, triggers, and ammunition requirements that can be used with the time, space, and equipment available. The suggested steps are shown in Table 6-20. Table 6-20. Fire support calculations (example) Step 1 Care must be taken to translate BCT commander’s guidance into quantifiable effects required to achieve target defeat criteria. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners should consult with the commander and the S-2 for assistance in translating the BCT commander’s guidance into a quantifiable number of enemy soldiers or equipment that should be attacked and the effects required to meet the commander’s criteria. For example, guidance to destroy a threat infantry company defensive position will likely need clarification. Does the commander intend that the position should be engaged to achieve 30% personnel casualties (the AFATDS destruction computation criteria) or will it be necessary to heavily damage each bunker possibly by using precision munitions? Plan for the mortars to engage suitable targets. Step 2 Equate the required effects to the required ammunition. Determine from a munitions effects database the number of rounds required to accomplish the fire support task (suppress, neutralize, or destroy). Step 3 Determine the time available to conduct attack. Based on the rate of fire of the selected system(s) (see ATP 3- 09.32), determine how long it will take to execute the attack. The time available may be a factor, particularly when engaging a moving target. Step 4 Determine if the required ammunition can be delivered in the time available. Step 5 If engaging a moving target, determine the time required for it to pass through a specific point. Determine the maximum number of volleys that can be fired at one target location. Determine the number of volleys that can be delivered in that timeframe. Step 6 Determine the number of attacks needed to deliver the required ammunition. Step 7 Determine if time, engagement space, and necessary ammunition are available to execute the attacks. AFATDS – Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System FSCOORD – fire support coordinator ATP – Army techniques publication S-2 – brigade or battalion intelligence officer BCT – brigade combat team 6-116. Engagement area development occurs in the MDMP. Fire support planning within engagement area development is a critical supporting piece of the BCT operation plan. The engagement area is an area in which the commander intends to trap and destroy an enemy force with massed fires of all available weapons. The fire support planning during the development of an engagement area is vital to achieving the commander’s intent. The process compels the FSCOORD and fires cell planners, and battalion FSOs to consider such factors as the number of indirect fire assets available, the training proficiency of the observer/firing unit, the enemy’s direction/rate of march, trigger and intercept points, terrain analysis, anticipated enemy actions, and the amount of time the enemy can be expected to remain inside the engagement area. The steps of the engagement area development process are listed in table 6-21. Table 6-21. Engagement area development Step 1 Visualize how the enemy will or might attack. Step 2 Select where and how to engage the enemy. Step 3 Position forces (aviation and indirect fire systems) to engage the enemy. Step 4 Position obstacles to support direct fire. Step 5 Plan indirect fires to support direct fire and obstacles. Step 6 Complete the plan; select/prepare final positions, site obstacles, and triggers. Step 7 Rehearse.