ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
Page 193 of 308
Planning and Integrating Fires for BCT Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 6-33 important to determine how many tasks are really within the total observation capability of the fire support system. Step 2: Determine Target Observation Suitability 6-124. Once the target objective for a fire support task is determined, the targeting working group must determine where they can attack the enemy formation to meet the commander’s targeting guidance and create the desired effect. In support of the observer plan, the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers then determine whether or not observation is suitable for that location. That is, whether or not the planned target meets observation requirements and complies with the BCT commander’s risk estimate guidance. To do this, they must first determine line of sight to each target. They simply draw a line out from the target to a point of higher elevation for the area all the way around a target (see figure 6-3). Figure 6-3. Placement of observation posts in relation to target (example) 6-125. Line of sight analysis enables the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers to verify that observers can detect and assess the effects on the target. In many cases line of sight cannot be established at the point the round impacts the target. This is especially the case in areas of very constricted terrain where a moving target is the most vulnerable, such as a narrow pass or defile. In this case, the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers must determine line of sight from where the observer can see the target to trigger fires and from where the observer can see the target area to assess the result. After they have determined line of sight, they must determine how to best attack the target to meet the commander’s targeting guidance and create the desired effects. In preparation of the observation plan, the FSCOORD, fires cell planners, and targeting officers determine the attack method (for example, mortar, cannon field artillery, rocket, or close air support). Risk estimate distances are available from the Air Land Sea Applications center classified website for the annex to Army techniques publication (ATP) 3-09.32. The ATP 3-09.32 risk estimate distances found outside of that annex are generalized and will not apply in all cases encountered on the battlefield. Using risk estimate distance assumptions and tables, the fires cell planners and targeting officers draw a circle around the targets using the risk estimate distance as the radius for the circle. Once the risk estimate surface has been determined for a target (or group of targets), they match the line of sight for each target to the risk estimate ring around the target to ensure that the observer can observe the target without being within the possible effects radius of the delivered munitions. If line of sight is available from the target to a location outside the risk estimate ring, then observation of the target is suitable in that it accomplishes the mission and complies with the BCT commander’s planning guidance for risk to observers. Although this process can be done manually, it can also be done using any terrain-based software.