ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 6 6-40 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 Table 6-23. Instructions for preparing DA Form 4656, Scheduling Worksheet Column Instructions Heading Enter the type of schedule, the supported unit, and the operation order or plan for which the schedule is being prepared Line Number This is an administrative control number. Number each line sequentially. This gives all holders of the schedule a means of quick reference for finding which units have been scheduled and specific information that relates to those targets. Organization and Caliber Enter the organizational information—to include caliber and weapon type—for each unit in the plan. If needed, add clarifying information such as the number of guns in the firing unit, weapon model, nationality, and sustained rate of fire to assist in planning. Firing Units Enter the size and designation of the firing unit. This is normally a battery or platoon, but some systems may use an individual weapon. A commander might also direct that a specific target is to be engaged by a single gun. If the quantity of the firing unit’s weapons differs from standard, planners may parenthetically list the number of available weapons as a scheduling reminder. Scheduling Target To the upper right of the firing unit’s column is an untitled portion of the worksheet. This is referred to as the timing block. Below the timing block is a block of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines called the time matrix. It is used to assign targets to firing units. This assignment is based on the ability of the unit to adequately engage the target as shown by the target overlay. The time matrix graphically portrays time of impact and duration of fires and may refer to a specific shell-fuze combination to be used. This graphic portrayal represents the target to be engaged by either a dot (one volley) or a horizontal line (more than one volley). The interval between the vertical lines is based on the weapon system rate of fire and the number of different systems being scheduled on the same work sheet. For example, for a 155-mm howitzer, the normal interval is 60 seconds. Thus, a target being engaged by three 155-mm volleys would have a duration line three vertical lines long with impacts on each of the vertical lines. Another factor that must be considered in scheduling is the shift time of the weapon system being scheduled. Shift time is the length of time needed for the firing unit to cease firing on one target and commence firing on the next scheduled target. Firing units use the upper portion of the block to establish time to fire or lanyard pull time, so that the rounds impact at the scheduled times. Information on the lower portion of the block is based on time of impact of rounds fired. The purpose of the block is to establish the duration of a particular schedule relative to time. Schedules may start at a specific time (based on an established H-hour) or may be scheduled as on-call (start plotting at time 0). Some schedules may be fired before a scheduled H-hour. The brigade FSO and fires cell planners should avoid creating fire support H-hours that may be confused with maneuver H-hours. The brigade FSO, fires cell planners and the S-3 must conduct close coordination to ensure that H-hour time references are clearly identified, understood, and synchronized for all aspects of the BCT plan. Remarks Use the remarks column to amplify information in the time matrix portion of the worksheet and to include information for the engagement of on-call targets. Use a parenthetical letter to refer to the amplifying information in the remarks column. List on-call targets on the line of the firing unit assigned to engage them. List any other amplifying information starting under the last firing unit line. Do not use duration lines or dots for groups of targets (unless fired within a schedule) or for on-call targets because the duration of fire is not specified. If a group of targets is fired outside of a schedule, the unit normally shoots the rounds at the maximum rate of fire or as tube conditions permit. If a group of targets is fired within a schedule, the unit normally shoots at the sustained rate of fire to maintain schedule timing. If a unit is ordered to fire its on-call target while it is firing the schedule, it will: Leave the schedule. Fire its on-call target at the maximum rate of fire. Rejoin the schedule at real time. Report to its controlling headquarters those scheduled targets that were not engaged and those targets on which the commander’s desired effects were not created. Note: It is up to the controlling headquarters to notify the commander and recommend appropriate action to engage these targets. BCT – brigade combat team mm – millimeter FSO – fire support officer S-3 – battalion or brigade operations office H-Hour – The specific hour on D-day at which a particular operation commences. (JP 5-0)