ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 A-1 Appendix A Attack Systems Capabilities The four sections of this appendix are designed to be a quick-reference resource of key lethal and nonlethal fire support capabilities that may be available to the brigade combat team (BCT). Section I begins with field artillery systems. Section II is devoted to mortars. Section III is devoted to mines and obscurants, and Section IV concludes the appendix with a discussion of electronic attack. Where feasible, each section that describes weapon systems includes a systems chart or description, and a munitions chart or description. DANGER CLOSE AND RISK ESTIMATE DISTANCE For close air support, field artillery, mortars, and naval gunfire, “danger close” is the term included in the method of engagement segment of a call for fire to indicate that friendly forces are within close proximity of the target. The danger close distance is determined by the weapon and ammunition fired. This is not a restriction, but simply a warning to both the maneuver commander and fire support personnel to take proper precautions. Risk-estimate distances allow the commander to estimate the risk in terms of the percent of friendly casualties that may result from a strike against an enemy in close proximity to friendly elements. Risk-estimate distances are for combat use only. They are not the minimum safe distances for peacetime training use. For peacetime training requirements, begin with Department of the Army (DA) Pam 385-63. SECTION I - FIELD ARTILLERY A-1. Field artillery is the BCT commander’s principal means of providing indirect fire support to the BCT. Field artillery can deceive, defeat, delay, destroy, disrupt, divert, neutralize, and suppress enemy forces by attacking enemy command centers, communications and control nodes, field artillery and mortars, target acquisition and reconnaissance assets, battle positions, lines of communication, and to obscure the enemy’s vision, or otherwise inhibit the ability to acquire friendly targets. Field artillery can be used to provide final protective fire (FPF) and to deliver obscurants and illumination. Fire support personnel and engineers work together to combine the effects of field artillery fires and engineer obstacles to disrupt, turn, block or fix the enemy’s ability to counter friendly actions thereby setting the stage for successful maneuver operations. Field artillery delivery systems include cannons, rockets, and missiles. These systems can provide fires under all weather conditions and in all types of terrain. They can shift and mass fires rapidly without having to displace. Field artillery units are usually as mobile as the units they support.