ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Fire Support for Tactical Tasks During Brigade Combat Team Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 2-3 the elevation to the operational or strategic level—particularly events such as civilian casualties or damaged infrastructure—the BCT commander may find that targeting guidance must be provided in greater than usual detail. 2-11. Injury to the civilian population and damage to infrastructure should be avoided if possible. Unseen dangers, such as underground gas, water, and electrical lines need to be considered. A natural gas explosion or an electrical fire in the vicinity of a protected structure or friendly troops can become a rules of engagement violation if not anticipated. Detailed maps of underground utilities are useful references for fires cell planners and targeting officers to minimize collateral damage. 2-12. Precision-guided munitions, including precision munitions, are preferred for use against targets in restricted areas: A precision-guided munition is a guided weapon intended to destroy a point target and minimize collateral damage (JP 3-03). Precision-guided munitions include those munitions that home on reflected electromagnetic energy (such as the Hellfire missile), precision munitions, and video- guided munitions (such as the Maverick air-to-surface missile). A precision munition is a munition that corrects for ballistic condition using guidance and control up to the aimpoint or submunitions dispense with terminal accuracy less than the lethal radius of effects (FM 3-09). Precision munitions include those munitions with precision and near-precision capabilities. 2-13. Munitions with a precision capability such as the global positioning system-aided Excalibur 155-mm projectile, guided multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) rockets, and the advanced precision munitions initiative 120-mm mortar rounds have a circular error probable of less than 10 meters. Munitions with a near-precision capability, such as those with the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit, have a circular error probable between 10 and 50 meters. Circular error probable is an indicator of the delivery accuracy of a weapon system, used as a factor in determining probable damage to a target. Circular error probable is the radius of a circle within which half of the rounds fired at a target will impact. Even at the munitions’ largest anticipated delivery error, the aimpoint is within the munitions’ anticipated radius of direct effects. The employment of precision munitions requires the use of current cryptological key information. 2-14. The proximity of friendly and enemy units necessitates careful coordination of lethal fire support. The rules of engagement and the BCT commander should specify the amount of risk and the collateral damage that is acceptable. For example, the potential for collateral damage to adjacent buildings may prevent engagement with artillery. Such damage might cause noncombatant and friendly troop casualties and unintentional rubbling. Commanders can offset these effects by carefully placing artillery positions, repositioning artillery as targets change, and using mortars. Mortars have a steep angle of fall and short minimum ranges. Collateral damage concerns may also cause commanders to restrict attacks to certain times of day, give warning prior to an attack so that noncombatants can evacuate the area, or even abort an attack unless the desired effect(s) can be created without unacceptable damage or injury. 2-15. Large numbers of civilians may be expected to operate in the target areas soon after combat operations have ceased. Depending on building construction, commanders may prohibit or limit illumination, obscurants, and other munitions because of fire hazards. For example, structure fires in an urban area are difficult to control and may affect friendly units. Conventional high explosive (HE) munitions may work best against concrete, steel, stone, and other reinforced structures. 2-16. Greater concerns exist for the safety and health (environmental matters) of the populace and the protection of critical infrastructure and cultural structures. For example, the BCT civil affairs operations officer, civil affairs element planners, augmenting civil affairs teams, information operations officer, and the BCT legal section will play a greater role for the expert advice they can provide regarding these elements of the urban environment. Nonetheless, all members of the staff ensure that operations minimize collateral damage. That responsibility does not end with identifying potential collateral damage. The goal, as always, is successful mission accomplishment. The commander’s intent guides the BCT staff in developing courses of action that address collateral damage concerns (short- and long-term) yet accomplish the mission. This requires a keen understanding of the ethical and legal issues and both friendly and enemy weapon systems’ effects in an urban environment.