ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Environmental And Terrain Considerations For Fire Support 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 E-5 E-30. Plan targets: To support the scheme of maneuver. Along roads and trails. At likely ambush sites. Around clearings. At river or stream crossings. Around built-up areas. E-31. Also, isolated units will prepare 360-degree defenses. Plan FPFs to support that defensive posture. Consider recommending to the supporting field artillery battalion commander a munition-specific required supply rate to support the operation. POSITIONING E-32. Often, firing positions for field artillery and mortars are very limited; and some positions may be inaccessible by roads. While mortars may be dismounted and airlifted into position, artillery will be severely limited in its movement and ability to position. Platoons may have to be widely separated, increasing the difficulty of mutual defense and resupply. Each position must have 6,400-mil firing capability, regardless of weapon types. Remember that a position occupied too long is subject to ground attack. Also, the enemy will quickly determine the range of weapons in that position and stay out of their range. If global positioning systems are not available, consider using a helicopter-mounted position azimuth determining system or Doppler radar to survey air-inserted mortar positions inaccessible by road. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT E-33. Close air support can be effective in the jungle but hard to control because of the inability of the pilot to see the friendly ground elements. Also, because the combat is usually of such close nature, the delivery of the munitions must be closely controlled to avoid injuring friendly personnel. E-34. Pyrotechnics should be used to mark friendly forces and the target area. An air observer or JTAC, if available, should control the air strike. It is extremely important that the method used for this marking not be duplicated by the enemy. Strict security is required. E-35. Heavy bombs (2,000 to 3,000 pounds) with fuze extenders can clear away the jungle canopy. Many Air Force cluster munitions are designed to penetrate jungle canopy. Depending on the type and quantity delivered, bomblets are effective against area targets consisting of personnel, light materiel, and armor. COMMUNICATIONS E-36. Communications considerations for jungle operations include: Remember that communications in a triple-canopy jungle are severely degraded. Elevate antennas above the canopy, when possible. Use air observers or airborne command platforms as relay stations. Consider using directional antennas. Plan to use retransmission assets. SECTION III – DESERT OPERATIONS E-37. The three types of desert terrain are mountainous, rocky plateau, and sandy or dune-type desert. Fire support planning and considerations vary significantly between operations in each type of desert terrain. Often, those considerations resemble those for other environments, such as arctic and mountain. The type of terrain in the area of operations must be analyzed before effective fire support planning can be performed. Tactics, techniques, and employment of munitions are greatly affected by the different terrain characteristics. Restricted desert terrain can offer significant disadvantages for movement and emplacement of indirect fire systems, depending on the trafficability of the surrounding valley areas.