ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
Page 33 of 308
Fire Support for Tactical Tasks During Brigade Combat Team Operations 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 2-11 Position a cannon field artillery battery or platoon to follow close behind the advance guard to provide responsive fires to lead elements. Consider fires to support deception efforts. Plan fires to support a possible transition to a hasty defense. Once contact is made, be prepared to shift control of all available fires to the observer who is in the best position to control fires against the enemy. 2-49. Cannon field artillery battalion target acquisition assets focus on locating enemy indirect fire systems throughout the movement to contact. During a movement to contact the FAB can support the BCT with radar coverage to allow the BCTs’ organic radars to continue to maneuver with the BCT. It can also provide radar coverage to help protect vulnerable assets. As the situation develops surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition assets will transition to support shaping and counterfire missions. Considerations for target acquisition during movement to contact include: Position observers, including manned and unmanned aircraft forward and along the supported unit’s flanks to detect enemy forces. Position radars as far forward as possible to maximize range and provide maximum flexibility. Position radars to cover critical friendly assets that are vulnerable to enemy indirect fire from bypassed regular or irregular forces. Ensure coordination requirements necessary to maintain synchronization of successive priority targets. 2-50. For more on cannon field artillery battalions, see ATP 3-09.23. For more on field artillery target acquisition, see ATP 3-09.12. For more on observed fire, see ATP 3-09.30. For a discussion of the division artillery (DIVARTY) and the FAB and its role in supporting the BCT’s cannon field artillery battalion during movement to contact, see FM 3-09 and ATP 3-09.24. FIRE SUPPORT TASK ORGANIZATION CONSIDERATIONS 2-51. Consider supporting the movement to contact with a decentralized task organization that best enables immediate indirect fire support to maneuver battalions from supporting cannon field artillery batteries or platoons. Such fires can help meet the BCT commander’s overall close support, counterfire, and other fire support requirements. 2-52. Other fire support means, such as close air support, naval surface fire support, and appropriate aspects of cyber electromagnetic activities, are allocated if they are available and applicable to the needs of the commander. Consider attaching assets to the security or reconnaissance forces. Coordinate for available support from Army aviation attack/reconnaissance helicopters (see chapter 4). FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE ATTACK 2-53. An attack is an offensive task that destroys or defeats enemy forces, seizes and secures terrain, or both (ADRP 3-90). Coordinated maneuver supported by fires characterizes the attack. FM 3-90-1 provides a comprehensive discussion of the attack. FM 3-09 provides a summary description of fire support considerations for a field artillery battalion supporting a maneuver unit during the attack. GENERAL FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE ATTACK 2-54. In addition to the considerations for planning an attack identified in FM 3-09, fire support planners should also: Plan electronic attack of high-payoff targets. Plan for illumination fires. Plan fires to support consolidation. Use fires to deceive the enemy as to the location of the main effort. 2-55. During the attack, cannon field artillery battalion target acquisition assets must focus on identifying enemy systems that can interdict the supported maneuver unit as it moves toward the objective. Radars and