ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 2 2-20 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 assign a general support (GS) or other support relationship to the BCT’s field artillery battalion during the initial phases of an operation with an on-order mission to return to the BCT’s control when the reserve is committed. This requires increased coordination between the brigade FSO, fires cell planners and the supporting field artillery unit(s) to: Ensure that fire plan changes are properly coordinated. Position and resource field artillery units. Time the implementation of the field artillery on-order missions to allow enough time for all planning, movement, and digital communication synchronization actions to be completed. 2-104. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners should ensure that all supporting fire support units establish their requirements for fuel, ammunition, and other resources necessary to support the reserve mission. Planners should consider: Mission variables of METT-TC and the scheme of maneuver. Targeting responsibilities and procedures. 2-105. Because reserve tasks often involve tactical movements and passage of lines, planners should review the BCT and higher headquarters task organization for the following fire support considerations: Positioning. Movement. Order-of-march organization. Route priorities. Passwords. Communications information. Fire support battle handover procedures (for example, target lists, priority targets, triggers, key observers). Liaison. 2-106. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners play a key role in ensuring that sustainment arrangements for supporting fire support units are properly coordinated based on the task organization and mission variables of METT-TC. Because reserve tasks usually involve rapid, flexible movement, the brigade fires cell planners should verify that BCT and supporting field artillery and sustainment unit leaders have established adequate communications and, as appropriate, synchronization with brigade support area activities and movements. SECTION III – FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR BCT DEFENSIVE TASKS 2-107. The defense’s inherent strengths include the defender’s ability to occupy positions before the attack and use the available time to prepare the defenses. The defender does not wait passively to be attacked but aggressively seeks ways of attriting and weakening attacking enemy forces before the initiation of close combat. The defender maneuvers to place the enemy in a position of disadvantage and attacks the enemy at every opportunity, using fires, electronic warfare, and joint assets, such as close air support. GENERAL FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE DEFENSE 2-108. A defensive task is a task conducted to defeat an enemy attack, gain time, economize forces, and develop conditions favorable for offensive or stability tasks (ADRP 3-0). ADRP 3-90 provides guidance in the form of combat-tested concepts and ideas modified to exploit emerging Army and joint defensive capabilities. FM 3-90-1 provides guidance for conduct of the defense during Army operations. ADRP 3-09 provides a summary discussion of fires in support of defensive tasks.