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 2-21 FIRE SUPPORT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEFENSE 2-109. FM 3-09 describes defensive task considerations for all field artillery units. Characteristics of the defense include preparation, security, disruption, mass, and flexibility. Preparation 2-110. The defender often has the opportunity to select the defensive terrain and has time to prepare and improve defenses. Fire support planners make maximum use of any time available to plan and coordinate supporting fires to: Prepare observation posts, marking triggers and target reference points, and to study the terrain on which the defensive operation will be fought. Prepare engagement areas to facilitate fires by coordinating obstacle and fire support plans and by emplacing sensors. Prepare and harden artillery and target acquisition positions (primary, alternate, supplementary, and successive) in conjunction with the engineer coordinator. Conduct rehearsals on the actual terrain. Identify likely position areas for enemy artillery and other high-payoff targets. Security 2-111. Fire support must complement and support all security operations, protective measures, appropriate aspects of information operations, and cyber electromagnetic activities designed to provide security for supported units and to eliminate threats. Fires cell planners’ considerations may include: Fires to support security forces. Counterfire against enemy artillery and mortars before they can move into range of friendly forces. Fires to support deception activities. Recommend locations of rocket, artillery and mortar warning (RAM Warn) towers (see ATP 3- 01.60). Operations security techniques to protect friendly forces and information. Disruption 2-112. Fire support plays a key role in disrupting an attacker’s tempo and synchronization. Targets are planned and selected to prevent from the enemy from massing overwhelming combat power along the selected line defense. Methods of disruption include fires to: Engage the enemy before threat attack preparations can be completed (for example, fires to support spoiling attacks or destroy key sustainment sites). Destroy enemy reconnaissance forces. Separate enemy forces, isolate enemy units, and destroy or degrade high-payoff targets. Support counterattacks designed to defeat the enemy before the enemy can consolidate any gains. Disrupt enemy efforts to reorganize for another attack or to prepare a coordinated defense. Mass and Concetration 2-113. Fire support plays an essential role in a unit’s ability to mass overwhelming combat power at critical places and times. Massed fires: Assist an outnumbered defender in repelling an assault. Facilitate the rapid destruction of an enemy force when it is most vulnerable or when it is on the verge of gaining a significant advantage. Allow a commander to accept risks by using minimal maneuver forces in one area in order to weight another area.