ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 3 3-6 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MOVEMENT 3-29. An administrative movement is most appropriate in conventional, contiguous areas of operation where enemy resistance has been defeated or destroyed. It is not appropriate for non-contiguous areas of operation or where forces may be subject to ambush or attack. There are generally no fire support considerations during administrative movements. However, the required fire support posture in the arrival area will likely dictate the composition of the elements in the movement. ATP 4-16 describes movement control and convoy planning. FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR TACTICAL ROAD MARCH 3-30. The tactical road march is a rapid movement used to relocate units within an area of operations to prepare for combat operations (ADRP 3-90). During a road march, units move on designated routes using roads and trails. Units normally move by tactical road marches to assembly areas to prepare for combat operations. See ATP 4-01.45 for planning tactical road marches. 3-31. Fire support planning and allocation of forces will primarily address potential threat. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners plan and coordinate fire support for the conduct of the march. They also coordinate with the appropriate command post of units areas through which the BCT will move, recommend FSCMs and help clear fires during the movement. Fire support considerations include: If task organized into combined arms formations, consider moving supporting artillery prior to the main body so they are set to provide fire support if needed. Plan on-call targets on key terrain along the routes. Place all weapon locating radars during the move to facilitate positioning, centralized control, and to provide coverage of the BCT’s route. Plan radar critical friendly zones at rest, refuel, and maintenance halts. 3-32. Units conducting tactical road marches may or may not be task-organized into a combined arms formation. Depending on the nature of the follow-on mission, and the mission variables of METT-TC, the field artillery organization will often be relatively centralized. FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE APPROACH MARCH 3-33. Fire support for an approach march involves coordinating the movement of fire support assets as part of a combined arms force over a relatively long distance with the intent to reposition the force. The movement involves planning that readily supports the transition to the type of operation to be executed from the approach march. Fire support considerations for the approach march include: Ensure that fire support assets travel with their supported maneuver units. Give priority of fires to security and reconnaissance units. Position artillery to provide support to advance and flank guard units. This may require non- standard or on-order command or support relationships for field artillery units during the movement. Plan fires to protect the force where movement is restricted and possible choke points exist. Plan fires for suppression and smoke, if necessary, to screen movement. 3-34. Units conducting an approach march are task-organized before the march begins to allow them to transition to an on-order mission without making major adjustments in organization. The BCT’s field artillery battalion and reinforcing artillery units march within their supported unit’s column. FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR OCCUPATION OF AN ASSEMBLY AREA 3-35. Fire support considerations for the quartering party are similar to those for forces conducting a reconnaissance. Although the quartering party is small enough to move quickly while still maintaining a significant self-defense capability, fire support may be limited to the fires from both indirect fire units in range and responding combat aviation units. The quartering party must be aware of how to contact any fire support units and, as a minimum, conduct radio checks with those units. In the assembly area position, final protective fire (FPF), as available, should be planned. Field artillery positions within the assembly area