ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Fire Support for Tactical Enabling and Other Tasks 1 March 2016 ATP 3-09.42 3-13 3-62. In accordance with the scheme of fires, tasks to be executed by fire support (to include mortars) in support of the breach may include: Provide fires for obscuration and suppression. Destroy or suppress artillery and mortars. Destroy or suppress antitank weapon systems. Destroy or suppress dismounted infantry positions. Delay, disrupt, and neutralize repositioning forces. Destroy, suppress, or obscure enemy observation posts. 3-63. The BCT commander designates and assigns priority targets to make indirect fires more responsive to maneuver unit execution. FISTs and observers employed at company level can effectively engage such targets during a maneuver force breaching operation. 3-64. The FSCOORD, brigade FSO, fire cell planners and battalion or battery fire direction center personnel monitor the command network and lift and shift fires at the critical time, should the executor at company level be unable to execute. 3-65. Indirect fire weapons systems cross the obstacle with the forces they support to extend the breach and ensure continuous support of follow-on operations. Positioning is critical at the breach area. Fire support assets should be positioned to support the breaching operation, but not interfere with the approach, the breach, or assault forces. 3-66. Breaching operations consume a significant amount of ammunition. Planning considers pre- positioning stocks of smoke, high explosive (HE), and precision munitions. 3-67. In coordination with the BCT S-3, the FSCOORD and fires cell planners consider the requirements for protection at the breach area. They also plan for radar zones and consider the enemy phases of fire for defensive operations. The FSCOORD and fires cell planners consider radar critical friendly zones and FSCMs (described in FM 3-09 and ATP 3-09.12) between the enemy and the breach area, and the support and breach force positions. They also consider establishing NFAs or RFAs around scouts or other observers, and RFLs for forces converging on the objective. 3-68. The BCT commander may give the priority of indirect fires to the unit most likely to encounter an obstacle. The fire support planners maintain a focus on the critical tasks and continuously adjust the plan as required in order to accomplish the mission. Fire support planning guidelines for breaching operations include: Use intelligence preparation of the battlefield techniques (see ATP 2-01.3 and ATP 2-19.4) to designate enemy high-value targets and identify high-payoff targets for attack. Plan electronic warfare assets to defeat the improvised explosive device threat, disrupt enemy information collection (see the discussion in chapter 4 and FM 3-55), reconnaissance and surveillance efforts, and detect enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum for targeting purposes. Use scouts or other observers to identify and monitor target around the breach area prior to arrival of main body. Refine targets based on intelligence and the knowledge of the actual breach area. Plan target handoff with observers or scouts. Position primary and alternate observers focused on identification of high-payoff targets. Plan priority of fires to the rupture force and then to the follow-and-assume force. Plan and firing smoke to cover movement of the follow-and-assume force into the support-by- fire position. Fires for obscuration or screening should start before the follow-and-assume force enters the direct fire range of enemy systems. Determine the placement (wind condition), density, and timing of obscuration smoke on enemy positions and screening smoke between the enemy and the reduction area. Plan triggers to lift or shift fires from obscuration to suppression when necessary.