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 3-31 Develop a tentative fire plan that integrates all available fire support assets. Coordinate attack of targets with S-3, S-2, Air Force air liaison officer, Army aviation liaison officer, subordinate and supporting unit FSOs, fires cells and the division and corps fires cells. Identify and coordinate ACMs and FSCMs required for the mission. Develop an execution matrix (that is, who will initiate and observe fires). Develop primary and backup communication plans. Send the fire support plan to the appropriate fire direction centers and subordinate and supporting unit fires cells. Prepare the fire support portion of the air mission brief. Attend the air mission brief and brief the fire support plan. Determine the time and place for fire support and combined arms rehearsals. Attend rehearsals. Continually update the fire support plan (minimize changes after rehearsals). 3-166. The S-3, FSCOORD and fires cell planners should always conduct a fire support coordination meeting with key personnel including the: Field artillery battalion fire direction officers. Firing battery commanders. Company and battalion FSOs. Mortar platoon leaders and fire direction officers. Assault and attack flight helicopter leads. Air Force air liaison officer. 3-167. The S-3 and FSCOORD, brigade fires support officer and fires cell planners should ensure that all participants in the fire support coordination meeting receive a correct and complete copy of the fire support plan including the: Target list. Schedule of fires (if used). Execution matrix. Communication plan. Graphics showing ingress and egress routes, pickup zone and landing zone, targets, position of delivery assets. Gun-target lines and the ACMs and FSCMs both planned and in effect. OTHER FIRE SUPPORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR AIRBORNE OPERATIONS 3-168. Initial targeting intelligence is acquired through national assets. Targeting is refined using joint, theater army, corps, and division information collection (see the discussion in chapter 4 and FM 3-55) and target acquisition assets. During initial stages of airborne operations, unmanned aircraft systems and aerial observers may be critical target acquisition assets. Radars may not be deployed during the initial stages of an airborne operation; however, they should be deployed in follow-on air-land operations. Priority of radar deployment is based on the enemy counterfire or field artillery threat. 3-169. The FSCOORD and fire cell planners may have to rely on non-field artillery assets (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy) in preparation for the assault. Close air support and naval surface fire support are the most likely fire support means. Attack helicopter support may be possible if an intermediate staging base can be established or if ship-borne helicopters are available. 3-170. Long range fires by MLRS or HIMARS may be able to provide all-weather force protection to the landing force. If HIMARS is included in the landing package of an airborne assault, then HIMARS can immediately provide the ground element with precision and significant force projection capabilities. 3-171. Initially, firing batteries may be attached to maneuver battalions for the airborne assault. The batteries revert to field artillery battalion control once the field artillery battalion command post becomes operational and ready to reassume control.