ATP-3-09-42 Fire Support for the Brigade Combat Team Download
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Chapter 3 3-36 ATP 3-09.42 1 March 2016 vessel does not have the gun or missile magazine capacity to provide the sustained volume of fire required to support land component offensive operations. Single 5-inch gun mounts on destroyers lack a sufficient rate of fire over an extended period to support volume fire requirements. Gun ammunition is routinely replenished at sea, but due to the time off the gun line and the magazine capacity, sustained fire support operations typically require two to three ships to maintain one ship on the gun line. See Appendix A for technical information on naval gunfire. The fire support planners must be aware of the employment considerations and procedures peculiar to naval gunfire in support of ground forces. See ATP 3-09.32. 3-205. Naval surface fire support can assist the BCT by attacking targets to generate the BCT commander’s desired effects. Naval gunfire and missile fire support is especially critical during forcible entry operations and subsequent operations when the BCT is within range of naval support. This support can play a vital role in reducing enemy capabilities by destroying enemy installations before the initial entry, protecting and covering the initial entry, and supporting land force offensive or defensive actions during subsequent operations. Fire support ships may be assigned in DS or GS of the BCT in much the same way that field artillery support relationships are assigned. Direct Support 3-206. A ship in the DS role may be made available to support the BCT and can deliver both planned and call fires. Call (on-call in Army terms) fires and calls for fire against unplanned targets are normally requested and adjusted by the firepower control team of the supported unit or by an air spotter. Naval gunfire DS is not the same as field artillery DS. A DS ship will respond to calls for fire from units other than the supported unit when ordered to do so by the fire support group commander, the division or corps naval gunfire liaison officers, or the BCT naval gunfire liaison officer. DS makes fires provided by ships responsive typically to the needs of a battalion-size ground force. General Support 3-207. A ship is usually placed in GS of committed BCTs, divisions and corps. The Naval gunfire officer of the unit being supported directs the fires for a GS ship. The primary purpose of a GS ship is to allow the supported commander to add depth to the fires of the DS ships without the necessity for requests to higher echelons. GS makes fires provided by ships responsive to the needs of a BCT or regiment-size or larger ground force. An air observer normally adjusts the fires of a GS ship or a liaison officer assigns the fires of the ship to a battalion shore fire control party. REQUESTING NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT 3-208. BCT personnel may request and conduct fire support missions using naval gunfire even in the absence of Navy personnel. See ATP 3-09.32 for requesting naval surface fire support. The naval gunfire communications interface is: Net: Naval gunfire ground spot net. Frequency: 2-30 megahertz high frequency. Compatible equipment. Marine—PRC-104, GRC-193, MRC-138. Army—PRC-104 (a), GRC-193. Air Force—PRC-104, MRC-107/108, GRC-206. NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT PERSONNEL 3-209. Members of the air-naval gunfire liaison company (ANGLICO) are specially trained in conducting naval gunfire. However, the procedures are simplified and standardized so that any trained BCT observer (for example a FIST or forward observer) can effectively adjust the fire of a ship. 3-210. ANGLICO personnel are available to advise unit commanders from company through BCT levels on how to best use the naval air and gunfire support available to them. Liaison personnel can give unit commanders and their fire support personnel information on weapon ranges, ammunition effects, and all- weather bombing capabilities. For maximum effectiveness, ANGLICO support should begin during the