FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Chapter 4 4-14 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 Transmitting the call for fire to the selected FDC(s) or firing element(s). Conducting technical fire direction. Giving fire orders to the firing element if necessary. Delivering the required ordnance on the target to create the desired effect on target (deliver fires). Determining and reporting effects on the engaged target. 4-79. A fire mission is the specific assignment given to a fire unit as part of a definite plan; an order used to alert the weapon/battery area and indicate that the message following is a call for fire (TC 3-09.81). A call for fire is a standardized request for fire containing data necessary for obtaining the required fire on a target. FA BN functions directly associated with surface-to-surface attack are encompassed in the fire mission process. The FSE or any sensor can initiate a fire mission (for example, FOs, aerial observers, radars). Quick-fire channels can be established for any observer or sensor. Any brigade or BN FSE or FA CP that is normally in the fire mission flow, but is bypassed during quickfire operations, should receive a notification of each fire mission through message of interest processing. To expedite fires, the unit can coordinate the use of various quick-fire linkages, designed to facilitate rapid mission execution, while achieving desired control. For example, a quick-fire channel could be established from a FIST, through the BN FSE, and then directly to the field artillery BN FDC. For even faster response and more decentralized control, the FIST may send the mission directly to the FDC that will execute the mission. This is often used for priority targets and final protective fire (FPF). 4-80. A priority target is a target, based on either time or importance, on which the delivery of fires takes precedence over all the fires for the designated firing unit or element. An artillery firing unit prepares to engage its priority target by laying its weapon(s) on the assigned target whenever the firing unit is not engaged in a fire mission in order to reduce the time required to fire the target. For example, a final protective fire is a priority target. The maneuver commander, after consultation with his FSO, designates priority targets. The maneuver commander also gives specific guidance as to when the targets will become priority, the munitions to use, the accuracy required, and the desired effects. The supported maneuver commander designates a priority target based on time requirements or target importance. When not engaged in fire missions, firing units lay on priority targets. The purpose of laying on a target is to direct or adjust the aim of a weapon, or setting of a weapon for a given range, deflection, or both. 4-81. FA BNs normally do not perform airspace deconfliction; instead, the air defense airspace management (referred to as the ADAM) element in coordination with the brigade aviation element and division JAGIC executes this process for the maneuver commander. 4-82. The FA BN primarily uses digital means to plan and execute fires. However, the BN may receive planned and immediate fire missions from a wide variety of sources, in both voice and digital formats. These requests may have been generated by lower or higher echelon maneuver FSE and by trained FA observers and untrained observers. UAS may send calls for fire directly to the brigade FSE as the aircraft may be considered a brigade asset. DIGITAL FIRE REQUESTS 4-83. Digital fire missions may be received from FA and non-FA digital systems. Procedures and capabilities may vary depending on which digital systems are interfacing with one another. Training opportunities should be aggressively sought out. FA technical rehearsals should thoroughly address digital interface issues. Whenever possible, digital fire missions should be rehearsed along the entire data link, under the same digital conditions anticipated for the actual operation (for example, extended communications distances, surge digital traffic capacity, degraded operations, and alternate routes). VOICE FIRE REQUESTS 4-84. Use of voice may be necessary for unplanned, immediate fire requests or during denied, disrupted, degraded operations. FDCs must anticipate the circumstances and the types of voice missions they may encounter. The tactical solution and effects on the target should be essentially the same regardless of whether the mission is processed voice or digital. However, missions from untrained observers must be rehearsed during training to establish proper unit techniques.