FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Fire Support in Depth During Large-Scale Ground Combat Operations 30 April 2020 FM 3-09 6-23 Conduct strikes on repositioning and withdrawing enemy forces to disrupt or slow the enemy's retreat. Exploiting forces should be allocated as much CAS and attack aviation as possible. Support CAB attack operations with SEAD. Destroy enemy C2 facilities to disrupt the enemy's ability to consolidate and reorganize. Use available aviation assets and joint fires to facilitate continuous fires on fleeing enemy forces while units are repositioned or moved with the exploiting or pursuing force. Plan fires to support the flanks and rear of pursuing or exploiting forces. Provide fires to destroy enemy hasty defenses and allow the continued pursuit of the enemy main body. Request, monitor, and update FSCMs as the exploitation and pursuit continues. Provide fires on obstacles and chokepoints to continue destruction of retreating enemy forces. Plan for greater use of retransmission capabilities. Plan for increased use of Class III (petroleum, oil and lubricants) and Class V (ammunition of all types) supplies. Position WLRs to cover critical friendly assets that are vulnerable to indirect fire from bypassed regular or irregular forces. Monitor WLR acquisitions for indications of scatterable mine emplacement by the enemy. THE RESERVE IN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS 6-99. In the offense, a sizable reserve force exists. At the corps, the reserve may be a division; while at the division the fixed figure for a reserve force should not be estimated. The commander establishes its planning priorities for likely contingencies. A reserve reinforces or maintains the attack's momentum by- Exploiting success when the opportunity arises. Countering tactical reverses, such as an enemy counterattack against committed units. Sustaining the attack of a committed unit. Countering threats to the corps or division support areas and consolidation areas that exceed the capabilities of local forces to defeat. 6-100. In organizing the artillery for combat and in allocating other FS assets, the following must be considered: A plan for the use of FS organic assets to the reserve force until it is committed. Provision of adequate support to the force at the time of commitment. 6-101. Support relationships of GS to the corps, GSR to DIVARTY of a committed division and DS to a brigade are ideal missions for artillery of a reserve force. Positioning and ammunition expenditures can be controlled by the FFA HQ that has overall responsibility for FS. This helps the units make an easy transition to their on-order support relationship once their force is committed. 6-102. Plan fires to support the commitment of the reserve during movement. Fires are planned: On the flanks to protect the force. On the way to the objective. On the objective to suppress, neutralize, or destroy targets. Mass fires at the breakthrough point or at the point of assault to create a hole in the enemy defenses. Beyond the objective to prevent counterattacks, to help consolidate the objective, and to prevent reinforcement of the objective area. On enemy elements that have been by passed. FSCMs such as CFLs must be well forward to ensure the force will not outrun them.