FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Chapter 6 6-24 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 FIRE SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINMENT IN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS 6-103. As units move forward and offensive combat operations are initiated, lines of communication extend and detailed planning is required to accommodate increased rates of consumption. FS operations must be sustainable with fuel, ammunition, maintenance, and medical support by aerial and ground means. FS and sustainment planners must arrange for fuel to be pushed forward to allow artillery units to refuel with minimum disruption to operations. Planning should consider access to prepositioned forward corps and division assets to include refuel-on-the-move options and equipment recovery support. Refueling on the move is the preferred option for operations in the offense. During movement to contact, units should anticipate a disruption of resupply. They should carry sufficient supplies to support them through the movement to contact and ensuing battle. 6-104. Prior to crossing the LD in support of offensive operations, firing units should use prepositioned ammunition stocks to fire preparations or other programs requiring extensive expenditure of ammunition. This will conserve up-loaded ammunition and permit advance into enemy territory with a maximum amount of accompanying ammunition stocks. 6-105. Sustainment operations during deliberate attacks should focus on weighting the main effort and the resupply of critical items such as fuel and ammunition and the provision of medical and maintenance support. Follow-on operations must be considered to ensure a swift transition into exploitation or pursuit operations. TRANSITION TO THE DEFENSE 6-106. Commanders retain greater flexibility for defensive operations if they begin preparations before the force culminates. This may allow commanders to dictate where they conduct defensive operations. Commanders can plan future activities to aid defensive operations, minimize vulnerability to attack, and facilitate renewal of offensive operations as a force transitions to branches or sequels of an ongoing operation. For example, some of a commander's subordinate units may move into battle positions before the entire unit terminates the offense. Commanders can echelon sustainment assets forward to establish a new echelon support area. 6-107. If a force achieves its objectives, and the situation makes focusing on defensive operations inappropriate, then commanders transition to a security and stability focus. The commander's intent and concept of operations drives the design and planning for security and stability. Generally, commanders focus on meeting the minimum-essential stability tasks by providing security and ensuring the provision of essential food, water, shelter, and medical treatment services to the civilian inhabitants in their AO. This occurs in coordination with any existing civil institutions and nongovernmental organizations before addressing the other stability concerns. SECTION IV – ENABLING, STABILITY AND RECONSTITUTION OPERATIONS 6-108. Commanders direct tactical enabling operations to support the performance of all offensive, defensive, and stability operations. Enabling operations are usually conducted by commanders as part of shaping operations and supporting efforts. Enabling operations apply to all elements of decisive action. See ADP 3-90, ATP 3-90.4, ATP 3-90.8 for more information on these enabling operations. ENABLING OPERATIONS 6-109. The tactical enabling operations are reconnaissance, security, troop movement, relief in place, passage of lines, encirclement operations, mobility operations and countermobility operations. They will be discussed in the following paragraphs. RECONNAISSANCE 6-110. Reconnaissance is a mission undertaken to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or adversary, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area (JP 2-0). Reconnaissance accomplished by small units primarily relies on the human dynamic rather than technical means.