FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Chapter 6 6-26 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 Main body FA units should be positioned forward to support covering and other security forces. In the offense, FSCMs should be permissive and on-order, well in front of the rapidly moving covering force. On order CFLs should be established in conjunction with phase lines, as close as possible to friendly troops. FA units must have the mobility equal to that of the supported forces. Execute fires to assist maneuver in moving and disengaging. Suppress and obscure enemy overwatch positions. TROOP MOVEMENT 6-114. Troop movement is the displacement of Soldiers and units from one place to another by any available means (ADP 3-90). Troop movements are made by different methods; such as dismounted and mounted marches using organic combat and tactical vehicles; motor transport; and air, rail, and water means in various combinations. FS considerations for troop movement are similar to the FS considerations for security operations listed above and by applying the FS functions. Establish CFZs on choke points and main intersections. Plan fires for hasty attack and/or hasty defense. Fire plans should be simple, most fires will be against targets of opportunity. Allocate dedicated TA, attack and delivery systems to support the movement. RELIEF IN PLACE 6-115. A relief in place is an operation in which, by the direction of higher authority, all or part of a unit is replaced in an area by the incoming unit and the responsibilities of the replaced elements for the mission and the assigned zone of operations are transferred to the incoming unit (JP 3-07.3). There are three techniques for conducting a relief: sequentially, simultaneously, or staggered. Simultaneous relief takes the least time to execute, but is more easily detected by the enemy. Sequential or staggered reliefs can occur over a significant amount of time. These three relief techniques can occur regardless of the operational theme in which the unit is participating. (See figure 6-5). 6-116. A relief does not normally require artillery units to relieve weapon system for weapon system, unless the terrain limits the number of firing positions available. Generally, the relieved unit's artillery and other fire support assets remain in place until all other relieved elements displace and are available to reinforce the fires of the relieving unit in case the enemy tries to interfere. If the purpose of the relief is to continue the attack, the FS attack/delivery systems of both forces generally remain in place to support the subsequent operation. FS considerations during a relief in place include: The relieving unit adopts the FS plan of the unit being relieved. The FS assets of both units support the relief. This maintains FS if the enemy detects the relief and tries to exploit the situation. Plan fires to deceive the enemy and expedite the relief. FS attack/delivery systems maintain normal activity patterns. For example, a unit continues to expend the same average number of artillery rounds per day during the relief that it expended before the initiation of the relief. The commander does not relieve FA units at the same time as the maneuver units they support. Relieving FA units do not occupy previously used firing positions. Instead, relieving firing units establish firing positions near those firing positions of the relieved unit and carefully integrate their fire with that of the relieved unit. Occupying firing positions at night or during periods of poor visibility enhances OPSEC.