FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
Page 142 of 256
Chapter 6 6-32 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 6-138. Suppress: Suppress enemy's direct fire systems near the breach site. Suppression must also be effective against the enemy's indirect fires that can range the breach site. The FSCOORD should designate the breach site as a CFZ for WLRs. Suppress the enemy to allow the follow-and-support force to get into the support by fire position. 6-139. Obscure: Reduce effectiveness of direct fire weapons against the breach and assault elements. Screen the follow-and-support force movement to the support by fire position, if necessary. Smoke should be used with fog or darkness to maximized effectiveness. The commander must decide on the priority for the munition types. Smoke may attract enemy attention or degrade friendly target acquisition or control. 6-140. Secure: Mortars and FA continue suppression and obscuration as necessary while maneuver forces secure the breach site. Support stay-behind forces. 6-141. Reduce: As maneuver forces with engineer support reduce the obstacle and creates lanes the FA and mortars should continue suppression fires and be prepared to lift or shift fires. CAS and attack helicopters should disrupt enemy counterattack forces. Upon reduction of the obstacle and after a foothold is established on the far side of the obstacle, obscuring smoke should be lifted. 6-142. Assault: As the maneuver force assaults through breach to destroy the enemy, FA and mortars should continue suppression fires and be prepared to lift or shift fires as maneuver force approach the enemy battle positions. 6-143. Key fire support tasks in support of a breaching operation include: Mortars - provide suppression and obscuration or screening fires. FA -isolate the breach area and suppress the enemy; provide obscuration/screening fires, and in coordination with the S-3, establish/manage radar CFZs. CAS - isolate and suppress the enemy; disrupt the enemy counterattack. Attack helicopters - isolate and suppress the enemy; disrupt the enemy counterattack. Intelligence - locate and identify HPTs among enemy units in the vicinity of the breach area. Electronic attack - identify, locate, and jam the enemy communications associated with units in the vicinity of the breach area. Obscuration (projected and generated) - isolate the breach area. Scatterable mines - prevent repositioning of enemy forces without hindering friendly actions on the objective; disrupt the enemy counterattack. 6-144. FSE work closely with the G-2 during IPB and information collection. Scouts and other observers can often provide accurate targeting. The FSCOORD and FSE planners may designate the reduction area (or points of breach) and support-by-fire positions providing cover as WLRs CFZs so that they are treated as priority targets for counterfire support. The key is getting targeting information into the FS system and executing fires at the critical time. Scouts and other observers can also be effective in setting and controlling fires for obscuration within the breach area by adjusting fires and correcting for the actual conditions of wind speed and direction. 6-145. In accordance with the scheme of fires, tasks to be executed by FS (to include mortars) in support of the breach may include: Provide fires for obscuration and suppression. Destroy or suppress enemy artillery and mortars.