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 6-33 Destroy or suppress enemy antitank weapon systems. Destroy or suppress enemy dismounted infantry positions. Delay, disrupt, and neutralize enemy repositioning forces. Destroy, suppress, or obscure enemy observation posts. 6-146. The commander designates and assigns priority targets to make indirect fires more responsive to maneuver unit execution. Observers must be employed to effectively engage such targets during a maneuver force breaching operation. The FSCOORD, FSE and fire control personnel monitor the command network and lift and shift fires at the critical time, should the primary executor be unable to execute. 6-147. Attack/delivery systems cross the obstacle with the forces they support to extend the breach and ensure continuous support of follow-on operations. Positioning is critical at the breach area. FS assets should be positioned to support the breaching operation, but not interfere with the approach, the breach, or assault forces. Breaching operations consume a significant amount of ammunition. Planners must consider pre- positioning stocks of smoke, HE, and precision munitions. 6-148. In coordination with the G-3, the FSCOORD and FSE consider the requirements for protection at the breach area. They also plan for WLRs zones and consider the enemy phases of fire for defensive operations. The FSCOORD and FSE consider CFZs and FSCMs between the enemy and the breach area, and the support and breach force positions. They also consider establishing NFAs or RFAs around scouts or other observers, and RFLs for forces converging on the objective. 6-149. The commander may give the priority of indirect fires to the unit most likely to encounter an obstacle. The FSE maintains a focus on the critical tasks and continuously adjusts the plan as required in order to accomplish the mission. FS planning guidelines for breaching operations include: Use IPB techniques to designate enemy high-value targets and identify HPTs for attack. Plan EA assets to defeat the improvised explosive device threat, disrupt enemy information collection, reconnaissance and surveillance efforts, and detect enemy use of the electromagnetic spectrum for targeting purposes. Use scouts or other observers to identify and monitor target around the breach area prior to arrival of main body. Refine targets based on intelligence and the knowledge of the actual breach area. Plan target handoff with observers or scouts. Position primary and alternate observers focused on identification of HPTs. Plan priority of fires to the rupture force and then to the follow-and-assume force. Plan and firing smoke to cover movement of the follow-and-assume force into the support-by-fire position. Fires for obscuration or screening should start before the follow-and-assume force enters the direct fire range of enemy systems. Determine the placement (wind condition), density, and timing of obscuration smoke on enemy positions and screening smoke between the enemy and the reduction area. Plan triggers to lift or shift fires from obscuration to suppression when necessary. Plan FSCMs such as RFAs and RFLs and WLR CFZs at the breach area, support-by-fire position(s), and the objective, once it has been secured by the rupture force. Recommend that the units focus on antitank weapon systems and dismounted infantry and suggest additional smoke, if required. Rehearse and communicate when the conditions have been met to commit the breach force. 6-150. Once the follow-and-assume force is deployed, it must rapidly develop and disseminate a fire plan designating sectors of fire and observation to ensure all possible enemy positions are covered. Observation is particularly critical. Observers with the follow-and-support force initially bring indirect fires on enemy positions to fix them in place. The observers should also cue the organic FA and its R artillery to prepare immediate counterfire. The follow-and-assume force then adjusts obscuration. The follow-and-assume force is responsible for controlling fires for suppression and obscuration and for setting the conditions for the breach.