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 6-37 Stability operations are often conducted in noncontiguous areas of operation. This can complicate the use of fire support coordination measures, the ability to mass and shift fires, and clearance of fires procedures. Fires may be used more frequently to defend key sites than to seize them. Additional planning for the use of precision and near precision munitions and employment of additional nonlethal capabilities may be necessary to limit collateral damage. Planning fire support to demonstrate capabilities, provide a show of force, or to provide AD fires. An increase in the amount and types of restrictive FSCMs may be appropriate THE SUPPORT AND CONSOLIDATION AREAS 6-164. The consolidation area is the portion of the land commander's area of operations that may be designated to facilitate freedom of action, consolidate gains through decisive action, and set conditions to transition the area of operations to follow on forces or other legitimate authorities (ADP 3-0). The consolidation area does not necessarily need to surround, nor contain, the support area base clusters, but typically it does. It requires a purposefully task-organized, combined arms unit to conduct area security and stability tasks and employ and clear fires. Thus, a division or corps HQ would receive an additional subordinate unit responsible for the consolidation area. For example, a division HQ would receive an additional BCT, and assign that BCT an AO that corresponds with the division's consolidation area. Those subordinate units clear their AO of stay behind forces and bypassed enemy units to ensure friendly freedom of action in those areas as their parent corps or division continues to advance. These units begin performing selective stability operations once they establish area security within the consolidation area. 6-165. The support area is the portion of the commander's area of operations that is designated to facilitate the positioning, employment, and protection of base sustainment assets required to sustain, enable, and control operations (ADP 3-0). In large-scale ground combat operations, a maneuver enhancement brigade is assigned to the support area, and it provides support to forces in contact with the enemy. THREATS IN THE SUPPORT AND CONSOLIDATION AREA 6-166. Threats in the support and consolidation areas are categorized by the three levels of defense required to counter them. Any or all threat levels may exist simultaneously. Emphasis on base defense and security measures may depend on the anticipated threat level described below: A level I threat is a small enemy force that can be defeated by those units normally operating in the echelon support area or by the perimeter defenses established by friendly bases and base clusters (ATP 3-91). A Level I threat for a typical base consists of a squad-sized unit or smaller groups of enemy soldiers, agents, or terrorists. A level II threat is an enemy force or activities that can be defeated by a base or base cluster's defensive capabilities when augmented by a response force (ATP 3-91). A typical response force is an MP platoon (with appropriate supporting fires); however, it can be a combined arms maneuver element. Level II threats consist of enemy special operations teams, long-range reconnaissance units, mounted or dismounted combat reconnaissance teams, and partially attrited small combat units. A level III threat is an enemy force or activities beyond the defensive capability of both the base and base cluster and any local reserve or response force (ATP 3-91). It consists of mobile enemy combat forces. Possible objectives for a Level III threat include seizing key terrain, interfering with the movement and commitment of reserves and artillery, and destroying friendly combat forces. The division response to a Level III threat is a tactical combat force (TCF). A tactical combat force is a rapidly deployable, air-ground mobile combat unit with appropriate combat support and combat service support assets assigned to and capable of, defeating Level III threats, including combined arms (JP 3-10). The TCF requires tactical mobility and enough combined arms capability to deal with the threats it is likely to face. It should include or be supported by fires, aviation, and engineer assets. (FM 3-0). Should the TCF with its supporting artillery be committed, the SACP FSO will coordinate with the FSE for additional FS attack/delivery systems as needed to assist base, base cluster, or other response forces countering level II or III threats. The TCF will retain POF.