FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
Page 149 of 256
Fire Support in Depth During Large-Scale Ground Combat Operations 30 April 2020 FM 3-09 6-39 AIRSPACE CONTROL IN THE CONSOLIDATION AND SUPPORT AREA 6-171. Both corps and divisions require the capability to control airspace. Airspace control in the consolidation and support areas may be accomplished by a variety of methods. Delegating airspace control to the division responsible for the consolidation area allows the corps to focus on rapidly coordinating airspace for corps fires and for dynamic repositioning of corps aircraft. 6-172. If the corps is primarily conducting operations to consolidate gains, then it may choose to retain control of airspace over the entire corps AO. The nature of corps deep fires requires that the consolidation area division, the FAB, and the corps, establish a rapid airspace coordination network to enable responsive fires (FM 3-0). CLEARANCE OF FIRES 6-173. The SACP must be staffed with the necessary intelligence, FS, and airspace control personnel to plan, answer calls-for-fire, and coordinate additional enablers for support area security forces and units transiting through the consolidation area. The commander must decide how to deconflict fires between the support area and the consolidation area. Liaison personnel exchanged between the consolidation area and SACPs can facilitate the deconfliction of fires in support of units moving between the support area and consolidation area. 6-174. The BCTs ADAM cell must be tied into the division JAGIC to clear airspace for the consolidation area. In this instance the BCT commander must clear fires for the consolidation area. Consolidation area targeting working groups and boards must be aligned with close and deep operations to compete for resources. 6-175. FSCOORD and FS personnel must be aware of their left and right boundaries and the FS assets of adjacent units. They must have FSCMs in place and be aware of clearance procedures for cross boundary fires. CAB assets should be task organized to respond to threats in the consolidation area. The FSCOORD and FS personnel must integrate base cluster defenses into consolidation area support plans. 6-176. Conditions and triggers must be established for shifting the FSCMs. In addition, triggers must be established for moving the division and BCT rear boundaries forward as the consolidation area conditions change. There must also be procedures in place for the battle hand over NAIs, TAIs and any significant activities logs. 6-177. Figure 6-7 on page 6-40, shows the complexity of FS in the consolidation area. In addition to coordinating FS for the maneuver BCT in a division's consolidation area, the SACP or consolidation area FSCOORD must also consider airspace and terrain deconfliction for division- and corps-level GS and GSR shooters supporting the close and deep area operations. Additionally, movement along critical lines of communication (main supply routes and alternate supply routes) may be contested and may require FS within the consolidation area to facilitate movement to and from supported units in the close area. The HQ elements, support nodes, and base clusters likely in and around the support area will present large target signatures and increased ground and air traffic, requiring additional assets and coordination through the consolidation area CP. The fight in the consolidation area is complex and will require detailed planning and rehearsal to adequately support operations in the close and deep areas.