FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Appendix D D-8 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 materials to harden and camouflage those positions. However counterfire may be limited by the rules of engagement and fear of collateral damage. AIR AND ARMY AVIATION SUPPORT D-49. Air and Army aviation support is an important aspect of urban operations. Although air-delivered fires from manned and unmanned fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft can positively and directly affect the conduct of unit actions in the urban area, the ability of aircraft to provide fires may be limited by the structural makeup of the urban location. FSEs should consider the use of supporting aircraft to observe, call for, and adjust indirect fires, and report battle damage assessment. D-50. Air interdiction can be a vital component of shaping operations in urban terrain. Often, air interdiction of the avenues of approach into the urban area isolates the threat by diverting, disrupting, delaying, or destroying threat forces before they can be used effectively against friendly units. Air interdiction is especially effective in major theater war circumstances where restrictions on airpower are limited and the threat is likely to be a conventionally equipped enemy. In addition to shaping and dominating the urban operation through firepower, the commander can use aviation support capabilities to improve and augment the urban transportation and distribution infrastructure. For more on aviation support to urban operations see ATP 3-06. NONLETHAL ACTIVITIES D-51. Aspects of CEMA (such as electronic attack) and information operations (such as artillery- or air- delivered military information support operations leaflets) are not designed specifically to minimize fatalities, but they may be used with the same intent. Nonlethal activities can help the commander maintain the desired balance between protection, mission accomplishment, and the safety of noncombatants by expanding the number of options available when the use of deadly force poses problems. In determining nonlethal capabilities use and employment, the commander should consider risk, threat perspective, legal, ethical, and environmental concerns, and public opinion: Planning EW assets to defeat the improvised explosive device threat, disrupt enemy information collection (see the discussion in chapter 4 and FM 3-55), reconnaissance and surveillance efforts, and detect the enemy's use of the electromagnetic spectrum for targeting purposes. A threat may interpret the use of nonlethal activities as our reluctance to use force. This may embolden the enemy to adopt courses of action otherwise not considered. Some nonlethal activities may have unintended adverse effects on the local population. This may arouse adverse public opinion. The targeting working group and targeting board must synchronize the use of nonlethal activities. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRE SUPPORT IN URBAN OPERATIONS D-52. The large numbers of noncombatants potentially affected by urban operations are a major legal concern and increase the requirement for knowledgeable and active legal support. Whether noncombatants suffer the negative effects of urban combat or benefit from foreign humanitarian assistance, there are legal requirements and ramifications to every aspect of the operation. Further, the impact military operations have on the local infrastructure must be carefully monitored. Some infrastructure provides service to noncombatants that, if destroyed or significantly curtailed, could result in their displacement or increase the level of human suffering. The laws of armed conflict restrict the targeting of certain infrastructure. D-53. The law of war consists of a number of general principles that must be considered by the commander in evaluating all uses of force. Four of the most important ones are discrimination, military necessity, unnecessary suffering and proportionality: Discrimination - Distinguish between combatants, who may be attacked, and noncombatants who may not be attacked. Military necessity - Use only those measures that are necessary for securing the military objective as soon as possible, unless forbidden by international or domestic law.