FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Chapter 2 2-18 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 NAVAL SURFACE FIRE SUPPORT 2-80. Naval surface fire support is fire provided by Navy surface gun and missile systems in support of a unit or units (JP 3-09.3). When supporting an amphibious assault, the commander, amphibious task force, prepares the overall NSFS plan. In general, the mission of NSFS units in an amphibious assault is to support the assault by destroying or neutralizing shore installations that oppose the approach of ships and aircraft and to deliver fires against enemy forces that may oppose the landing force, including its post-landing advance. 2-81. When the number of ships permits, individual ships will be assigned as DS to battalions conducting an amphibious assault. The DS mission establishes the priority in which the ship will process calls for supporting fire and the anticipated zone of fire (ZF). The ship delivers fires on planned targets and targets of opportunity in the ZF, which normally corresponds to the zone of action of the supported unit. The GS mission requires an NSFS ship to support the force as a whole, or that portion of the force assigned to the ship, by attacking targets in the ZF. 2-82. The MK 45 gun is a fully-automatic, naval gun mount that is designed to engage surface and air targets and to provide naval surface fire support for expeditionary operations. The MK 45 Mod 4 gun mount upgrade includes a longer barrel (62 caliber) that improves the gun's effectiveness as a land attack weapon for naval surface fire support. 2-83. Limitations of naval surface fire support. The observer must remain abreast of the gun-target-line relationship because the characteristic flat trajectory of naval gunfire results in a pronounced dispersion pattern along the gun target line (referred to as the GTL) range dispersion. The flat trajectory and high muzzle velocity of naval gunfire make the adjustment of naval gunfire difficult, particularly on flat terrain. The fall of shot of naval gunfire can be described as a narrow, elongated pattern as seen along the gun-target-line. The size of the pattern varies with range. For example, at 21,000 meters, the five-inch-gun mount will cause a round-to-round dispersion pattern that is approximately 150 meters long and 50 meters wide. AIR TO SURFACE CAPABILITIES 2-84. Fixed-Wing Aircraft. Fixed-wing aircraft provide flexibility, range, speed, lethality, precision, and the ability to mass fires at a desired time and place. Fixed wing aircraft support the joint fires tasks of strategic attack, countering air and missile threats (including SEAD and offensive counterair), and interdiction. Fixed- wing aircraft provide joint FS with AI, CAS, airborne C2, ISR, SCAR, SEAD, and FAC(A). The capacity of aircraft to deliver precision-guided munitions limits collateral damage. Also, aircraft may provide real-time attack assessment. Air interdiction, is air operations conducted to divert, disrupt, delay, or destroy the enemy's military surface capabilities before it can be brought to bear effectively against friendly forces, or to otherwise achieve objectives that are conducted at such distances from friendly forces that detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of friendly forces is not required. Also called AI (JP 3-03). Close air support, is air action by aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces and that require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces. Also called CAS (JP 3-09.3). Strike coordination and reconnaissance, a mission flown for the purpose of detecting targets and coordinating or performing attack or reconnaissance on those targets. Also called SCAR (JP 3- 03). SCAR missions are flown in a specific geographic area and are an element of the C2 interface to allocate flights and assets, properly match weapons effects with targets to effectively and efficiently destroy targets per the supported commanders HPTL, and provide battle damage assessment (BDA). Suppression of enemy air defenses activity that neutralizes, destroys, or temporarily degrades surface-based enemy air defenses by destructive and/or disruptive means. Also called SEAD (JP 3-01). 2-85. Rotary wing aircraft. Rotary-wing aircraft can employ a variety of weapons, including precision- guided weapons beyond line of sight. They can quickly reach and move throughout the depth and breadth of the battlefield. This mobility and flexibility help the commander seize or retain the initiative. They can also