FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
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Chapter 4 4-4 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 operations during critical phases. Equally important is the timing of their return to divisional control. The return must be carefully planned and coordinated. 4-20. The DIVARTY can provide the counterfire HQ for the division. If allocated the necessary firing units, the target processing section of the TA platoon, in conjunction with the DIVARTY CP, can be designated and coordinate the counterfire fight for the division. 4-21. WLRs organic to the FAB and DIVARTY send acquisitions acquired by the radar to the FDC at the designated FA BN. Counterfire targets are usually generated from CFZs or CFFZs. If the situation warrants, a quick-fire channel can be established from a radar directly to a firing battery or platoon. Quick-fire channels, when directed, are established for a specified period to achieve specific mission requirements. Pre-clearance of such targets needs to be defined in precise terms that identify the conditions under which the target is pre- cleared for engagement. SECTION III – FIELD ARTILLERY CAPABILITIES IN DEPTH 4-22. Deep and simultaneous attacks, executed at increasingly longer range and with precision, are key elements for division, corps, and JFCs in shaping the battlefield and accelerating the enemy's defeat. In both offense and defense, deep operations are conducted to isolate, immobilize, and weaken the enemy in depth, using fire, maneuver, or a combination of the two. Deep offensive FA fires may be used to limit the enemy's ability to shift forces to meet attacking friendly maneuver forces and to sustain the momentum of the attack. Deep fires limit, delay, or disrupt the enemy's attacking echelons and FS, C2, communications, and logistics. They are intended to reduce the enemy's rate of arrival in the close area to a level manageable by maneuver commanders. 4-23. FA systems are fully capable of conducting deep precision strikes and massing fires under all weather conditions, day or night. They provide joint and land component commanders the capability to engage HPTs when and where required. Precision strikes are also important factors in consolidation of gains and stability operations where the threat of collateral damage is often of primary concern. Collateral damage is a form of collateral effect that causes unintentional or incidental injury or damage to persons or objects that would not be lawful military targets in the circumstances ruling at the time (JP 3-60). 4-24. As part of deep operations, proactive TA and FA counterfires can affect threat indirect fire systems before they have a major influence on the battle. Similarly, deep attack can interdict or attrit enemy maneuver forces, surface-to surface missile systems, and logistic units/facilities; alter combat power ratios; and limit an opponent's freedom of action while simultaneously enhancing friendly options and force protection. FA fires, either separately or as part of joint and combined arms missions, assist with SEAD and SCAR. 4-25. At corps and division levels, close operations during the offense or defense are undertaken to win the current battle or engagement. Close battle occurs where, when, and against whom commanders choose to commit assault forces. FA fires, in the form of preparations, counterfires, and SEAD support friendly schemes of maneuver by assisting in denying the enemy favorable avenues of approach, helping maneuver forces control terrain, and defeating attacks. Counterfires engage enemy artillery and other indirect fire systems to preserve friendly fighting forces and combat capabilities. They give supported elements the freedom to maneuver, while obscuration smoke hides friendly movements and illumination exposes enemy formations at night. Obscuration is the employment of materials into the environment that degrade optical and/or electro- optical capabilities within select portions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to deny acquisition by or deceive an enemy or adversary (ATP 3-11.50). The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from zero to infinity. It is divided into 26 alphabetically designated bands (JP 3- 13.1). Close fires are normally the main concern of DS FA battalions whose fires in support of forces in contact may be augmented by fires from DIVARTY and FAB units. Commanders and planners must ensure that maneuver forces receive an appropriate share of available FS to include security forces and reserves upon commitment. 4-26. Consolidation and support area operations are conducted to ensure that friendly forces retain freedom of action to support combat forces engaged in deep and close operations. FA assets are seldom sufficient to dedicate firing units to consolidation and support area as their sole or primary mission. FA commanders, in the role as FSCOORD, may assign on-order support relationships to support corps or division consolidation area operations. They can also meet consolidation area FA support requirements by assigning GS and GSR