MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

Artillery Operations ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 9-13
maintenance while underway. The following artillery
personnel embark with their supported units:
● Fire support coordination personnel with the
supported unit.
● Liaison personnel with their assigned units.
● FO teams with their supported units.
Load Plans
Artillery build-up ashore (advance parties, batteries,
and battalion command echelons) must be considered.
Load plans address the composition of the
reconnaissance party and provide for the establishment
of survey control, communications, selecting
battery positions, beach exits, route guides, and
marking. The team embarkation officer prepares
load plans in coordination with the ship’s combat
cargo officer. Ship’s loading characteristics
pamphlets (SLCPs) identify detailed loading characteristics
of assigned ships. An inspection is made of
stowage areas, holds, and decks to verify the data in
the SLCP. The ship’s CO approves the load plan
before loading starts and approves required changes.
Helicopter Movement
Helicopters provide a means of mobility for towed
weapons and a means of resupply for artillery units.
Their use may be limited by availability,
atmospheric conditions, and the threat. Successful
movement of artillery by helicopter depends on the
extent of coordination and reverse planning. The
supported unit’s air officer provides technical assistance.
In addition to the concept of operations,
major considerations include the following:
● C2 and face-to-face coordination.
● Organization of the unit in relation to the
mission.
● Mobility of the unit once the helicopter lifts.
● Reconnaissance and selection of routes, loading
areas, landing sites, and PAs.
● Preparation of helicopter employment assault
landing tables.
● Resupply, survey, and met requirements.
● Threat situation.
● Use of division reconnaissance teams to determine
the ground threat in the PA.
Helicopter movement of artillery units is conducted
in four phases:
● The planning phase begins with the issuance of a
warning order and continues through the
commencement of the movement. It encompasses
coordination with supported and supporting units,
reconnaissance and selection of position, fire
planning, and rehearsals if time permits.
● The loading phase consists of ground movement
to appropriate pick-up areas; preparing the
helicopter loading area; preparing troops, equipment,
and supplies; and loading helicopters.
● The movement phase is the actual move from
the loading area to the landing site. It begins
with the take-off of the first helicopter and
ends with the arrival of the last helicopter at
the landing site.
● The occupation of position phase consists of
establishing a helicopter landing site by an
advanced artillery party, unloading personnel
and equipment, and occupying the position.
Appendix F contains detailed information on
planning, organizing, and executing heliborne
artillery raids.
Fixed-Wing Air Transport
Artillery units can be transported by fixed-wing
aircraft. Detailed and flexible plans are required
due to the different models of available aircraft,
weather, distance, staging, material handling,
dunnage, and shoring requirements.
Movement by Rail
Artillery units can be moved by rail. Planning
factors that govern rail movement include the
distance to be traveled, availability of railroad
facilities, and priorities established by the tactical
situation.