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

Artillery Operations __________________________________________________________________________________________ 10-33
The S-2 determines the threat doctrinal
movement rates using input from higher
headquarter’s intelligence estimates, and from the
home station database he has built and refined.
These doctrinal rates are now further refined
based on METT-T.
For friendly defensive operations, the first TPL is
drawn at the threat’s assembly area or where
friendly assets will first detect threat movement.
Drawing TPLs throughout the AO continues
using selected time increments. A TPL is placed
at every location where the threat’s movement
rate is significantly altered; e.g., entering and
exiting a minefield.
For friendly offensive operations, the S-2 develops
TPLs for friendly attacking forces and threat
counterattack forces in the same manner
described. Friendly movement rates are obtained
from the OPORD, unit SOPs, and the infantry
battalion FSCs/artillery LNOs.
The artillery battalion uses these TPLs to understand
the timing of the battle as it is occurring. This
is particularly important when developing triggers/
DPs for unit movements, releasing reconnaissance
assets, and conducting CSS operations. The TPLs
will help identify lulls in the battle and times when
the artillery battalion can plan on not needing all
firing units available. Performed correctly, it will
become very clear when the best time is to move
batteries and/or conduct other operations.
The S-2’s can get a good basis for analysis from
maneuver rehearsals as they cover the execution
of the battle by phase. The artillery S-2 should
talk with the maneuver S-2 and agree on the rates
of march by phase so all fire supporters are
basing triggers on the same TPLs. This requires
the artillery battalion S-2 to attend or be represented
at these rehearsals.
Radar Zones
The S-2 incorporates proposed radar zones onto
the event template. The FSC and the artillery
staff will both generate proposed events and
areas that require coverage by specific radar
zones. Based on the capability of the attached
radar or the number of zones allocated, the artillery
battalion staff finalizes the number, type,
location, queuing assets, and/or time for all
approved radar zones.
The TPLs on the event template will assist the S-2
in determining a proactive queuing schedule to
cover critical events such as friendly breaching
operations or when the threat is conducting a
particular phase of its artillery fire plan. The TPLs
will also assist in determining triggers to implement
or cancel planned radar zones.
Whether or not the artillery battalion has radar
attached, radar zones should be shown on the event
template. If the artillery battalion has a radar
attached, the S-2 will complete a radar deployment
order using the zones from the event template. If the
artillery battalion does not have a radar attached, the
S-2 will nominate the zones on his event template to
the artillery regiment for coverage.
Decision Support Template
The DST relates the details of the event template
to DPs that are of significance to artillery. It does
not dictate decisions to the S-3, but rather identifies
critical events and threat activities relative to
time and location that may require tactical
decisions. The DST provides a structured basis for
using experience and judgment to reduce battlefield
uncertainties. The following should occur:
● Overlay the event template on the operations
graphic to depict TPLs on the battlefield. The S-
3 then lists the critical fire support tasks for the
battalion. These may be battalion mass missions,
special munitions missions, unit movements,
reconnaissance, survey operations, etc.
● Wargame each critical fire support task, in
order, with the S-2 talking timing of the battle
from his TPLs, the S-3 talking critical fire
support tasks, and the FDO talking honest
mission execution times.