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

Artillery Operations ___________________________________________________________________________________________ G-11
converged sheaf—The lateral distribution of fire
of two or more pieces so that the planes of fire
intersect at a given point. See also open sheaf;
parallel sheaf; special sheaf. (JP 1-02)
convoy—1. A number of merchant ships or naval
auxiliaries, or both, usually escorted by warships
and/or aircraft, or a single merchant ship or naval
auxiliary under surface escort, assembled and
organized for the purpose of passage together. 2. A
group of vehicles organized for the purpose of
control and orderly movement with or without
escort protection. (JP 1-02)
counterbattery fire—Fire delivered for the purpose
of destroying or neutralizing indirect fire
weapon systems. (JP 1-02)
counterfire—Fire intended to destroy or neutralize
enemy weapons (DOD only) Includes counterbattery,
counterbombardment, and countermortar
fire. See also fire. (JP 1-02)
counterfire reference grid—A series of 5-kilometer
squares covering a zone of action used to
rapidly orient target acquisition assets and firing
units to a target area.
counterintelligence—Information gathered and
activities conducted to protect against espionage,
other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations
conducted by or on behalf of foreign governments
or elements thereof, foreign organizations,
or foreign persons, or international terrorist activities.
Also called CI. (JP 1-02)
countermechanized fire—Fire delivered against
active enemy mechanized units.
countermortar fire—Fire especially directed
against enemy mortars.
counterpreparation fire—Intensive prearranged
fire delivered when the imminence of the enemy
attack is discovered. (DOD only) It is designed to:
break up enemy formations; disorganize the
enemy’s systems of command, communications,
and observation; decrease the effectiveness of
artillery preparation; and impair the enemy’s
offensive spirit. See also fire. (JP 1-02)
course of action—1. A plan that would accomplish,
or is related to, the accomplishment of a mission.
2. The scheme adopted to accomplish a task
or mission. It is a product of the Joint Operation
Planning and Execution System concept development
phase. The supported commander will
include a recommended course of action in the
commander’s estimate. The recommended course
of action will include the concept of operations,
evaluation of supportability estimates of supporting
organizations, and an integrated time-phased
data base of combat, combat support, and combat
service support forces and sustainment. Refinement
of this data base will be contingent on the
time available for course of action development.
When approved, the course of action becomes the
basis for the development of an operation plan or
operation order. Also called COA. (JP 1-02)
covering fire—1. Fire used to protect troops
when they are within range of enemy small arms.
2. In amphibious usage, fire delivered prior to the
landing to cover preparatory operations such as
underwater demolition or minesweeping. See also
fire. (JP 1-02)
crater analysis—Process by which the direction
to an artillery or mortar unit is determined from
analysis of the shell crater. Additionally, shell
fragments are collected to determine the type of
shell that caused the crater.
crest—A terrain feature of such altitude that it
restricts fire or observation in an area beyond,
resulting in dead space, or limiting the minimum
elevation, or both. (JP 1-02)
critical friendly zone—An area in which are
located friendly units or units that the maneuver
commander designates as critical.
cueing—External actions or inputs that cause a
surveillance or target acquisition device to turn
on and search a suspect area.