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

Artillery Operations ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2-11
diverting DS artillery from its primary mission,
artillery units in GS are normally tasked first. The
regiment FDC directs the massing of artillery
battalions on targets worthy of such attack.
Targeting and Counterfire Activities
The regiment FDC works closely with the
division FSCC and division G-2 section to
manage targeting. The artillery regiment
commander, as division FSC, ensures the coordination
of all targeting and counterfire activities.
The regiment S-3 and S-2 interface with their
counterparts in the artillery battalions and with
the CBR platoon commander for targeting.
Specific emphasis is on counterfire targets.
Movement and Positioning
The regiment FDC monitors the location of artillery
battalions, attached artillery units, and
weapons-locating radars.
The artillery battalion commander in DS will
position his batteries to best support the
supported unit. He keeps the regiment FDC
informed on the positions of his units. The DS
artillery commander keeps the regiment FDC
informed of all displacements directed by the DS
battalion to include the reinforcing artillery
battalion. When required, the artillery regiment
commander or S-3 may assign a PA to a DS or
reinforcing battalion. This is normally done for a
future mission assignment. Such assignment must
not preclude the battalion from accomplishing its
current mission.
The regiment commander or S-3 directs the
positioning of GS and GS-R units and radars
operating under regiment control. These units are
positioned to ensure adequate coverage of the
division, provide mutual support, support the
division as a whole, and facilitate future mission
assignments. The positions of DS and R units are
considered when positioning GS and GS-R units
within the division FSCC.
Clearance to Fire
Calls for Fire
The FDC is responsible for ensuring clearance to
fire has been received for artillery fires. Artillery
fires on targets beyond an established coordinated
fire line (CFL), by definition, can be delivered
without clearance from the unit in whose zone of
action the fires will impact. Fires on targets short
of the CFL, however, require some method of
clearance. Based on the commander’s rules of
engagement (ROE), the procedure for clearing
these calls for fire will be specified in operation
orders or unit SOPs as positive clearance or
passive clearance. Artillery COF nets are
monitored by artillery LNOs in battalion FSCCs.
After coordinating the monitored call for fire as
discussed in MCWP 3-16, the LNO (on behalf of
the FSC) approves or denies the request for clearance
to engage the target and the use of artillery on
the target (type and volume of fire requested).
Under positive clearance procedures, each call for
fire on targets short of the CFL must be specifically
cleared by a voice or digital transmission
from the FSCC of the unit in whose zone of action
the fires will impact. This may require FSCCs
monitoring calls for fire from its observers to seek
clearance from other FSCCs. Under passive clearance
procedures, the FSCC monitors the call for
fire transmission. It remains silent if the fire
mission is cleared (silence is consent). It interjects
by voice or digital transmission if the fire mission
is not cleared or if more time is required to clear
the fire mission; e.g., with another FSCC. For
further discussion, see MCWP 3-16.
Adjustments
Cumulative corrections in the adjustment phase
of a fire mission must be followed for possible
interference or danger to friendly units.