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

Artillery Operations _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 3-5
(FWD) “Roger, I am prepared to assume
control, over”
(Main) “Roger, __th Marines FWD, out”*
(FWD) “__th Marines, out”*
* Call signs change, making passage of C2 “invisible”
to supported units.
Actions Upon Arrival of Main Body
● A guide is sent to the pick-up point to facilitate
a rapid, orderly occupation by the main COC.
● Representatives from every section meet their
respective vehicles to guide them into position.
● The planning cell is established.
● Position improvement is continuous.
● Several tactical procedures may be used for a
rapid passage of C2 back to the main COC. One
way is the main COC collocates with the FWD
COC. This eliminates establishing extra communications
nets and structural reorganization.
Displacement
Artillery displaces to provide continuous support,
maintain communications, and enhance survivability.
Considerations include security requirements,
threat activity, time available to move, distance to be
covered, the scheme of maneuver, and the availability
of artillery. The terrain and tactical situation influence
the distance and frequency of displacements.
Generally, the distance of displacements is at least
one-third the maximum range of the howitzer.
However, survivability moves may be a shorter
distance. The route and timing of displacement must
conform to the operation or the supported or
reinforced unit. The movement may be deliberate or
hasty. Artillery can displace by ground or helicopter.
When two or more artillery battalions displace
over the same route, the higher artillery headquarters
coordinates the movement. When artillery
must displace on a route used by other units, the
maneuver commander coordinates the movement
and establishes route precedence. DS units have
route precedence over all other artillery.
During displacement, reliance is on radio communications.
Displacements and the daily change of
call signs/frequencies should be coordinated to
prevent interference between the two actions.
Arrangements for transfer of fire support responsibility
are made as early as possible. Priority targets
must be covered during displacements.
Execution
A unit in DS displaces when deemed necessary by
the artillery unit commander based on the operations
of the supported unit or when ordered by
higher artillery headquarters. The artillery
commander coordinates the time of movement,
route, method of displacement, and the new PA
with the supported unit.
An artillery unit with a reinforcing mission
displaces on request of the reinforced artillery
unit or when ordered by higher artillery
headquarters. The reinforcing unit notifies the
higher artillery headquarters of the method of
displacement, completion of displacement, and
new position location.
An artillery unit with a GS or GS-R mission
displaces when ordered by the artillery regiment.
The unit commander recommends to the regiment
the PA, route, method of displacement, and time of
displacement. For GS-R artillery, the regiment
may assign the GS-R mission to another unit while
the displacement is in progress.
Methods
The methods of displacement are based on the
tactical situation and the requirement to continuously
control subordinate units. The main
echelon may displace as a unit when detailed
control is not required. When continuous
detailed control is required, the main echelon