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

Artillery Operations _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 5-3
● Coordinate use of attached assets.
● Coordinate the delivery of artillery support;
stay abreast of the supported unit’s tactical situation
for adequate and safe artillery support;
keep others informed of the artillery situation,
such as ammunition status.
● Employ operational security and EW in artillery
operations.
● Work closely with commanders, other staff officers,
and the staffs of higher, lower, reinforcing,
reinforced, and supported units on artillery;
keep the S-2 informed of all targets attacked or
planned for attack and advise on changes in
observation and intelligence requirements.
● Coordinate the activities of LNOs.
● Work with the S-4 and S-6 to keep them situationally
aware of the current ammunition status
and communication requirements, respectively.
● Coordinate survey activities.
Battalion Assistant Operations Officer/
Fire Direction Officer/Watch Officer
The assistant operations officer executes the fire
plan and manages the assets under the battalion’s
control. In the absence of the S-3, he executes the
responsibilities of the S-3. In addition, he has the
following responsibilities:
● Supervise the operation of the FDC.
● Ensure dissemination of information to subordinate
units.
● Perform tactical fire direction.
● Brief COC watch officer in accordance with
appendix E.
● Perform tactical fire direction to coordinate the
attack of targets generated by the intelligence
section, higher headquarters, and attached units.
● Review schedules of fire to alleviate unnecessary
duplication and to execute as appropriate.
● The battalion FDO, assisted by battalion fire
direction personnel, trains battery FDC personnel
and ensures battery FDCs manage muzzle velocity
variances (MVVs), weapons information, and
ammunition.
Battalion Operations Chief
The battalion operations chief is the principal
assistant to the operations officer. His duties
include, but are not limited to, the following:
● Perform tactical/technical fire direction.
● Supervise operation of the COC.
● Ensure a COC journal is continuously maintained.
● Ensure all SITMAPs and overlays are current
and applicable.
● Supervise the COC’s establishment and displacement.
● Establish a watch schedule.
● Maintain accountability of all COC personnel.
● Assist the S-3 and watch officer in their duties.
Battalion Assistant Operations Chief
The battalion assistant operations chief is the
principal assistant to the assistant operations
officer/FDO/watch officer. His duties include, but
are not limited to, the following:
● Supervise inventories and loading of equipment.
● Supervise vehicle maintenance.
● Prepare COC supply requisitions.
● Assist in fire planning.
● Assist the operations chief in his duties and
responsibilities.
Tactical Policies
Tactical policies for the artillery battalion are the
same as the artillery regiment.