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

Artillery Operations _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 6-7
Purpose
SECTION IV. GUN LINE PROCEDURES
Proper gun line procedures are essential to provide
timely, accurate artillery fires in support of the
maneuver element. The following paragraphs
contain common techniques and procedures.
Special Missions
When firing special missions, it is vital that all
procedures on the gun line are clearly understood
and followed.
Priority Target
● Lay on priority target data at the end of each
mission.
● Prepare, segregate, and identify designated
ammunition and powder.
Final Protective Fires
● The gun line will lay on FPF data at the end of
each mission.
● Preferred ammunition for the FPF is high
explosive/fuse quick (HE/Q) unless otherwise
dictated by the FDC.
● Howitzers will be fired at their maximum rate of
fire for 3 minutes followed by their sustained
rate of fire until the command “cease loading”
or all prescribed ammunition is expended.
Fire Plans
When operating in an automated environment, fire
plans will be transmitted via GDUs. If time permits,
a dry-fire rehearsal will be conducted prior to the
actual schedule of fires being initiated. If GDUs are
not operational or when conducting degraded operations,
the following are proven practices:
● The operations chief or FDO records all fire
commands on a 5” x 7” card by line number
and submits to each section chief.
● The operations chief or FDO talks directly to
the section chiefs via the voice wire link and
passes the aforementioned data so it may be
recorded by the gun line.
Regardless of the method used, section chiefs will
ensure designated ammunition and powder are
prepared and segregated by fire plan/series name.
Direct Fire
Direct fire is fire delivered on a target by use of
direct-laying techniques. Direct fire is usually in
conjunction with an emergency displacement,
taking only essential gear.
Out of Traverse
See applicable weapon’s TM.