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

Artillery Operations ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 6-11
and allows for conduct of a registration or an offset
registration if use of BCS or BUCS-R is lost.
Advance Party Tasks
On arrival at the new position, the advance party halts
and security personnel sweep and secure the battery
position under the supervision of the local security
chief. Security personnel move through the position
and the surrounding terrain to ensure the area is clear
of threat personnel, boobytraps, mines, and NBC
hazards. As the sweep is completed, personnel begin
preparing the position for occupation. The extent of
the preparation is time-dependent; as much work as
possible is done before the arrival of the main body.
As tasks are completed, a hasty local security is
established. Vehicle ground guides await the arrival
of the battery at the pickup point. Advance party
operations tasks include the following:
● Conduct a security sweep of the new position
to secure outside perimeter.
● Concurrently position MK-19’s along the most
likely high speed avenue of approach and
position an M2 machine gun along the long
axis covering the new position.
● Once the position is secure, the CO, with assistance
of the local security chief, selects positions
for each howitzer, the FDC, the antennae farm,
and the battery’s logistics elements.
The battery commander—
● Designates the azimuth of fire, if necessary.
● Selects positions for howitzers, aiming circles,
FDC, BOC, and other installations.
● Provides guidance to the local security chief on
the plan of defense.
● Provides instructions on preparing the position
to the guns platoon sergeant.
● As time permits, reconnoiters alternate and
supplementary positions.
● Supervises the preparation and occupation of
the position.
See figure 6-4 on page 6-12 for an example of a
battery commander’s position checklist.
The assistant executive officer assists the battery
commander in organizing the battery position and
establishes the BOC. Duties include the following:
● Set up and orients the aiming circle.
● Determine initial deflections, subtense, and vertical
angles (VAs) from the aiming circle to the
guns.
● Supervise the establishment of wire communications
with each howitzer position, FDC, and
BOC.
● Lay howitzers, if applicable, and prepare the
XO’s report.
● Provide a vehicle guide to guide FDC vehicles of
the main body into position.
The battery local security chief plans the battery
defense. Duties include the following:
● Establish the track plan and vehicle dispersal
area.
● Plan and rehearse the occupation with vehicle
ground guides.
● Begin constructing a defensive diagram.
The acronym SPEARR may be used to assist in the
conduct of the advance party.
● Security—A security sweep of the position is
conducted.
● Position—Positioning of the battery’s assets will be
determined by the CO or local security chief. Gun
guides will tape and stake their firing positions and
ensure howitzer marking stakes are placed appropriately
(with M14 Pantel light on at night).
● Establish Communications—Wire communications
are established within the position using
DR-8s and H-200s. Hand-and-arm communications
or radio communications may be used as a
back-up.
● AoF/initial deflection, subtense, and VA—Once
communication is established, howitzer ground
guides report to the aiming circle to receive initial
deflection.
● Record—Ground guides record initial deflection.
● Reconnaissance—Ground guides walk their track
plan from howitzer position to pick-up/release
point and await main body arrival.