2003 US Army BRADLEY GUNNERY 503p.pdf - Survival Books

FM 3-22.1c. Beyond 1,700 meters, the 25-mm uses too much ammunition for each kill. Thus,the crew uses the TOW weapon system against stationary, slow moving (up to 50 MPH)aerial targets between 1,700 and 2,000 meters. Nevertheless, the gunner should use theTOW against helicopters only when necessary.d. Ideally, when the BFV must engage high-speed aircraft, mounted and infantryrifle elements fire small-arms weapons fire and controlled coaxial machine gun fire on adesignated point. The platoon leader or platoon sergeant can initiate this type of fire byissuing a predetermined command or by firing tracers to indicate the target. He applies a200-meter lead (the length of two football fields) on the approaching aircraft, so that theaircraft will fly through the platoon's cone of fire. Gunners must not try to track highspeedaircraft--they fly too fast (Figure 6-50).(1) If the aircraft flies directly at the vehicle, the Bradley gunner fires a controlledburst of 50 to 100 rounds. He selects an aiming point slightly above the nose of theaircraft, so that the aircraft will fly into the cone of fire.(2) Fixed-wing aircraft operate in pairs or in groups of three. Rotary-wing aircraftoperate in platoon-sized elements.(3) To engage high-speed aircraft, the BC chooses one or more reference points(Figure 6-51). For example, the platoon leader alerts the platoon. Then, as the aircraftnears a reference point, the platoon leader orders ENEMY AIR, REFERENCE POINTTWO, then FIRE. The Bradley and rifle infantry soldiers fire all weapons at a 45-degreeangle above the reference point.Figure 6-50. Football-field technique.Figure 6-51. Reference-point technique.6-47