FM 3-19.4 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

FM 3-19.4
Use the Fire Adjustment Method
3-73. The three methods used to adjust the fire of a fire
team are impact-observed, impact sound, and observer
target. The preferred methods of adjustment for an
attack helicopter in support of a ground force are impact
observed and impact sound. Once established, the caller
does not change the method of adjustment unless the
situation dictates. If the method of adjustment is
changed, the caller informs the fire team. When any
adjustment is 50 meters or less, the observer transmits
the adjustment and calls for fire for effect.
3-74. When using the impact-observed method of
adjustment, the observer estimates the direction to the
target by using a cardinal heading. He estimates the
distance from the point of impact to the target in meters.
When the observer cannot see the point of impact, he
may use the impact sound method of adjustment. For
this method of adjustment, the observer transmits,
"Adjust fire. Impact sound. Over." The impact sound
method differs from the impact-observed method in that
the observer senses by sound, rather than sees, the
direction of the impact and makes his corrections
accordingly.
3-75. Although the impact-observed method is most
preferred for adjusting the fire of the attack helicopters,
the observer target method, which is less desirable, may
be used. When using the observer target method, the
observer must mark his location, possibly compromising
his location.
3-76. To use the observer target method, the observer
senses the direction, left or right, and the distance, in
meters, from the impact to a point on the observer target
line. Then, he senses the position of the point on the
observer target line relative to the target, long or short,
and the distance along the observer target line to the
target. The sensing of the observer must be converted to
corrections, such as right, left, add, and drop, and
3-34 Shoot, Move, and Communicate