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Part M
TECHNIQUES OF FIRE
1. Fire Distribution. Leaders must distribute the fires of their organic weapons to destroy or suppress enemy positions. There are two ways to distribute fire on a target; point fire and area fire.
a. Point Fire. This is fire directed at one point; for example, an entire team or squad fires at one bunker. (Figure 2-94)
Figure 2-94. Point Fire.
b. Area Fire. This type of fire covers an area laterally and in depth. (Figure 2-95). If a squad leader wants fire on a woodline, he can shoot tracers to mark the center of the target. Soldiers on his left fire to the left of the tracers; soldiers on his right fire to the right.
Figure 2-95. Area Fire.
2. Fire Control. Leaders must decide which fire control method or combination of methods will work in each tactical situation. They must ensure the fires of their units are effective.
a. Methods of Fire Control.
(1) Sound Signals. This includes both voice and devices such as whistles and horns. Sound signals are good only for short distances. Their range and reliability are reduced by battle noise, weather, terrain, and vegetation.
(2) Trigger Points/Lines. The leader can prearrange for soldiers to start firing once the enemy reaches a certain point or terrain feature. When this method of fire control is used, the soldiers do not have to wait for an order to start firing. Prearranged fire can also be cued to friendly actions.
(3) Visual Signals. The leader can give a visual signal when he wants the soldiers to begin, cease, or shift fire as soon as they see or hear the signal. Platoons can also use visual signals triggered by the enemy.
(4) Time. The platoon may be directed to begin, shift, and cease firing at a set time.
(5) Techniques of Fire.
(a) Search-Fire-Check.
- Step 1 . Soldiers search their sectors for enemy targets.
- Step 2 . Soldiers fire at any targets(appropriate for their weapon) that appear in their sectors.
- Step 3 . While searching their sectors, soldiers look to their leaders for specific orders.
(b) Return-Fire. This technique tells each soldier in the platoon what to do in case the platoon makes unexpected contact with the enemy.
(c) Rate-of-Fire. This technique tells each soldier how fast to fire at the enemy. The rate of fire varies among weapons, but the principle is to fire at a maximum rate when first engaging a target and then slow the rate to a point that suppresses the target and conserves ammunition.
Buddy teams fire their weapons at varied rates so that they do not run out of ammunition at the same time. |
b. Fire Commands. Leaders use fire commands to direct the fires. A fire command has the following six parts-
(1) Alert. In this part of the command, the leader alerts the soldiers to receive further instruction. He can alert the soldiers by name or unit designation, by some type of visual or sound signal, by personal contact, or by any other practical way.
(2) Direction. In this part of the fire command, the leader tells the soldiers the general direction to the target. In some cases, it pinpoints a target. There are three ways to give the direction to the target-
(a) The leader points with his arm or rifle.
(b) The leader fires tracer ammunition at a target.
(c) The leader uses either TRPs or easily recognized man-made objects or terrain features. He gives the general direction just before he gives the reference point.
(3) Description. In this part of the fire command, the leader describes the target briefly but accurately. The formation of enemy soldiers is always given.
(4) Range. In this part of the fire command, the leader tells the soldiers the range to the target in meters.
(5) Method of Fire. In this part of the fire command, the leader tells the soldiers which weapons to fire. He can also tell the type and amount of ammunition to fire, and the rate of fire.
(6) Command to Fire. In this part of the fire command, the leader tells soldiers when to fire. He can use an oral command, a sound, or a visual signal. When he wants to control the exact moment of fire, he says, AT MY COMMAND (then pauses until ready to commence firing). When he wants to start firing upon completion of the fire command, he just says FIRE.
c. Subsequent Fire Commands. These commands adjust or change information given in the initial fire command. Only the elements that change are given.
d. Termination of Fire. Fire is terminated by the command or signal for CEASE FIRE, END OF MISSION.
3. Methods of Engagement with LAW (AT4). The four methods of engaging targets with both the LAW and the AT4 are single, sequence, pair, and volley firing.
a. Single Firing. In single firing, one soldier engages a target with one LAW or AT4--there are no follow-on shots. This method is mostly for use at short ranges(50 meters or less with the LAW; 200 meters or less with the AT4). The single-firing method can be effective at greater ranges(out to 200 meters with the LAW; out to 300 meters with the AT4) when the exact range to the target is known.
b. Sequence Firing. In sequence firing, one soldier armed with two or more LAWs or AT4s engage a single target. The soldier-
(1) Inspects and prepares the weapons for firing and lays them side by side.
(2) Fires and observes the impact of the round.
(a) If he hits the target, continues to fire follow-on rounds until the target is destroyed or until ordered to cease fire.
(b) If he misses, applies burst-on-target corrections with follow-on rounds until the target is hit. He then fires until he destroys the target or until ordered to cease fire.
c. Pair Firing. In pair firing, two or more soldiers each armed with two or more LAWs or AT4s engage the same target. They exchange information throughout the target engagement.
(1) The first soldier who sees the target identifies it, announces the estimated range and the lead he will use, and fires.
(2) The second soldier observes the firing, announces a revised estimate of range and lead (if appropriate), and fires.
(3) The soldiers continue exchanging range and lead information until the target is hit.
(4) Once the range and lead have been determined, both soldiers, on command, engage the target until it is destroyed or until ordered to cease fire.
d. Volley Firing. In volley firing, more than one soldier engage the same target using one or more AT4s. Volley firing should be used when the range to the target has been determined. This method is desirable because more rounds are fired at a given time, thus increasing the probability of hitting/killing the target.
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