Military

a. Mounted Position. The mounted firing position is characterized by a hull-down posture in which the TOW vehicle is behind either natural or constructed cover with only the TOW launcher exposed. Natural cover is best and is the easiest cover to prepare and camouflage, as shown in Figure 1-1. When natural cover is not available, hull-down positions can be excavated with engineer assistance, as shown in Figure 1-2. When hide positions are used, the primary firing positions should also be hull-down (as shown in Figure 1-3). If enemy fire is accurate, hull-down positions should be selected or constructed so that the TOW vehicle can move quickly to complete defilade. Routes into and out of hull-down positions should also have complete defilade.

b. Dismounted Position. The dismounted firing position is discussed in Part B of Lesson One of this subcourse.

a. Man-Made Materials. Camouflage nets or other man-made materials may be used, but they are most effective when you use them along with natural camouflage. The position should look as natural as possible.

b. Procedures to Camouflage the Position. Use the following guidelines to camouflage and conceal the firing position.

a. Change Natural Vegetation. Ensure that natural vegetation used for camouflage is changed often so that it remains fresh. Wilted vegetation will make your position easy to find.

b. Obtain Camouflage Vegetation from Another Area. Ensure that vegetation used as camouflage is obtained from a different area than your position.

c. Avoid Over-camouflage. Never over-camouflage your position. Ensure that the camouflage matches the environment in which your position is located.

d. Do Not Let Camouflage Interfere with Weapon Fire. Do not allow the camouflage of your position to interfere with the firing of your weapon.

a. Blend Nets with Surrounding Terrain and Vegetation. When using camouflage nets, ensure that the nets blend with the surrounding terrain or vegetation.

b. Do Not Let Nets Interfere with Weapon Fire. As with natural materials, ensure that nets are emplaced so that they will not interfere with firing from the position. Use the following procedures to emplace nets:

• When using nets with vehicles, ensure that the nets are raised above the top of the vehicle.

• To keep the nets above the vehicles, use poles or small tree branches for support.

• When a camouflage net is used with a hull-defilade position, ensure that the vehicle outline is broken up and that the net drapes over the vehicle and blends with the surrounding terrain, as shown in Figure 1-5.

• In the event that a hull-down position is not available, use a hide position, as shown in Figure 1-6.

• If the terrain is such that neither a hull-down nor a hide position is available, make the best of existing terrain to conceal the TOW.

a. Check the Ground Behind the TOW. Ensure that the ground behind the TOW (about 25 meters) is free of leaves and dirt so that the backblast from the weapon does not leave a signature.

b. Avoid Evidence of Digging. Do not leave any evidence of digging. Do not leave equipment lying around. Everything must be concealed or camouflaged.

c. Check the Front of the Position. If possible, move to the front of your position (ground, 35 meters; vehicle, 350 meters) and study your position. Ensure that the position looks natural and blends with its surroundings.

a. Build a Parapet. Build a parapet to the front and the flanks of the position. To provide protection from small-arms fire and fragments from mortar and artillery rounds, the parapet should be covered by at least 18 inches of dirt. To ensure that missiles do not hit the ground before reaching a target, leave at least nine inches of clearance under the muzzle of the launch tube (that is, between the bottom of the launch tube and the parapet). Do not place dirt or equipment in the backblast area. Scoop out a place between the tripod legs for the missile guidance set (MGS), either to the front or under the tripod, as shown in Figure 1-8. To ensure that missiles do not hit the ground before reaching a target, ensure that there is adequate line-of-sight clearance (at least 30 inches) from 500 to 900 meters in flat terrain and that the position is not more than 24 inches deep.

b. Provide Overhead Protection. Provide overhead protection for squad personnel and missiles by digging squad positions on each side and to the rear of the position, as shown in Figure 1-9. Build the overhead cover at ground level to make the position more difficult to detect. Logs that are four to six inches in diameter, covered by 12 to 14 inches of dirt, provide adequate protection against mortar or artillery fragments.

c. Improve the Position and Keep It Dry. To keep the position dry, lay a layer of packing material (sandbags, for example) or waterproof material (canvas, plastic, or a poncho) over the logs before adding the dirt.

d. Improve the Position. Improve the position by adding overhead cover for the crew and the missiles. Dig to the flank (90 degrees to the primary section of fire). Use the strongest material available for the roof. Put sandbags, plastic, or canvas down before throwing the dirt on the roof to keep the ceiling from leaking.

Place at least 20 inches of dirt on top of the storage/protective area, as shown in Figure 1-10.

e. Disconnect the Missile Guidance Set. Disconnect the missile guidance set and position it in the place made for it. Then place the launcher into the position. Reconnect the missile guidance set and check the boresight.

a. Place Sod on the Parapet. Place sod from the position on the parapet so that it looks natural and has a good chance of growing.

b. Cover Fresh Dirt. Cover all fresh dirt with leaves or brush so that it blends with the ground around the position.

c. Use Vegetation If Required. If additional vegetation must be used to break up the outline of the parapet, get it from far to the rear of the position. It should look like the vegetation around the position and, if possible, should have intact roots. Do not use so much vegetation that the position has more than the surrounding area. Camouflage the holes or cuts from which the vegetation was removed.

d. Camouflage the Position. If the position is covered, camouflage it as you did the parapet. If it is not covered, camouflage the position using camouflage nets or available brush, branches, etc., so that it is not visible from above.

e. Replace Foliage. Replace foliage if it withers or begins to change color. Attempt to get sod and vegetation that is used as camouflage to grow so that the position will improve as time passes. Remember that the position can always be improved.

f. Approach the Position from the Rear. Approach the position from the rear, ensuring that you leave no trace of your passing. Especially, cover all footprints around and leading into and out of the position.

g. Avoid Littering. Do not litter the area or make unnecessary noise while constructing or camouflaging the position.

h. Avoid Disturbing Vegetation. Do not disturb vegetation that is not used in constructing or camouflaging the position. The area around the position should look as natural as possible.

a. Positioning the TOW in a Building. Other considerations apply if the TOW is positioned in a building. You fire the TOW from a building only when the following conditions exist:

• The building is sturdy.

• The ceiling is at least two meters (seven feet) high.

• The room is at least five meters by eight meters (17 feet by 24 feet) or larger.

• There are two square meters (20 square feet) of ventilation to the rear of the system (an open door two meters by one meter (seven feet by three feet) provides that much ventilation).

• Glass is removed from all windows and doors, the floor is swept, and furniture and other objects that could be blown around are removed from the room.

• Everyone in the room is wearing earplugs and ballistic eye protection and is positioned forward of the rear end of the launch tube.

b. TOW Firing Limitations in Urban Terrain. Urban terrain affords the TOW squad improved conditions to maximize cover and concealment. However, you must consider firing limitations. Two clearance requirements ensure that a missile will not hit the ground before reaching a target:

• There should be at least nine inches of muzzle clearance around the end of the launch tube. This ensures that the wings and the control surfaces do not hit anything when they extend after the missile clears the launch tube. If the wings are damaged or if they catch on an object, the missile will fly erratically or go to the ground.

• There should be at least 30 inches of clearance between a gunner's line of sight to a target and any obstruction that is between 500 and 900 meters from the firing position, as shown in Figure 1-11.

If line-of-sight clearance is less than 30 inches, the probability of the missile's hitting the ground or an obstruction is increased. Figure 1-12 shows the probability of survival for the TOW. A missile does not precisely follow a gunner's line-of-sight to the target.

a. Lower the Launcher Below Ground Level. If the gunner is being suppressed by fire and must further conceal the TOW, he can kneel (lower) the launcher below ground level. To kneel the launcher, follow these steps:

• Have the gunner lift the encased missile with his right shoulder.

• Release the friction locking handle and the detent stop on the rear leg and allow the rear leg to slide back into its notch. The launcher will move back by its own weight.

• Depress and lock the launch tube in the full DOWN position so that it does not stick above the frontal protection.

b. Raise the Launcher. To raise the launcher, follow these steps:

• Lift the rear of the encased missile and push forward and down on the rear leg. (The elevation and the azimuth locks must be engaged).

• Check the level indicators and the friction locking handle.

a. Assignment of Sectors. The platoon leader assigns the general positions to his sections to cover the assigned sector of fire. He uses easily identifiable terrain features to define the limits of each sector. The TOW section leader selects the precise weapon positions and continues the fire planning process by drawing a sector sketch.

b. Defensive Fire Planning. To develop a defensive fire plan, the Anti-armor leader uses the following procedures:

• Assigns to each subordinate unit either a primary and a secondary sector of fire or an engagement area, a primary position, and one or more alternate positions.

• Designates targets and additional fire control measures, such as TRPs, phase lines, or target priorities, to coordinate fire when more than one section is firing into the same engagement area or sector.

• Integrates target information from subordinate leaders (normally provided on section sector sketches, individual squad range cards, or both). He then reviews this target information to ensure that fire is properly distributed across his sector and that sufficient control measures have been established.

• Coordinates and integrates his TOW fires with those of tanks, other Anti-armor weapons, and indirect fire.

• Completes the fire plan and gives a copy of the sector sketch to the control headquarters or to the supported unit commander--for example, to the Anti-armor company commander or the task force commander--and to the mortar platoon leader and the fire support team (FIST).

c. Offensive Fire Planning. Offensive fire planning relies more on fire patterns and standing operating procedures (SOPs) to bring effective fire onto the enemy than does defensive fire planning. This is often true during a movement to contact when knowledge of the enemy is vague or when the terrain is unknown. To compensate for not knowing the terrain, the platoon leader can use a thorough map reconnaissance along with a study of terrain information from the battalion Operations and Training Officer (S3). The platoon leader uses this information and the commander's scheme of maneuver to perform the following actions:

• Select positions where his sections can overwatch the forward movement of or can provide support-by-fire for the supported unit.

• Ensure that TOW fires are integrated with other overwatching fires. This can be done using TRPs, phase lines, priorities of engagement, and sectors of fire in the same way as in defensive fire planning.

• Plan how targets will be designated for TOW engagement. This can be done with colored smoke, signal panels, or other means.

• Identify areas in which TOW overwatch is not possible and to advise the commander of this so that other weapons can be assigned to this task.

• Identify routes between positions along the axis of advance or in the zone of action that allow rapid movement and that provide security for the moving anti-armor sections.

• Complete the plan with the approval of the supported commander and to brief subordinate leaders.

a. Priority of Engagement and Sectors of Fire. Fire control measures are of two types: priority of engagement and sectors of fire.

* When the section leader is calling a fire mission to your squad over wire or radio, the establishment of communications is a sufficient alert.

** Only the elements which change from the previous fire command are announced in this command. However, "CEASE TRACKING" or "CEASE TRACKING, OUT OF ACTION" is always announced in the subsequent fire command.

EXAMPLE 1: This is the platoon leader's fire command for both sections of the platoon to engage assaulting tanks.

EXAMPLE 2: This is the platoon leader's fire command to engage assaulting BMPs and tanks. The platoon leader alerts the entire platoon and indicates that he wants both sections to fire. He then specifies that Section 1 will engage the BMPs (TANGO FOUR ONE, BMPs) and that Section 2 will engage the tanks (TANGO FOUR THREE, TANKS). Because the platoon leader leaves out the control element, each section leader adds it by telling the other squad, "Depth, cross," if needed for control within the section.

FRONTAL FIRE is understood unless the section leader specifies otherwise.

EXAMPLE 3: This is the platoon leader's command to continue the engagement after the BMPs are destroyed. The platoon leader instructs Section 1 to shift fire to the tanks and to continue to engage. Because the control element is omitted, FRONTAL FIRE is understood. Although the command does not mention Section 2, that section continues to fire, based on his last instructions.

EXAMPLE 4: This is the platoon leader's command to stop the engagement.

b. Sectors of Fire and Engagement Areas. Sectors of fire and engagement areas are specific areas to be covered. They are assigned to each squad, section, and platoon. They clearly identify the part of the battlefield that must be covered by observation and fire. In most situations, the terrain and the number and the type of weapons available to cover an area dictate how sectors of fire or engagement areas are assigned.

For example, if a mounted enemy avenue of approach is narrow or if the fire of an entire platoon is needed in a critical area, such as a choke point, sectors of fire can overlap. Because this increases the problem of control and the probability of target overkill, other control measures (engagement priorities, fire patterns, TRPs) are also needed. When sectors of fire overlap, leaders must select positions where they can observe and coordinate fires.

c. Target Reference Point. A TRP is a prominent natural or man-made terrain feature, such as a road intersection, hill, or bridge, designated by the commander, leader, or gunner to allow the rapid identification of targets and to control direct fires. A TRP is a reference point (RP) for designating targets, for shifting fire, or for assigning sectors of fire. They are recorded on range cards for easy reference, as shown in Figure 1-21.

d. Phase Lines. A phase line is a linear control measure normally used to control movement. It is also used to control and distribute the fire of several widely separated anti-armor squads or platoons.

a. Frontal Fire. Frontal fire (shown in Figure 1-23) is most effective when targets are dispersed or are moving laterally across a sector of fire. In employing frontal fire, flank squads engage flank targets first. As targets are destroyed, fire is shifted toward the center of the formation. Frontal fire is least effective when target vehicles are moving toward the firing positions. When this happens, the target vehicles' observation and firepower are oriented toward the platoon. Therefore, friendly squads must fire into the frontal (thickest) armor on the target vehicle.

b. Cross Fire. Cross fire (shown in Figure 1-24) is most effective when targets are dispersed laterally but are moving toward the firing positions. It is used for flank shots and for avoiding detection when the target is moving toward firing positions. Each squad engages a target on the opposite flank. As targets are destroyed, squads shift fire toward the center of the formation.

c. Depth Fire. Depth fire (shown in Figure 1-25) is most effective when targets are exposed in depth. One squad or section engages the nearest targets while the other engages the farthest targets. Then they shift fire toward the center of the formation. If the unit SOP does not specify which squad or section engages near targets and which engages far targets, then the determination of which squad or section fires at what target is made by the leader who is responsible for controlling the fires.

d. Changes to Fire Patterns. Fire patterns are changed as needed. After being engaged, the enemy will change his formation or direction of movement, which requires a corresponding change to fire patterns. Enemy vehicles avoid moving in easily recognizable formations. Also, enemy formations appear as a mass of vehicles due to uneven terrain and point of view. The fire pattern that is selected should be based upon how the formation appears relative to the firing position and the leader's estimate of how best to engage the enemy.

a. When Enemy Contact Is Possible. When enemy contact is possible, prepare one range card for each primary, alternate, and supplementary squad position. Also, prepare one-for any static squad position such as in an assembly area.

b. Prepare Copies of the Range Card. Prepare a range card as soon as possible after moving into a firing position. Prepare two copies of each range card. Retain one copy of each range card with the squad and give the other to the section leader. The section leader uses his copy to prepare a section sector sketch. Standard printed range card forms are best to use. If no forms are available, use anything available to write on.

c. Indicate the Left and Right Limits. Draw the weapon symbol in the center of the small circle. Draw two lines from the TOW position. The lines should extend left and right to show the limits of the sector. These lines are the vehicle's left and right limits. Place a circled "L" and "R" at the end of the appropriate limit lines, as shown in Figure 1-26. Even if a sector is narrow, spread the information out on the range card as much as possible to ensure that all items can be easily shown.

d. Indicate the Increments of Distance. Find the terrain feature farthest from the position that is still known to be within the weapon system's range to determine the value of each circle. Determine the distance to the terrain feature and round off to the next highest hundred. Determine the highest number of circles that will divide evenly into the distance (that is, that will result in a whole number). The result is the value of each circle. Draw the terrain feature on the appropriate circle. Clearly mark the increment for each circle across the area where DATA SECTION is written.

For example, a 3,145-meter hilltop is used in Figure 1-27. (The increments are shown, in meters, below the line above the heading "DATA SECTION) as 4 (for 400), 8 (for 800), 12 (for 1,200), 16 (for 1,600), 20 (for 2,000), 24 (for 2,400), 28 (for 2,800), and 32 (for 3,200)). To find the distance of the hilltop from the position, read to the left or right until you reach the number 32 (for 3,200 meters). Then follow the line up from the number 32 to the right, if you read to the left to locate 32, or to the left, if you read to the right to locate 32. The line will intersect with the symbol for the hilltop, showing it to be located approximately 3,200 meters from the position.

e. Data Section. Complete the data section of the range card (Figure 1-33).

f. Marginal Information. Complete the marginal information at the top of the card.

a. Placing the Stakes. One stake is placed in front of and centered on the vehicle. It should be long enough that the driver can see it while he moves the vehicle into position. The other two stakes are placed parallel to the left side of the vehicle and is lined up with the hubs on the front and the rear wheels. The stakes are placed close to the vehicle with enough clearance to allow a driver to move into the position without knocking them down. The stakes are driven firmly into the ground. Engineer tape, luminous tape, or chemical lights can be placed on the friendly side of the stakes to make them easier to see during limited visibility.

b. Reoccupying a Position. To reoccupy a position, the driver aligns his vehicle on the front stake and moves forward slowly until the two stakes on the left of his vehicle are centered on the front and rear hubs. Units equipped with Improved TOW Vehicles (ITVs) use the azimuth indicator on the ITV for positioning stakes and reoccupying positions (see FM 23-34).