Military

H-1. This appendix presents a test that evaluates the 13B soldier in the performance of the principal duties of the gunner. This test applies to the M109A6 Paladin weapon system and has the following purposes:

• The tasks in this test should be used as a training tool. The soldier should practice each task under close supervision to acquire the degree of proficiency required by the standards stated in this test.
• This test can bolster the esprit and motivation of the soldier through recognition of individual proficiency. The artillery clasp for the marksmanship badge will be awarded upon successful completion of this test (see Army regulation (AR) 672-5-1, Military Awards).

This test will be given IAW unit training requirements.

H-2. The soldier will be required to perform the tasks IAW the following standards:

• Settings must be exact.
• Bubbles in leveling vials must be centered exactly.
• The cross hair of the reticle pattern on the pantel must be aligned exactly on the 0 line of the collimator (or offset correctly to counter the effects of displacement), center mass of the compass or reflector of the aiming circle, or on the top left edge of the DAP.
• The final motion of the elevating handwheel must always be in the direction that raises the cannon tube.
• Azimuth knobs must be rotated so as to approach the aiming point from left to right.
• The appropriate deflection correction must be set on the gunner's aid.
• Correct terms must be used.
• Correct hand and arm signals must be used.
• If any questions arise, refer to the appropriate TM and then to FM 6-50.

H-3. The soldier will not receive assistance on the individual tasks except as specified for those tasks that require it. If the soldier fails any task because of the fault of the assistant, that task will be retested.

H-4. Scoring will be in accordance with the standards for each task. A "no go" will be given if any of the standards of precision or the standards of a specific task are not met, and 0 points will be awarded. If the soldier receives all "go" ratings for the subtasks, the score for the task will depend on the speed of execution.

H-5. Scores determining the qualification status of the gunner are shown in Table H-1.

H-6. Successful administration of the test is enhanced by efficient organization of the test site. The test site will consist of the following:

• An in-briefing station.
• A chief examiner.
• An examiner for each station and an assistant if required.
• Six howitzers in the firing position with basic issue items (BIIs).
• An aiming circle with communications.
• Two direct fire targets, 600 meters in front of the test site and 50 meters apart.
• At least one DAP.

H-7. Soldiers will use the round-robin method to move from station to station. The examiner will remain at his station. Each examiner will have a clip board and stop watch.

H-8. The chief examiner will brief each soldier on the test site and what tasks are on each howitzer. He will explain the scoring system and answer any questions.

H-9. A test outline is shown in Table H-2. A sample grading sheet is shown in Table H-3.

H-10. Lay the howitzer for initial direction of fire using the aiming circle.

H-11. Soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position with the cannon tube 50 mils off the AOF and at loading elevation (unit TSOP). Bubbles will be level, and special corrections at 0. An assistant examiner will operate the aiming circle, which will be located 50 meters to the left front of the howitzer. Soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The assistant examiner commands, "NUMBER 1 ADJUST, AIMING POINT THIS INSTRUMENT, DEFLECTION (XXXX)".

H-12. Time will start on the last digit of deflection of the initial command. Time will stop when the assistant examiner states that number 1 is laid.

H-13. Score Example: If the soldier performs Task 1 in 29.59 seconds, he scores 4 points. If the soldier performs Task 1 in 50.59 seconds, he scores 1 point.

H-14. Lay the howitzer for initial direction of fire using the M2 compass.

H-15. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position. The cannon tube is 50 mils off the AOF and at loading elevation (unit SOP). Bubbles will be level and special corrections at 0. An assistant examiner will be at the M2 compass located 10 meters to the left front of the howitzer. The soldier positions himself as the gunner and announces when ready. The assistant examiner commands, "NUMBER 1 ADJUST, AIMING POINT THIS INSTRUMENT, DEFLECTION (XXXX)".

H-16. Time will start on the last digit of the deflection of the initial command. Time will stop when the assistant examiner announces that number 1 is laid.

H-17. Lay the howitzer for initial direction of fire using a DAP.

H-18. Soldier is given a howitzer in firing position with the cannon tube 50 mils off the AOF and at loading elevation (unit SOP). Bubbles will be level and special corrections at 0. The soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The examiner commands, "NUMBER 1 ADJUST, AIMING POINT (NAME OF OBJECT AND LOCATION), DEFLECTION (XXXX)".

H-19. Time will start on the last digit of the deflection of the initial command. Time will stop when the examiner states that number 1 is laid.

H-20. Lay another howitzer reciprocally.

H-21. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position and already laid for initial direction of fire. Bubbles will be level and special corrections at 0. The pantel will be 50 mils off the howitzer to be laid. An assistant examiner will act as the gunner of the howitzer to be laid. The soldier positions himself as gunner and states when ready. The examiner will say "BEGIN".

H-22. Time will start when the examiner says, "BEGIN". The time will stop when the gunner says, "NUMBER 2 IS LAID".

H-23. Refer the piece.

H-24. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position that has already been laid for initial direction of fire. Bubbles will be level and special corrections at 0. The pantel will be oriented on the collimator. An assistant examiner will be operating the aiming circle 50 meters to the howitzer's left front. The soldier positions himself as the gunner and announces when ready. The assistant examiner commands, "NUMBER 1 REFER, AIMING POINT THIS INSTRUMENT".

H-25. Time will start on the word refer. Time will stop when the last digit of deflection is announced.

H-26. Align the collimator.

H-27. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position that has already been laid on the initial direction of fire. Bubbles will be level and special corrections at 0. An assistant examiner will be posted at the collimator, 4-15 meters off the howitzer's left front. The collimator will be on the tripod but will not be sighted in on the pantel and will not have its legs sandbagged. The soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The examiner will say "BEGIN".

H-28. Time will start when the examiner says "BEGIN". Time will stop when the gunner states that the collimator is set.

H-29. Check the boresight of the pantel with the M140 alignment device.

H-30. The soldier will be given a howitzer in the firing position, with level bubbles and special corrections at 0. The cannon tube will be at 0 mils elevation, and the azimuth counter will be set at 1600. The soldier will be provided with an M140 alignment device. The soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The examiner will say "BEGIN".

H-31. Time will start when the examiner says "BEGIN" and will stop when the gunner states that boresight is either verified or not verified.

H-32. Boresight the howitzer (pantel) using a DAP.

H-33. The soldier will be given a howitzer in the firing position. Bubbles will level and special corrections at 0. The cannon tube will be aligned on the DAP, but the pantel will be aligned 10 mils off the DAP. Boresight will be 5 mils off, and the cover will be on the detent shaft. The soldier will be provided with the tools needed to adjust the sight. The soldier positions himself and announces when ready. The examiner will say "BEGIN".

H-34. Time will start when the examiner says "BEGIN" and will stop when the gunner states that the howitzer is boresighted.

H-35. Fire Mission. (Note: Tasks 9A through 9E involve one continuous fire mission).

H-36. The soldier will be given a howitzer in the firing position. The howitzer is laid, DAP is identified, and the collimator is emplaced. The pantel is aligned on the collimator, bubbles are level, and special corrections at 0. The cannon tube is oriented on the primary direction of fire elevated to 315 mils. The soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The examiner commands, "FIRE MISSION, PLATOON ADJUST,NUMBER 1, 1 ROUND, SHELL HE, CHARGE(XX), FUZE QUICK, DEFLECTION 3225, QUADRANT 315".

H-37. Time will start on the last digit of quadrant and will stop when the gunner says "READY".

H-38. Fire Mission. (Note: Tasks 9A through 9E involve one continuous fire mission).

H-39. Continuation from 9A. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner commands, "SPECIAL CORRECTIONS, RIGHT 4, DEFLECTION 3194, QUADRANT 315".

H-40. Time will start on the last digit of quadrant and will stop when the gunner says "READY".

H-41. Fire Mission. (Note: Tasks 9A through 9E involve one continuous fire mission).

H-42. Continuation from 9B. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner cancels special corrections, says that the collimater has fallen down, and directs the gunner to use the aiming posts. The examiner commands, "DEFLECTION 3180, QUADRANT 315".

H-43. Time will start on the last digit of quadrant and will stop when the gunner says "READY".

H-44. Fire Mission. (Note: Tasks 9A through 9E involve one continuous fire mission).

H-45. Continuation from 9C. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner commands, "DEFLECTION 3230, QUADRANT 315".

H-46. Time will start on the last digit of quadrant and will stop when the gunner says "READY".

H-47. Fire Mission. (Note: Tasks 9A through 9E involve one continuous fire mission).

H-48. Continuation from 9D. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner commands, "GAS (waits for the soldier to mask), DEFLECTION 3242, QUADRANT 315".

H-49. Time will start on the last digit of quadrant and will stop when the gunner says "READY".

H-50. Direct Fire. (Note: Tasks 10A through 10D involve one continuous fire mission). The central or reticle method of sighting may be used. Only the one man/one sight technique of direct fire will be used.

H-51. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position. The howitzer is laid and the pantel is oriented on the collimator. Bubbles are level and special corrections at 0. The cannon tube is at 0 mils elevation. The soldier will be told which direct fire target he is to engage. The soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The examiner commands, "FIRE MISSION, TARGET THAT (XXX), (direction), SHELL HE, CHARGE (XX), FUZE QUICK, LEAD RIGHT 15 MILS, RANGE 600, FIRE AT WILL".

H-52. Time will start when the examiner states "FIRE AT WILL" and will stop when the gunner says "FIRE".

H-53. Direct Fire. (Note: Tasks 10A through 10D involve one continuous fire mission). The central or reticle method of sighting may be used. Only the one man/one sight technique of direct fire will be used.

H-54. Continuation from 10A. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner commands, "RIGHT 5, ADD 100".

H-55. Time will start when the examiner states "ADD 100" and will stop when the gunner says "FIRE".

H-56. Direct Fire. (Note: Tasks 10A through 10D involve one continuous fire mission). The central or reticle method of sighting may be used. Only the one man/one sight technique of direct fire will be used.

H-57. Continuation from 10B. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner commands, "LEFT 10, ADD 100".

H-58. Time will start when the examiner states "ADD 100" and will stop when the gunner says "FIRE".

H-59. Direct Fire. (Note: Tasks 10A through 10D involve one continuous fire mission). The central or reticle method of sighting may be used. Only the one man/one sight technique of direct fire will be used.

H-60. Continuation from 10C. Soldier announces when ready. The examiner commands, "LEFT 15, DROP 100".

H-61. Time will start when the examiner states "DROP 100" and will stop when the gunner says "FIRE".

H-62. Lay the howitzer for quadrant with the range quadrant.

H-63. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position with the cannon tube at 0 mils elevation. Bubbles will be level and special corrections at 0. The soldier positions himself as the gunner and announces when ready. The examiner commands, "QUADRANT 215".

H-64. Time will start when the examiner states "QUADRANT 215" and will stop when the gunner states "SET".

H-65. Measure the quadrant with a range quadrant.

H-66. The soldier is given a howitzer in the firing position with the cannon tube at 245 mils. The range quadrant is at 0 mils and the cross level bubble is centered. The soldier positions himself as gunner and announces when ready. The examiner states, "BEGIN".

H-67. Time will start when the examiner states "BEGIN" and will stop when the gunner states "QUADRANT 245".

H-68. Initialize the AFCS.

H-69. The soldier is given a howitzer parked within 1 meter of a SCP. The soldier will receive data for the SCP and initialization data. The soldier positions himself as COS and announces when ready. The examiner will state "BEGIN".

H-70. In order to receive a "go" the soldier must perform the initialization IAW TM 9-2350-314-10.

H-71. Prepare for firing using the AFCS.

H-72. The soldier is given a howitzer, aligned along the AOF, and in travel lock. The "Emplace" screen is displayed on the AFCS. The soldier positions himself as COS and announces when ready. The examiner will state "BEGIN".

H-73. Time will start when the examiner states "BEGIN" and stops when the soldier sends the updated piece status.

H-74. Conduct a fire mission using the AFCS.

H-75. The soldier is given a howitzer at loading elevation. The soldier positions himself as COS and announces when ready. The examiner has a digital call for fire transmitted to the AFCS.

H-76. Time will start when the when the fire mission is received at the AFCS and stops when the howitzer is laid on the target.

H-77. Perform direct fire using the AFCS.

H-78. The soldier is given a howitzer, aligned on the azimuth of fire and out of travel lock. The soldier is shown which target he is to engage and an assistant examiner will be provided to lay for deflection. The soldier positions himself as COS and announces when ready. The examiner will state "BEGIN".

H-79. Time will start when the examiner says "BEGIN" and stops when the soldier states "SET".