Military

M433 high explosive dual purpose. This round can penetrate 5 centimeters (2 inches) of armorplate, 30 centimeters (12 inches) of pine logs, 40 centimeters (16 inches) of concrete blocks, or 50 centimeters (20 inches) of sandbags at a range up to 400 meters. It has a 5-meter casualty radius against exposed troops.

M651 CS (chemical agent). This round is used to drive the enemy from bunkers or enclosed positions in built-up areas.

M583 white star parachute/M661 green star parachute/M662 red star parachute. This is used to signal and illuminate. It can be placed 300 meters forward of a squad to illuminate an area 200 meters in diameter for 40 seconds.

M585 white star cluster/M663 green star cluster/M664 red star cluster. This is used to signal. (The green star cluster may appear white in bright sunlight.)

XM635 ground smoke. This is used to spot locations, not for screening. It comes in red, yellow, and green. The burst height is 105 meters (350 feet).

Single firing. One gunner with one LAW shoots at a target. This method is used only at ranges of 50 meters or less. Beyond this range, single firing is ineffective as the chance of a first-round kill is low.

Sequence firing. One gunner with two or more LAWs shoots at a target. Before he shoots, he should extend several launchers. After firing the first LAW, he notes its impact. If he gets a hit, he continues to shoot using the same sight picture until the target is destroyed. If the first round is a miss, he should adjust the range and lead of succeeding rounds until he gets a hit. He then continues to shoot until the target is destroyed.

Pair firing. One at a time, two or more gunners with two or more LAWs shoot at a target. Each gunner prepares several LAWs. The gunners swap information when shooting at the target. The first gunner seeing a target identifies it, announces the estimated range and lead he will use (for example, TANK, 150 METERS, FAST TARGET) and shoots. If the first gunner has a miss, the second gunner quickly announces a revised estimate of range and lead (if appropriate) and shoots. The gunners continue exchanging range and lead information until one gets a hit. Once the range and lead have been found, all gunners, on command, shoot at the target until it is destroyed. Pair firing is preferred over sequence firing as it lets gunners get target hits faster; that is, gunners firing the subsequent shots can be ready to shoot as soon as the previous round impacts. In sequence firing, the gunner must get another LAW, establish a sight picture, and shoot. Pair firing also has the advantage of having two or more gunners track the same target.

Volley firing. Two or more gunners with one or more LAWs shoot at a target at the same time. Shots are fired on command or on signal until the target is destroyed (for example, TANK, 100 METERS, SLOW TARGET, VOLLEY FIRE, READY, AIM, FIRE). Each gunner prepares two or more LAWs. Volley firing is used only when the range to the target and the lead have been determined. Range can be determined by map, by pacing, or from the results of pair firing after a target has been hit. The volley firing method is best because more rounds are shot at a target at one time. This increases the chance of a hit and decreases the chance of being detected.

Dismounted bipod. When used in establishing a hasty defense or when used in dismounted movement, the Dragon may be fired using the bipod attached to the launch tube. Using this method, the Dragon gunner takes a sitting position with the weapon on his shoulder. The tracker crosshairs are kept on target by moving the shoulder and body.

M175 mount. The M175 mount is attached to the right side of the gunner's hatch on the APC. The M175 consists of the cradle, firing arm assembly, damper assembly, and shield. When firing mounted, the gunner or antiarmor specialist locks the launcher and tracker onto the cradle. The target is then tracked and fired at, using the elevation damper assembly handle and the remote firing mechanism handle. The functioning of the missile remains the same.

Dismounted tripod. When equipped with the M175 mount, the cradle and damper assembly can be installed on an M3 (caliber .50 machine gun) tripod, or an M122 (M60 machine gun) tripod, by using the tripod adapter. After installing the cradle, the Dragon launcher is installed and fired the same as from an APC. Using the tripod method provides a more stable base and smoother tracking for the antiarmor specialist.

Protection from enemy weapons reduces the chances of casualties. The best way to gain this protection is use of cover.

Frontal cover must be thick enough (at least 46 centimeters [18 inches] of dirt) to stop small arms fire, high enough to cover the heads of the men shooting from it, and far enough in front of the hole to allow room for elbow rests and sector stakes so that the men can fire to the oblique. Oblique shooting requires that the cover be long enough for two men and hide the muzzle blasts of their rifles.

To have complete protection, overhead, flank, and rear cover is required. This protects against indirect fire that bursts overhead, to the flanks, or to the rear of the position. It also protects against the effects of friendly weapons supporting from the rear--for example, small arms fire or discarded sabots from tank gun rounds.

A position's cover should be such that when the position comes under frontal fire, the troops can move behind the frontal cover and shoot to the oblique.

No matter how much protection a position may have, the enemy may be able to defeat the defender if the defender's position is easy to see. Positions must be well hidden so that the enemy will have a hard time seeing them even though he may be in hand-grenade range.

Natural concealment is better than man-made because--

While digging positions, soldiers should take care not to disturb the natural cover and concealment. The dirt dug out can be used to build cover. Unused dirt is put behind positions and camouflaged.

Positions should be concealed from enemy aircraft as well as from ground troops. If positions are under bushes, trees, or in buildings, they are less likely to be seen from above. Leaves, straw, or grass should be placed on the floor of the hole to keep the fresh earth from contrasting with the ground around it. Sticks should not be used, since they may stop grenades from rolling into the grenade sumps.

A hasty fighting position is prepared when there is no time to prepare a deliberate fighting position. It is put behind whatever cover is available. It should give frontal protection from direct fire and still allow shooting to the front and oblique. For protection from indirect fire, a hasty fighting position should be in a small depression or in a hole at least half a meter (18 inches) deep.

A one-man fighting position allows flexibility in the use of cover because the hole only has to be long enough for one man and his gear. It must let a soldier shoot to the front or to the oblique from behind frontal cover.

A two-man fighting position provides better security than a one-man fighting position. It should give frontal protection from direct fire and allow shooting to the front and oblique.

A modified two-man fighting position may be prepared in close terrain, where grazing fire and mutual support extend no farther than to an adjacent position, or prepared to cover dead space just in front of the position. This is done by extending one or both ends of the hole around the sides of the frontal cover.

On a steep slope, a soldier in a hole behind frontal cover cannot shoot attackers without standing up and exposing himself too much.

To overcome this, the hole is dug and firing ports are dug out at each end of the hole. The ground between the firing ports then serves as frontal cover for the position.

Dig a fighting position armpit deep to lower the profile of the occupant(s) and still let him shoot his weapon.

Provide support by having a distance between the hole and the frontal cover that should be enough to let a soldier shoot from a supported position (elbows on the ground).

Dig elbow holes that serve to stabilize the shooter's arms and lower his profile.

Dig trenches for the bipod legs of an automatic rifle to get it close to ground level.

Use aiming stakes to help a soldier fire his rifle on dangerous approaches at night.

Use sector stakes, right and left, to define the sector of fire. They prevent accidental shooting into adjacent positions. A soldier should not let stakes spoil his position's concealment.

Shape the floor of the hole so that it slopes toward the grenade sumps. Water will run into the sumps, and grenades will tend to roll into them.

Dig two trench-shaped hand-grenade sumps at each end of the position. The trenches should be dug as wide as the blade of an intrenching tool, at least as deep as the intrenching tool, and as long as the position is wide. The slope of the floor should channel grenades thrown into the position into one of the sumps.

Frontal, flank, and rear cover, as well as the hole, give some protection from shell fragments, but overhead cover should be built to protect from airbursts. A good position has overhead cover that lets a man fire from underneath it.

Support for overhead cover is built by placing logs 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) on top of each other along the entire length of the frontal and rear cover.

The front supports are high enough so that men can shoot from beneath the overhead cover when it is completed, allowing space for the AN/PVS-4 night vision sight and other devices as necessary.

The base of the overhead cover is made of logs 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) placed side by side across the supports.

A water-repellent layer, such as waterproof packing material from Dragon rounds or C-rations, is then laid over the logs.

About 15 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) of dirt is added and molded to blend with the slope of the terrain. And finally, the overhead cover is camouflage. When it is complete, the man in the position will have protection from shell fragments and still be able to shoot.

When overhead cover would make a position easy to see, it can be built off to both flanks. When flank overhead cover is used, only one grenade sump is dug in the center of the floor against the back wall.

After removing sod and 25 to 35 centimeters (10 to 14 inches) of dirt, 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) of supporting logs or planks are laid across that place to support the rest of the over head cover material.

The logs are covered by piling on them 15 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) of dirt. Sod is used to camouflage the dirt. It all must look natural.

The primary sector of fire is usually to the oblique so that the gun can fire across the platoon's front. The tripod is used on the side with the primary sector of fire, and the bipod legs are used on the side with the secondary sector. When changing from primary to secondary sectors, the machine gun is moved but the tripod is left in place. The bipod is used in the secondary sector.

Dig a trench for the machine gun's bipod legs in the secondary sector.

Occasionally a sector of fire is assigned which allows firing directly to the front. This may reduce the amount of frontal cover for the crew when firing to the oblique.

After the platoon leader has positioned a machine gun and has assigned sectors of fire and a PDF or FPL, mark the position of the tripod legs and the limits of the sectors of fire. Then trace the outline of the hole and the frontal cover (if it must be improved).

The gun is lowered by digging down the firing platforms where the machine gun will be placed. The platforms must not be so low that the gun cannot be traversed across its sectors of fire. Lowering the gun reduces the profile of the gunner when he is shooting and reduces the height of the frontal cover needed. Dig the firing platforms first to the gunner's exposure (in case firing is required before the position is completed). Sandbags may be used to reinforce the platform in soft dirt.

After the firing platforms have been dug down, dig the hole--placing the dirt first where frontal cover is needed. The hole is dug deep enough to provide protection and still let the gunner shoot. This hole is usually about armpit deep. When the frontal cover is high and thick enough, the rest of the dirt is used to build the flank and rear cover.

Three trench-shaped grenade sumps are dug at various points so that grenades can be kicked into them.

In some positions, a machine gun may not have a secondary sector of fire; so, only half of the position is dug.

Overhead cover for a machine gun position is built the same as for a two-man position.

The Dragon has a primary firing position, and one or more alternate firing positions to cover its primary sector of fire. Additionally, each Dragon may have supplementary firing positions for coverage of other sectors of fire.

The Dragon may be fired from hasty or improved positions. Remember that the backblast and the muzzle blast must be considered when employing the weapon.

When the weapon is fired from an improved position, the muzzle end of the launcher must extend 15 centimeter (6 inches) beyond the front of the hole. The rear of the launcher must extend out over the rear of the hole. As the missile leaves the launcher, the unfolding stabilizing fins require at least 15 centimeters (6 inches) of clearance above the ground.

The position is only waist deep so that the gunner can move while firing. A trench for the bipod is dug 15 centimeters (6 inches) in front of the hole.

The position should be sited and oriented to cover its assigned sector of fire.

The position should be protected to the front by a parapet, or some natural or man-made cover.

The ground in front of and behind the position should be free of rocks, sand, and debris to prevent a dust cloud (caused by firing) from obscuring the gunner's vision.

When the Dragon is to fire in only one direction, a one-man fighting position is best. The Dragon should be positioned to fire to the oblique so that its position can be protected from frontal fire while the target is being engaged from the flank.

If necessary, the Dragon can fire to the front as well as to the oblique from a one-man position.

The two-man fighting position is wedge-shaped. It is best suited for use when more than one sector of fire can be covered from a single position. The design of the position gives the gunner frontal protection and allows targets to be engaged from the oblique or flank.

Overhead cover is placed on the flanks of the one- or two-man Dragon position.