TA.2
FIRE SUPPORT BOS
(Trends
are numbered sequentially for cross-reference and are not
in
any priority order.)Positive
Performance
TREND
1
SUBJECT:
Survey teams' knowledge of their equipment
OBSERVATION
(FS DIV): Survey teams are knowledgeable in the use of the north-seeking gyrocompass
(NSG) and the Position and Azimuth Determining System (PADS).
DISCUSSION:
This
helps the teams efficiently operate their equipment when survey missions are
properly planned. SUSTAINMENT
TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES:
Units
are considering the enemy's order of battle in determining where and when to
position firing units. 1.
Review CALL
Newsletter No. 97-11, Fighting
with Fires III,
Apr
93. 2.
View CALL
video tape No. 3, Direct
Fire Execution.
(TA.2.3
Integrate Fire Support)
Needs
Emphasis
TREND
1
SUBJECT:
Digital communications
OBSERVATION
(FS DIV): Units are not using their digital communications systems effectively
between fire support elements, field artillery battalion tactical operations
centers (TOC) and radar systems, and are often out of contact.
DISCUSSION:
Units
waste valuable planning and execution time. Information is not efficiently
disseminated. Digital devices are used essentially as plain text message boxes.
TECHNIQUES
AND PROCEDURES:
1.
Units must cross-train within sections that use digital devices so that there
is a depth of knowledge within the section. Most sections (FA BN S2, S3, and
FSE) have only one soldier trained to execute missions. Twenty-four-hour capability
is non-existent in most cases. 2.
Units must implement a rigorous Home Station sustainment program with all elements
enforced at battalion level. Commanders and leaders at all levels that interact
with digital devices must provide command emphasis to support this training.
3.
Units must develop mission-specific SOPs to assist individual operators in
accomplishing the mission. Almost 85 percent of all AFATDS operations are SOP
issues that can be addressed before a unit ever deploys to the field. FM
6-30
provides
excellent guidance for AFATDS units for such an SOP.
(TA.2.3
Integrate Fire Support)
TREND
2
SUBJECT:
Timeliness and accuracy of fires in the close-in fight
OBSERVATION
(FS DIV): Forward observers (FO) commonly use improper call-for-fire (CFF)
procedures, fire support officers (FSOs) routinely fail to coordinate MET and
survey support for mortars, and communications links often contain several
layers.
DISCUSSION:
Fires
in the close fight fail to support forces in contact. The lack of timeliness
and accuracy also contributes significantly to incidents of fratricide. TECHNIQUES
AND PROCEDURES:
1.
Battalion task force FSOs need to develop a battle drill to routinely get survey
and MET support to the mortars whenever possible. 2.
FSOs must aggressively coach, teach, and mentor mortar platoon leaders in the
importance of accurate firing location and use of MET. How the FSOs are meeting
their requirements for accurate predicted fires contributes to their ability
to provide accurate fires in support of forces in contact. 3.
Consider sensor-to-shooter linkage as part of the planning and rehearsal process.
Consider the use of quick-fire channels for all firing elements (mortar and
artillery) when responsiveness is paramount and the need to mass is not as
great. 4.
Follow procedures outlined in FM
6-30, Tactics,
Techniques, and Procedures for Observed Fire.
(TA.2.3
Integrate Fire Support)
TREND
3
SUBJECT:
Combat Observation and Lasing Team (COLT) employment
OBSERVATION
(FS DIV): COLT control is often decentralized without careful consideration
to tactical and technical employment concerns.
DISCUSSION:
Units
fail to maximize the effectiveness of the COLT by not properly considering
employment options during the planning process. COLTs are often task organized
to battalions at the last minute and seldom receive detailed task and purpose.
TECHNIQUES
AND PROCEDURES:
1.
Understand employment options outlined in FM
6-20-40, Techniques,
and Procedures for Fire Support for Brigade Operations,
Appendix
F, Tactics. 2.
Always provide the COLT with the task and purpose for each mission. 3.
Consider using the brigade FSNCO to issue the COLT an OPORD and to supervise
the COLT during troop-leading procedures (TLP). 4.
Consider keeping COLT on the brigade voice and digital communications nets.
(TA.2.3
Integrate Fire Support)
TREND
4
SUBJECT:
Survey planning
OBSERVATION
(FS DIV): Field artillery battalions are not effectively planning for the use
of their survey assets, and survey sections are not making efficient use of
time.
DISCUSSION:
Survey
assets are often misused or underutilized. TECHNIQUES
AND PROCEDURES:
1.
The primary method for emplacement of survey equipment and personnel should
be based on the mission and on future missions. This is best accomplished by
joint analysis of the S3 and S2 sections within the FA TOC. The staff should
determine the best use of the survey section and prioritize its missions based
on what equipment is available and the level of enemy threat. For example,
PADS should be used primarily for the firing battery survey. The north- seeking
gyrocompass (NSG) is best used for task force mortars, simultaneous observations,
and the emplacement of declination stations. Forward-entry devices and the
backup control system (BUCS) function best for conventional survey missions,
Hasty Astro, and sun/star observations. Proper understanding of the appropriate
methods of survey lead directly to survey operations timeliness. Using the
PADS to establish a declination station can take over an hour (including initialization
time) with a trained crew, while using an NSG would take roughly fifteen minutes.
2.
Ensure all modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE) and technical
manuals are on hand, serviceable, and properly maintained. Care should be taken
to ensure that survey equipment is not misused and distributed to fire support
teams short of requisite gear (i.e., FEDS).
(TA.2.3
Integrate Fire Support)
TA.1
Maneuver BOS Narrative
TA.3
Air Defense BOS Narrative
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