TA.3
AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY BOS
Strengths
* Early warning: This has improved. Usually air defense units receive timely air defense warnings, weapons control status changes, and early warning information. TECHNIQUE: The best elements do not rely solely on directed early warning originating from the battery command post and received from their platoon leader. This form of early warning is inherently slow and largely ineffective. NOTE: see Needs Emphasis below.
* Combined arms for air defense (CAFAD): CAFAD, or self defense fires which can reduce the severity of an airstrike have improved.. TECHNIQUE: Greater CAFAD effectiveness can be achieved by placing all available weapon systems into operation and massing these fires at a predicted intercept point.
3.3 Integrate Air Defense Fires
* Aerial IPB: The initially developed aerial IPB and subsequent refinement to the product, based on the analysis of historical aircraft information, is now routinely occurring.
Needs Emphasis
* Directed early warning: Directed early warning information from the battalion TOC to the subordinate companies requires greater emphasis. Routinely, if directed early warning is even attempted at the battalion TOC, it usually does not provide timely or complete information,[ ie.1) friendly/unknown aircraft 2) cardinal direction 3) most likely affected assets, if known.] necessary to counter a threat. A disturbing trend has been the inability of ADOs in the battalion TOCs to remote their communications from their trucks into the supported unit TOC because of either a lack of AN/GRA-39 remotes or nonoperational remotes. RESULT: this further closes down another source of directed early warning sent over the ADA battery command net. TECHNIQUES: 1) Conduct CPXs and practice passing directed early warning tracks over command nets to enhance timeliness and familiarity. 2) Train battle captains to be aware of the significance of the directed early warning messages and to transmit them to all subordinate companies.
* Target engagement: Poor results on target engagements can be attributed to poor site selection. Emplacement of weapon systems in locations that do not allow good observation and fields of fire have become the norm, rather than the exception. Limited observation along primary target lines and shooting into trees have consistently reduced air defense effectiveness, and have contributed to a large number of engagements with a low success rate. TECHNIQUES: 1) Train on selecting a firing position based on guidelines in ARTEP 44-117-11 MTP, task number 44-5-4031, "Select a Team Firing Position" and task number 44-5-4027, "Occupy a Team Firing Position." 2) Rehearse the target engagement battle drill in accordance with ARTEP 44-117-11 Drill and ARTEP 44-117-21 Drill.
3.3 Integrate Air Defense Fires
* Aerial IPB: The sharing of initially developed aerial IPB with the S2 and then integrating aerial IPB with the ground IPB needs emphasis. Integration and synchronization of these two products improves the chances of placing an air defense fire unit at the critical time and place on the battlefield. Greater emphasis is required to ensure that platoon leaders receive the updated aerial IPB, and that they refine this product for the supported units' AOs.
* Command, control and communications: ADO's ability to command and control the air defense battery is routinely degraded for the following reasons: 1) failure to deploy all authorized MTOE communications equipment 2) deploying with non-mission capable (NMC) communications equipment 3) communications equipment failures 4) equipment misuse, ie. not using OE254 antenna; not employing AN/GRA 39 remotes; using short v. whip antenna) 5) lack of operator knowledge on assigned equipment (including SINCGARS) 6) lack of RTO discipline in continuously monitoring nets RESULTS: 1) ineffective communication degrades the overall ADA unit effectiveness 2) reduces the ADOs ability to stay abreast of battlefield developments. 3) poor battle tracking nullifies the ADOs ability to influence the battle. PROCEDURES: 1) Conduct a thorough technical inspection of all communications equipment to ensure all equipment is complete and functional at home station 2) Deploy all authorized MTOE communications equipment (e.g. FM/AM radios, antennas, remotes, etc.) TECHNIQUES: 1) Conduct COMEXs as a pre-combat inspection 2) Conduct a distant radio station check during a home station COMEX.
TA.2
Fire Support BOS Narrative
TA.6
Mobility, Countermobility & Survivability BOS & NBC & PSYOPS Narrative
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