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ARTILLERY IPB: Step-by-Step How To

by CPT Jim Lee, Observer/Controller, National Training Center
Very little doctrine exists to support the artillery battalion S2's mission to provide intelligence to his commander for the execution of fire support. FM 6-20-1 clearly states the artillery S2 "expands the supported unit's IPB to focus on fire support issues and on survivability and mobility issues for the battalion." Yet, little How To doctrine exists. Keep in mind that artillery battalions have no military intelligence officer TO& allocation, so the S2 is usually an artilleryman doubling down on S2 duties. This article provides a step-by-step breakdown of the artillery battalion IPB process, where the resultant products are valuable tools to help make the tactical decisionmaking process work.

The internal IPB process encompasses garrison preparation and then subsequent development of the Modified Combined Obstacles Overlay (MCOO), specifically looking at the terrain from the artillery point of view.

This MCOO is then used in course of action (COA) development and wargaming to develop Position Areas (PAs).

The artillery S2 next does situational templating. The focus is on enemy locations, formations, avenues of approach and objectives. With the chemical officer, predict areas where the enemy would be most likely to use persistent or non-persistent chemical weapons.

This artillery S2 then completes his situational template integration by overlaying the SITEMP on the maneuver graphics to deconflict firing unit positions.

Next event templating nails down timing for key events during the battle. Then, overlay these results onto the maneuver graphics to produce the decision support template, which can then be used to wargame, in order, each critical fire support task.

GARRISON PREPARATION

Garrison life often finds the artillery battalion S2 bogged down by additional duties which pull him away from tactical training. Duties, such as crime prevention, physical security and SAEDA, are certainly important, but preparation for warfare should remain the primary focus of the S2's efforts.

Technique: Assess the unit's strengths and weaknesses in each assigned additional duty, and then, as appropriate, try to delegate as much of the additional duty workload as possible to subordinates. Supervise their efforts, while keeping your focus on preparing the intelligence section for tactical training.

The first primary task in preparing for tactical operations is studying enemy doctrine, and building enemy order of battle database files. Specifically concentrate on the types of units you expect to face on the battlefield.

Technique: Organize your Order of Battle (OB) files as follows, with these minimal information requirements:

Maneuver:
* Number of armored vehicles, by type; distinguish between thin skinned versus heavily armored.
* Formations used: march; prebattle, battle, etc.; formation width and depth.
* Movement rates: night; day; security zone; MBA; prebattle; battle, etc.
Artillery:
* Types: 2S1, 2S3, 2S5, 2S7, BM21, etc.
* Number of tubes per battalion.
* Capabilities of each system, i.e. , munitions, ranges, etc.
* Dispositions: deployment distances between firing units, in relation to maneuver missions of each echelon;
RAG, DAG, AAG (direct support versus counterfire); artillery phases of fire.
Air Defense:
* Numbers, by echelon
* Disposition: deployment on the battlefield
* Capabilities, by system
* Air phases of support

MODIFIED COMBINED OBSTACLES OVERLAY

The MCOO is an in-depth study of the battlefield area incorporating terrain and weather analysis. The MCOO graphically depicts the first three components of the IPB process on one overlay: battlefield area evaluation, terrain analysis, and weather analysis. The MCOO can be completed at Home Station, and then refined once deployed to an area of operations. The MCOO developed by the artillery battalion S2 must focus on aspects of terrain and weather that specifically affect fire support:

  • elevations
  • sight to crest
  • intervening crest
  • cant
  • range to target
  • soil composition
  • intervisibility lines
  • mobility corridors
  • avenues of approach
Technique: Take the following steps to produce an artillery battalion MCOO:

STEP 1:
Highlight elevations in the area of interest that cause problems to firing units.
EXAMPLE: Given positioning (range to crest and vertical interval in relation to target) of firing units in relation to terrain, what elevations will cause sight to crest, intervening crest and vertical interval problems.
RESULT: This information will help the firing battery XO during quartering party operations with minimal QE, and help prevent recomputing solutions for high angle missions during execution.

Highlight terrain which causes firing systems cant problems.
RESULT: This will help prevent problems for advance parties as they prepare positions for occupation, and will consequently help reduce ready-to-fire times.
NOTE:During the orders brief, the S2 should address possible problems if the battalion must occupy questionable Position Areas (PAs). Graphically depict these problem elevation areas using the symbology from FM 34-130 for NO GO and SLOW GO terrain.

STEP 2:
On the same overlay, graphically depict areas that deny intervisibility between opposing forces by drawing intervisibility lines where the terrain dictates.
NOTE: An intervisibility line marks an area on the battlefield where opposing forces cannot observe beyond, i.e., ridge line, wadi system, a finger off a ridge, etc. Intervisibility lines become particularly important when you are trying to identify PAs hidden from enemy avenues of approach.
Technique: After doing a map reconnaissance, coordinate with the brigade or DIVARTY S2 to use a stereo scope and any satellite imagery to aid in further terrain analysis.

STEP 3:
On the same overlay, graphically depict ground and air mobility corridors, to platoon level, affecting the area of operation; use the symbology from FM 34-130.
NOTE: If the overlay seems like it will become unreadable, then only depict to company level.

Refine the mobility corridors into ground and air avenues of approach. The MCOO should depict the regimental and battalion avenues affecting the battalion's positioning plan.
Technique: Use the MCOO during COA development to help avoid planning PAs on these avenues. IF it becomes necessary to plan a PA on an avenue of approach, inform that battery commander about the specific potential air and ground threats.

STEP 4:
On the same overlay, highlight key and decisive terrain.
Technique: During COA development, avoid this terrain for positioning, since friendly and enemy forces will focus their direct and indirect fires, and their maneuver on these areas.

STEP 5:
On the same overlay, highlight all bodies of water and builtup areas. These may cause mobility problems for the battalion, and channelize enemy movement and maneuver.
 Then, template all possible PAs, given the identified terrain constraints.
Technique: This will help the S3 in quickly focusing on sound PAs during COA development. This works particularly well when the staff has limited planning time. Too often S3s try to conduct their own analysis, then draw battery goose eggs on the operations overlay without considering the terrain analysis depicted on the MCOO.

THE MCOO AND COA DEVELOPMENT

PROBLEM: Too many S2s complete the MCOO, and then shelve it until the orders brief.

Technique:
The MCOO is a great staff planning tool that enables the S3 to quickly focus on useful terrain for positioning.

1. Hang the MCOO on the operations map, and then overlay the operational graphic.
2. Decide where the battalion will do most of its killing, based on the maneuver commander's intent for fires, critical fire support tasks, scheme of fires and engagement criteria.
3. Decide the optimal gun to target range under standard conditions, given the greatest amounts of propellants and munitions mix provided to the S3 by the BAO or the battery FDCs.
4. Draw the range fan from the target area to the proposed PAs depicted on the MCOO. RESULT: Isolation of all the optimal PAs on the MCOO within that range fan.
5. Any PAs outside the range fan are identified. The requirement to expend possible shortage propellants and munitions, if these PAs are employed, is considered during COA analysis.
6. The FDO refines the optimal ranges, given the conditions of accurate predictive fires. Particularly address the issues of powder temperature, gun above/below the target, and MET data.
7. After identifying the optimal PAs on the MCOO, copy them on the operations overlay. NOTE: There will be times when the S3 must use PAs outside the optimal range. The potential cost in ammunition shortages must be considered.
8. With the FDO, look at each PA and identify any fire support issues affecting the battalion's use of these areas.
9. After identifying any issues, the FDU enters the data into the BUCs to decide the issue's validity, i.e., sight to crest and/or intervening crest, etc. RESULT: Should you have to use a less-than-optimal PA, the FDO at least knows to specifically address the problems with the battery FDC during the battery technical rehearsal. This is where and when to develop a solution.

Table of Contents
10 Steps to a Better BSA Defense
Artillery IPB: Step-by-Step, Part 2



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