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Fast and Accurate Fires in the Close Fight

by LTC David L. Anderson, Senior Brigade Fire Support O/C, JRTC
PROBLEM: Inability to adjust indirect fire onto a fast-moving OPFOR when contact is made during search and attack missions.

RESULT: Failure to fight with fires contributes to the 7:1 loss ratio between the BLUFOR and the OPFOR at the JRTC.

This article focuses on three key areas to improve light infantry units' fighting with fires abilities. Particular emphasis is placed on how to better synchronize indirect fires with maneuver during the close fight. The key areas for training emphasis: planning, fire support movement techniques, and actions on contact. Included also are some suggestions for Home Station Training events designed to build skill in the required individual and collective fire support tasks. The net result of your training efforts will be fast and accurate fires in the close fight.

PLANNING

The first step to improve the BLUFOR 7:1 loss ratio during search-and-attack missions is more detailed planning to integrate fire support with maneuver. BLUFOR units rarely employ indirect fire support to fix or finish the enemy. Too often this is because such support was not planned for, or rehearsed, prior to the mission.

TECHNIQUES for planning indirect fire support for search and attack missions.

1. Plan priority targets, along the direction of attack, on likely enemy ambush sites and templated enemy positions. (See figure 1).

2. Pre-clear these priority targets. Purpose of a priority target in a search and attack mission: fix or isolate the enemy during contact.

3. Allocate a weapon system, such as an artillery battery or a mortar platoon, to provide immediate responsive fire support to the maneuver unit as it moves to contact. Consider placing a field artillery platoon, or battery in direct support to the maneuver unit conducting the mission.

4. Plan to shift the priorities from target to target in conjunction with the movement of the maneuver element along the designated route.


Figure 1

EXAMPLE: Target #1, the first target along the route is the initial priority target. As movement continues, the priority shifts to the next target in the sequence. The trigger to cancel one priority target and establish the next priority target: based on unit movement, reporting along designated routes and the minimum safe distance for the weapon system designated to fire the priority target. (See figure 2)

Minimum Safe Distance Table (FM 6-141-1)
Weapon,
projectile		 Range (Meters) Observer-Adjusted Delivery Technique
1,0002,0004,000 6,0008,00010,00012,00014,000 16,00018,00020,000
60-mm
mortar		330330
81-mm
mortar		330330322
4.2-inch
mortar		 350360
105-mm
howitzer		 340340350360
155-mm
howitzer		 430440450460470530600680
8-inch
howitzer		 450450470500510520520600610
Figure 2

This shifting of priority targets requires detailed planning and coordination between the company commanders and the company fire support officer (FSO).

5. Coordinate the route of march (direction of attack) with friendly units operating within the area of operations. Confirm that all friendly units are outside the company zone, or occupy static positions that will not impede the company's ability to rapidly call for indirect fire support.

RESULT: The company commander can execute his actions on contact battle drill that includes the use of indirect fires; the detailed planning and coordination will mean that responsive fire support is always available for the unit moving to contact in a search-and-attack mission.

FIRE SUPPORT MOVEMENT

Techniques:

1. Navigate using a map or the Precision Lightweight GPS (Global Positioning System) Receiver (PLGR).

2. Always know the location of the maneuver element.

3. Enter priority targets as way points in the PLGR. RESULT: Helps the FSO or platoon forward observer (FO) establish the relationship between the observer's location and the location of the next priority target at all times.

4. Fire marking rounds (when possible) with either smoke or high explosive munitions at the priority targets beyond the minimum safe distance for the weapon system. RESULT: Shows the platoon leader exactly where the next pre-planned priority target is on the ground.

5. CANCEL the old priority target, and establish the new priority target as the maneuver element moves on the ground. WHEN?: as the lead element of the unit moves within the minimum safe distance of the weapon system being used.

6. Update the battalion fire support element and the firing unit fire direction center every 500 meters of movement OR every 30 minutes. RESULT: The constant position update allows the FSE and the FDC to accurately battle track and anticipate execution of the priority target.

ACTIONS ON CONTACT

Company commanders and platoon leaders routinely demonstrate they do not know how to fight with fires during the actions on contact battle drill.

PROBLEM: When contact is made, units return fire and then chase the enemy.

RESULT: The enemy gains the advantage. The enemy allows a portion of the unit to pass and then conducts a hasty ambush, inflicting casualties at a rate of 7:1.

PROBLEM: When contact is made, units take no action and stay in position.

RESULT: The enemy gains the initiative, and maneuvers against the stalled friendly unit, bringing direct and indirect fires onto the platoon, inflicting casualties at a rate of 7:1.

These problems exemplify typical BLUFOR actions on contact. The problems are worsened by the fact that in both cases, indirect fires are never considered much less employed.

Techniques: in sequence

1. Plan to use indirect fire support, and then use it.

2. On contact:
  • take cover
  • immediately FIRE the priority target and get a sheaf on the ground

3. The platoon leader must immediately decide to kill the enemy with:
  • indirect fire
  • direct fire and maneuver
  • combination of direct fire and maneuver with indirect fire

4. If the commander decides to use indirect fire support:
  • adjust the sheaf with bold corrections to kill the moving enemy, OR
  • adjust the sheaf by creeping the fires onto a position immediately behind the enemy to ISOLATE or FIX and suppress the enemy.

5. Exercise combat patience: allow the tactical decision to develop and synchronize the total combat power available. RESULT: The indirect fires will facilitate and enhance the platoon leader's attack using direct fire and maneuver.

6. The platoon FO must physically accompany the platoon leader during the battle.

7. The FO must be prepared to shift the fires as directed (usually farther away from the platoon based on the direction of attack).

8. Keep steel falling by using the command REPEAT, i.e., "Right 60 Add 100, REPEAT."

9. Command "End of mission" at the platoon leader's direction.

10. Immediately establish another priority target and fire it. NOTE: Repeat this battle drill any time contact is made.

HOME-STATION TRAINING

The key to success in winning the light infantry close fight is the type and quality of combined arms training done at Home Station.

The training can be as simple as a platoon leader and his forward observer walking through a situational training exercise to as complex as resources and imagination will allow.

Technique: Actions on Contact battle drill training example:

1. Use two or three OPFOR soldiers, hiding in heavily vegetated terrain, who attack the platoon as it conducts a search-and-attack mission.

2. Incorporate a Fire Coordination Exercise (FCX) with the maneuver training that involves actual Fire Direction Center (FDC), using FM radio transmissions, and organic equipment.

3. Use a firemarker, equipped with a PLGR and artillery simulators. The firemarker moves down the lane while monitoring the fire net. He marks the indirect fires as they are called in and "fired."

4. Progress to Combined Arms Live Fire Exercises (CALFEXs). Run the same battle drill using live artillery and/or mortar fires tied to a maneuver exercise of a search-and-attack mission.

Training Objective: get fast, accurate fires on the ground immediately upon contact, while maneuver commanders learn to control their unit, develop the situation and employ fire support assets sufficient and accurate to fix and finish an enemy force.

RESULT: Demonstration of the positive battle outcome resulting from the relationship between the maneuver commander (platoon or company level) and the FO and/or FSO.

CONCLUSION

Long term observation of JRTC warfighting clearly demonstrates the necessity of quality combined arms training.

Those units that can plan for search-and-attack missions, execute good movement techniques, and develop and rehearse the actions on contact battle drill will be successful in defeating the enemy.

Fire supporters must work closely with maneuver commanders to build a combined arms team that can effectively provide the fast and accurate fires in the close fight.

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