FIRE
SUPPORT
OBSERVATION: Field Artillery units, involved in Stability Operations, do not consider all Firefinder Radar positioning requirements when selecting the radar positions in a lodgment area.
DISCUSSION: Firefinder radars were attached to DS artillery battalions. The radars were positioned for security and support with the DS Artillery TOC or firing batteries in lodgment areas. Positioning factors include communications requirements, cover, security, survey, slope, site to crest and radiation danger. The Q-36 radar poses a significant radiation hazard to personnel forward of the radar antenna. Specifically, there is a 107 meter danger area 800 mils to the left and right of the Q-36 radar dish. If the radar must operate in extended azimuth mode to provide for 6400 mil coverage, the safety zone will extend in a full 360 degree circle around the radar. Personnel, vehicles, and electrically activated or detonated munitions should not be positioned inside the danger zone.
LESSONS: Do not position personnel or vehicles inside the radar's electromagnetic radiation danger zone. If the radar is expected to provide 6400 mil coverage, position the radar on the highest terrain in the position area thus elevating the radar above other vehicles and personnel. If higher terrain is not available, task engineers to build a mound for the radar to sit upon in order to elevate the radar dish. If 6400 mil coverage is not required and engineer assets are not available, position the radar near the edge of the perimeter along the radar's radiation azimuth.
REFERENCES:
FM 6-161, (with C1) "Field Artillery Target Acquisition"
TM 11-5840-354-10-1, "Operators Manual for Radar Set AN/TPQ-36"
TB 43-0133, "Hazard Criteria for CECOM Radiofrequency and Radiation Producing Equipment"
OBSERVATION: Artillery units at CMTC often fired indirect fires without the benefit of a trained observer positively observing and identifying the target.
DISCUSSION: The decision to employ indirect fires in stability operations requires a deliberate decision making process. Strict measures and controls must be emplaced to ensure accountability and to avoid fratricide, noncombatant casualties and collateral damage. Units relied on a graduated response matrix that allowed the use of indirect fire without an observer if the threat was in a non-populated area. A factional mortar could be engaged with indirect fire if it was in a non-populated area. Radar was used to determine the effectiveness of the fires. There are two immediate problems with this methodology. First, the determination of population was made based on a map spot. There may be many populated areas that do not show on a map. Second, radar can determine the origination grid of mortar fire, but cannot determine if the grid is located in a populated area or in the vicinity of other restricted areas. The radar cannot tell if fires are sufficient or effective. The decision to consider radar as eyes on target accepts considerable risk and complicates accountability.
LESSONS: Whenever possible, do not use radar as the sole method of confirming the accuracy and effectiveness of indirect fires. Whenever possible, use a qualified observer who positively and accurately determines target location, controls fires, assesses effects, and establishes positive accountability. Consider using a quick reaction force (QRF) to engage a target with direct fires before automatically responding with unobserved or radar only observed indirect fires.
OBSERVATION: Applicability of Firefinder Radar zones during Stability Operations is not well understood.
DISCUSSION: Fire support personnel automatically employ Critical Friendly Zones (CFZ) based on lessons taught and learned during high intensity operations. When a Firefinder radar predicts that an incoming round will impact inside a CFZ, the location of the weapon firing is immediately targeted for counterfire and entered into the fire support system as a Priority I call for fire. During high intensity conflict, the CFZ assists in prioritizing the large number of radar acquisitions and competing requests for indirect fire. During stability operations, there probably will not be the large number of radar acquisitions and competing calls for fire routinely experienced during high intensity operations. A long que of fire missions waiting to be processed should not develop. Therefore, any acquisition will be a priority for potential response. Fire support personnel do not routinely use Censor Zones (CZ) during stability operations. Because friendly indirect fire assets may be required to fire in any direction and because radars will be tasked to look in all directions, the chance of a radar unintentionally acquiring a friendly weapon system as a target is increased. A CZ prevents the unintentional acquisition of a friendly weapon system firing toward the radar. Indirect fire weapon systems that fire from this zone are not processed as a target by the Firefinder radar.
LESSONS: Do not automatically use Critical Friendly Zones during stability operations since all acquisitions will already be a priority for action. Place CZs over all friendly indirect fire weapon system locations. Battle track radar zones to ensure they are updated as the situation changes. Hold the brigade targeting officer responsible for establishing, moving, confirming, and canceling radar zones. Implement a system to ensure proper entry and recording of zones. Discuss current and planned radar zones at all targeting meetings and fire support rehearsals.
REFERENCE: FM 6-121 Field Artillery Target Acquisition
OBSERVATION: Fire Support rehearsals are not conducted or are ineffective during stability operations.
DISCUSSION: Fire support rehearsals are a normal part of preparations during high intensity operations, but are often forgotten during stability operations. Yet, stability operations is an environment where a tactical decision has strategic implications. The requirement for absolute accountability and accuracy of all indirect fires demands detailed planning, targeting, and rehearsal. The fire support system involves many people at geographically separated locations and a number of complicated subsystems that must function rapidly and accurately to provide responsive fire support. The skills involved are perishable. The reduced demand for indirect fires during stability operations as compared to high intensity operations can lull fire supporters into a false sense of security. This false security combined with a tendency to not rehearse could mean the fire support system might not be prepared to respond when called.
LESSONS: Conduct brigade and task force fire support rehearsals daily. Focus the rehearsal on an assessment of the most critical fire support tasks facing the unit. Develop battle drills to test the readiness of the unit's decision, detection, and delivery subsystems. Test the unit at different times of the day and night to ensure it is continually responsive. Rehearse plans to support observation points, check points, and convoys with obscuration, screening, and killing fires. Rehearse plans to support Joint Military Working Group and Civil-Military Commission meetings. Rehearse the counterfire system. Rehearse the use of precision munitions.
REFERENCE: FM 6-20-40 Fire Support for Brigade Operations (Heavy)
OBSERVATION: The brigade commander authorized the use of indirect fires, but did not specify the type or amount of ammunition to be fired.
DISCUSSION: The application of indirect fires during stability operations is characterized by the use of minimum essential force to neutralize an aggressor, the need to minimize collateral damage, and the requirement for absolute accuracy and accountability of fires. When the brigade commander authorized the use of indirect fire, it was not clear whether he had approved the use of one round, one volley, or one indirect fire mission. Artillery units developed a graduated response matrix, but did not always use it. When called upon to fire, they often responded with maximum lethality without regard to a previously defined matrix established in the Fire Support Annex or the Field Artillery Support Plan.
LESSONS: Define and control the conditions for escalating or terminating the use of indirect fires as explicitly as you define the conditions for their initial use. Avoid possible escalation and unnecessary collateral damage by explicitly defining what is authorized for indirect fire in terms of type and number of rounds to be used. Consider the use of response matrices to facilitate rapid engagements, but also emplace procedures for requesting additional fires in excess of a response matrix. Do not exceed the established response without first informing the brigade commander and receiving his explicit approval.
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