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FIRE SUPPORT

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Role of the FA Battalion S2 in the Defense
(FM 34-3, Chap 4; FM 34-80, Chap 1;
FC 6-20-10, Chap 5; FC 6-34-10, Chap 2)

The field artillery battalion S2 is a vital link in the preparation, planning, and execution of a fire plan. During the preparation and planning phases, the FA battalion S2 accomplishes the following:

• Face-to-face coordination with the brigade S2. The FA battalion S2 obtains IPB products from the brigade and the other task forces with which he updates his IPB. When possible, the FA battalion S2 coordinates with each task force S2 regarding their intelligence and scheme of maneuver.

• Obtains all TAI/NAI locations from the brigade S2 and compares them with his data. Later in the IPB process, TAIs which are essential to the commander's intent may become high value targets (HVT), those targets which are crucial to the enemy's success. For example, a task force conducting a defense at a river, the enemy's engineer bridging capability is an obvious HVT.

• Coordinates with the brigade and task force FSO and FA battalion S3 for required observation assets (FO teams, COLT, OP/LP and AN/TPS-25A/58B Radar) to overlook the TAI/NAI's "trigger points." He accomplishes this by analyzing the best available terrain and by analyzing the enemy's courses of action.

• Determines the location of enemy mortars and artillery. The S2 may nominate targets for attack by division EW assets as part of the overall targeting effort. CEWI assets that could assist the FA battalion S2 include direction finding radars that locate the enemy and jamming radars to attack command and control frequencies during a critical time of the battle.

The FA battalion S2 can assist his S3 by analyzing:

• Terrain: recommends firing battery positions based on likely enemy avenues of approach (i.e., firing units are positioned to the flanks of these enemy avenues of approach to preclude being overrun), avoid hill masses which would restrict firing and trafficability.

• Weather: information that may hamper the artillery's capability to influence the battle.

• Range and capability of enemy indirect fire systems.

• The enemy's rate of march based on given terrain and weather which influences the position of the artillery "trigger points" for all the targets.

• Likely enemy courses of action.

• Integrate the latest intelligence into battery defensive plans.

During the execution phase, the FA battalion S2 has the capability of refining the fire plan based on the enemy's course of action. For example, (see Figure 1), the IPB process depicts three main enemy axes of approach. With this data and the commander's intent, the FSO can build the fire support plan. He plans targets along the mobility corridors using the TAI as HVT. The S3, along with the S2 and FSO, developes "trigger points" (decision points) which are used to initiate fire missions that engage the enemy at the TAI. As the battle commences, the unit confirms the enemy will take Axis 1 by observing NAI. Based on this information, the FA battalion S2 recommends cancelling Groups A1B, A2B, and A5B and shifting more firepower to Groups A4B and A6B to the S3. While A3B is fired, the battalion FDO directs the other firing units that were originally firing the cancelled group to compute data for the new targets. Thus, the S2 refines the fire plan which allocates increased firepower to key targets. The S2 recommends that the task force cancel the priority targets on Axis 2 and 3. The S2 accomplishes this from the FA battalion TOC while monitoring the battle on the brigade intelligence net as well as eavesdropping on other nets.

Figure 1. Execution Phase of the Battle

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Table of Contents
Intelligence
Mobility/Countermobility/Survivability