Maneuver Commander Considerations for the Field Artillery

In today’s operational environment (OE), field artillery units are commonly attached or assigned to maneuver units to support counterinsurgency operations. To get the maximum effect from a supporting field artillery unit, maneuver commanders and staffs should understand how afield artillery unit operates, to include its training and logistics support requirements, and fires capabilities and restrictions. Firing Position Considerations The field artillery’s mission is to deliver and integrate lethal and nonlethal fires to enable joint and maneuver commanders to dominate their OE across the spectrum of conflict. To meet this mission, there are five requirements for accurate, predicted fires: target location and size, fire unit location, weapons and ammunition information, meteorological information, and computational procedures.1 The firing unit must satisfy all five of these requirements to ensure accuracy. In Afghanistan and Iraq, most field artillery units are located either on a forward operating base (FOB) or combat outpost (COP). Artillery firing position considerations on a FOB/COP should include:  A 6,400 mils firing capability.  A place to secure/store ammunition with adequate protection from the elements and incoming enemy mortar/ artillery fires.  A location for the fire direction center (FDC) to process fire missions for the howitzer, maintain a common operational picture and battle track, and maintain communications with the maneuver unit’s tactical operations center (TOC). The FDC can be collocated with the howitzers or inside the maneuver TOC.  Integrating the howitzer position/ crew into the FOB/COP defense plan, defining security responsibilities/roles, and rehearsing FOB/COP defense plan/procedures.  Identifying air clearance requirements/ procedures around the FOB/COP.  Establishing a primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency (PACE) communications plan between the maneuver unit’s TOC and the FDC.  Identifying the process to obtain updated meteorological data.  Establishing and rehearsing the sensor-to-shooter link and counterfire battle drill, with ground and air clearance from a Q36 radar, Q37 radar, or a AN/TPQ-48 lightweight counter-mortar radar (LCMR). Understanding Personnel Roles and Responsibilities The maneuver unit’s mission, enemy, terrain, and weather, troops and support available, time available, and civil considerations (METT-TC), along with rules of engagement (ROE), dictates how the field artillery unit is organized to support operations. Field artillery employment options include the entire battery, by platoon, paired/grouped, or single howitzer. The FDC can control the howitzers as one battery element, two platoons, in three/ four pairs, or as single howitzers. With afield artillery unit assigned or attached, the maneuver commander will most likely interact with the field artillery battery commander, battery first sergeant, fire direction officer, platoon sergeant, gunnery sergeant, and howitzer section chief, depending on how the unit is organized. The field artillery unit’s manning 19 strength determines how the unit is employed, potential emergency leave situations, and the environmental and morale leave program. Based on potential manning shortfalls, the maneuver commander might consider cross-training other than field artillery military occupation specialties (MOS) personnel to help with gun line and fire direction operations. To help understand individual roles and responsibilities of primary field artillery personnel, U. S. Army Field Manual (FM) 6-50, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for the Field Artillery Cannon Battery, describes some tactical duties of key personnel:  Battery commander. The battery commander is responsible for all operational aspects of his battery, which include supervising and standardizing platoon operations, supervising safety during operations, and conducting risk assessment.  Battery first sergeant. The battery first sergeant supervises platoon sergeants, gunnery sergeants, and section chiefs; coordinates administrative and logistics support; and monitors the health and welfare of battery personnel.  Fire direction officer (FDO). The FDO is responsible for training and supervising FDC personnel, and ensuring that accurate and timely determination of firing data and accurate FDC records of missions fired are maintained.  Platoon sergeant. The platoon sergeant supervises the firing platoon and maintains firing capability, supervises the overall maintenance of the firing platoon, verifies the completion of weapons record data, and ensures ammunition is properly handled and protected.  Gunnery sergeant. The gunnery sergeant lays the platoon, assists in sustaining 24-hour operations, computes the executive officer’s minimum quadrant elevation (QE) for the lowest preferred charge the unit expects to fire, and supervises and executes platoon advanced party operations if necessary.  Howitzer section chief. The howitzer section chief is responsible for the training and proficiency of his section, the operational readiness of his equipment, and the safe firing of the howitzer. He ensures the weapon is properly emplaced, laid, and prepared for action. The memory aid TLABSPAP will be used as a guide for accomplishing the following tasks: T: Trails, spades, and/or firing platform properly emplaced. L: Lay weapon. A: Aiming point emplaced. B: Boresight verified or performed. S: Second circle, verification of lay performed with a second aiming circle. P: Prefire checks on the weapons system performed. A: Ammunition prepared. P: Position improvement (site to crest determined, XO’s report rendered, alternate aiming points established, azimuth markers emplaced, camouflage and defensive hardening of the position).2 Training and Certification Process Training Circular (TC) 3-09.8, Field Artillery Gunnery, is a good tool for maneuver commanders and staffs to review and identify how to support afield artillery unit during its training and certification process.3 It discusses the field artillery individual section certification tables, which are intended to parallel maneuver tables 1 through 6, and is designed for artillery leaders at all levels to assess the proficiency of unit mission performance and sustain field artillery core competencies. The programs outlined in the circular also follow the concepts and guidance provided in FM 7-0, Training for Full Spectrum Operations, and the qualification methodology is certification + evaluation + artillery table VI = qualified crews.4 The artillery skills proficiency test (ASPT), which evaluates the howitzer section member’s ability to execute selected crew skills and can also be used as a tool to assess section strengths and weaknesses, is shown below in Figure 1.5 The maneuver commander should ensure that howitzer personnel assigned as a gunner, ammunition team chief, assistant gunner, and key leader positions (regardless of MOS) are qualified. They should be skilled in laying the howitzer, aiming point reference (using the M100- series panoramic telescope), boresighting, indirect fire mission processing, direct fire mission processing, and initial-ing the howitzer. In accordance with TC 3-09.8, Field Artillery Gunnery, the ASPT for FDC personnel is outlined in Chapter 6. All FDC personnel, regardless of MOS, assigned to a fire direction section should be given the 13D ASPT as shown in Figure 2.6 “The field artillery unit’s manning strength determines how the unit is employed, potential emergency leave situations, and the environmental and morale leave program. Based on potential manning shortfalls, the maneuver commander might consider cross-training other than field artillery military occupation specialties (MOS) personnel to help with gun line and fire direction operations.” Artillery Skills Proficiency Test 1. Disassemble/Assemble the Breech Mechanism 2. Prepare Ammunition for Firing 3. Measure Site to Crest Using M-2 compass 4. Prepare Ammunition for Transporting 5. Emplace and Recover Close-in Aiming Points 6. Record and Maintain Fire Mission Data on DA Form 4513 (Record of Mission Fired) 7. Load and Fire a Prepared Round 8. Prepare a Position to Receive/Emplace a Howitzer (Advanced Party) Figure 1 20

13D Fire Direction Tasks for ASPT 1. Initialize the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) 2. Maintain Unit Data in AFATDS 3. Establish AFATDS Communications Confi gurations 4. Compute Muzzle Velocity Variation (Manual) 5. Compute Manual Safety 6. Process Meteorological (MET) Data Using AFATDS 7. Verify Fire Mission Data Using

8. Compute Safety Data Using Centaur 9. Verify Centaur Initialization Data Figure 2 Training Critical Focal Points for Success There are three things field artillery soldiers must do to be successful on the battlefield — shoot, move, and communicate. During recent field artillery training events at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), Hohenfels, Germany, special emphasis was placed on specific areas that help support the field artillery in its mission to support maneuver commanders:  Digital troubleshooting the AFATDS, Centaur technical fire direction (TFD) system, and the gun display unit (GDU).  Meeting the five requirements for accurate predicted fire, including target location and size, fire unit location, weapons and ammunition information, meteorological information, and computational procedures.  FDC battle tracking and FDO plotting the target each time.  Proper emplacement of W16 cables on the M777 howitzer system.  Implementing shift change standards for continuous 24-hour “hot gun” operations and 24-hour FDC operations.  Performing howitzer maintenance.  Personnel (number of U6 qualified soldiers).  Conducting pullover gauge and fire control alignment test (FCAT). Using Methods to Reinforce Mission and Training Maneuver commanders can continuously and successfully reinforce mission and training standards by:  Creating a tactical standard operating procedure (TACSOP) that addresses meeting the five requirements; troubleshooting, especially digital systems; and composite risk management (FDC and gun line safety).  Ensuring certification is completed to standard; use TC 3-09.8, Field Artillery Gunnery, as a baseline, and involve the field artillery battalion in the process.  Conducting hands-on training on all section equipment and teaching soldiers how to properly care for and place cables and digital equipment.  Establishing and maintaining a firing safety training and certification program.  Developing and conducting a digital system sustainment training (DSST) program.  Requesting a U6 mobile training team from Fort Sill or sending soldiers to Fort Sill for training (ensure U6 toolkits are complete).  Ensuring the maneuver unit S4, forward support company, or supply representative understands logistics requirements to support field artillery operations (munitions, powders, fuses, and replacement parts). Developing open communications with the field artillery battalion S4 or executive officer can help during this process. This article offers a few suggestions that will assist maneuver commanders and staffs in getting the maximum effect from supporting field artillery units. It is imperative that maneuver commanders and staffs understand how field artillery units operate. Notes 1Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), Field Manual (FM) 6-40, Field Artillery Manual Cannon Gunnery, U. S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC, 1 October 1999. 2HQDA, FM 6-50, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for the Field Artillery Cannon Battery, GPO, Washington, DC, 23 December 1996. 3Training Circular (TC) 3-09.8, Field Artillery Gunnery, Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, OK, April 2010. 4HQDA, FM 7-0, Training for Full Spectrum Operations, GPO, Washington, DC, 12 December 2008. 5TC 3-09.8, Field Artillery Gunnery. 6Ibid., Chapter 6. 7Ibid. Major Mark Barton is currently a student, U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS. He received a B. A. from the University of Central Oklahoma. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Field Artillery Captain Career Course, and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School. He has served in various command and staff positions, to include battery operations officer, battalion fire direction officer, and battalion operations officer, 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery (MLRS), Fort Sill, OK; assistant brigade fire support officer (FSO), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery, Camp Casey, Korea; battalion FSO, 2d Battalion, 72d Armor, Camp Casey; field artillery intelligence officer, 25th Infantry Division (Light) Artillery (DIVARTY), Schofield Barracks, HI; chief of targeting, Combined Joint Task Force-76, 25th DIVARTY, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; battalion assistant S3 and plans officer, 3d Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, Schofield Barracks; commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3d Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, Forward Operating Base Warrior, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; and observer controller-trainer, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany. “The maneuver commander should ensure that howitzer personnel assigned as a gunner, ammunition team chief, assistant gunner, and key leader positions (regardless of MOS) are qualified. They should be skilled in laying the howitzer, aiming point reference (using the M100-series panoramic telescope), boresighting, indirect fire mission processing, direct fire mission processing, and initialing the howitzer.” 21