Winning in Degraded Mode

It is well established that the Abrams main battle tank is the finest armor fighting vehicle in service today. The Abrams offers invaluable armor protection to crews and incredibly overwhelming firepower. During combat operations, reports have shown that the Abrams tank can engage and destroy targets in urban environments, as well as at extended ranges, using both precision and degraded mode gunnery techniques. The majority of the tank’s lethality depends on how well its crew is trained to perform under various conditions. Current armor doctrine, U. S. Army Field Manual (FM) 3-20.12, Tank Gunnery (Abrams), provides guidelines for a multitude of different types of tasks, conditions, and standards that our tankers could encounter on the battlefield.1 Expertise in target acquisition, sensing, and subsequent round adjustments are critical elements of overall gunnery proficiency. However, to avoid writing a 200- page publication, this article simply examines methods to develop and sustain gunnery performance through the use of manual controls and the gunner’s auxiliary sight (GAS), which will enhance full-up gunnery proficiency. Fighting with a full-up system is the preferred method of engaging targets. However, due to continuously changing battlefield conditions, using degraded mode gunnery techniques may be required. During the quick tempo of urban conflict, it may be necessary to engage targets using battlesight techniques. Many targets are only visible within a 2- to 5-second window of opportunity, necessitating a “quick-shot” technique to effectively place fire on these targets. Extended operations in a 360-degree threat environment, with limited ability to pull back and make repairs, may force units to continue the fight while maintaining the momentum of the battle. This fight includes completing the mission, protecting the Abrams’ technology, and movement to maintenance or resupply points. FM 3-20.12 describes degraded-mode gunnery as “fighting with less than a fully operational system.”2 This degradation can be caused by a fault in the fire control system or by environmental conditions. Faults in the fire control system could force the crew to use manual controls and/or the GAS. Combat reports indicate some tank crews are closing their ballistic doors (dog house) to prevent insurgent attacks against primary sighting systems, again relying on the GAS to engage immediate threats and allow continued scanning. Top attacks, snipers, and environmental conditions have also forced tankers to fight from the closed-hatch position. Always remember that anything less than a 100-percent situational awareness of the crew’s surrounding area will limit its overall effectiveness. Crew-level tank tables prescribe a progressive training method toward crew qualification. Based on this method, crews should move from basic tables, only after mastering all tasks, to intermediate tables. Basic tables (with or without simulations) include manipulation and tracking exercises that assist in developing hand and eye coordination, which forms the basis for gunner firing techniques. Unit leaders must take advantage of early opportunities to train crews how to use the vehicle’s onboard GAS. Tank table IV’s laser rangerfinder (LRF) failure task provides the initial opportunity for this training. Successful completion of this task is critical for continued training proficiency. Tank tables V thru VII provide additional tasks of degraded-mode gunnery that incorporates the GAS. Tank crews allowed to proceed to the crew-qualification course without successfully mastering the GAS increase their risk of failing the course. Never allow a weak crew to move forward without mastering all required skills (with emphasis on the GAS) of the previous tables. The key to any successful gunnery program is properly building and monitoring the overall tasks. In this case, degraded-mode gunnery must be properly built and closely monitored to ensure crews are meeting required levels of proficiency before moving forward in the training cycle. Range time can hinder a successful program, which is why early training and successfully executing these difficult tasks at home station is critical. Closely monitoring these difficult tasks (or others like it) may force leaders to integrate more of these tasks in the lower tables to ensure satisfactory proficiency during crew qualification. Our tankers are deployed worldwide and must have the capability to successfully fight in both urban and open areas. Given the ever-changing battlefield, while precision gunnery is the preferred fighting posture, degraded-mode gunnery could become the norm very quickly. Train for the fight, any fight, any where, under all conditions — these are the minimum standards tankers need to achieve and guarantee victory. Notes 1U. S. Army Field Manual (FM) 3-20.12, Tank Gunnery (Abrams), U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 15 August 2005. 2Ibid. “Fighting with a full-up system is the preferred method of engaging targets. However, due to continuously changing battlefield conditions, using degraded mode gunnery techniques may be required. During the quick tempo of urban conflict, it may be necessary to engage targets using battlesight techniques. Many targets are only visible within a 2- to 5-second window of opportunity, necessitating a “quick-shot” technique to effectively place fire on these targets.” Master Sergeant Wakeland Kuamoo, U. S. Army, Retired, currently provides contractor support for large caliber ammunition to Fort Knox, KY; Picatinny Arsenal, NJ; and Rock Island Arsenal, IL. He served in various duty positions, to include senior live fire train, Bosnia and Herzegovina; chief, master Gunner Branch, Fort Knox, KY; first sergeant, A Company, 2d Battalion, 35th Armor, Fort Carson, CO; senior armor trainer, Technical Assistance Field Team, Republic of Yemen; and division master gunner, 2d Infantry Division, Korea. Sergeant First Class Brian Reel is a senior doctrine writer/developer, Directorate, Training, Doctrine, and Combat Development, Fort Knox, KY. His military education includes the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course and Master Gunner Course. He has served in various positions, to include platoon sergeant, Mobile Gun System, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry, 3d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA; brigade operations sergeant, 3d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany; tank platoon sergeant, B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th (1-35) Armor, 1st Armored Division (1AD), Baumholder, Germany; and master gunner, B Company, 1-35 Armor, 1AD, Baumholder. — 47