An M1 Unit Uses Back-to-Basics Gunnery

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5While the number of tank battalions in the ment,organizational structure during the armored division was halves, tank strength was not. Prior to the reorganization, each battalion had three tank companies, giving early period of the war. *31st, Mth, 81st Armored Regiments not acti-the division a total of 18 tank companies. vated until 1 October 1941. Under the new organization each battalion 3some divisions did not adopt the combat had three medium and one light companies, command organization until several months @ving the division a total of 12 tank ComPan-later. ies.. These four armored regiments were all new 67th Armored &ITiment was awarded an units, constituted separately from their par-arrowhead with its cpc for Sicily, signifying ent cavalry regiments. H, after the its participation in the amphibious assault. the descendants of these four armored ’Both the 66th and 67th Armored Regiments regiments were historically consolidated with contributed units to the 6th Tank Battalion. the active units of their respective cavalry The 6th. 66th. and 67th Tank Battalions all regiments. It should be noted that there is no remained assigned to the 2nd Armored historical connection between the 2nd and Division.

CAPTAIN THOMAS D.

DINACKUS was commissioned in armor in 1979 as a distinguished military graduate of Dickinson College, PA. He has served as an armored cavalry platoon leader, squadron S3 air, and armored cavalry troop XO with 2d Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas. He is currently a member of the Individual Ready Reserve and is attending Cornell Law School, Ithaca. New York. An M l Unit Uses Back-to-Basics Gunnery by Lieutenant Colonel Jerry 0. Malcolm assisted by Staff Sergeant James Dale, Master Gunner What does it take to have a successful gunnery program? Early planning, thorough preparation, innovation, good maintenance, hard work, team effort? Certainly, the answer is all of these if you want to attain good results. But the 3d Battalion, 69th Armor (“Black Panthers”) of the 3d Infantry Division found that the most important ingredient was to go back to the basics and do them “by the book.”

Preparation for our M1 tank gunnery program began several months before the battalion departed for Grafenwohr; however, the major effort consisted of an intensive 45day home station gunnery program. The battalion returned from maneuver training and a battalion ARTEP at the Hohenfels Training Area (HTA) in late June 1983. Once at Aschaffenburg, the battalion’s gunnery program went into high gear and included every weekend before department for Grafenwohr in mid-AUest.

The program consisted of three home station phases and the fourth and final phase, the live &e phase, at Grafenwohr. The objective of Phase I was to train the crew to include an accurate assessment of the tank PMCS with the emphasis placed on the turret. It also included corrections of faults and tank crew gunnery skills test (TCGST) training and administration in the local training area (LTA). Phase 11, the conduct of a tank crew proficiency course (TCPC), was designed to mold those individual skills together so that each tank crew performed as a well-trained fighting team. Another objective of Phase I1 was to train platoons so they could effectively execute platoon-level offensive and defensive battle runs in which they simultaneously engaged multiple targets. Phase 111, an extremely important phase, was to have battalion master gunners and turret mechanics conduct armament accuracy checks (the old turret verification) on each tank.

The final phase consisted of individual crew qualifications on Table VI11 (TI’ WI), a platoon defensive battle run, and a platoon offensive Table IX (TI’ IX) qualification. This was the payoff for months of planning and preparation and 45 days and nights of hard work at Aschaffenburg.

Planning our tank gunnery pre gram began by assessing where we were and determining which objectives we hoped to achieve. This was a collective effort and involved reviewing past performance and gathering input from all company commanders and master gunners as well as the battalion staff.

Our tank gunnery objectives at Grafenwohr were to qualify 58 tank crews on ‘IT VIII, to qualify all 12 tank platoons on an offensive TT IX and to integrate livefire with maneuver in conducting tank platoon ARTEPs. The battalion had completed MI transition firing in March and although many crew members were no longer in the same positions due to promotions and normal personnel turbulence, the majority of the people who had fired in February and March were still in the battalion. The battalion was one of the first units to sue cessfully fire the gunnery standards outlined in FM 17-12-1, using fighting positions, and was confident with the transition gunnery results. Therefore, considering the limited ammunition and training time, it was decided to fire for qualification only a TT VI11 and an offensive TT IX at Grafenwohr (lT IX defensive would be fired from ammunition saved from qualification tables).

Early in June, all companies were directed to stabilize their tank crews and submit accurate rosters of crew members who would fire in August. The goal was to keep the number of last-minute personnel changes to a bare minimum. For the most part, this worked very well since all personnel who went through the transition training had already been stabilized within the battalion to 31 July. Each company conducted its own TCGST training in garrison and in the LTA and was then tested on the TCGST by a composite battalion team headed by the battalion master gunners. Each company was given one day in which to conduct the TCGST and two makeup days were scheduled for all personnel tested within their respective units. All crew members were required to take the TCGST and successfully pass it before continuing their training. The TCGST training and testing went well and was completed by the second week in July which included several non-M1-trained crew membrs.

Tanks were carefully checked for accurate PMCS and all faults noted were corrected. Master gunners verified the PMCS by checking a random selection of tanks in each platoon. As might be expected, the number of completely operational tanks in the platoon decreased slightly, as crew members did not want to take a chance on their tanks not working properly, therefore they were very critical in their PMCS.

With Phase I complete, the crew and platoon training (Phase 11) began in earnest. TCPC was set up in the LTA. The course was about a half-mile in length and used two slightly-elevated fighting positions similar to those on Range 4 at Grafenwohr. In all, the course included nine engagements using the main gun, coax and.50 caliber machinegun during simulated day and night firing. Although Army Tank Target System (A’ITS) targets were not used, numerous targets at varying ranges permitted good crew duties’ practice on a number of target scenarios. Thermal blankets powered by a 3 kw generator were effectively used for night targets. Each company was responsible for training its own crews. Crews made several practice runs both day and night in a 24hour period and then were evaluated by a battalion master gunner who rode onboard the tanks and was hooked into the crew’s intercom set, permitting on-thespot and end-of-run critiques.

The day and night platoon course was run under the active supervision of the company commanders who controlled their movements and evaluated their performances. Thermal blankets were again used for night targets and platoon leaders were required to include calls for indirect fires just as they would have to do during actual firing on Range 10 at Grafenwohr.

In order to maximize training time and terrain, both crew and platoon drills were conducted at the same time. Weak and lessexperienced crews and platoons were given additional opportunities to run the TT VI11 & IX course. Scores for lT VI11 TCPC were computed on each crew and a master scoreboard was maintained for the battalion. This proved to be a good incentive for crews to do better and improve their scores.

Phase 111, the Armament Accuracy Checks (AAC), began immediately after the completion of the crew and platoon training and, in some cases, even before. The goal was to identify any problem areas early on, and allow enough time to correct these faults prior to deployment to Grafenwohr. A Task a. Gunner’s M240 b. Loader’s M240 c. M2.50 Cal

2. G. P. F. U.

a. TC b. Gnr c. Ldr d. Dvr Faults Noted

4. Borescope and Pu I lover Faults Noted

5. Crew PMCS Faults Noted

APP c a. Main Accumulator b. Power Elev and Elev Cyl.

c. Fault Indicator d. Ballistic Solution” e. Special Input Data f. Muzzle Reference Faults Noted

10. Special Gunnery Checks, TM -10-3 a. Lead Accuracy Checks b. Superelevation Check c. Cant Unit Test Faults Noted Faults Noted System

12. Overall Rating ‘Ammo SUBDES 0 and 1 for Heat, test 5-8, does not work with provided solution board in the FM, however it will not affect the accuracy of the weapon system.

99) or a maneuver area and downloaded its basic load of main gun ammunition. After downloading, the lead company began a half day of TCPC before moving to Range 4 to calibrate and begin Gring 'IT VIII. The initial step was for each tank to boresight following the stepby-step procedures outlined in figure 2. This boresight was conduded each day the tank was fired. Updated barometeric pressure and temperature information was indexed into the computers before firing and later on if there were significant temperature or pressure changes. After boresighting, each tank was carefully calibrated with HEAT-TP-T using the stepby-step procedures outlined in figure 3. This produced excellent results. 49 tanks were calibrated on the first attempt, and the remaining eight on the second attempt. Crew error was the main reason for noncal-ibration on the first attempt. The results of the initial firing company on 'IT VI11 were very gratifying with 81 percent total first round hits and 86 percent SABOT first round hits. These percentages increased to 89 percent overall and 93 percent SABOT first round hits with a later company.

1. Set up tank for boresight per operator's manual. Insure fire control is in

2. Insert Pye-Watson device into muzzle with locating block in the 12 o'clock

3. Lay Pye-Watson aiming dot on the top left corner of the boresight target

4. Using elevation and azimuth knobs, place the gunner's auxiliary sight bore-5. With boresight key depressed, toggle gunner's primary sight to the top left

6. TC verifies that Pye-Watson aiming dot, GAS boresight cross and GPS aiming

7. Record reading from computer control panel screen.

8. Remove Pye-Watson device and rotate 180 degrees, reinsert with locating block in the 6 o'clock position. (Do not rotate the device while in the tube as it will damage the locating block.)

9. Lay Pye-Watson device aiming dot on the top leftcorner of the boresight target.

10. With the boresight key depressed, toggle gunner's primary sight aiming dot to thetop left corner of the boresight target.

11. Record reading from computer control panel screen.

12. If elevation reading in step 5 differs more than one mil from elevation reading in step 20, obtain another Pye-Watson device and start again with step 2.

13. If deflection reading in step 5 differs more than.5 mils from deflection reading in step 10, obtain another Pye-Watson device and start again with step 2.

14. If steps 12 and/or 13 are not used, figure the mean deflection and elevation using the recording in step 6 and 10.

15. With the boresight key depressed, toggle the mean elevation and deflection readings into the computer control panel screen.

16. Record and enter this information into the computer as GPS boresight data.

17. Lay the GPS aiming dot on the top left corner of the boresight panel using manual controls.

18. Refer the GAS to the top left corner of the boresight panel.

19. Remove the Pye-Watson device from the muzzle.

20. Initialize the Muzzle Reference Sensor (MRS boresight).

21. Align the TIS to the boresight aiming point.. EMERGENCY mode. position. (known range) (manual control) (G pattern). sight cross on the top left corner of the boresight target. corner of the boresight target. dot are still on the aiming point. Figure 2 M1 Boresighting. TI' VI11 was conducted by a battalion team headed by two battalion master gunners. Each company was responsible for the OIC and Safety Officer plus the administrative requirements on the range. As in every tank gunnery during August, range fires, scheduled Air Force flyovers, mechanical problems and weather fadors caused some delays, but all 58 tank crews were able to fire a qualification day and night course in eight days. When the last tank had completed its night run, the battalion had qualified 55 of 58 crews on the first run with 19 of those crews firing distinguished. The three crews that failed to qualify on their k t run (one missed qualifying by three points as they received 1,425 points out of the 1,428 necessary to qualify) were fired a second time and qualified as a refire.

Records of all main gun rounds fired for calibration and 'IT WI were charted. The results showed 8.6 percent of the 1,620 rounds fired were over and 7.4 percent were short. The primary reasons for the misses were determined to be improper lasing, failure by the gunner to change the ammunition select switch from HEAT to SABOT and vice versa. In some ise lated cases gunners used a fully operational fire control system in BOT mode (first round short, relay center of mass, lase, relay to compensate for short round). Of course, this is not the proper method to be used on the M1 tank and as a result some misses occurred.

Few tanks went down for mechanical or fire control problems throughout the qualification phase. This was largely due to the thorough PMCS, detailed home station AACs, and the prompt correction of faults noted. Tanks that did develop problems were quickly returned to operational status by unit and support maintenance personnel.

Following IT VI11 qualification, each company went through dry-fire platoon defense and offensive exercises. These dry-fire exercises were conduded on Range 99 and permitted platoons to practice fire commands, lasing, and movement into and out of firing positions.

Each platoon fired a livefire defensive exercise enabling them to work on fire distribution. Platoons that hit well during daylight firing and conserved ammunition were permitted to fire a nigh1 The 304 pre-combs cluded da: against ar OPFOR. LA--I-----followed by an offensive day livefire TT IX o n Range 10, then movement back to afield location for more maneuver training. The final exercise was a night live fire, Table IX. A good after-action review with platoon input was conducted after the maneuver phase and both livefire phases o f the ARTEP.

The results o f ‘IT IX were scored by a division gunnery team, and again the Panthers produced excellent results with all 12 platoons qualifying, of which eight were rated as distinguished. Fire distribution, target identification, timely sensings/observations and target hand-off were excellent. Two platoons hit all main gun targets and had nearly 100 percent coverage o n the machinegun targets, thus pre sewing 20-30 percent of the ammunition per platoon. -..

As was the case with TT VIII, each tank was horesighted every day to insure greater accuracy. Additionally, tank commanders updated the Muzzle Reference System (MRS) at their discretion. There continued to be few maintenance problems and those that occurred were quickly repaired. An operational fire control system during tank gunnery i s the foremost concern of tankers, and isa morale fador for

1. Set ammo select switch to appropriate ammo (SABOT, HEAT, HEP).

2. Set fire control mode switch to EMERGENCY.

3. Press and release AMMO SUBDES. Insure that number in display matches 4.

If correct number is in display, go to step E. If not: ammo type. Codes are on inside of computer control panel.

a. Press and release appropriate number key. Number will appear in display.

b. Press and release ENTER key.

c. Press and release AMMO SUBDES key. Check that display reads the same as the number just entered. 5.

Press and release ENTER key.

6. Close protective cover and tighten two screws.

7. Press and release ZERO key. Display must read 0.0.0.0. 8.

If correct reading is in display, go to step I. If not, do the following: a. Adjust display reading by moving reticle adjustment toggle switch to U, b. Press and release ENTER key.

c. Press and release ZERO key, check to see that display reads the same as

D. L, or R, as needed. the numbers entered. If not, notify organizational maintenance. 9.

Press and release ENTER key.

10. Set fire control mode switch to NORMAL.

11. Have loader load main gun with type of round to be fired.

12. Acquire target at 950 meters.

13. Look into gunner’s primary sight eyepiece and lay reticle on center of target.

14. Lase to target. relay to center of target.

15. Make sure ready to fire symbol and range appear below reticle. If the “F” fire control malfunction appears, begin troubleshooting. (Refer to table31. TM 9-2359-255-1 0).

16. Fire one SABOT round.

17. Acquire target at 1,500 meters. Have loader load SABOT round into gun.

18. Lase to target, relay to center of target.

19. Fire one SABOT round.

20. If gunner hits the first two targets, screening test is valid. Tank is qualified. If

21. If the gunner misses either of the first two targets, he will acquire the 1,200

22. Gunner lases to target, relays to center of target.

23. Gunner fires one SABOT round.

24. If gunner misses two of the three rounds fired, the tank is not considered

25. If gunner hits two of the three targets, screening test is valid and the tank is Figure 3. Live-Fire Screening Test gunner misses either of the first two targets, continue to step U. meters target. Loader reloads the main gun with another SABOT round. qualified and the tank’s fire control system will be re-checked. qualified. commanders to consider when pre dicting gunnery results prior to crews actually firing the course. At one point the overall battalion operational readiness (OR) rate, including vehicles left at home station, stood at 97 percent. The high OR rate o f the tanks and the battalion’s successful gunnery period were in large part due to detailed, accurate PMCS and AACs and our insistence o n by-the-numbers boresight and calibration!

A s the Mls of the “Panther Battalion” hit the wash racks and the crews conduded their post operations PMCS, in preparation for the rail trip back to Aschaffenburg, the Panthers were tired and ready for a less hectic schedule, but they also knew they had suc-oessflluy accomplished their objectives. I ’ ” - ’

JERRY D. MALCOLM is commander of the 3d Battalion, 69th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division at Aschaffenburg. FRG. Commissioned in Armor from Wichita State University in 1965, he has served as an armored cavalry platoon leader,motor officer, troop commander, tank company commander, battalion S4, and battalion executive officer. He was assisted in compiling this article by Staff Sergeant James Dale, former master gunner of the 3-69th Armor.