Team-COFT Training for the CAT ’89 Competition

Team-COFT Training for the CAT'89 Competition "RED 6 this is yoorrr National Judge -Watclt Your Front."

"RED Elcrireiits, this is RED 6, watch yair front."

"One one, shot 27 riglit, need help with Q2."

"OlW orw, gw llle n co1rnt." "One four, I coirrit four.'' "01ie orie, roger four."

This platoon radio transmission did not take place on a firing range, it occurred in a simulation device in Vilseck, FRG. It is the newly designed Canadian Army Trophy Team - COW (T-COFT), designed and built by General Electric Aerospace. It is an essential part of to competing for the coveted CAT trophy. Considered by many tankers throughout NATO as the "Super Bowl" of tank gunnery, the CAT competition requires tank crews from five nations to rapidly and accurately engage targets, which are considerably smaller than the standard NATO "H"-series targets. the US. Army's latest appro' 'IC1 I Teamwork is the key to CAT competition, aid the new COR trainer provides the environment to develop each platoon into a rapid engagement force. The Vilscck trainer is a network of four shcl-tered U-COfl systems. The training program is specifically dcsigned to provide a tank platoon with the opportunity to train rigid fire distribution i d control. The database represents lanes 3, 4. 5, and 6 of Range 9 at the Bergen training area in the northeast arcit ol the Fedt.rid Republic of Germany.

Naturid vcgetation. lane surfaces, range markers and targets accurately provide platoons with a computerized version of the actual range. Crews are able to move through the simulated terrain just as they will on the day of the competition.

Features unique to the CAT (T-COFT) include main gun and troop targets that correspond in size, shape, and color to those fired during the week of competition. Targets are both stationiiry and moving, with a range bid from 800 to 2000 meters. A crew can engage up to eight targets simultaneously from any firing position on the range. The ballistic characteristics of 120mm SABOT are so exact that a gunner must perlorm all manipulations correctly in order to obtain a target hit. Gun tube bending and droop are also introduced, requiring a gunner to periodically perform a muzzle refcrence system update in order to maintain proper boresight. The TEAM-COW capitalizes on the skills learned in individual gunnery training. A platoon gunnery role further develops collective coordination and gunnery skills. Another new innovation in the T-Con is the system's performance measurement capabilities. Automated scoring stringently follows the rules of competition scoring. A special CAT "Platoon Battle Run Score" summary is generated at the end of each battlerun. It provides the platoon with a total score, including thc time score. hit and bonus score lor main gun targets, machine gun score, and main gun ammunition bonus points. In addition to providing a platoon score, each tank receives printouts, which list the targets it engaged, whether hit or miss, the time to engage, and the exact lay of the reticle aiming dot in relation to the center mass of target. The T-COFT can operate as an individual crew traincr. a section trainer, or a pliltoon trainer. C'om-petition scoring gives unit leaders a standardized approach to training, and requires each crew to demonstrate mastery of difficult skills. The strongest feature of the U-COW system, direct mcasure-ment of critical skills, is preserved and increased in the new T-COFT. All required data to produce a highly qualified tank commander/gunner combination is readily available. ARMOR - Lane 4 tank follows Lane 3 tank from quarantine area to Bound 1.

Lane 3 tank has turned onto its lane while Lane 4 tank continues to move on its appropriate lane.

ARMOR - Lane 3 tank conducts offensive recon from Bound 2 to Bound 3. Lane 4 tank conducts simultaneous offensive recon from Bound 1 to Bound 2.

Lane 4 tank moves from Bound 1 to Bound 2 in preparation for target presentation.

ARMOR - MayJune 7989 Lane 3 tank conducts range recon, while Lane 5 tank recons from Bound 1.

In the near future, the Armor School in Fort Knox will receive the first CONUS platoon configurdon of COW. The device, named UTL2, will provide Armor Officer Basic students with the opportunity to train fire distribution and control at bincd arms training range in Grafen-wochr, and provide computerized scenarios based upon Tank Table XI1 in FM 27-12-1, plus special purpose scenarios based upon a Threat attacking or defending force. AOB students will also have the capability a collective level.

UT12 will to formulate a battle plan by con-resemble Range 301, a major com-ducting a reconnaissance of the CAT Platoon Battle Run Score Date: 12/6/88 Instructor: Carlsberg, K. Program: CAT Vehicle: 1/11 All Commander: Lane, B.

Gunner: Black, J.

Exercise No.: 201 114 Platoon 3/68 C1 sit Firing Target Kill Platoon HiffMiss Status No.

Tank Number Time WMl PL PS

WMl,WMP,PL

Ql 11 HIT MISS

Hit Score Time Score Hit Bonus Ammo Bonus MG Points Total loo00 6120 500 400 1800 18820 Status: Exercise Complete - Freeze Keypad Options: Perf, Repeat, Shot Pat, Print, Terminate area through a special recon excr-cise. The system will also provide a valuable resourcc to tcst new innovations such as the Commander's Independent Thcrmal Viewer. By using the existing proven COFT system hardware in the new platoon and section trainers, a substantiated method o f measuring proficiency can be ohtained. In addition, the new applications of the Con systems avoid the enormous expense required for new design and development costs. The current post facilities, instructors, and maintenance support can mect a wider variety of training needs. United States Army Armor crews have displayed expert skills in the past three CAT competitions. Hopefully, in the I Y N competition, they will surpass previous levels. TEAM-COFT supports the specific needs of the CAT '89 competition; perhaps future generations of network COFTS will support much. much. more.

ARMOR - May-June 7989