Add 200 and Flre for Effect

The major reason why armored crewmen find it difficult to call for and adjust indirect fire is that most units cannot conduct sustainment training cheaply and with the necessary frequency to maintain these perishable skills. Without a doubt, live fm training is the best way to conduct this training, but resources are so scarce that only forward observers and key leaders usually get this opportunity. The Tactical Simulator Forward Observer (TSFO) is another excellent training method. TSFO is a computer operated training device that projects a picture of a landscape with targets on a movie screen. The simulator shows the forward observer the impact of the rounds bursting in the area. Unfortunately, the TSFO is a large, expensive machine set up in a permanent location and manned by school-trained personnel. The main drawback is that it gives the soldier an oblique, two-dimensional view of the battlefield. This makes it difficult for some soldiers to transition from this two-dimensional view to three dimensions on the ground. So here is the challenge: create a system to instruct or sustain training in calls for fire that is realistic, effective, easily resourced, and easily adapted to any training location. The most logical starting point is the training manual that establishes the tasks, conditions, and standards. This is STP 21-24-SMCT Standard Manual of Common Tasks, task 061-283- 6003 (Call for and Adjust Indirect Fire). The best reference for instruction is M 6-30 Observed Fire Procedures. By using this task as the foundation for training, the guidelines for execution are now clearly established. I I A Stakes agldrquu.) <+-160 FT..+> I I I I I I Figure 1. Engineer tape and stakes mark off outer grid lines. Scale is 1 foot to 25 meters. Now, consider the average area a soldier can observe. For purposes of this exercise it is best not to exceed an area of nine grid squares. This consideration is directly linked to the area suitable to set up the terrain model, which needs to be large enough to give the feeling of observing actual terrain, and also completely visible from the observation post. The scale of one foot to 25 meters is used. This makes it big enough to be realistic, but small enough to be put indoors when necessary. If expanded to 160 feet wide by 120 feet deep, it could provide a surface large enough to train the entire tank crew individually at one time. The terrain model boundary is marked off on the ground using engineer tape to represent the outer grid lines (See Illustration 1). One of these grid lines needs to be oriented to Grid North so that the soldiers can use their compasses during training. Now, either create a fictional map, or use a real map to design the terrain model. It is easier to create a fictional map when limited resources are available. However, for additional realism, the terrain model can be designed to recreate a unit’s General Deployment Position, or any of the much fought over terrain of the National Training, Center. This not only trains the soldiers on calling for fire but also familiarizes them with terrain on which they may actually have to fight. Roads and streambeds can easily be created on the terrain model with a shovel or “weed eater.” Buildings should be built to a scale of 1/16 inch to 1 foot. Sandbags can substitute for hill masses or additional relief. Shrubs, foliage, or branches can represent forested areas. The scale of the terrain model most closely approximates 1/72; buildings and vehicles from HO model railroads can suffice. Two graders are required for each soldier tested. Grader number 1, the scorer, times the event and grades the soldier on a checklist from the ST 24 CTT manual. Grader number 2, the range operator, plots the location of the target and the 20 ARMOR - November-December 7991 impact of each round using the data transmitted by the soldier to the FSE, and answers as the FSE. The soldier may use any of the three methods to bring effective fire on the target: “Grid Coordinate,” “Polar Plot,” or “Shift from a Known Point.” Method of Operation: Although all three methods of target location can be used, I will describe the “shift from a known point” method. Tankers favor this method, and if you understand how to use it, you will be able to use the other two methods. The soldier to be tested (now called the observer) is located at one of the OP positions on the base line of the course. We will use OW2. Once again, the more realistic the OP position, the better the training. The soldier, with a map, protractor, binoculars, and a compass, receives his unit call sign, the Fire Direction Center’s (FDC) call sign, and the locations of the Target Reference Points (TRP), and observes a target. From this position, he can see the reference points on the course. (TRPs 1, 2, and 3.) He is given a target in the vicinity of a TRP, in this case, three tanks in the vicinity of TRP 2. He starts his initial Call for Fire with the warning order. He calls the firing unit, identifies himself and the method of adjustment he will use. (For the fuing unit, we will use A 64, and for the observer, TlO). This is how the warning order would sound: “Alpha 64, this is Tango 10, adjust fire shift from TRP 2.” Direction: The observer determines and transmits the direction from his position to the target, the observer-target line (OT Line). He now must calculate and send the shift by detemin-ing the distance from his position to both the target and the TRP, then subtracting the smaller from the larger. If the distance from the observer to the target is less than the distance from the observer to the TRP, then the range adjustment would be a “drop.” If the opposite were true, then it would be “add.” Now, he must determine the lateral shift. The lateral shift is the distance at a 90degree angle from the OT line to the TRP. This can be determined by using the mil angle relationship formula 5 in which: W = The width of the target in R = The range in lo00 meters. X = The mil angle between the meters. two points. The last part of the order is the target ID, in this case, three tanks stationary in the open. The range operator locates the target in the same way that the firing unit would, except that he does it on the course layout rather than on the map. The range operator goes to the TRF’ and determines aline at the same mil angle as the OT line that the observer transmitted to him. This line is drawn through the TRP and the initial measurements to locate the target along or at a 90-degree angle from it.. He now measures the range and lateral shift using the measuring stick (see Figure 2). He places the first tip of the device at the TRP and the second tip on the line in the direction he wants to measure. He then picks up the fust tip and rotates the device 180 degrees on the second tip so that the fust tip is again on the line. Because the device is a scale 100-meters wide, he has now measured a distance of 200 meters. This process is repeated in the same manner to equal the distance to be measured. This distance is the range change. Once he has measured the distance, he turns the device 90 degrees in the direction that he wants the lateral shift and measures that distance in the same way. He now is at the target lo-

(Small plastic bags filled with sawdust) PLACE TRPs ON THE SITE TO MATCH TRPs ON THE MAP TRPs can be HO scale model buildings, or just bricks or wood blocks

Made from 1“ square wood stock. Triangle base and legs are 4 feet long. igure 2. Most of the necessary equipment can be made easily. ARMOR - 21

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I I I I DP 1 OP 2 OP 3 OP 4 gum 3. A course layout with four OPs. cation, as transmitted to him by the observer. At the target location, the range operator drops a simulated round, and announces “SHOT, OVER.” The observer announces “SHOT, OUT,” observes the location of the first round in relation to the target and transmits an adjustment if necessary. The range operator now determines aline at the same mil angle as the OT line but through the point of impact of the first round. This is now the OT line. Using the data transmitted to him by the observer, he measures the range and lateral shift and drops a second simulated round. The observer continues to call adjustments, and the range operator continues to plot the location of the rounds until around has impacted within 50 meters of the target, at which time the observer calls “FIRE FOR EFFECT.” The range operator then drops about five simulated rounds. The observer observes the fire, refines and calls another “FIRE

EFFECT,” if necessary, and then calls “END OF MISSION” and sends the results of the fire to the firing units. The soldier is evaluated on his ability to locate the target, by the method in which he chooses to adjust fire, by his bracketing, and by his ability to assess the results of the fire. All standards used are from STP 21-24-

SCMT.

The equipment used in this method is either readily available or easily constructed. It can also be stored in a reasonably small area. The time to set up the course is about one hour. A soldier can be trained in about 30 minutes. If used as part of a skills test, a soldier can be tested in 10 minutes. Of course, more than one soldier can be trained or tested on the terrain model at the same time. This method solves many of the problems of teaching Call for Fire and can be made as interesting as the instructors’ imagination will allow. It was originally designed as a method to evaluate students of the Armor Officer Basic Course during Tanker Stakes. Tanker Stakes is a kind of “final exam” for this course in which students are tested on the combat critical skills they learned, and is executed by the 2d Squadron, 12th Cavalry. The architect of this method is ISG Anthony Hafer, the first sergeant of A Troop, 2-12 Cavalry, and is affectionately known as the Hafer Method. Captain David L. Link was commissioned in Armor in 1984 from California State Polytechnical University. He has served as a tank platoon leader, tank team XO, and adjutant for Task Force 2-8 Armor at Fort Carson; and as squadron S3 and troop commander with 2-12 Cavalry at Fort Knox. He has attended AOB, AOAC, ITV, and NBC Schools. He is currently assigned as the commander of A Troop, 2d Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment, administering to the Master Gunner Courses, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, and the Cavalry Leader Course. First Sergeant Anthony Hafer joined the Wisconsin National Guard in 1964 as a tanker. During the next seven years, he worked as a mortarman, radio operator, and demolition specialist. In 1972, he entered the Active Army, again as a tanker. He served in 4-69 Armor in Germany; as a drill sergeant in 4th Training Brigade, Ft. Knox; as battalion assistant operations sergeant in 4-73 Armor in Germany; as a drill sergeant in 1st Armor Training Brigade, Ft. Knox; as brigade assistant operations sergeant in 1st Brigade, 1st AD; and as operation sergeant, Command and Staff Department, USAARMS, Ft. Knox. He is currently first sergeant of A Troop, 2d Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment. 22 ARMOR -