Day 1-Employment Fundamentals

Question 1

3 Employment Techniques

Answer 1

Employment by Platoon
Employment by Section
Employment by Squad

Question 2

RSOP?

Answer 2

Reconnaissance, Selection, and Occupation of Mortar Positions

Question 3

Methods of Reconnaissance

Answer 3

Map, Air, and Ground (conducted by platoon leader) (best recon is one that uses a combination of all three)

Question 4

Map Recon 2 major disadvantages:

Answer 4

• Terrain and other features may have changed—ie) bridge on a map may no longer exist
• the surface conditions of the route and position cannot be determined—soil may not support a mortar carrier

Question 5

Air Recon

Answer 5

Can be beneficial

Is a fast method, but true surface conditions can be indistinguishable or may appear distorted

Question 6

Ground Recon

Answer 6

Best method of recon, suitability of routes can be physically examined. Disadvantage of being the slowest method of recon

Question 7

Position Selection components:

Answer 7

• Mission accomplishment
• Tactical situation
• Range
• Target area coverage
• Survivability
• Overhead and mask clearance
• Surface conditions
• Communications
• Routes

Question 8

Most IMPORTANT position selection factor:

Answer 8

Mission accomplishment: position must permit the mortar section or platoon to accomplish its primary mission

Question 9

Types of Occupation

Answer 9

Deliberate
Hasty
Emergency

Question 10

Deliberate occupation

Answer 10

HAS BEEN planned

Has advanced party precede the platoon to conduct extensive preparation of new position

Question 11

Hasty occupation

Answer 11

ALSO PLANNED

Differs from deliberate by AMOUNT OF TIME available for preparation by the advance party

Question 12

Emergency occupation

Answer 12

Results when a call for fire is received while the platoon is making a tactical movement.
Requires mortars to occupy first available locations without any prior site prep (HIP SHOT)

Question 13

2 ways of displacement timing

Answer 13

On order/command

A predetermined event

Question 14

Displacement by PLATOON

Answer 14

• little immediate likelihood of enemy contact/artillery can provide adequate support during displacement
• all mortars move in one move/FASTEST way to displace
• IF PLATOON MUST FIRE during movement it uses emergency tech. of engagement

Question 15

Displacement by SECTIONS

Answer 15

Requires one section to remain in position while the other section moves
-used more often with 4 or more mortars

Question 16

Displacement by SQUADS

Answer 16

Similar to displacement by section, except less mortars are involved

Question 17

Ways to move while displacement

Answer 17

Successive bounds

• used when the maneuver elements movements are not so rapid
• leap frog

Alternating bounds

• normally used when displacement must be rapid in order to stay up with supported elements
• meeting each other at every bound

Question 18

Firing Formations

Answer 18

Parallel

Lazy W

Diamond

Triangle

Six Mortar Star

Question 19

Parallel Formation

Answer 19

Has the mortars on line.
The DISTANCE between the mortar positions is the bursting diameter of HE ammunition for the particular mortar employed
-different diameter with different mm rounds (120mm larger than 60mm)