Day 1-Employment Fundamentals Flashcards
3 Employment Techniques
Employment by Platoon
Employment by Section
Employment by Squad
RSOP?
Reconnaissance, Selection, and Occupation of Mortar Positions
Methods of Reconnaissance
Map, Air, and Ground (conducted by platoon leader) (best recon is one that uses a combination of all three)
Map Recon 2 major disadvantages:
- 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
Air Recon
Can be beneficial
Is a fast method, but true surface conditions can be indistinguishable or may appear distorted
Ground Recon
Best method of recon, suitability of routes can be physically examined. Disadvantage of being the slowest method of recon
Position Selection components:
- Mission accomplishment
- Tactical situation
- Range
- Target area coverage
- Survivability
- Overhead and mask clearance
- Surface conditions
- Communications
- Routes
Most IMPORTANT position selection factor:
Mission accomplishment: position must permit the mortar section or platoon to accomplish its primary mission
Types of Occupation
Deliberate
Hasty
Emergency
Deliberate occupation
HAS BEEN planned
Has advanced party precede the platoon to conduct extensive preparation of new position
Hasty occupation
ALSO PLANNED
Differs from deliberate by AMOUNT OF TIME available for preparation by the advance party
Emergency occupation
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)
2 ways of displacement timing
On order/command
A predetermined event
Displacement by PLATOON
- 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
Displacement by SECTIONS
Requires one section to remain in position while the other section moves
-used more often with 4 or more mortars
Displacement by SQUADS
Similar to displacement by section, except less mortars are involved
Ways to move while displacement
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
Firing Formations
Parallel
Lazy W
Diamond
Triangle
Six Mortar Star
Parallel Formation
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)
