Fires Flashcards
Explain TTLODAC
- Target
- Trigger
- Location
- Observer (Primary/Alternate)
- Delivery Asset (Primary/Alternate)
- Attack Guidance (Primary/Alternate)
- Communication Net (Primary/Alternate)
What are the (3) Fire Support Planning Themes?
- THEME #1: THE FIRE SUPPORT PLAN MUST SUPPORT THE SCHEME OF MANEUVER
- THEME #2: THE MANEUVER ELEMENT LEADER MUST PROVIDE BOTTOM UP REFINEMENT
- THEME #3: THE FIRE SUPPORT PLAN MUST BE EXECUTABLE
60 mm mortars characteristics
81mm mortars characteristics
Mortar Capabilities and Limitations
Capabilities
High volume of fire: The maximum (30 rds/min) and sustained (20) rds/min for 60mm; 15 rds/min for 81mm) rates of fire allow both mortar systems to provide a considerable amount of ammunition in support of maneuver forces.
Highly responsive unit: The location of the mortar systems closer to the supporting units equates to faster response time.
Light, mobile, flexible: Both mortar systems are light enough to be hand carried, if necessary, and can be employed in a variety of positions on the ground.
Fire from/into defilade: Mortars can be positioned on the ground to take advantage of protection by terrain; for example, behind a hill mass or in a dry riverbed. Conversely, mortars’ inherent high angle fire capability allows them to engage targets located in defilade positions.
CO’s “hip pocket artillery”: The 60mm and 81mm mortar are organic assets within the Marine rifle battalion thus increasing their knowledge of the maneuver unit’s experience and capabilities due to habitual working relationships.
Limitations
Long time of flight: The high angle nature of fire for the mortar contributes to their longer time of flight for the round to reach the target area. This also makes the mortar system more susceptible to direction-finding radar.
Ammo consumption: Due to the maximum and sustained rates of fire, mortars expend more ammunition. A smaller effective casualty radius requires both systems to use a greater number of rounds to accomplish the same mission as compared to other fire support systems.
Multiple displacements: The shorter range of both mortar systems require the tubes to move closer to the engagement areas whenever maneuver units reach beyond the range of their mortars. During their movement, mortars have a limited capability to employ their systems to supporting units.
155mm Howitzer characteristics
M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) characteristics
Artillery Capabilities and Limitations
Capabilities
* Maneuvering fires
* Massing fires
* Surprise fires
* All weather capability
* Fires from/into defilade
* Rapid displacement
Limitations
* Slow emplacements
* Poor terrain
* Close combat
* Air attack
* Ammunition/logistics
* Inability to support the initial phase of an amphibious operation
* Communication
Planned Targets vs Targets of Opportunity
Planned Targets: Targets planned in advance before execution of an operation
Targets of Opportunity: Targets that appear on the battlefield but were not expected or foreseen. These targets can be engaged as they appear using a Call for Fire (CFF).
Linear Target Lengths by Delivery Asset and Effective Casualty Radius (ECR)
Risk Estimate Distances (REDs) by Delivery Asset
What are the (4) main parts of a Fire Support Plan? Hint: TPME
Task: Task are enemy centric that describe the targeting objective the fires must achieve against a specific enemy formation’s function or capability. (ex. Divery, Delay, Distrupt, Destroy, Limit, etc.)
Purpose: The purpose is friendly focused and emphasizes the “why” of the operation. Purpose reinforces the supporting role of fires in relation to the scheme of maneuver.
Method: TTLODAC
Effects: Attempts to quantify successful accomplishment of the task. It provides a measure of effectiveness for the task.
What are the (5) “Rules” of Call for Fire?
- Plot Your Position
- Get Direction to Target (OT Direction)
- Get Est. Distance to Target (OT Distance)
- Observer-Target Factor (OT Factor)
- Plot the Target
What are the (4) elements of the message to observer?
- Unit(s) to Fire
- Changes to the call for fire
- Number of rounds (volleys)
- Target Number
