FSP Offense Flashcards
(4) Permissive Fire Support Control Measures (FFBC)
Free Fire Area: A specific, designated area into which any weapon system may fire without additional coordination with the establishing headquarters. This includes the fire or effects of fire.
Fire Support Coordination Line: A joint imaginary line that expedites surface-to-surface (i.e. artillery, mortars, NSGF) AND air-to-surface attack beyond the FSCL without coordination with the ground commander in whose area the targets are located (across boundaries).
Battlefield Coordination Line: A coordination measure that expedites surface-to-surface AND air-to-surface attacks beneath the FSCL but beyond the CFL without coordination with the ground commander in whose area the targets are located (across boundaries). This FSCM is used EXCLUSIVELY BY MAGTF FIRE SUPPORT ASSETS when the FSCL is established well beyond max range of organic USMC IDF assets, creating a dead space or haven for EN forces between the max range of organic USMC IDF assts and the FSCL, beyond which aviation assets are operating.
Coordinated Firing Line: A joint imaginary line that expedites surface-to-surface attack beyond the CFL without coordination with the ground commander in whose area the targets are located (across boundaries).
(3) Restrictive Fire Control Measures
Restrictive Firing Line: Established between converging friendly forces (one or both may be moving) that prohibits fires, or effects of fires, across the line without coordination with the affected force
Restrictive Firing Area: An area in which specific firing or coordination restrictions are imposed and any fires in excess that exceeds those restrictions will not be delivered without coordination with the establishing headquarters
No Fire Area: A NFA is an area into which no fires or effects of fire are allowed. The two exceptions to an NFA are:
* The establishing headquarters may approve fires temporarily within the NFA on a mission-by-mission basis
* If any enemy force within the NFA engages a friendly force and the engaged unit leader determines there is no time for coordination, he may “respond in kind” with fires into the NFA
Command Relationships vs. Supporting Relationships
Command relationships: These relationships define the degree of authority exercised by one commander over another commander. They are primarily based on the factors of mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available-time available
Supporting relationships: These relationships are established by a senior commander between subordinate commanders when one organization should aid, protect, complement or sustain another force while still under the command of its parent headquarters.
(3) primary phases of an offensive operation
Preparation Phase
* When: Conducted prior to crossing LD
* Why: Shape the battle space
* Examples: attacking targets as part of deception effort, using smoke to screen movement, softening defenses before the attack
Conduct Phase
* When: Crossing LD through the attack. Ends upon consolidation.
* Why : Provide responsive fires in support of maneuver
Consolidation / Exploitation Phase
* When: Attack has culminated and maneuver element begins consolidation
* Why: Protect friendly units during transitions
(4) Fire Support Tasks
Delay: slow down or stop the EN for doing what it wants
Limit: taking away COAs or options the EN has to accomplish their mission
Divert: indirectly reduces the enemy commander’s capability to continue his/her plans. It can also be used as a method of turning or moving an EN in predetermined direction.
Destroy: Primarily used when targeting structures. This task addresses the commander’s desire to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of an enemy target that is essential to an enemy capability
(4) Primary Fire Support Effects
Suppressed: To suppress is to temporarily degrade the performance of a force or weapons system below the level needed to accomplish the mission. Suppression usually lasts only as long as the fires or their effects continue. Usually involves a specified amount of time for the target to be suppressed.
Neutralized: To neutralize is to render enemy personnel or material incapable of interfering with a particular operation. This target becomes ineffective or unusable and has a degraded capability of accomplishing its mission.
Destroyed: To destroy is to apply lethal combat power on an enemy capability so that it can no longer perform any function and cannot be restored to a usable condition without being entirely rebuilt.
Harassed: Fires delivered to disturb the rest of enemy troops, to curtail movement, and, by threat of losses, to lower morale.
