Principles of Fire Support

Question 1

What makes up a mortar section?

Answer 1

3 60mm/M224

Question 2

How can a M224/60mm be fired?

Answer 2

Crop fire mode (conventional method)

Trigger fire mode (conventional or hand-held method)

Question 3

How many Marines are in a 60mm mortar section?

Answer 3

10 Marines
1-Section Leader
3-Squads each with 3 Marines (Squad Leader, Assistant Gunner, & Ammo man)

Question 4

What is the max range of the M224/60mm?

Answer 4

3,500m

Question 5

What is the ECR of the M224/60mm?

Answer 5

30m

Question 6

What is the minimum range of the M224/60mm?

Answer 6

70m

Question 7

What are the rates of fire for the M224/60mm?

Answer 7

Max (4 mins) = 30 rds per min

Sust (indef) = 20 rds per min

Question 8

What is the max range for the M252/81mm?

Answer 8

5,700m

Question 9

What is the ECR for the M252/81mm?

Answer 9

35m

Question 10

What is the minimum range for the M252/81mm?

Answer 10

83m

Question 11

What are the rates of fire for the M252/81mm?

Answer 11

Max (2 min) = 30 rds per min

Sust (indef) = 15 rds per min

Question 12

What is the max range for the M327/120mm?

Answer 12

8,135m

Question 13

What is the ECR for the M327/120mm?

Answer 13

45m

Question 14

What are some mortar capabilities?

Answer 14

1. High volume of fire
2. Highly responsive asset
3. Light, mobile, & flexible
4. Fires from & into defilade
5. CO’s ‘hip pocket artillery’

Question 15

What are some mortar limitations?

Answer 15

1. Long time of flight
2. Ammo consumption
3. Multiple displacements
4. Range

Question 16

What is the mission of the Marine Corps artillery?

Answer 16

Integrate & deliver lethal & non-letha fires to enable joint & maneuver commanders to dominate their operational environment across the spectrum of operations.

Question 17

What are artillery’s 3 key tasks to accomplish their mission?

Answer 17

1. Provide close & continuous fire support to the maneuver units. Provided day/night & in all weathers.
2. Gives depth to the battlefield.
3. Deliver counter fire within the range of our weapon systems to ensure freedom of movement for ground forces.

Question 18

What is the range of the XM777A2/155mm?

Answer 18

18,100m

30,100m with rocket assisted projectile (RAP)

Question 19

What is the max rate of fire of the XM777A2/155mm?

Answer 19

5 rds per min (3 mins)

Question 20

What is the sustained rate of fire for the XM777A2/155mm?

Answer 20

2 rounds per min (indef)

Question 21

What is the range of the HIMARS?

Answer 21

30,000m

Question 22

What ammo does the HIMARS use?

Answer 22

M31 HE (PD or Delay fuze) (GPS) (15-70km)
M48 ATACMS (70-300km)

Question 23

What does an artillery battalion consist of?

Answer 23

1 Headquarters Battery

3 Firing Batteries (6 howitzers in ea batter, 18 in the Bn)

Question 24

What are the different artillery regiments?

Answer 24

10th Marines w/2d MARDIV
11th Marines w/1st MARDIV
12th Marines w/3d MARDIV
14th Marines w/4th MARDIV

Question 25

What consists of a firing team?

Answer 25

``` The observer (eyes) The FDC (Brain) The Howitzer section (muscle) ```

Question 26

What are some artillery capabilities?

Answer 26

1. Maneuvering fires 2. Massing fires 3. Surprise fires 4. All weather capability 5. Fires from & into defilade 6. Rapid displacement

Question 27

What are some artillery limitations?

Answer 27

1. Reduced effectiveness 2. Poor terrain 3. Close combat 4. Air attack 5. Ammo burden/logistics 6. Inability to support initial phase of amphibious operation 7. Comm 8. Counter battery radar

Question 28

What are the different projectiles for 60mm?

Answer 28

HE (high explosive) WP (white phosphorus) Illum (40 sec) IR Illum

Question 29

What are the different projectiles for 81mm?

Answer 29

HE (high explosive) WP (white phosphorus) Illum (60 sec) IR Illum

Question 30

What are the different projectiles for 120mm?

Answer 30

HE (high explosive) WP (white phosphorus) Illum (120 sec) IR Illum

Question 31

What are the different projectiles for 155mm?

Answer 31

``` HE (high explosive) WP (white phosphorus) Illum (120 sec) IR Illum M825 Smoke (WP) HE/RAP Improvised Conventional Munition (ICM) ```

Question 32

What are the different fuzes for 60mm?

Answer 32

Point Detonating (PD) or Quick (Q) Delay (D) Proximity (Prox)/Near Surface Burst (NSB) Variable Time (VT)

Question 33

What are the different fuzes for 81mm?

Answer 33

Point Detonating (PD) or Quick (Q) Delay (D) Proximity (Prox)/Near Surface Burst (NSB) Variable Time (VT)

Question 34

What are the different fuzes for 120mm?

Answer 34

Point Detonating (PD) or Quick (Q) Delay (D) Time

Question 35

What are the different fuzes for 155mm?

Answer 35

Point Detonating (PD) or Quick (Q) Delay (D) Variable Time (VT) Time