Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Gunner’s Handbook

1 MCRP 144 000092 00 Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Gunner s HandbookDISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is Marine CorpsUnless otherwise stated, whenever the masculine gender is used, both men and women are Our ReadersChanges: Readers of this publication are encouraged to submitsuggestions and changes through the Universal Need Statement(UNS) process. The UNS submission process is delineated inMarine Corps Order , Marine Corps ExpeditionaryForce Development System, which can be obtained from theMarine Corps Publications Electronic Library Online (universalreference locator: +orders). The UNS recommendation should include the followinginformation: Location of changePublication number and titleCurrent page numberParagraph number (if applicable)Line numberFigure or table number (if applicable) Nature of changeAddition/deletion of textProposed new textAdditional copies: A printed copy of this publication may beobtained from Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, GA31704-5001, by following the instructions in MCBul 5600,Marine Corps Doctrinal Publications Status.

2 An electroniccopy may be obtained from the MCCDC Doctrine world wideweb home page which is found at the following universal ref-erence locator: OF THE NAVY HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WASHINGTON, 20380-17759 May 2011 FOREWORDM arine Corps Reference Publication (MCRP) , LowAltitude Air Defense (LAAD) Gunner s Handbook , complementsand expands on the information in Marine Corps WarfightingPublication , Low Altitude Air Defense Handbook , by pro-viding information on tactics, techniques, procedures, andemployment of the Stinger weapon system for the low Altitude airdefense (LAAD) gunners. This MCRP is primarily a referenceguide for the LAAD section leader, the LAAD firing team leader,and the LAAD gunner (military occupational specialty 7212). This publication supersedes MCRP , Low Altitude AirDefense (LAAD) Gunner s Handbook , dated 6 November and approved this date. MCRP DIRECTION OF THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINECORPSGEORGE J.

3 FLYNN Lieutenant General, Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and IntegrationDISTRIBUTION: 144 000092 00 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release;distribution is of ContentsChapter 1. Fundamentals Maneuver Warfare .. 1-1 Low Altitude Air Defense Mission .. 1-1 Organization .. 1-2 Command and Control .. 1-3 Command and Support Relationships .. 1-4 General Support .. 1-5 Direct Support .. 1-6 Assignment and Attachment .. 1-7 Considerations .. 1-7 Other Authorities .. 1-8 Chapter 2. Weapons SystemsStinger Weapon System .. 2-1 Missile Components .. 2-1 Stinger Weapon Round .. 2-3 Transportation Containers .. 2-7 Stinger Handling Procedures .. 2-9 Weapons Checks .. 2-10 Missile Firing Procedures .. 2-14 Post Firing Procedures .. 2-24 Stinger Hang Fire, Misfire, and Dud Procedures .. 2-25 Destroying the Stinger Missile .. 2-26 Safety Distances .. 2-28 Nature of Infrared Radiation.

4 2-29 Atmospheric Conditions .. 2-30 MCRP Man-Portable Air Defense System..2-31 Medium Machine Gun, , M240B (Crew-Served Weapon) ..2-31 Mounting the Weapon ..2-32 Changing the Barrel ..2-33 Defining a Hot Barrel ..2-34 Stoppages and Malfunctions..2-35 Ammunition ..2-38 Heavy Machine Gun, .50 cal, M2 (Crew-Served Weapon) ..2-41 Mounting the Weapon ..2-42 Head Space and Timing ..2-42 Stoppages and Malfunctions..2-43 Ammunition ..2-47 Chapter 3. EmploymentAir Defense Priorities ..3-2 Air Threats Facing the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ..3-3 Fixed-Wing Attacks ..3-3 Helicopter Attacks ..3-6 Air Defense Employment Principles ..3-6 Mass ..3-7 Mix ..3-7 Mobility ..3-7 Integration..3-8 Low Altitude Air Defense Employment Guidelines ..3-8 Balanced Fires ..3-8 Early Engagement ..3-9 LAAD Gunner s Handbook vWeighted Coverage .. 3-10 Mutual Support.. 3-10 Defense in Depth .. 3-12 Overlapping Fires .. 3-12 Considerations for Low Altitude Air Defense Team Positions.

5 3-13 Observation and Fields of Fire .. 3-14 Accessibility .. 3-15 Security from Ground Attack .. 3-15 Low Altitude Air Defense Team Tactical Positions .. 3-16 Primary Position .. 3-16 Alternate Position .. 3-17 Initial Tasks .. 3-17 Alerting and Cueing .. 3-20 Cartesian Coordinate Grid .. 3-21 Polar Coordinate Reference .. 3-23 Polar Grid .. 3-24 Visual Detection of the Target .. 3-25 Terrain Masking and Meteorological Conditions .. 3-25 Aircraft Recognition Characteristics .. 3-25 Visual Acuity .. 3-26 Search Sector .. 3-27 Horizontal Scanning .. 3-28 Vertical Scanning .. 3-29 Nonsystematic Search Methods .. 3-30 Scanning Tips .. 3-30 Where to Search .. 3-30 Aircraft Interrogation Techniques .. 3-31 Aircraft Identification.. 3-31 MCRP Process ..3-31 Decision ..3-31 Techniques of Fire ..3-36 Methods of Engagement ..3-39 Engagement Sequence ..3-40 Rules of Engagement..3-43 Right of Self- Defense ..3-44 Target Identification Criteria.

6 3-44 Weapon Control Status ..3-47 Air Defense Warning Conditions ..3-47 Air Defense States of Alert ..3-48 Fire Control Orders ..3-50 Ingress, Egress, and Return to Force Control Procedures ..3-52 Base Defense Zone Procedures ..3-52 Marine Air Traffic Control Detachment Low Altitude Air Defense Integration ..3-53 Command and Control ..3-54 Ingress or Egress Control Procedures..3-54 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Operations..3-55 Mission-Oriented Protective Posture ..3-57 Immediate Action ..3-57 Subsequent Action ..3-58 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Alarms ..3-58 Unmasking ..3-59 Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical-1 Report ..3-59 LAAD Gunner s Handbook viiChapter 4. TrainingIndividual Training .. 4-1 Formal Schools .. 4-2On-the-Job Training .. 4-2 Weapons, Tactics, and Instructor Course .. 4-2 Low Altitude Air Defense Enhancement Training Course .. 4-3 Stinger Training Equipment .. 4-3 Field Handling Trainer.

7 4-3 Tracking Head Trainer .. 4-4 Stinger Troop Proficiency Trainer .. 4-6 Stinger Improved Moving Target Simulator .. 4-7 Stinger Launch Simulator.. 4-8 Platoon, Section, and Team Training .. 4-9 Platoon Training .. 4-9 Section Training .. 4-9 Team Training .. 4-9 Aircraft Identification Training.. 4-10 Unit Training.. 4-11 Evaluating Training.. 4-12 Terrain Walk .. 4-12 Terrain Model Exercise.. 4-12 Crew Drills .. 4 13 Chapter 5. Support EquipmentAdvanced Man-Portable Air Defense System .. 5-1 Identification, Friend or Foe Subsystem .. 5-1 MCRP Terminal Unit ..5-3AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced Global Positioning System Receiver ..5-4 Optical Devices ..5-6AN/PAS-18, Receiver, Infrared System ..5-6AN/PVS-7B, Night Vision System..5-7AN/PVS-14, Monocular Night Vision Device ..5-8AN/PAS-13, Thermal Weapon Sight ..5-9 Communications Equipment ..5-10AN/VRC-91D, Man-pack/Vehicular Radio Set ..5-10 AN/MRC-148, High Frequency Vehicular Radio.

8 5-11AN/PRC-150, High Frequency Man-pack Radio ..5-12AN/PRC-117F(V)1C, Radio Set, Multi-band, Falcon II ..5-13AN/PRC-119 (A-F), Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System Man-pack Radio ..5-14AN/VRC-110, Dual Vehicular Adapter ..5-15AN/PRC-152, Tactical Hand-held Radio ..5-16OK-648/U, Control Group Radio ..5-17RF-5800R-RC111, Remote Control System ..5-18AN/GRA-39, Radio Terminal Set ..5-19TA-312/PT, Telephone Set ..5-20 Communications Security Equipment ..5-21AN/CYZ-10, Data Transfer Device ..5-21AN/PYQ-10, Simple Key Loader..5-22 Antennas ..5-24AS-2259/GR, Antenna ..5-24OE-254/GRC, Antenna..5-24 LAAD Gunner s Handbook ixAppendices ALow Altitude Air Defense Status Board .. A-1 BLow Altitude Air Defense Team Mount-Out Guide.. B-1 COperational Reports, Requests, and Orders .. C-1 DOperational Communications .. D-1 EStinger Support Equipment .. E-1 FIdentification, Friend or Foe Equipment..F-1 GRemote Terminal Unit.

9 G-1 HAN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced Global Positioning System Receiver .. H-1 GlossaryReferencesChapter 1 FundamentalsMANUEVER WARFARE Marine Corps combat doctrine is based on maneuver warfare is characterized by the concentration of forcesat a decisive time and place, speed of action, surprise, boldness,and the exploitation of enemy vulnerabilities. The lightweight, mobile Stinger antiaircraft missile enables thelow Altitude air Defense (LAAD) units to support maneuver war-fare. The LAAD s ability to task-organize, coupled with theStinger s inherent mobility and flexibility, give the Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) a maneuver-oriented air defensecapability that can support all types of tactical Altitude AIR Defense MISSIONThe LAAD s primary mission is to support the MAGTF com-mander by providing close in, low Altitude , surface-to-air weap-ons fires in Defense of MAGTF assets by defending forwardcombat areas, maneuver forces, vital areas, installations, and/orunits engaged in special/independent operations.

10 The LAAD s secondary mission is to provide a task-organized,ground security force in Defense of MAGTF vital areas, installa-tions, and/or units engaged in special/independent operations. MCRP firing team is the LAAD battalion s basic combat unit (seefig. 1-1). It consists of a team leader/vehicle commander andassistant gunner/driver. All team members are trained as gunners,drivers, and radio operators to effectively perform targetdetection, aircraft recognition, armor recognition, and machinegun employment. Normally, the assistant gunner/driver will firethe Stinger missile(s), allowing the team leader to evaluatetargets and make engagement decisions. During periods ofintense enemy air activity, both team members may act asgunners to increase the rate of fire. There are multiple variationsof LAAD teams and their combat loads may be altered accordingto the mission and role assigned to their team.