Observed Fires - United States Army

1 ATP Observed Fires SEPTEMBER 2017 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes ATP , Observed Fires dated 12 August 2013. Headquarters Department of the army This publication is available at the army Publishing Directorate site ( ),and the Central army Registry site ( )*ATP Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. *This publication supersedes ATP , Observed Fires dated 12 August army Techniques Publication No. Headquarters Department of the army Washington, DC, 28 September 2017 Observed Fires Contents Page vii INTRODUCTION .. ix Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO FIRE SUPPORT .. 1-1 Fire Support Effectiveness .. 1-1 Fire Support Planning and Coordination .. 1-6 1-7 Chapter 2 EMPLOYING FIRE SUPPORT .. 2-1 Fire Support Team.

2 2-1 Observation Post .. 2- 12 Chapter 3 TARGET LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION .. 3-1 Introduction to Target Location .. 3-1 3-3 Distance .. 3-8 Altitude .. 3- 13 Terrain Sketch .. 3- 14 methods of Target Location .. 3- 15 Target Location ERROR .. 3- 19 combat Identification of a Target .. 3- 23 Positive Identification of a Target .. 3- 24 Chapter 4 CALL FOR FIRE .. 4-1 Description .. 4-1 Six Elements Of The Call For Fire .. 4-2 Correction of Errors .. 4-9 Message to Observer .. 4- 10 Additional Information .. 4- 11 Authentication .. 4- 16 FDC Commands .. 4- 17 Sample Missions .. 4- 17 Chapter 5 ADJUSTMENT OF FIRE .. 5-1 Adjusting Point .. 5-1 5-1 Types of Corrections .. 5-5 Sequence of Subsequent Corrections .. 5-7 Adjustment Techniques .. 5- 10 Fire for Effect .. 5- 13 Contents ii ATP 28 September 2017 Refinement and Surveillance.

3 5- 13 Types of Corrections .. 5- 14 Registration .. 5- 14 Destruction Mission .. 5- 36 High-Burst or Mean Point of Impact Registration .. 5- 36 Target of Opportunity .. 5- 41 Planned Target .. 5- 41 Moving Target Calculation .. 5- 41 Trigger and Intercept Point Considerations .. 5- 45 Helpful Notes .. 5- 46 Chapter 6 SPECIAL MUNITIONS .. 6-1 Characteristics of the Excaliber .. 6-1 Ballistic Impact Point .. 6-2 Sample Excalibur Mission .. 6-2 Characteristics of the Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI) .. 6-3 Characteristics of the Precision Guidance Kit .. 6-4 Characteristics of the Guided MLRS .. 6-4 Sample GLMRS Mission .. 6-5 Characteristics of Improved Conventional Munitions .. 6-5 ICM Call for Fire and Adjustment .. 6-7 Sample ICM Missions .. 6-7 ICM 6-8 Characteristics of Field Artillery Scatterable Mines.

4 6-9 Types of Minefields .. 6- 10 Selection of Minefield Density .. 6- 10 Selection of SD Time .. 6- 11 Target Location .. 6- 11 Call for Fire and Adjustment .. 6- 12 Sample Scatmine Missions .. 6- 13 Characteristics of Illumination .. 6- 13 Employment Considerations .. 6- 14 Call for and Adjustment of Illumination .. 6- 16 Coordinated and continuous Illumination .. 6- 17 Infrared 6- 20 Characteristics of Smoke .. 6- 20 Smoke Rounds .. 6- 21 Employment Considerations .. 6- 22 Smoke Delivery Techniques .. 6- 27 Immediate Smoke .. 6- 28 Quick Smoke .. 6- 29 Example Missions .. 6- 30 Mortar Procedures .. 6- 31 Chapter 7 OBSERVER SPECIAL MISSIONS .. 7-1 Fires for Pilots .. 7-1 High-Angle Fire .. 7-3 Final Protective Fire .. 7-4 Multiple Missions .. 7-7 Auxiliary Adjusting Point.

5 7-7 Observer Not Oriented .. 7-7 Irregularly Shaped Target .. 7-8 Adjustment by Sound .. 7-9 Appendix A OBSERVER SELF-LOCATION methods .. A-1 Appendix B CRATER AND SHELL FRAGMENT ANALYSIS AND REPORTS .. B-1 Contents 28 September 2017 ATP iii GLOSSARY .. Glossary-1 REFERENCES .. References-1 Related Publications .. 1 PRESCRIBED FORMS .. 2 Related Forms .. 3 INDEX .. Index-1 Figures Figure 1-1. Effectiveness compared to length of adjustment .. 1-4 Figure 1-2. Number of rounds required for equivalent effect.. 1-4 Figure 1-3. Ammunition expenditures and relative effects .. 1-5 Figure 1-4. Sample DA Form 4655, target list worksheet .. 1-9 Figure 1-5. Point target .. 1-9 Figure 1-6. Linear target .. 1- 10 Figure 1-7. Rectangular target .. 1- 10 Figure 1-8. Circular target .. 1- 10 Figure 1-9. Final protective fire.

6 1- 11 Figure 1-10. Target reference point .. 1- 11 Figure 1-11. Group of targets .. 1- 12 Figure 1-12. Series of Targets .. 1- 12 Figure 2-1 JFO-JTAC Employment Example .. 2- 10 Figure 3-1. Example of mil relation formula in shift from known point .. 3-4 Figure 3-2. Cardinal directions .. 3-4 Figure 3-3. Angle T .. 3-6 Figure 3-4. M22 and M24 binocular reticle pattern .. 3-6 Figure 3-5. Example hand measurement of angular deviation .. 3-7 Figure 3-6. Observed fire fan (1:50,000) (graphic training aid 6-7-3) .. 3- 11 Figure 3-7. Target location using the OF fan .. 3- 12 Figure 3-8. Vertical shift .. 3- 13 Figure 3-9. Vertical angle .. 3- 14 Figure 3-10. Example terrain sketch .. 3- 15 Figure 3-11. Polar plot .. 3- 17 Figure 3-12. Lateral shift .. 3- 18 Figure 3-13. Range shift .. 3- 19 Figure 3-14.

7 TLE Categories .. 3- 20 Figure 4-1. Shift from a known point .. 4-4 Figure 4-2 (Call For Fire flowchart) .. 4-9 Figure 4-3 JFO Target Brief (JP ) .. 4- 13 Figure 4-4 CAS 9 line (ATP ) .. 4- 14 Figure 4-5 Rotary Wing 5-Line Request (JP ) .. 4- 15 Figure 4-6 Naval Surface Fire Support Request (ATP ) .. 4- 16 Contents iv ATP 28 September 2017 Figure 5-1. Adjusting point in an area fire mission .. 5-1 Figure 5-2. Range spotting .. 5-3 Figure 5-3. Deviation spottings .. 5-4 Figure 5-4. Height of burst corrections .. 5-7 Figure 5-5. Successive bracketing technique .. 5- 11 Figure 5-6. Hasty bracketing technique .. 5- 12 Figure 5-7. No range refinement necessary .. 5- 16 Figure 5-8. Drop 10 .. 5- 17 Figure 5-9. Drop 20 .. 5- 17 Figure 5-10. Example registration diagram, page 1 .. 5- 18 Figure 5-11.

8 Example registration diagram, page 2 .. 5- 19 Figure 5-12. Mortar registration .. 5- 21 Figure 5-13. Adjusting mortar sheaf .. 5- 22 Figure 5-14. Section right, repeat .. 5- 23 Figure 5- 15. Number three is adjusted .. 5- 24 Figure 5-16. Quick and time registration example, page 1 .. 5- 26 Figure 5-17. Quick and time registration example, page 2 .. 5- 27 Figure 5-18. Quick and time registration-range correct spotting example, page 5- 28 Figure 5-19. Quick and time registration-range correct spotting example, page 5- 30 Figure 5-20. Quick and time registration during adjustment example, page 1 .. 5- 31 Figure 5-21. Quick and time registration during adjustment example, page 2 .. 5- 32 Figure 5-22. Abbreviated registration example, page 1 .. 5- 34 Figure 5-23. Abbreviated registration example, page 2.

9 5- 35 Figure 5-24. Destruction mission .. 5- 36 Figure 5-24. Reorientation after the first round .. 5- 39 Figure 5-25. Determining the intercept point .. 5- 43 Figure 5-26. Determining the trigger point .. 5- 44 Figure 6-1. APICM grenades .. 6-6 Figure 6-2. 155-mm DPICM grenade .. 6-6 Figure 6-3. RAAMS mine .. 6-9 Figure 6-4. ADAM mine .. 6- 10 Figure 6-5. Aimpoint location for moving targets .. 6- 12 Figure 6-6. Aimpoint location for stationary targets .. 6- 12 Figure 6-7. Illumination range spread .. 6- 15 Figure 6-8. Illumination lateral spread .. 6- 16 Figure 6-9. Illumination range and lateral spread .. 6- 16 Figure 6-10. Initial illuminating round .. 6- 19 Figure 6-11. Obscuring smoke .. 6- 20 Figure 6-12. Screening smoke .. 6- 21 Figure 6-13. Optimum wind speed chart .. 6- 24 Figure 6-14.

10 Classification of wind directions .. 6- 25 Contents 28 September 2017 ATP v Figure 6-15. Maneuver-target line .. 6- 26 Figure 7-1. Observer- target line, gun-target line and cardinal 7-2 Figure 7-2. Aircraft target location .. 7-3 Figure 7-3. High angle fire .. 7-4 Figure 7-4. Adjustment of the FPF begins with the flank piece round closest to the FPF line (number 1) .. 7-5 Figure 7-5. Adjustment of the FPF begins with the flank piece round closest to the FPF line (number 6) .. 7-6 Figure 7-6. Auxiliary adjusting point .. 7-7 Figure 7-7. Target attitude .. 7-8 Figure A-1. Self-location by use of two known points ..A-2 Figure A-2. Self-location by use of one known point and one burst ..A-3 Figure A-3. Self-location by use of two bursts ..A-4 Figure A-4. Location second observation post by simultaneous observation.