CALL FOR FIRE

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 LESSON OBJECTIVES
• TASK: Call For and Adjust Indirect Fire, Integrate Indirect
Fire Support, Plan the use of Fire Support Operations.

• CONDITIONS: Provide instruction using PowerPoint in a

classroom setting

• STANDARDS: Students will be broken down in two man teams and

conduct a call for fire exercise. You will call for fire and adjust fire during
the classroom practical exercise. You will also use FS coronations during
the patrolling phase.

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 MORTARS CAPABILITIES
• Mortars only fire high angle. If high angle fire is
desired, it is requested immediately after the type of
engagement. Danger close for mortars is 600 meters.
• Danger Close:
– When adjusting danger close missions with improved
conventional munitions the observer must start the
adjustment at least 600 meters from friendly troops,
depending on the relative locations of weapons, target,
and friendly troops.
– Special consideration must be given to the direction and
speed of the wind in the target area.
– Commander on the ground must make the call for danger
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close.
 MORTARS MUNITION TYPES

• 4.2in
– RNG Between 770m TO 6,840m
• MUNITIONS
– HE with VT fuse
– Smoke (WP)
– Illumination
• 120mm Replacing 4.2in
– RNG 7,200m

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 ARTILLERY CAPABILITIES
• Low angle fire is standard for filed artillery. If high
angle is not specified, low angle will normally be
used. Danger close for field artillery is the same as
mortars.

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 ARTILLERY MUNITION TYPES

• MUNITIONS
– HE
– WP
– ILLUMINATION
– COPPERHEAD
– ICM DPICM
– FASCAM (ADAM, RAAM)

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 Ammunition
• The observer may request any type of
ammunition during the adjustment or the FFE
phase of his mission.
• Shell HE with fuze quick is normally used in
adjustment.
– If that is desired, doesn’t need to be requested in
call for fire.
• If the observer does not request a shell-fuze in
effect, the Fire Direction Officer (FDO)
determines the shell-fuze combination.
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Note You have two types of fuze quick, time delay.
 FIRE SUPPORT
• In order to be effective, fire support must be
thoroughly planned and coordinated prior to actually
undertaking a patrolling mission.
• Fires should be planned not only on the objective,
but also along the patrol’s route, at pickup points,
etc.
– These targets may be used if the patrol encounters
unexpected trouble or under emergency conditions that
may require reorientation.

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 FIRE SUPPORT COORDINATION

NOTE: Ensure you have 1 complete and 1

sterile overlay for coordination!
1) Identify yourself and your patrol.
2) State mission and objective. (PL provides)
3) Routes to and from the OBJ, both Pri/Alt.
4) Time of departure and time of return.
5) Target list. (min: Target description and
location)
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 FIRE SUPPORT (CONT)

6) Determine fire support means available. (Arty,

Mortars, CAS, to include: Army, Navy, and Air Force)
7) Determine ammo available.
8) Request range fans of guns
9) Determine availability of:
a. Forward observers
b. Aerial observers
c. Dedicated firing elements

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 FIRE SUPPORT (CONT)

10) Coordinate control measures for fire support:

a. Checkpoints (PL provides at a minimum 2)
b. Phase lines (PL)
c. Boundaries (PL)
d. Coordinated fire lines (FSO)
e. Restrictive fire measures (FSO)
f. Suppressive fire targets (PL)

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 FIRE SUPPORT (CONT)

11) Communications (include Pri/Alt means,

emergency signals, codes, call signs and freqs)

12) Is there anything else I need to know?

NOTE: Do not forget to request target reference
num.

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 GRAPHIC SYMBOLS

A SINGLE TARGET IS MARKED BY A SYMBOL ON A MAP

OVERLAY. THE CENTER OF THE TARGET SYMBOL
IDENTIFIES THE LOCATION OF THE TARGET. THE ARTILLERY
WILL ASSIGN A TARGET NUMBER TO EACH TARGET.

EXAMPLE:
AF3141

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8 DIGIT GRID
 GRAPHIC SYMBOLS (cont)

TARGETS OF UNUSUAL SIZE OR SHAPE MAY

BE INDICATED BY SPECIAL
SYMBOLS.
EXAMPLE:

BA 2400 TA1011

LINEAR TGT SYMBOL AREA TGT SYMBOL

RADIUS
200 TO 600 METER
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 GRAPHIC SYMBOLS (cont)

TWO OR MORE TARGETS ON WHICH FIRE IS DESIRED

SIMULTANEOUSLY COMPOSE A GROUP OF TARGETS.
EACH TARGET WITHIN THE GROUP HAS A TARGET
NUMBER SO THAT THE PATROL LEADER CAN CALL FOR
FIRE ON ANY SINGLE TARGET.

AF1111
EXAMPLE: 6 16
AF1

AF1031
A2F
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 GRAPHIC SYMBOLS (cont)
A SERIES OF TARGETS IS A NUMBER OF TARGETS AND/OR GROUPS
OF TARGETS WHICH ARE PLANNED TO SUPPORT A MANEUVER
PHASE, SUCH AS AN ASSAULT ON AN OBJECTIVE (RAID). THE PATROL
MAY REQUEST THE ARTILLERY TO DESIGNATE A SERIES OF TARGETS.
THE ARTILLERY WILL DESIGNATE A SERIES OF TARGETS BY ASSIGNING
IT A NAME.

RAT
EXAMPLE:

20 AF61
AF1211 1 7 AF2161 11
AF
AF2160

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 FINAL PROTECTIVE FIRE
• Final protective fire is immediately available
preplanned barrier of direct and indirect fire
designed to provide close protection to friendly
positions and installations by impeding enemy
movement into defensive areas. Basically, it is an
entire battery or mortar platoon firing so that the
rounds are arranged on line. The size of the FPF
depends on the number and type of weapon
systems.

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 GRAPHIC SYMBOLS
TARGET LIST AND OVERLAY

THE TARGET LIST IS A COLLECTION OF DATA PERTAINING OF TARGETS

PLANNED TO SUPPORT AN OPERATION. THE TARGET LIST INCLUDES
THE DESCRIPTION, LOCATION, AND PERTINENT REMARKS FOR EACH
TARGET. IT MAY ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE
TARGET SUCH AS ALTITUDE, SIZE, ATTITUDE, AND SOURCE.

THE TARGET OVERLAY IS A GRAPHIC PORTRAYAL OF THE TARGET LIST

AND SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.
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 OVERLAY

1. UNIT
2. DATE THE OVERLAY WAS PREPARED.
3. MAP SHEET WHICH OVERLAY PERTAINS TO.
4. INDEX MARKS TO POSITION OVERLAY.
5. MISSION AND OBJECTIVE.
6. ROUTES (INCLUDE PRI AND ALT).
7. OBJECTIVE RALLY POINTS (ORP).

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 OVERLAY

9. EFFECTIVE PERIOD OF OVERLAY.

10. PHASE LINES AND CHECKPOINTS TO BE USED BY THE
PATROL.
11. CODES AND SPARES.
12. CALL SIGNS AND FREQUENCIES. PRI/ALT
13. PRIORITY TARGET.
14. DESCRIPTION, LOCATION AND REMARKS COLUMN,
COMPLETE.

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 OVERLAY

FOR EASE IN COORDINATION AND PLANNING FIRE

SUPPORT FOR A PATROL, THE TARGET OVERLAY,
THE TARGET LIST, AND COORDINATING
INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE INCLUDED ON ONE
OVERLAY.

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 EXAMPLE : OVERLAY WITH TGT. LIST
PATROL: SAPPER 1
TARGET OVERLAY DATE: 27 Feb 2010
68 MAP: 1:50,000 FLW SPECIAL
MISS: RAID ON ENEMY MORTAR SITE
OBJ LOCATION: WM9845 7834
70 ORP LOCATION: WM6889 5719
OBJ EFFECTVE DATE: 27 -28 Feb 2010
3
TIME OF DEPARTURE: 20:00
UTE ORP TIME OF RETURN: 04:00
RO
GRE EN CODES: ALT ROUTE: ADG
E ALT FREQ: WER
OUT PRIORITY TGT: OBJECTIVE
K R
C 71 FREQUENCY: PRI: 32:55 ALT: 36:60
PR BLA CALL SIGNS: PRI: SAPPER 1
2
AR ALT: SAPPER TOC
64 PRI ROUTE: GREEN
ALT ROUTE: BLACK
1 CHECK PTS: LIST THEM (MIN 2)

TGT# DESCRIPTION LOCATION REMARKS SPARES

IRP................................ERR
OBJ HILL TOP WM08457834 HE, ILL, WP (PRTY TRGT)
DEPART FFU.............. KLO
DAM WB68870758 SMOKE
INORP...........................ADS
ROAD JUNCTION WB71557087 ILL. ON CALL
IN POSITION..........… JUH
ENEMY COMMO WB68994457 HE, WP
MISSION COMP.....… .CFG
CENTER
RECON LINK-UP...… .GYY
ENEMY GUN WB72557385 HE, WP
CP#1.............................RFE
POSITION
CP#2.............................PGE
• TGT #’S WILL BE ASSIGNED TO EACH TGT BY ARTY IN PB............................LFE
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REPRESENTATIVE DURING COORDINATION NEG SIT REP...............DMG
 EXAMPLE OF STERILE OVERLAY

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 FINAL PROTECTIVE FIRE (CONT)
• Final protective fire is planned to support a defense
and may be any distance from the friendly position.
Normally, the FPF is within 200 to 400 meters
(danger close) and is integrated into the final
protective line of the patrol.

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 FIRE SUPPORT P.E

ACTION: CREATE A STERILE AND COMPLETE OVERLAY.

CONDITION: GIVEN A MISSION STATEMENT AND AN

EXAMPLE, WITH A MAP, PROTRACTOR, AND OVERLAY
MATERIAL IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.

STANDARD: STUDENTS WILL BE BROKEN DOWN IN FIRE

TEAMS, FIRE TEAMS WILL COMPLETE FIRE SUPPORT OVERLAYS
WITHIN 30 MINUTES. TEAMS WILL HAVE AT A MINIMUM 4 TARGETS
OF ANY TYPE. TEAM REP MUST ALSO BRIEF THE OVERLAY TO
STANDARD.

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 OVER LAY P.E.
SAPPER 1 WILL MOVE BY TRUCK FROM WB 77407838 TO DTP
WB 72657690 AND CONDUCT A RAID ON AN ENEMY TRENCH
SYSTEM AT WB 71457460 NLT 0400 HRS. 27 Feb 10. THEN MOVE
TO AND OCCUPY A PB AT WB 69857290 AND AWAIT FURTHER
ORDERS.
SPARES COMMO
DPT FFU - 2RD LEV PB - 9FG PRI- 38.45 ALT-
IN ORP - 4QL IN RRP - DG6 36.55
IN POS. - 41V FFU RNTRY-WS3
LK-UP - 2B6 NEG SIT REP - VME
CP1 - 6TY CALLSIGNS
CP2 - 8HJ PRI W89 ALT
IN PB - 4BN Y70
CODES: CNG ALT RT - 2WS
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 QUESTIONS?

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 CALL FOR FIRE

• A call for fire (CFF)

– Is concise
– Contains all information needed by the FDC to
determine the method of target attack.
– Is sent quickly and clearly enough to be
understood, recorded, and read back, without
error.

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 CALL FOR FIRE PROCESS

Sent to the Fire Direction Center (FDC)

in 3 Transmissions

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 Elements in Call For Fire
1. Transmission 1
– Observer Identification
– Warning Order
2. Transmission 2
– Target Location
– Target Description
3. Transmission 3
– Method of Engagement
– Method of Fire and Control
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 Observer Identification

• Lets the FDC know who is calling

• Clears the net for your fire mission

• FO (observer) uses call signs to make

corrections if FDC is involved with other FO’s
or heavy radio traffic
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 WARNING ORDER

• A request for fire unless prior authority has

been given to order fire.
• tells the FDC the type of mission and target
location
• Consists of
– type of mission
– size of the element to fire for effect
– method of target location.

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 Type of Mission

• Type of missions:
– Adjust fire
– Fire for effect
– Suppression
– Immediate suppression

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 ADJUADJADJUST FIREFIREST

• When the observer believes that an

adjustment must be made (because of
questionable target location or lack of
registration corrections), he announces
ADJUST FIRE.

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 ADJUST FIRE

Sapper 1 this is Sapper 2 Adjust Fire,

Over
FO
Sapper 2 this is Sapper 1 Adjust
Fire, Out

FDC
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 FIRE FOR EFFECT (FFE)

• Always strive for first-round FFE.

• FFE depends on accuracy of target location
and the ammunition being used.
• FFE announced when target location is
accurate and desired effect on the target
requires little or no adjustment

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 FFIRE FOR EFFECT
Sapper 1 this is Sapper 2 Fire for
Effect, Over

FO
Sapper2 this is Sapper 1 Fire for
Effect, Out

FDC
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 SUPPRESSION

• To quickly bring fire on a target that is not

active, the observer announces SUPPRESS
(followed by the target identification).
• Suppression (S) missions are normally fired on
planned targets and a duration is associated
with the call for fire.

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 SUPPRESSION

Sapper 1 this is Sapper 2 SUPPRESS AA7749, Over

FO

Sapper 2 this is Sapper 1 SUPPRESS AA7749,

Out

FDC
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 Immediate Suppression / Smoke
• When engaging a planned target or target of
opportunity that has taken friendly maneuver
or aerial elements under fire, the observer
announces IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION or
IMMEDIATE SMOKE (followed by the target
location).
• Though the grid method of target location is
the most common, any method of target
location may be used in firing an immediate
suppression or immediate smoke mission.
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 IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION
MISSION
Sapper 1 THIS IS Sapper 2, IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION,
GRID AB123456, OVER

FO

Sapper 2 THIS IS Sapper 1, IMMEDIATE

SUPPRESSION, GRID AB123456, OUT

FDC
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 SIZE OF ELEMENT TO
FIRE FOR EFFECT
• The observer may request the size of the unit
to fire for effect; for example, BATTALION.
Usually, he does this by announcing the last
letter in the battalion FDC's call sign. For
example, T6H24 is announced H. The observer
should never refer to a battery or other unit in
the clear. He should refer to it by call sign. If
the observer says nothing about the size of
the element to fire, the battalion FDC makes
that decision.
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 Size of Element to Fire for Effect

Sapper 1 this is Sapper 2 Fire for Effect,

S , Over

FO
Sapper 2 this is Sapper 1 Fire for Effect, S ,
Out

FDC
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 Method of Target Location

• Grid

• Polar

• Shift from known point

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 GRID

• No need to announce in warning order

• Given as a six or eight digit grid

• FO must give a direction before making

corrections

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 POLAR
• FDC must know your position

• Direction- from your position to the target

• Distance- from your position to target; meters is

standard & no need to announce

• Vertical interval, if applicable, given last

– “Up” or “Down” from your elevation

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 Target Description

• What the target is- troops, vehicles, etc.

• What target is doing- digging in, re-fueling
• Number of elements in the target
• Degree of protection- in open, bunkers with
overhead cover
• Target size and shape- circular, rectangular,
linear

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 DIRECTION
• Observer Target Line (OTL)- Imaginary line from you to the
target to the nearest 10 mils.

• Gun Target Line (GTL)- Imaginary line from the firing gun line
to target. Will most likely be different from OTL

• Cardinal/Intercardinal- N, S, E, W

• Arbitrary Reference Feature- Natural or manmade feature

from which reference is made to target location or
adjustments of fire. (Road or stream running N-S)

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 Determining Direction
• Measure from reference point- R. A. L. S.

• Using a compass- Given to nearest 10 mils

• Scaling from a map- To the nearest 10 mils via

protractor

• Estimating- By utilizing the ground, given as a N, S, E ,

W

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 DIRECTIONS
6400 MILS
N
NW NE
5600 MILS 0800 MILS

W E
4800 MILS 1600 MILS

SW SE
4000 MILS 2400 MILS
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3200 MILS
 DETERMINING DIRECTION
Estimation 100 MILS
Scale from a map 10 MILS
Compass 10 MILS
Measuring from a reference point 1 MIL
Other measuring devices:
aiming circle 1 MIL
G/VLLD 1 MIL
Survey .1 MIL
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 HAND MEASURE ANGULAR
DEVIATION
300 180 125

100 70 30

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 M22 BINOCULAR RETICLE
PATTERN
GRADUATED EVERY 5 MILS

LABELED EVERY 10 MILS

HORIZONTAL SCALE USED IN LATERAL

ADJUSTMENTS

VERTICAL SCALE USED IN VERTICAL

ADJUSTMENTS

ANGULAR DEVIATION IS 100 TOTAL

MILS
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 MEASURE ANGULAR
DEVIATION
RALS RULE:
REFERENCE POINT
DIRECTION 2100
TARGET 40 mils LEFT
2100 mils
40 mils
2060 mils

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 QUESTIONS?

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