071-410-0019 (SL3) - Control Organic Fires
Standards: Assigned sectors of fire for each individual and crew-served weapon; issued a priority of target engagement appropriate for each weapon system; informed all personnel of current rules of engagement (ROE); and implemented procedures to engage threat targets in your area of responsibility in a timely manner, with the appropriate weapon system, and without causing injury or death to friendly personnel.

WARNING

Soldiers may be killed or injured when firing weapons. Minimum firing distances, backblast areas, and weapon-specific regulations must be strictly followed

1.   Implement procedures to apply the following principles of fire control:

a. Avoid target overkill; keep in mind ammunition conservation.

b. Use each weapon in its intended role.

c. Concentrate on engaging targets that offer a high probability of a kill.

d. Concentrate on engaging long-range targets first.

e. Destroy targets that pose the greatest threat first.

2.   Use fire control methods to—

a. Maximize the effects of the weapons on the target.

b. Achieve mutual support.

c. Provide coverage of assigned area of responsibility.

d. Ensure soldiers' safety from friendly fire.

3.   Use the following methods to coordinate and regulate fire.

a. Assign sectors of fire. Assign an area for each crew-served weapon, team, or unit to cover by fire. Targets in each assigned sector are the responsibility of the individual(s) assigned to cover the area with fire.

b. Assign priority of fires. Tell each soldier, according to weapon assignment, what to fire at, when, and why. This ensures each weapon is used in the role for which it is best suited. (For example, Dragon gunners engage light armored vehicles; BFV gunners engage tanks with the TOW and BMPs with the 25-mm; riflemen engage dismounted personnel out to 400 meters.)

c. Use target reference points (TRPs). Designate recognizable points on the ground (natural or manmade) to use as reference points when identifying sectors of fire or targets, or to control supporting fires.

d. Assign final protective fire areas. Assign final protective lines (FPL) or principal direction of fire (PDF) for machine guns and other automatic crew-served weapons, ground- or carrier-mounted (MK 19, BFV coaxial, 25-mm, and so on).

4.   Use any of the following techniques to communicate when to start, shift, or cease fire.

a. Prearranged signals. Use visual or sound signals (pyrotechnics, whistles, horns, detonation of a device, or firing of a weapon), or set a specific time.

b. Arm-and-hand signals. Use standard signals when feasible. Remember, personnel must see arm-and-hand signals in order to respond.

c. Fire by example. Initiate firing at, or in the direction of, the intended target and have the unit or specific weapon system follow your example.

d. Fire commands. Some elements of fire commands may be omitted. If any element is omitted, ensure the unit or crew thoroughly understands the command. Every fire command should contain the target description and execution element as a minimum. (See tables 071-410-0019-1 and 071-410-0019-2 for examples of fire command elements.)

Table 071-410-0019-1.  Examples of Fire Command Elements

Elements

TOW Squad

Antitank Team

Crew-Served Weapon

Units

1. Alert

Fire Mission or Squad

Fire Mission Gun # 1

Fire Mission
Gun # 3

Fire Mission, A team, 1^st squad, etc.

2. Description (direction optional)

Tank

PC

Truck with Troops

Troops

2A. Direction (if used)

Front, 11 o’clock (clock method)

Right Front, 2 o’clock (clock method)

Left of Lone Pine Tree (TRP method)

Center of Sector

3. Range (in meters)

1,000

600

400

200

4. Method of Fire

Frontal, Depth, or Crossfire (situation dependent)

Single, Pair, Volley, or Sequence (situation dependent)

Sustained, Search, or Traverse, or Combination (situation dependent)

Sustained, or Until Target is Defeated

4A. Type Missile

TOW 2

TOW 2A

Dragon

AT-4

5. Execution

Fire, or At My Command

Fire, or At My Command

Fire, or At My Command

Fire, or At My Command

6. Closing

Cease Tracking or Cease Tracking, Out of Action

Cease Tracking or Cease Tracking, Out of Action

Cease Fire

Cease Fire

Table 071-410-0019-2.  Examples of fire command elements for a BFV

Elements

Gunnery Techniques

Battlesight

Precision

1. Alert

Gunner

Gunner

2. Weapon/Ammunition

Battlesight

SABOT

HE

Coax

Missile

3. Description

Tank, Chopper, Truck, Troops, PC

PC, Truck, Troops, Tank

4. Direction (optional)

Shift Right (Left), TRP-1 (TRP method) or

2 o’clock (clock method)

Shift Right (Left) TRP-1 (TRP method) or

2 o’clock (clock method)

5. Range (in meters)

     Gunner ID*

Identified

600 Identified

6. Execution

   Gunner’s response

Fire, or

At My Command

On the way

Fire, or

At My Command