Adjust indirect fire

TASK: Adjust indirect fire.

TEST CONDITIONS: During daylight, given a 1:50,000-scale map sheet of the target area, protractor, binoculars, radio (set on proper frequency), compass, pencils, the grid location of friendly troops, five indirect rounds (notional), and a target.

TEST STANDARDS:

1. Formulate and transmit a call for fire using proper radiotelephone procedures, in proper sequence, within three minutes.

a. Locate the target by grid coordinates (within 250 meters of the target location).

b. Determine the direction to the target within +100 mils (expressed to the nearest 10 mils).

c. Transmit the call for fire to the fire direction center (FDC) on the fire direction net using the four essential elements of the call for fire:

d. Complete the above tasks in sequence within three minutes of target identification.

2. Adjust fire onto target using the successive bracketing method.

a. After each round impacts, identify its point of impact as over, short, right, or left of the target.

b. Determine deviation and range corrections, ignoring deviation corrections of less than 30 meters.

c. Transmit corrections to the FDC within 30 seconds of splitting the range bracket until a 100-meter bracket is split or a range-correct spotting is observed.

d. Request fire for effect.

3. Observe the results of fire for effect and transmit refinement (if necessary), end of mission, and surveillance.

NOTE: If the pneumatic device is inaccurate, do not penalize the candidate.

REFERENCE: FM 6-30

SOLDIER’S MANUAL CROSSWALK: This task is the same as STP 21-24-SMCT task 061-283-6003.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR POINT: Map sheets, protractors, binoculars, radio, compass, stopwatch, mortar firing simulator (type to be determined by the unit) or puff board, 81-mm mortar, field table, pencil, and FB Form 20-11.2-R.

SITE SETUP: The site depends on the firing device used. If using a pneumatic or subcaliber device, provide a scaled target area. Other devices may be used that adequately test the observer’s skill, to include a series of graphics showing the impact of rounds. Provide scratch paper and pencils. The scorer will point out the known point and the target.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Say to the candidates–

“Let me have your attention. At this point you must adjust indirect fire. You will formulate a call for fire using the grid coordinate method of locating the target. You must submit this call for fire to the FDC within three minutes after we designate the target.

“I will begin timing when the round impacts with the ground, and I will stop timing after you transmit the complete correction to the FDC. If you exceed 30 seconds on any adjustment, I will stop you and end the mission.

“You must prepare and submit this call for fire in sequence, and you must use proper radiotelephone procedures.

“Your initial call for fire must bring the round to within 400 meters of the target. You may use no more than five rounds, and the fifth round, fire for effect, must land within 50 meters of the target.

“When I say ‘BEGIN,’ you will have three minutes to make your initial call for fire and 30 seconds for each correction. You must fire for effect by the fifth correction.

“Do you understand what you must do?”

If anyone has questions, repeat the instructions but do not elaborate on what you have read.

Pause for five seconds and then say–

“BEGIN.”

Allow the candidate to proceed for three minutes and then say–

“STOP.”

If the candidate formulates the call for fire in proper sequence to the FDC, the scorer will allow the candidate to continue the mission.

Pause for five seconds and then say–

“You have 30 seconds for each round to announce your complete correction to the FDC”