Bracketing is a method of adjusting fire onto a target when the initial impact misses. By continuously halving corrections and alternating between ADD and DROP, the observer is guaranteed to converge onto the target without requiring any calculations.
Bracketing is particularly useful when:
- Environmental conditions affect the fall of shot.
- Target location accuracy is uncertain.
- Precision targeting tools are unavailable.
- The initial fire mission does not achieve the desired effect.
The observer may wish to issue a CHECK FIRE command and ask for individual rounds to be fired and adjusted.
Initial Brackets
Use the following initial bracket based on Observer-Target distance:
| Observer-Target Distance | Initial Bracket |
|---|---|
| 0-1000 metres | 100 metres |
| 1000-2000 metres | 200 metres |
| Greater than 2000 metres | 400 metres |
Adjustment Principles
- If the impact is short of the target, use ADD.
- If the impact is beyond the target, use DROP.
- Always halve the previous correction.
- Always reverse the correction direction after each adjustment.
- Continue until the 100-metre bracket has been broken.
Breaking the 100-Metre Bracket
Once the adjustment sequence reaches 100 metres:
- Issue ADD 50, FIRE FOR EFFECT if the impact was short.
- Issue DROP 50, FIRE FOR EFFECT if the impact was over.
Lateral Adjustment
Lateral error may be corrected using:
- LEFT [distance]
- RIGHT [distance]
Major lateral deviations may be corrected during range adjustment. Fine corrections are normally made once range corrections are close to the target.
Initial Version
