FM/C78 - Vehicles - Ground vehicles

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The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.

Vehicle commanders must anticipate enemy threats before contact. Prioritize targets by danger: armour and ATGMs first, then unguided anti-tank infantry. Avoid skyline exposure; stay on low ground and shift position after engagement to avoid counterfire. Never drive directly out of overwatch; reposition laterally or reverse first.

• Alert with their crew position: e.g. “DRIVER” or “GUNNER”
• Give the order: e.g. “REVERSE” or “SCAN LEFT”

• State the destination and intended route when possible.
• Repeat or re-confirm instructions if the driver's response is delayed or unclear.

• Use the format: FM/BS-1363 - Give orders to a crew member
• Give visual cues only within the driver's visible sector (11 to 1 o'clock),
• Time commands to allow for heavy-vehicle response delay,
• Provide close guidance when in formation or near infantry,
• Repeat or re-confirm instructions if the driver's response is delayed or unclear.

• Define the gunner's left and right arcs using bearings, clock-ray, or landmarks.
• Use optics to verify distant threats before engagement.
• Update the crew on friendly positions to prevent fratricide.
• Account for commander vs gunner viewpoint differences when giving aim or engagement cues.
• Watch your gun direction and vehicle safety when moving in tight areas to avoid hitting obstacles.

• Alert: Focus the gunner. 
• Ammo/Weapon: Tell the gunner what system/ammo to use. Use specific shorthand (e.g., SABOT, HE, Coax, MG, Smoke).
• Target Description: Tell the gunner what the target is. For vehicles/aircraft  FM/G18 - Vehicle class identification should be used, other targets may include infantry, gun emplacement or a building
• Direction: Give an unambiguous direction indication and an approximate range relative to the vehicle. Distance helps set lead, ammo choice, and sights.
  • Accepted direction formats:
    • Clock + distance,
    • Degrees + distance,
    • Relative + distance.

Movement status: Give movement to help lead. Use short phrases: moving Left to Right, moving away, moving towards, stationary, stopped, on the move. If speed is important, add fast / slow.

Skip sections if they are not required.

• Announce “GUNNER” or “DESIGNATE*”,
• State the weapon/ammo the gunner should use,
• Describe the target and, if needed, the point of aim
• State the direction and range using one of the following:
  • Clock + distance: 
  • Degrees + distance: 
  • Relative + distance: 
• State the movement status
• Gunner: Announce “IDENTIFIED” when the gun is on target.
• Gunner: Announce “NOT SEEN” if the target cannot be found.
• Commander: Talk the gunner on to the target if needed FM/BS-1371 - Talk gunner on to target,
• Proceed with FM/BS-1372 - Execute an engagement.

*Only if using the Hunter/Killer system.

Alert the commander to a target

• Announce “IDENTIFY”,
• Target description,
• Direction,
• Proceed with FM/BS-1372 - Execute an engagement

• “FIRE”: Fire immediately,
• “FIRE AND ADJUST”: Fire immediately and adjust for follow-up if target is missed,
• “AT MY COMMAND”: Acquire target but await “FIRE” command.

• Give instructions to traverse left or right
• When close to the target announce “STEADY” to slow the speed and allow the gunner to locate the target
• Announce “ON” when the gunner is aiming at the correct target

• Commander: Give fire control order: FM/BS-1370 - Give fire control commands to a gunner
• Gunner: Just before the weapon is fired, announce “ON THE WAY” to alert the other crew members.

• When a round is fired, call the effect it has on the target:
  • “TARGET”:  Round hit the target
  • “OVER/SHORT”: Round missed long / short,
  • “LOST”: Round impact was unseen,
  • “DOUBTFUL”:  Round passed to the left or right of the target but the range seems correct,
  • “REENGAGING”: the gunner is preparing to fire again with corrections if needed,
  • “CEASE FIRE”:  Gunner should stop engaging the target.
• When required apply target corrections:
  • “ADD ONE/DROP ONE”: Move aim up / down,
  • “MORE LEAD/LESS LEAD”: Move aim further ahead or closer to a moving target.

A Hunter‑Killer Observation Override synchronises commander and gunner sights to allow rapid target acquisition by slewing one sight to the point observed by the other.

• Function: Syncs commander and gunner sight lines so a target viewed by one can be observed or engaged by the other without separate manual laying.
• Gunner / Commander- Observe: Using Observe moves the user's sight to the point currently targeted by the other sight, permitting immediate visual confirmation.
• Commander- Override: Using Override slews the gunner sight to the commander's aim point, enabling the gunner to acquire and engage the same target quickly.

If using the hunter-killer override, alert the gunner with "DESIGNATE" before taking control of the turret.

• Vehicle weapon disabled: 
  • Move vehicle back in cover, 
  • Report "[your callsign] WEAPON DISABLED" on command net, 
  • Stay in vehicle and await orders.
• Vehicle mobility disabled:
  • Report up  "[your callsign] MOBILITY DISABLED" on command net, 
  • Stay and defend vehicle if safe, 
  • Dismount vehicle and regroup near cover if not safe to stay in the vehicle.
• Vehicle disabled (or weapon and mobility disabled): 
  • Report  "[your callsign] VEHICLE DISABLED" on command net, 
  • Stay in vehicle if safe, 
  • Dismount vehicle and regroup near cover if not safe to stay in the vehicle.

• As the commander, If you identify that the vehicle is damaged and poses a risk to the crew, announce "BAIL, BAIL, BAIL"
• Exit the vehicle,
• Move to cover
• Report  "[your callsign] VEHICLE DESTROYED, [number of casualties] CASUALTIES" on command net, with the number of personnel wounded accounting for any still in the wreck.

Effective gunnery begins with continuous observation. Gunners should prioritise scanning assigned arcs methodically rather than fixating on a single point.

• Scan left and right limits systematically.
• Re-scan after firing or target loss.
• Maintain awareness of arc boundaries.

• Open fire on a target or area as directed by the vehicle commander
• Shift fire only when directed or when threat changes.
• Cease engagement when target is neutralised or when directed.

Uncontrolled or excessive firing degrades situational awareness, depletes ammunition, and increases vehicle signature. Deliberate, controlled fire is more effective.

• Fire in controlled bursts or single shots as appropriate.
• Avoid firing without target confirmation or direction.
• Monitor ammunition expenditure during engagement.

• Determine distance to the target using available tools or visual estimation.
• Adjust aim using weapon sights, reticles, or fire control aids to account for range.
• Confirm the target is within the weapon system’s effective engagement envelope.
• Re-adjust aim if the firing position or target distance changes.

• Identify target direction and relative speed.
• Apply appropriate lead based on target movement and engagement range.
• Maintain lead through trigger pull or weapon release.
• Re-assess lead if target speed or direction changes.

Consistent throttle and braking inputs reduce formation disruption, prevent collisions, and improve overall vehicle control. Abrupt inputs increase stopping distance errors and can cause secondary impacts in close formations.

• Increase and decrease speed gradually.
• Anticipate halts to avoid abrupt braking.

Modern vehicles may provide speed-control aids such as cruise control or speed limiters. These systems can assist in maintaining convoy discipline, reducing driver workload, and improving spacing consistency when terrain allows.

Speed aids are most effective on:

• Long road movements
• Convoys with fixed speed parameters
• Low-threat environments

They are less suitable in:

• Urban terrain
• Close formations
• Areas requiring frequent speed changes

• Maintain a set speed limit as briefed by the element commander.
• Disengage any speed aids immediately when terrain, threat, or formation changes.

Sharp steering inputs increase rollover risk, especially in tracked or top-heavy vehicles. Controlled steering preserves traction and reduces vehicle silhouette changes that may expose weak armour arcs.

• Avoid sharp turns at speed.
• Adjust steering input based on terrain and vehicle type.
• Maintain predictable movement for vehicles and infantry nearby.

• Apply steady throttle when climbing or crossing obstacles.
• Avoid stopping mid-slope unless directed.
• Report loss of power or mobility to the element commander immediately.

Reversing armoured vehicles is inherently hazardous due to limited rear visibility. Driver movement in reverse should be deliberate and preferably guided by the vehicle commander or ground guide.

• Halt before reversing.
• Announce “REVERSING” 
• Reverse slowly and deliberately.
• Follow commander or ground-guide instructions when available.

Vehicles must avoid endangering friendly infantry. Do not run them over, and avoid firing main guns near dismounts unless absolutely necessary due to the risk of overpressure injuries. In close terrain infantry should move ahead of the vehicle as this gives dismounts a chance to spot threats early. 

Vehicle commanders may, if required, dismount to coordinate directly with infantry.

Low-light and degraded visibility environments significantly reduce reaction time and depth perception. Speed and spacing must be adjusted accordingly, with increased reliance on commander guidance.

• Reduce speed in low visibility or at night.
• Increase spacing where possible.
• Rely on commander cues for obstacle and personnel awareness.