FM/C69 - Equipment - Crew served weapons

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

The Artillery Computer is a digital targeting aid. Its use is disabled by default in UNITAF operations to support manual calculation and realistic simulation.

• Authorised Use: Only permitted in operations classified as E3 or above.
• Preconditions for Use:
  • Computer assistance must be available (via vehicle or facility). The following classes of vehicle are acceptable:
    • All self propelled guns (SPGs) and rocket artillery.
    • NATO/Western artillery guns (≥105mm) if a battery commander is present.
    • NATO/Western mortar carriers.
  • Plausible geolocation of gun and target must be possible.

Declaration Requirement: Enabling of the Artillery Computer must be stated in the mission OPORD.

• Choose level ground.
• Avoid terrain and natural features that may obstruct fire.
• Use available or potential cover.
• Maintain spacing between guns. 

• Orient the position for the desired fire direction.
• Allow enough space for movement and reloads. 

• Set the gun to the given azimuth and elevation.
• Load specified charge and ammunition type.

When not actively firing, fire support crews should prioritise the following in order:

1. Provide security and cover sectors.
2. Maintain or improve the gun position.
3. Inventory ammunition at each gun.
4. Inventory and restock ammunition
5. Assist in planning or calculating upcoming fire missions.

• Determine gun location
  • Determine grid and altitude (ASL) of each firing point.
  • Use centre-point only if all guns are within 50m radius.
• Determine target location
  • Determine grid and altitude (ASL) via Grid, Polar, or Shift.
• Determine sight to target
  • Calculate azimuth, distance, and altitude difference.
• Develop the fire solution
  • Select charge using range table.
  • Determine base elevation; interpolate if needed.
  • Adjust for altitude difference.
  • Calculate time of flight.
• Set ammunition parameters
  • Set proximity/timed fuses based on altitude or time of flight if applicable.
• Verify all data
  • Recheck all data.
  • Ideally cross-check with a second calculator.

Element leaders may delegate specific responsibilities to ensure efficient delivery of fire support.

Delegatable duties:

• CFF Communication: Receiving inbound Calls for Fire.
• Fire Mission Calculation: Determining charge, azimuth, elevation, and ammunition.
• Fire Mission Communication: Transmitting fire orders to subordinate elements.

A fire mission typically follows this sequence:

1. Request: The observer sends a Call for Fire.
2. Acknowledge: Fire controller acknowledges and confirms received data.
3. Calculate: Fire controller determines and communicates firing parameters.
4. Lay: Crews apply the firing data and report when ready.
5. Release: The fire controller issues the fire order.
6. BDA: The observer conducts Battle Damage Assessment.
7. Adjust: Corrections are issued if required.

Steps 2 to 7 may be repeated until the desired effect on target is achieved.

Three methods to specify a target:

• Grid: Grid coordinates from the map.
• Polar: Distance and direction from the observer.
• Shift: Offset from a known reference point, e.g. a TRP or PPT.

Fire missions are given by the Fire Controller in the following format : 

1. Gun/Section number
2. Target Reference Point or Pre-Planned Target
3. Release method
4. Type of round
5. Ammo information
6. Number of rounds
7. Charge
8. Azimuth
9. Elevation

1. Gun/Section number

2. Target Reference Point or Pre-Planned Target

Target number assigned during calculation, each fire mission has a unique target identification number.

See: FM/BS-802 - Establish target reference points (TRP) and FM/BS-803 - Establish pre-planned targets (PPT)

3. Release method

See: FM/BS-1147 - Execute fire release methods

4. Type of round

Type of ammunition to be used

5. Ammo information

Used for special rounds where a setting is to be configured (i.e. laser code or timed explosion) 

6. Number of rounds

The number of rounds to be fired by each gun (i.e. an order of 5 rounds for 3 guns will result in a total of 15 rounds being fired)

7. Charge

Charge number to be used (please note some Pisces may show the charge as a name ('close', 'medium', 'far') instead of a number, in those cases treat the smallest one as 0 then following modes counting up 

8. Azimuth

Azimuth with a modifier for continuous fire. The azimuth is always given as a 4 digit number

9. Elevation

Elevation with a modifier for continuous fire. The elevation is always given as a 4 digit number

• Transmit all fire mission parameters clearly in the correct format. See FM/BG-1273 - Issuing a fire mission to crews
• Repeat parameters when requested.
• Issue further commands as necessary
• Comply with the release command given by the observer.