Adjusting Fire

As mentioned in the introduction, sometimes the artillery misses the mark. This is not necessarily anybody’s fault in particular and can depend heavily on the environment and minute differences in setup.

In this part, we are looking at the Vector 21 and the so-called one-round adjustment. This will introduce you to the basic concepts of adjusting fire and its terminology.

NOTE: All adjustments are made relative to the Observer, which is why the artillery needs to know your position; for example, from a prior POSREP or cTab marker.

Spotting

First, you spot. This is what you see relative to the target.

It is encouraged to have pen and paper ready to write down the spottings and their necessary corrections.

Deviation is the lateral difference, left or right, of the impact from the target.

Range is the longitudinal difference, short or long, of the impact from the target.

 

Using the Vector 21 in a one-round adjustment provides you with both of these figures in metres as part of its fall of shot functionality, which is what we’re exploring here.

Using the binoculars provides you with deviation in milliradians, but range must be estimated or otherwise determined. You can learn this in the advanced SOP further on in this series.

 

First, sight the Vector’s reticle on the target. Tap-and-release TAB, then push it again and KEEP HOLDING it until the azimuth appears.

While still HOLDING TAB, push R once. ‘1-P’ appears, signalling you’ve locked in the first point. Continue to HOLD TAB.

Now sight the impact location with the Vector’s reticle and RELEASE TAB.

The digits on the left show the deviation in metres, the digits on the right show range corrections in metres.

 

Adjusting

Now you convert your spotting to an adjustment and radio it back to the artillery. This is what you want the rounds to do.

The Vector’s output is already in the correct format; i.e., you spotted the impact left of the target, so the Vector shows you a right (r) adjustment.

You transmit deviation first, then range.

If the impact was to the right of the target, you transmit LEFT x.

If it was to the left of the target, you transmit RIGHT x.

If the impact was short, you transmit ADD y.

If the impact was long, you transmit DROP y.

Example:

The impact was to the right of the target and towards you, so short. You use the Vector 21’s fall of shot function to determine that the adjustment is L 46 d 87. You round this to the nearest 10 and transmit:

FO: LEFT 50, DROP 90, FIRE FOR EFFECT.
FDC: LEFT 50, DROP 90, FIRE FOR EFFECT, out.

We can use FFE immediately because we have laser-accurate spotting.

 

Assessment

After observing the impacts, you judge if the fire for effect has achieved the desired result. The degrees of effect are as such:

• Accurate and sufficient means you have achieved the desired effect and the bursts were on target. You can end the fire mission.

• Inaccurate and sufficient means you have achieved the desired effect, but the burst was not precisely on target; this only matters if you intend to record the mission as a target. You can end the fire mission.

• Accurate and insufficient means you were on target, but have not achieved the desired effect. REPEAT.

• Inaccurate and insufficient means you were not on target and have not achieved the desired effect. If it was far off, replot and transition to ADJUST FIRE. If you were within 100 or 200 metres, adjust as above and REPEAT.

Your judgement and commander's criteria will determine if you are going to repeat the mission and the adjustments you make to approach your desired effect.

 

This concludes the adjustment phase and you can move on to the final step, the End of Mission statement.

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CREDITS
This SOP has been contributed to by 1 editors:
Major James

REFERENCES
UNITAF Standard Operating procedures (SOP) are adapted primarly from US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Our written and audio procedures are a combination of the following primary source materials, as well as our own learnings, modifications and adaptations:
- US Army Techniques Publication, Infantry Platoon and Squad (ATP 3-21.8)
- Soldier’s Manual of Common Tasks Warrior Leader Skills Level 2, 3, and 4 (STP 21-24-SMCT)
- The Warrior Ethos and Soldier Combat Skills (FM 3-21.75 / FM 21-75)
- Leadership Development (FM 6-22)
- Dyslexi's Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures for Arma 3 (TTP3)

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