Call for Fire: Six Elements

A CFF consists of six elements done in three full readback transmissions.

Transmission	Elements
1	(1) Identification, (2) Warning Order
2	(3) Target Location
3	(4) Target Description, (5) Method of Engagement, (6) Method of Control

FIRST TRANSMISSION

The first transmission includes the Warning Order, or WARNORD. It clears the channel of all other traffic and signals that a Call for Fire is underway. Other call signs mustn’t interfere, unless it is in a case of emergency. This also removes the need to begin every transmission with your call signs, because it is understood that this is a conversation between only two.

(1) Identification

The Call for Fire is initiated like any other radio transmission with a verbal handshake. You first identify the addressee call sign, which is the FDC, and then identify yourself with your FO call sign.

Hammer, this is Hawk 8, …

 

(2) Warning Order, WARNORD

The WARNORD consists of a) the type of mission, and b) the method of target location.

FIRE FOR EFFECT	ADJUST FIRE	SMOKE
ILLUMINATION	SUPPRESSION	IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION

Hammer, this is Hawk 8, fire for effect, …

GRID	POLAR	SHIFT FROM KNOWN POINT

Hammer, this is Hawk 8, fire for effect, polar.

This ends the first transmission, which will be read back to you verbatim by the FDC.

 

SECOND TRANSMISSION

(3) Target Location

In this second transmission, you only give location information. This, too, will be read back to you, and you are expected to listen for errors so that you can correct them.

Target Location	Example
GRID	"GRID 1234 tack 5678."
POLAR	"Direction 1200, Distance 1100."
SHIFT FROM KNOWN POINT	"Known Point Thronos Castle, direction 0300, distance 500, up 50." "Known Point Gravia Church, left 300, add 250, down 20."

Whenever possible, the GRID method of target location is preferred. This is the easiest and quickest method and avoids all possible confusion, because the others introduce extra steps for the FDC to plot.

This concludes the second transmission.

 

THIRD TRANSMISSION

(4) Target Description

NUMBER & TYPE	“Three infantry squads” “Two Urals, two BTR, one BMP, two squads dismounted” “One fortified compound”
DEGREE OF PROTECTION	“In the open” “Dug in” “In bunkers”
SIZE & SHAPE	“Linear target, 200 metres west to east, 50 metres north-south” “Circular target, 100-metre radius”

Three infantry squads dug in, one APC in the open…

 

(5) Method of Engagement

AMMUNITION	HE, WP (white phosphorus), ICM (Cluster), Guided, Smoke, Illum. If not specified the FDC will decide based on your TARGET DESCRIPTION.
VOLUME	You may request a specific number of rounds in total. If not specified the FDC will decide based on your TARGET DESCRIPTION.
FOLLOWED BY	You may request multiple ammo types per fire mission. Example: "6 rounds HE FOLLOWED BY  6 rounds WP"
DANGER CLOSE
DURATION	"DURATION five minutes,..."
ROUNDS PER MINUTE	"... four rounds per minute."

Three infantry squads dug in, one APC in the open, requesting 6 HE in effect...

 

(6) Method of Control

FIRE WHEN READY	AT MY COMMAND	TIME ON TARGET
REQUEST SPLASH	REQUEST TIME OF FLIGHT	CONTINUOUS ...

Three infantry squads dug in, one APC in the open, requesting 6 HE in effect, time on target 1030 hours, request splash, over.

This concludes the third and last transmission.

Every element the observer transmits is read back by the Fire Direction Centre, FDC, for confirmation.

 

If the element read back is correct, the FO continues to the next. If it is not, the FO retransmits the whole element for correction. This is partially why a fire mission is not requested in one transmission: corrections would become incredibly unwieldy.

You will find example fire missions, from the very simple and most common one to the more complex at the end of this series.

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CREDITS
This SOP has been contributed to by 2 editors:
Major James
Sergeant Jochem
Specialist 3rd Class Noah_Hero

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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