Example Fire Mission: Simple, Grid

This is the most common extent of a fire mission and what you can expect to be doing most of the time. All things going well, the CFF takes less than a minute, and rounds will be impacting within two minutes.

Call for Fire

FO: Hammer, this is Hawk 8, fire for effect.

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, fire for effect.

 

FO: Grid 1234 tack 5678.

FDC: Grid 1234 tack 5678.

 

FO: Target, 2 Urals, 2 Squads dismounted in the open, request splash.

FDC: 2 Urals, 2 Squads dismounted in the open, request splash, OUT.

 

The Battery starts firing

The first round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

All rounds have been fired:

FDC: Rounds complete.

FO: Rounds complete, OUT.

The first round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO now surveys the impacts to assess the deviation (on line, left, right) and ranging (range correct, over, short) for correction if necessary.

If rounds were on target, the FO assesses the damage and decides to either end the mission or REPEAT it until the desired effect is achieved.

 

End of Mission

FO: Hammer, Hawk 8, End of Mission, 2 Urals destroyed, estimate 20 casualties.

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, End of Mission, 2 Urals destroyed, estimate 20 casualties, OUT.

 

Example Fire Mission: Immediate Suppression, Grid

Call for Fire

FO: Hammer, this is Hawk 8, IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION, Grid 1234 tack 5678.

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION, Grid 1234 tack 5678, OUT.

This concludes the traffic between FO and FDC after one transmission. The mission completes automatically at the end of a pre-designated span of time, either in the OPORD, by SOP or agreed between the FO and FDC at mission start.

The FDC will now find the coordinates, lay the guns and start firing whatever is in their tubes. Therefore, the FO might observe smoke, illumination, HE or a mix of all of those, before the guns begin loading HE only.

 

The Battery starts firing

The first round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

The first round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO decides to end the suppression early because friendly units are manoeuvring DANGER CLOSE. They can do as such:

FO: Hammer, Hawk 8, cease loading.

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, cease loading, OUT.

This fires the last round loaded in each gun and stops the loading of another, ending fire.

FO: End of mission, three infantry squads suppressed, estimate 10 casualties.

FDC: End of mission, three infantry squads suppressed, estimate 10 casualties, OUT.

 

Example Fire Mission: Complex, Adjust Fire, Grid

Call for Fire

FO: Hammer, this is Hawk 8, adjust fire.

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, adjust fire.

 

FO: Grid 123 tack 456.

FDC: Grid 123 tack 456.

 

FO: Target, 3 Squads in foxholes, 3 Urals in the open, request 12 rounds HE followed by 6 rounds smoke in effect, request splash, at my command.

FDC: Target, 4 Squads in the open, 3 Urals in the open, request 12 rounds WP followed by 6 rounds smoke in effect, request splash, OUT.

FO: NEGATIVE. Target, 3 Squads in foxholes, 3 Urals in the open, request 12 rounds HE followed by 6 rounds smoke in effect, request splash, at my command.

FDC: Target, 3 Squads in foxholes, 3 Urals in the open, request 12 rounds HE followed by 6 rounds smoke in effect, request splash, at your command, OUT.

 

The FO opens fire

To open fire, the FO transmits:

FO: Hammer, Hawk 8, fire.

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, fire, OUT.

The adjustment round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

The round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO spots the first impact and makes the necessary corrections:

FO: Left 100, Drop 400.

FDC: Left 100, Drop 400, OUT.

The adjustment round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

The round will impact in 5 s:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO spots the first impact and makes the necessary corrections:

FO: Right 20, Add 200.

FDC: Right 20, Add 200, OUT.

The adjustment round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

The round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO spots the first impact and makes the necessary corrections:

FO: On Line, Drop 100.

FDC: On Line, Drop 200, OUT.

The adjustment round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

The round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The 100 m bracket is broken, the FO makes a final correction and enters Fire for Effect:

FO: On Line, Add 50, Fire for Effect.

FDC: On Line, Add 50, Fire for Effect, OUT.

The first round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

All rounds have been fired:

FDC: Rounds complete.

FO: Rounds complete, OUT.

The round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO assesses the effects and observes that the rounds impacted on the target, but didn't achieve sufficent effect:

FO: REPEAT.

FDC: REPEAT, OUT.

The first round is fired:

FDC: Shot.

FO: Shot, OUT.

All rounds have been fired:

FDC: Rounds complete.

FO: Rounds complete, OUT.

The round will impact in 5 seconds:

FDC: Splash.

FO: Splash, OUT.

The FO assesses the effects again and deems them sufficient.

 

End of Mission

FO: Hammer, Hawk 8, record as target, refinement left 20, drop 20. End of Mission, 3 Urals destroyed, estimate 20 casualties, 

FDC: Hawk 8, Hammer, record as target, refinement left 20, drop 20. End of Mission, 3 Urals destroyed, estimate 20 casualties, OUT.

 

Flowchart

 

 

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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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