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Fire Mission Radio Speak


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The following are examples of observer identification and warning order

ADJUST FIRE MISSION


 

Grid method: PACMAN THIS IS A71, ADJUST FIRE, OVER.

FIRE-FOR-EFFECT MISSION


 

Polar plot method: PACMAN THIS IS A71, FIRE FOR EFFECT, DANGER CLOSE, OVER.

Shift from a known point method: PACMAN THIS IS A71, FIRE FOR EFFECT, SHIFT KNOWN POINT 3, OVER.

SUPPRESSION MISSION


 

PACMAN THIS IS F72, SUPPRESS AA7749, OVER.

IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION MISSION


 

PACMAN THIS IS F72, IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION, GRID NK453215, OVER.

 

 

 

 FIRE MISSION (GRID)			Initial Fire Request	   	Observer                                FDC (PACMAN) 		PACMAN THIS IS Z71, 		ADJUST FIRE, OVER. 							THIS IS PACMAN, ADJUST 							FIRE, OUT. 		GRID NK180513, OVER. 							GRID NK180513, OUT. 		INFANTRY PLATOON 		IN THE OPEN, ICM 		IN EFFECT, OVER. 							INFANTRY PLATOON IN 							THE OPEN, ICM 							IN EFFECT, 							AUTHENTICATE 							PAPA BRAVO, OVER. 		I AUTHENTICATE 		CHARLIE, OUT.

 

 				Message to Observer 		Observer 				FDC (PACMAN)  							Z, 2 ROUNDS, TARGET 							AF1027, OVER. 	Z, 2 ROUNDS, TARGET	AF1027, OUT. 	DIRECTION 1680, OVER. 							DIRECTION 1680, OUT.
				FIRE MISSION (SHIFT)				Initial Fire Request 		Observer 				FDC (PACMAN) 	PACMAN THIS IS H44, 	ADJUST FIRE, SHIFT 	AA7733, OVER. 							THIS IS PACMAN, ADUST 							FIRE, SHIFT AA7733, 							OUT. 	DIRECTION 5210, LEFT 	380, ADD 400, DOWN 	35, OVER. 	COMBAT OP IN OPEN, 	ICM IN EFFECT, 							AUTHENTICATE LIMA 							FOXTROT, OVER 	I AUTHENTICATE 	PAPA, OUT.				Message to Observer 							H, 1 ROUND, TARGET 							AA7742, OVER. 	H, 1 ROUND, TARGET 	AA7742, OUT. 				FIRE MISSION (POLAR)				Initial Fire Request 	Observer 				FDC (PACMAN) 	PACMAN THIS IS Z31, FIRE 	FOR EFFECT, POLAR, 	OVER. 						THIS IS PACMAN, FIRE FOR 						EFFECT, POLAR, OUT. 	DIRECTION 4520, 	DISTANCE 2300, 	DOWN 35, OVER. 						DIRECTION 4520, 						DISTANCE 2300, 						DOWN 35, OUT. 	INFANTRY COMPANY 	IN OPEN, ICM, OVER. 						INFANTRY COMPANY 						IN OPEN, ICM, 						AUTHENTICATE TANGO 						FOXTROT, OVER. 	I AUTHENTICATE  	ECHO, OUT.				Message to Observer 						Y, VT, 3 ROUNDS, 						TARGET AF2036, OVER. 	Y, VT, 3 ROUNDS, 	TARGET AF2036, OUT.			FIRE MISSION (SUPPRESSION) 	Observer 				FDC (PACMAN) 	PACMAN THIS IS H24 	SUPPRESS AB3104 	OVER. 						THIS IS PACMAN, SUPPRESS 						AB3104, AUTHENTICATE 						DELTA JULIET, OVER. 	I AUTHENTICATE	DELTA, OUT. 			FIRE MISSION (IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION)	 Observer 				FDC (PACMAN) 	PACMAN THIS IS H24, 	IMMEDIATE 	SUPPRESSION 	GRID 211432 	AUTHENTICATION IS 	TANGO UNIFORM	OVER. 						THIS IS PACMAN, IMMEDIATE 						SUPPRESSION, 						GRID 211432, OUT.

CHAPTER 5

CALL FOR FIRE

A call for fire is a concise message prepared by the observer. It contains all information

the FDC needs to determine the method of target attack.

5-1. INTRODUCTION

The call for fire is a request for fire — not an order. It must be sent quickly and be clear

enough to be understood, recorded, and read back without error by the FDC. The

observer should tell the RATELO that he has seen a target. This enables the RATELO

to start the call for fire while the target location is determined. The RATELO sends

the information as it is determined instead of waiting until a complete call for fire has

been prepared.

a. Regardless of the target location method used, the normal call for fire is

transmitted in a maximum of three parts, consisting of six elements, with a break and

readback after each part. The three parts are as follows:

Observer identification and warning order.

Target location.

Description of target, method of engagement, and method of fire and control.

b. The six elements of the call for fire are listed below in the sequence in which

they are transmitted.

Observer identification.

Warning order.

Target location.

Target description.

Method of engagement.

Method of fire and control.

5-2. OBSERVER IDENTIFICATION

Observer identification tells the FDC who is calling for fire, and it clears the net for the

fire mission. It consists of appropriate call signs or codes needed to establish contact

between the observer and the unit FDC to which he is calling for fire.

5-3. WARNING ORDER

The warning order consists of the type of mission and the method of target location. It

is a request for fire unless authority has been given to order fire.

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FM 23-91

a. Type of Mission. The following describes the four types of missions for a warning order.

(1) Adjust fire (A/F). When the observer decides that an adjustment is needed

because of questionable target location or lack of registration corrections, he

announces, "Adjust fire."

(2) Fire for effect (FFE). The observer should always strive for first-round fire for

effect. The accuracy required to FFE depends on the target and the ammunition being

used. When the observer is certain that the target location is accurate and that the first

volley will have the desired effect on the target with little or no adjustment, he

announces, "Fire for effect." Accurate, immediate FFE has appreciable surprise

value and is preferred. FFE without adjustment is warranted when the target has

been fired upon previously or when it is within transfer limits of a registration point

(+/– 1,500 meters; right or left 400 mils) and its location is either surveyed or

accurately specified by the observer.

(3) Suppression. To rapidly bring fire on an on-call target that is not currently

active, the observer announces, "Suppress/suppression (target identification)."

(4) Immediate suppression or immediate smoke (IS). When engaging a planned

target or target of opportunity that has taken friendly maneuver or aerial elements

under fire, the observer announces, "Immediate suppression (target location)." If a hasty

screen for obscuration is the desired effect, then the FO announces, "Immediate smoke."

b. Target Locations. This element enables the FDC to plot (M16/M19) or enter

(MBC) the location of the target to determine firing data.

(1) Polar plot. If the target is located by use of the polar plot method, the observer

announces, "Polar." In a polar plot mission, the word polar in the warning order alerts

the FDC that the target will be located with respect to the observer’s position. The

observer’s location must be known to the FDC. The observer sends the direction (to

the nearest 10 mils) and distance (to the nearest 100 meters). A vertical shift (to the

nearest 5 meters) tells the FDC how far the target is located above (up) or below (down)

the observer’s location. Vertical shift may also be described by a vertical angle (VA)

in mils relative to the observer’s location.

(2) Shift from a known point. If the target is located by this method, the FO

announces, "Shift (known point)." In a shift from a known point mission, the point

from which the shift will be made is sent in the warning order. The point must be known

to both the observer and FDC. The observer then sends the OT direction. Normally,

direction to the target will be sent to the nearest 10 mils; however, the FDC can use

mils, degrees, or cardinal directions, whichever is specified by the observer. The lateral

shift (how far left or right the target is from the known point, expressed to the nearest

10 meters), the range shift (how much farther [add] or closer [drop] the target is in

relation to the known point, to the nearest 100 meters), and the vertical shift (how much

the target is above [up] or below [down] the altitude of the known point, to the nearest

5 meters) are sent next. The vertical shift is ignored unless it exceeds 30 meters.

(3) Grid. If the target is located by the grid method, the FO announces, "Grid."

In a grid mission, six-place grids are normally sent. Eight-place grids should be sent

for registration points or other points for which greater accuracy is required. Since the

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FM 23-91

FDC does not need the OT direction to locate the target, it is sent at the end of the call

for fire or just before the initial correction. Direction is expressed to the nearest 10 mils.

5-4. TARGET DESCRIPTION

The observer must describe the target in enough detail to allow the FDC to determine

the amount and type of ammunition to use. The FDC selects different ammunition for

different types of targets. The observer’s description should be brief but accurate and

contain the following:

a. What the target is (troops, equipment, supply dump, trucks, and so forth).

b. What the target is doing (digging in, establishing an assembly area, and so forth).

c. The number of elements in the target (squad, platoon, three trucks, six tanks,

and so forth).

d. The degree of protection (in the open, in fighting positions, in bunkers with

overhead cover, and so forth).

e. The target size and shape if significant. When the target is rectangular, the

length and width (in meters), and the attitude (azimuth of the long axis) to the nearest

50 mils should be given — for example, 400 meters by 100 meters; attitude 2,650. When

the target is circular, the radius should be given. Linear targets may be described by

length, width, and attitude.

5-5. METHOD OF ENGAGEMENT

The observer must indicate how he wants to attack the target. This element consists

of the type of adjustment, type of ammunition, and distribution of fire.

a. Type of Adjustment. In an adjustment, two types of fire may be used — area or

precision.

(1) If no specific type of adjustment is designated, area fire will be used. (Split a

100-meter bracket.)

(2) When precision fire is desired, the observer announces, "Registration" or

"Destruction," depending on the reason for firing. (Split a 50-meter bracket.)

(3) The term danger close will be included in the method of engagement when the

target is within 400 meters of friendly troops.

b. Type of Ammunition. If the observer does not request a specific projectile or

fuze, he is given shell HE, fuze IMP (impact).

(1) The observer may initially request one type of projectile or fuze and

subsequently request another to complete the fire mission.

(2) When the observer requests smoke, the chief computer normally directs the

use of HE initially in the adjustment and WP for the completion of the adjustment and FFE.

(3) When the observer wants a combination of projectiles or fuzes in effect, he

must state so in this element of the call for fire — for example, "HE and WP in effect"

or "IMP and PROX in effect."

(4) The observer may also request the volume of the fire he needs for FFE — for example,

"Three rounds." If the observer does not specify the number of rounds to be fired in effect,

the FDC should notify the observer of the number of rounds that will be fired in effect.

5-3

FM 23-91

c. Distribution of Fire. A standard sheaf is fired on an area target in FFE. When

another type of sheaf is desired, the observer must announce "Converge" or "Open sheaf."

5-6. METHODS OF FIRE AND CONTROL

The methods of fire and control indicate the desired manner of attacking the target,

whether the observer wants to control the time of delivery of fire or if he can observe

the target. The observer announces the methods of fire and control using the terms

discussed below:

a. Method of Fire. Adjustment normally is conducted with the number 2 mortar.

The observer may request any weapon or combination of weapons to adjust. For

example, if the observer wants to see where each of the mortars in the section hits, he

may request, "Section right (left)." The normal interval of time between rounds fired

by a section right or left is 10 seconds. If the observer wants another interval, he may

so specify.

b. Method of Control. The control element indicates the control, which the

observer exercises over the time of delivery of fire, and if an adjustment is to be made.

In the absence of observer methods of control, the firing section fires when ready

(W/R). The observer announces the method of control by use of the terms below:

(1) At my command (AMC). This announcement indicates that the observer

desires to control the time of delivery of fire. The observer announces, "At my

command," immediately preceding "Adjust fire or fire for effect." When the weapons

are ready to fire, the FDC personnel announces, "Section is ready," to the observer.

The observer then announces, "Fire," when he wants the mortar section to fire. At my

command remains in effect until the observer announces, "Cancel at my command" or

"End of mission."

(2) Cannot observe. This announcement indicates that the observer can not adjust

fire. However, the observer believes that a target exists at the given location, and the

target is important enough to justify firing on it without adjustment.

(3) Time on target (TOT). The observer may tell the FDC when he wants the

rounds to impact by requesting, "Time on target (so many) minutes from now," or

"Time on target zero six four five (0645) hours." The observer must conduct a time

check to ensure that his timepiece is synchronized with the FDC’s.

(4) Continuous illumination. If no interval is given by the observer, the FDC

determines the interval by the burn time of the illuminating ammunition in use. If

another interval is required, it is indicated in seconds.

(5) Coordinated illumination. The observer may order the interval between

illuminating and HE rounds in seconds. This achieves a time of impact of the HE

round that coincides with optimum illumination, or he may use normal at-my-command

procedures. The preferred method is to have the FDC compute the intervals between

the HE and illuminating rounds.

(6) Cease loading. This command is used during firing of two or more rounds to

stop the loading of rounds into the mortars. The gun sections may fire any rounds that

have already been loaded (hung).

(7) Check fire. This command is used to cause an immediate halt in firing.

5-4

FM 23-91

(8) Continuous fire. In mortars, this command means loading and firing as rapidly

as possible, consistent with accuracy, within the prescribed rate of fire for the mortar

being used. Firing continues until suspended by the commands CEASE LOADING

or CHECK FIRE.

(9) Repeat. This command can mean one of two things.

(a) During adjustment, REPEAT means to fire another round(s) at the last data

and adjust for any change in ammunition.

( B) During FFE, REPEAT means to fire the same number of rounds using the same

method of FFE. Changes to the number of guns, gun data, interval, or ammunition

may be requested.

(10) Followed by. This is part of a term used to indicate a change in the rate of fire,

the type of ammunition, or another order for FFE.

5-7. MESSAGE TO OBSERVER

After receiving the call for fire, the FDC determines how the target will be attacked.

That decision is announced to the observer in the form of a message to observer (MTO).

a. The MTO consists of the following four items:

(1) Unit(s) to fire — the number of mortars available that will fire the mission.

EXAMPLE

In a six-gun 4.2-inch mortar platoon, two guns are already involved in a fire

mission. The other four are available, but the FDC only wants to use three mortars

on the new target. The FDC would announce to the observer, "Three guns."

(2) Changes to the call for fire — any change to the observer’s request in the

call for fire.

EXAMPLE

The observer requested IMP in effect, and the FDC decides to fire PROX

in effect.

(3) Number of rounds — the number of rounds for each tube in FFE.

(4) Target number — assigned to each mission to help the processing of subsequent

corrections.

b. The information below can also be transmitted in the MTO.

(1) Angle T — sent to the observer when it is equal to or greater than 500 mils, or

when requested.

(2) Time of flight — sent to an observer during a moving target mission, during an

aerial observer mission, or when requested.

NOTE: See FM 6-30 and TC 6-40 for more information on MTOs.

5-5

FM 23-91

5-8. CALL-FOR-FIRE FORMAT

The following is the format for a call for fire.

a. Observer Identification.

b. Warning Order.

(1) Adjust fire.

(2) Fire for effect.

(3) Suppression.

(4) Immediate suppression/smoke.

c. Location of Target.

(1) Grid coordinates — direction.

(2) Shift from a known point — direction, lateral shift, range shift, vertical shift.

(3) Polar coordinates — direction, distance, vertical shift from the OP.

d. Description of Target.

e. Method of Engagement.

(1) Type of adjustment — area, precision (registration, destruction), danger close.

(2) Ammunition and fuze.

(3) Distribution.

Standard sheaf.

Parallel sheaf.

Open sheaf.

Converged sheaf.

Special sheaf.

Traversing fire.

Range spread, lateral spread,

or range lateral spread (illumination only).

f. Method of Fire and Control.

(1) Method of fire.

(2) Method of control.

At my command.

Time on target.

Continuous illumination.

Coordinated illumination.

When ready.

5-9. AUTHENTICATION

Authentication is considered a normal element of the initial requests for indirect fire.

a. The FDC inserts the challenge in the last readback of the call for fire. The FO

transmits the correct authentication reply to the FDC immediately following the

challenge. Authentication replies exceeding 20 seconds are automatically suspect and

a basis for rechallenge. Subsequent adjustments of fire or immediate engagement of

5-6

FM 23-91

additional targets by the observer who originated the fire request normally would not

require continued challenge by the FDC.

b. The two methods of authentication authorized for use areas follows:

Challenge and reply.

Transmission.

The operational distinction between the two is that challenge and reply require two-way

communications, whereas transmission authentication does not. Challenge and reply

authentication is used when possible. Transmission authentication is used only if

authentication is required and it is not possible or desirable for the receiving station to

reply — for example, message instruction, imposed radio silence, final protective fire,

and immediate suppression.

c. The observer is given a transmission authentication table IAW unit SOP. The

table consists of 40 columns with authenticators in each column. After each

authenticator is used, a line may be drawn through it to avoid revising the same one.

 

 

 

 

Example


• This Scimitar 1,1 to Hammer 1,1 call for fire
• Hammer 1,1 to Scimitar 1,1 I copy your fire
•Scimitar 1,1 to Hammer 1,1 Call for fire
3 HE quick Danger close target is 10x enemy infantry in open light cover walking east to west Break
Target grid is 03561511 how copy
•Hammer 1'1 to Scimitar 1,1 I copy your last
•Round out Fire mission complete over 45 secs Splash over (gun has fired and is done with current mission waiting for results)
•Scimitar 1,1 to hammer 1,1 copy's splash
•Hammer 1,1, to Scimitar Splash over (close time till rounds explode You reply when it explodes)
•Scimitar 1,1 to Hammer 1,1 up 50 left 50 targets are prone in field requesting 3 rounds HE quick over

We continue till the enemy is dead or suppressed or dead this can also be used for smoke mission but I don't recommend smokes

 

 

Example 2:

 

"Hello Steel Rain, this is Jawbreaker, request fire mission, over"

"Steel Rain, send fire mission, over"

"Jawbreaker, fire mission for adjust, grid, over"

"Steel Rain, fire mission for adjust, grid, over"

"Jawbreaker, grid 1234 5678, over"

"Steel Rain, grid 1234 5678, over"

"Jawbreaker, direction ONE SIX HUNDRED mils, range 700, altitude 1240 over"

"Steel Rain, direction ONE SIX HUNDRED mils, range 700, altitude over"

"Jawbreaker, 1 round White Phos, adjust fire, over"

"Steel Rain, 1 round White Phos, adjust fire, out"

"Jawbreaker, this is Steel Rain, time of flight 30 (secs), SHOT, over"

"Jawbreaker, SHOT, out"

"SPLASH, over"

"SPLASH, out"

"Steel Rain, this is Jawbreaker, adjust fire, ADD 100, RIGHT 50 BREAK"

"Jawbreaker, target is infantry in the open, open sheaf, 6 rounds HE, fire for effect, over"

"Steel Rain, target is infantry in the open, open sheaf, 6 rounds HE, fire for effect, out"

"Steel Rain, time of flight 30, SHOT, rounds complete, over"

"Jawbreaker, SHOT, rounds complete out"

 

 

This is something I pulled from the NET until I manage to grab my old ARTY Training paperwork from my loft...

"SPLASH, over"


"SPLASH, out"

"Steel Rain, this is Jawbreaker, good effect on target, target neutralised (greater than 60% destroyed), mark as target JH6566 end of fire mission, out"

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Oh wow! that's awesome, thanks for sharing mach, ill give it a go :) perhaps cain ill put mobile arty in a little more, sounds like a cool thing to have

Yeah, I mean once the full game comes out we'll have all sorts of heavy artillery and stuff to play with (I want to see airburst rounds) so it'll come into use much more then, its just right now with only mortars, and how they're still sort of buggy xD

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BRING IT ON & ON & ON!!!!!!!!

 

I love long range sniping...normally about 25 mile sniping with a surprise ending! BOOM!!!



Airburst shells frag an area up to 70 metres square.. each round! Imagine what a fire mission battery will do with 8 guns or a regiment of 32 guns!! WOO HOO!!!

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