Fire Support Planning

Question 1

What is the purpose of fire support planning?

Answer 1

• To achieve effectiveness and efficiency from fire support assets in meeting fire support requirements of the force
• To determine the proper allocation of fire support

Question 2

What is the FSCC?

Answer 2

Fire Support Coordination Center

• The agency where supported units plan and coordinate fire support
• Located with the combat operations center (COC)

Question 3

The FSCC consists of what parts?

Answer 3

• Fire Support Coordinator (FSC)
• Liaison section
• Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
• Shore Fire Control Party (SFCP)
• Mortar section

Question 4

What is Targeting?

Answer 4

The process of selecting targets and matching the appropriate response to them taking into account operational requirements and capabilities.

Question 5

What is a Target?

Answer 5

A target is a geographical area, complex, or installation planned for capture or destruction by military forces.

Question 6

What do we target?

Answer 6

Known, suspected, and likely enemy positions

Question 7

What’s the difference between a list of targets and a target list?

Answer 7

Lists of targets - a list of all targets that a subordinate commander feels are necessary to be engaged with indirect fires to support his scheme of maneuver
Target List - the consolidated list, sent from higher, with all the approved targets and their numbers

Question 8

What are the two types of target?

Answer 8

• Point (200m in length and width or less)

- Linear (200 - 600m)

Question 9

What is a target list worksheet?

Answer 9

• Document that facilitates fire planning by the FSC

- Preliminary listing of all targets and their descriptions from which the FSC can select and plan

Question 10

What are planned targets?

Answer 10

Prearranged targets against which fires can be delivered quickly

Question 11

What are the 4 types of planned targets?

Answer 11

• On-call targets
• Scheduled targets
• Priority targets (offense)
• Final Protective Fire (FPF) (defense)

Question 12

What are the two categories of Fire Support Coordination Measures (FSCMs)?

Answer 12

• Permissive

- Restrictive

Question 13

What are boundaries?

Answer 13

• Describe the zone of action or sector of a maneuver unit.
• Are usually assigned along terrain features easily recognizable on the ground.
• Are so situated that key terrain features and avenues of approach are completely included in the area assigned to a unit
• Also serve as the basic FSCM

Question 14

What are the 3 types of restrictive FSCMs?

Answer 14

• Restrictive Fire Line (RFL)
• Restrictive Fire Area (RFA)
• No Fire Area (NFA)

Question 15

What is an RFL?

Answer 15

A line established between converging friendly forces that prohibits fires, or effects of fires, across the line without coordination with the affected force

Question 16

What is an RFA?

Answer 16

An area in which specific firing or coordination restrictions are imposed and into which fires in excess that exceeds those restrictions will not be delivered without coordination with the establishing headquarters

Question 17

What is an NFA?

Answer 17

An area into which no fires or effects of fire are allowed

Question 18

What are the command relationships for Fire Support Planning?

Answer 18

• General
• Direct
• Attached

Question 19

What is the purpose of fire support in the preparation phase?

Answer 19

• Attacking targets as part of a deception effort
• Using smoke to screen the movement of friendly forces preparing for the attack
• Softening enemy defenses before the attack by engaging enemy indirect fire weapons, observation posts (OPs), reserves (or second echelon forces), command and control centers, logistic and assembly areas, or front line defenses

Question 20

What is the purpose of fire support in the conduct phase?

Answer 20

Supporting the movement/maneuver and potential meeting engagements by:

• Providing responsive fires to leading elements
• Implementing an aggressive counter fire plan to prevent enemy indirect fires from unnecessarily delaying the advance

Question 21

What is the purpose of fire support in the consolidation phase?

Answer 21

• Protecting friendly units during reorganization
• Breaking up enemy counterattack
• Preventing enemy reinforcement, disengagement, or resupply

Question 22

What is the purpose of fire support in the exploitation phase?

Answer 22

• Providing mobile, flexible fire support for maneuvering units
• Placing fires on bypassed enemy pockets of resistance to fix them for attack by a more suitable means of fire and/or by follow-up forces
• Providing fires to slow enemy retreat

Question 23

Defensive fire support planning is broken down into:

Answer 23

• Long range fires
• Close defensive fires
• Final Protective Fires (FPFs)

Question 24

What are long range fires used for?

Answer 24

• Engage the enemy with deep fire to create confusion and cause him to deploy forces early
• Provides fire for security units such as patrols
• Use all available fire support to support the security force fight

Question 25

What are close defensive fires used for?

Answer 25

- Mass fires to canalize and slow enemy forces - Fire on obstacles to disrupt breaching effort and to inflict maximum casualties - Use fire support to isolate enemy forward echelons - Use smoke and other fires to assist supported units in disengaging and moving - Fire to separate infantry from armor

Question 26

What is an FPF?

Answer 26

An immediately available prearranged barrier of fire designed to impede enemy movement across defensive lines or areas

Question 27

What are the lengths of FPFs?

Answer 27

Artillery - 300m 81mm - 280m 60mm - 90m

Question 28

What are the Essential Fire Support Tasks (EFSTs)?

Answer 28

- Disrupt - Delay - Divert - Destroy - Limit

Question 29

What are Fire Support Effects?

Answer 29

- Suppress - Neutralize - Destroy - Screen/Obsure

Question 30

EFST will be briefed through ______.

Answer 30

TPME

Question 31

For a Platoon or Squad level, method is briefed using _________.

Answer 31

TTLODAC

Question 32

What does TTLODAC stand for?

Answer 32

- Target - Trigger - Location - Observer - Delivery system - Attack guidance - Communications net

Question 33

For a Company level or higher, method is briefed using ________.

Answer 33

Priority, Allocation, and Restriction