(Excerpt from the USMC Warriors Training and Instruction Manual)

from: Phaeden [USMC], Commanding Officer, USMC Warriors

to: Distribution List

subj: WGL Mortar employment, Fire Direction Control (FDC), and Forward Observer (FO) Training

The mortarman is responsible for the tactical employment of the

60mm light mortar and the 81mm heavy mortar. Mortarmen provide indirect fire in support of the rifle squads, platoons, companies, and infantry battalions.

(This is the mortar gunner and assistant gunner – those that actually program in the data to be used during a fire mission.)

ELO 1: Identify an effective mortar position.

ELO 2: Deploy a mortar tube.

ELO 3: Plot Gun and Target Positions.

ELO 4: Receive and Engage in Fire Missions.

ELO 5: Break down a mortar tube.

TLO: Effectively employ a mortar in combat/combat environment.

ELO 1:

When selecting a mortar emplacement, it is important to account for several variables.

First, what type of natural terrain feature will assist in masking the tube from enemy observers?

Look for terrain depressions, defiladed ridgelines, and valleys when choosing a location to deploy the mortar. Second, what type of natural or man-made objects will assist in masking the tube from enemy observers? Look for suitable bushes, trees, rocks, and buildings to use as concealment from enemy observers. Keep in mind that the mortars emit a signature cloud with the firing of each round. This cloud may be as high as approximately 15 meters and last upward of 5 seconds. Where possible, deploy the tube in a depression which is surrounded by tall trees.

ELO 2:

First, select and carry (if needed) the mortar base. Select “deploy base.” Next, select and carry (if needed) the mortar tube. Select “mount tube to base.” In order to cancel the “clicking” that initially accompanies deploying a mortar, enter an azimuth of 100 and an elevation of 1000 and hit the “TARGET” button. This will cause the AI manning the tube to quit “Searching” for a target and the clicking will cease.

ELO 3 and 4:

Below selection taken from www.virtual–wars.com, written by AngusHeaf, and modified by Phaeden [USMC]

• In the action menu, go to "Fire Control".

• Back in the fire control system you will be given a lot of information. The information thatis crucial to the fire mission is the Gun-to-Target azimuth, and the Gun-to-Target range in meters.

• The azimuth and elevation are enterable in military standard mils. The Fire Control system is based around plotting the position of the gun and the target. It will then do all the hard math for you and give you something to start with.

• First you need to do a "gun plot". To do this click the button that says "G" and it will flash "click map location of gun".

• Switch to your map view and perform a single-click (you may wish to click and hold down on the mouse button) on the map where your mortar is located. The more accurate the better.

• Now you need to plot the target. Back in the fire control dialog click the "T" button. And it will flash "click map location of target".

• Switch to your map view and perform a single-click (you may wish to click and hold down on the mouse button) on the map where your target is located.

• G-T (bottom left) is your azimuth to target.

• Your range will be listed just right of G-T.

• Now that you know the range and azimuth to the target, you must account for the change in elevation between the mortar and the target.

• If the target is lower in elevation that the mortar, you must subtract the number of vertical meters difference from the horizontal distance. If the elevation of the target is higher than the mortar, you must add the number of vertical meters difference to the horizontal distance. Communications during the fire mission is crucial to mission success.

“HE (Willie Pete), Hang.”

• Once you have calculated the “modified” range to target, you need to calculate the elevation of the tube.

• This is accomplished by checking the firing data sheet located in the center of the firing computer screen. It will give you the elevation the tube should be set at for 100 meter intervals (out to the maximum range of the weapon system).

• At this point, you need to either add or subtract your specific range from one of the 100 meter marks in order to obtain the tube elevation setting.

Example:

If target is at 1740 meters, one needs to locate the elevation data for 1700 meters, which is 1084 mils (using 81mm mortar firing table).

• Now one needs to locate the conversion data to translate meters to mils (also located in the targeting computer). Example, at this range, 1mil = -2.1 meters. Therefore, the additional 40 meters one needs to place rounds at the specific target requires that one divide 40 meters by 2.1 meters, which equals 19 mils. So, one adds 19 mils to the 1084 mils, which equals 1103 mils elevation for the tube.

• Now, enter that azimuth data and the calculated elevation data into the firing solution portion (top left) of the fire control computer.

• IMPORTANT: Once you have entered the data, you MUST click the "Target" button to align the mortar tube to the azimuth and elevation every time you change the numbers!!! You can also hit your Enter key.

• Click the "Fire" button to fire the mortar.

When the FO contacts the FDC for a fire mission, the FDC must repeat the mission back to the FO in order to ensure accuracy. This may be omitted if the mission is typed into the side chat channel.

If there is a loader with the mortar, the load may say which type of round is loaded each time he loads a round into the tube. This is best accomplished by using either side chat, or direct chat (appears in the bottom center of the screen). The loader states type of round and “HANG”.

For example, the FDC loader will state or type:

'HE Hang'

This lets the FDC know which round is loaded and when he is able to fire. It is important to identify who will be the FDC and who will be the loader prior to the mission.

Once the FDC fires a round (every “In Adjust” round or the FIRST round in a “Fire For Effect” mission), he must state “SHOT OVER.” The FO will respond with “SHOT OUT.” With a familiar FO/FDC team, this may be abbreviated to “SHOT” and “OUT” respectively. If possible, the FDC should say “SPLASH” 5 seconds before the round will impact. The time is listed in the Fire Control dialogue on the right side of the information (it is listed as TOF (Time of Flight)). Unfortunately, OFP does not run on “real” time and so this “SPLASH” command is

often not accurate. The reason for this last call is to let the FO know that the round will be impacting soon. The need for this call is also minimized by the “UFO” incoming sound that each mortar emits as it is in flight.

Select “Take Mortar Tube” and then “Take Mortar Base” from the action menu.

In a combat or combat simulated environment, effectively utilize the WGL mortars to interdict, harass, neutralize, or destroy enemy or simulated enemy forces.

(This is the individual or group of individual that has “eyes on the target” and is calling in the relevant data to the FDC or mortarman.)

ELO 1: Identify location for Listening Post/Observation Post (LP/OP).

ELO 2: Locate and Identify enemy contacts.

ELO 3: Locate enemy position on the map.

ELO 4: Identify appropriate ordnance.

ELO 5: Transmit Fire Mission to indirect fire support.

ELO 6: Make necessary corrective adjustments.

ELO 7: Conduct a Fire For Effect Mission.

ELO 8: Transmit a Battle Damage Assessment report to mortar.

TLO: Successfully locate, identify, engage, and interdict, harass, neutralize, or destroy enemy or simulated enemy forces through use of a Fire Mission.

When selecting a location to establish a Listening Post/Observation Post (LP/OP), several factors must be considered. First, select terrain that will allow you to observer suspected Avenues of Approach (AoA). When possible, select terrain that is higher in elevation the AoA. Second, select a suitable location that will provide both cover and concealment from suspected AoA.

It is important to know the difference between enemy and friendly vehicles and uniforms prior to deploying on the battlefield. Correctly identifying unknown contacts is crucial in the successful deployment of indirect fire support assets.

The first step in knowing where you enemy is located is to know where you are located. Your position may be obtained either through use of your Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) unit (when available), or through basic land navigation and terrain feature identification procedures. Once you know your position, locate your target and estimate your target’s range. Then “bring up” the map. Using your compass’s straight edge, place one end of the compass on your position and then follow the straight edge – this will give you the target’s direction from your position. Then use your estimated range to plot your target’s position on the map. Close the map screen and verify your target plot with visual cues, such as vegetation, roads, buildings, and other identifiable objects. Once you have verified your plot, you are ready to call in your fire mission.

Identifying the appropriate ordnance in OFP is a rather simple affair. High Explosive (HE) rounds are excellent for destroying anything within a relatively small area (15 meters is typical). White Phosphorus (WP or Willie Pete) rounds are used for marking, masking, blocking, and destroying “soft” targets. The advantage to using HE rounds is that the immediate damage an enemy suffers is far greater than a WP round. The greatest disadvantage to HE is that you must land an HE round within the kill radius for it to be effective. The advantage of WP rounds is that it has a damage radius that is both larger and last considerably longer. This is excellent for stationary and immobile targets and infantry.

The greatest disadvantage to WP is that a vehicle has a fairly high chance of survivability when driving through a WP cloud.

Typically, the FO/FDC team will use the HE as a spotting (IN ADJUST) round. The use a Fire For Effect (FFE) “party mix” of three rounds – 1 HE, 1 WP, 1 HE, or a “shake and bake” FFE of three rounds – 1 WP, 1 HE, 1 WP.

Each fire mission must begin with the desired round(s), number of rounds, and control type. For example, an FO observes a dismounted armored infantry squad (1 infantry squad and 1 BMP/IFV). The FO would like to use 1 round of HE during the adjustment phase of the mission. During the Fire For Effect phase, the FO would like 1 HE, 1 WP, and then 1 HE. The FO also wants to control the actual time the round is fired – (At My Command (AMC)).

The FO will say or type:

“Fire Mission – dismounted infantry squad, 1 BMP, 1 round HE in adjust, party mix in effect, at my command, over”

FM – inf, bmp, AMC

As “1 round HE in adjust, party mix in effect” is SOP, the FO does NOT need to say or type this information. It is ASSUMED that the mortar will load and fire 1 round of HE until the FO declared “Fire For Effect.” The FO is always striving to have his first call be a “FFE” and not a “IA” mission. Initial FFE is desirable as it will not give the enemy time to evacuate the impact area. If possible, the FO will plot his target, and CLEARLY state that his initial call for fire is a FFE and not an “In Adjust” mission.

When adjusting rounds to walk the indirect fire onto the target or target area, the FO must consider several things. First, the FO must identify the direction and range the impact is from the target. This is necessary as you must inform the mortar which correction in azimuth and elevation. A novice FO will adjust his rounds based on his point of view (that of the observer to the target (O-T Line)). A skilled FO will adjust his rounds based on the gun to target line (G-T Line). When adjusting O-T Line, CLEARLY state that your corrections are from your point of view. State your corrections first in north-south and then east-west direction.

It is ASSUMED that you will be making adjustments based on G-T Line, so you do not need to state this when making adjustments based on G-T Line. When adjusting the G-T Line, you can simply tell the mortar to add (increase range), drop (decrease range), or shift left and right, and then the desired number of meters. An expert FO will be able to give the mortar the actual adjustments for azimuth and altitude.

For example, an expert FO will say or type (preferably type):

“Add 2, Add 10” or 2, 10 or “Subtract 5, Subtract 20” or -5,-20.

When adjusting fire, ALWAYS make BOLD adjustments (at least initially). That is, when you want to add 10 meters to distance, send a correction or 20 meters. This way, you will “bracket” your target and can then simply cut each of your adjustments in half until your rounds are impacting on target. If you attempt to make small adjustments (i.e. 3 meter corrections), you will “walk” you rounds onto your target. This is bad for several reasons. First, you will expend more rounds before you can call in a FFE. Second, your targets have time to see the rounds walking towards them and simply run away. If you are bracketing, the enemy is unsure which way to go – making their decision process longer and allowing you more time to kill them.

Once you have an adjustment round land within approximately 30 meters of your target, call in the FFE portion of the mission. If you are correct in your adjustments, the FFE rounds will land within effective range. If you conduct a FFE and the target moves (i.e. crawling away), you can make an adjustment and immediately call in another FFE (with the adjustment). If you wish to hit the same plot again (i.e. you disable a vehicle (but did not destroy it), you simply need to CLEARLY state “REPEAT”. This is the only time you will ever say “repeat” on the radio.

Once your have completed your fire mission (regardless of outcome), you must transmit a Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) Report to the indirect fire support unit. The BDA must include number and type of vehicles, equipment, and/or personnel and they respective status at the end of the mission. This typically takes the place of two forms: DISABLED (DIS) or DESTROYED (DSTD). For example, the mission is over and some enemy has been killed.

The FO will say or type:

“FO [Phaeden], FDC [Sniper] [(names used)], BDA, 8 infantry killed, 1 BMP destroyed.”

BDA, 8 inf DSTD, 1 bmp DSTD

If the mission is a failure (i.e. target escaped impact zone), the BDA may look like the following:

“FO [Phaeden], FDC [Sniper] [(names used)], BDA, 1 T72, 2 BRDMs undamaged. Targets have escaped.”

BDA, 0 kills, TRGTS ESCPD

Successfully locate, identify, engage, interdict, harass, neutralize, or destroy enemy or simulated enemy forces through use of a Fire Mission.