FIST Class on the

CFF (Call for Fire)

Intro: The call for fire is a radio transmission from a supported unit’s forward
observer, to the supporting artillery battery’s FDC(Fire Direction Control). It
is simple, and effective. It is made up of 6 elements, also known commonly
among the 13 Series as the “Six Elements of the Call for fire”. In this block of
instruction, we will break down and explain the elements of the radio
protocol. The base elements are:

-) Observer Identification

-) Warning Order

-) Target Location
-) Target Description

-) Method of Engagement

-) Method of Fire and Control

1st Element: OBSERVER IDENTIFICATION:

The Observer identification is simple. It is the observer identifying

himself and his unit which is in need of support. This line initially contacts the
FDC and starts the entire process of calling for fire. It is transmitted in the
first line of the radio contact. Its simple. An example is:

FO: Cherry 13 this is Saber 62, Adjust Fire, over.

FDC: Saber 62 this is Cherry 13, Adjust Fire, out.

2nd Element: WARNING ORDER

The Warning order, much like the Observer Identification, is

transmitted in the first line of the radio contact. It advises the FDC of what
kind of fire mission is being requested, the size of the unit to fire for effect,
and the method of target location.

The 4 types of Fire Missions are:

-) Adjust Fire – Adjust Fire is when the observer believes that an

adjustment must be made (because of questionably target location or lack of
registration corrections), he announces ADJUST FIRE.

-) Fire For Effect- The observer should always strive for first round FFE.
The accuracy required to FFE depends on the accuracy of target location and
the ammunition being used, When the observer is certain that the target
location is accurate and that the first volley should have the desired effect on
the target so that little or no adjustment is required, he announces FIRE FOR
EFFECT.

-) Suppress – To quickly bring fire on a target that is not active, the

observer announces SUPPRESS (followed by the target identification).
Suppression missions are normally fired on preplanned targets, and a
duration is associated with the call for fire.

-) Immediate Suppression and Immediate Smoke – When engaging a

planned target or target of opportunity that has taken friendly maneuver or
elements under fire, the observer announces IMMEDIATE SUPPRESSION or
IMMEDIATE SMOKE (followed by the target location)

The size of element to fire for effect is simply the amount of guns that
will be firing on target, and can range anywhere from platoon to division.
Normally, it is not announced as it is determined by the FDC.

Lastly, the method of target location is included. The 5 Methods are:

-)Grid- The word grid is not announced. (ADJUST FIRE, OVER)

-)Laser Grid- The observer announces LASER GRID (FIRE FOR EFFECT,
LASER GRID, OVER)

-) Polar Plot- The observer announces POLAR (ADJUST FIRE, POLAR,

OVER)

-) Laser Polar- The observer announces LASER POLAR (FIRE FOR

EFFECT, LASER POLAR, OVER)

-)Shift From a Known Point- The observer announces SHIFT, followed by

the designation of the known point or by the target number, for example,
ADJUST FIRE, SHIFT TARGET AB2109, OVER.

3rd Element – TARGET LOCATION

The target location is read in the 2nd line of the transmission. It

indicates where the target is located in cohesion with the method of target
location mentioned in the WARNING ORDER.

-) Grid- In a grid mission, six place grids normally are sent.

-) Laser Grid- A laser grid mission is the same as a grid mission with
the following exception:

-)Target grid is sent to a greater level of accuracy (8-10 Digit)

-) Polar Plot- In a polar plot mission, the word polar in the warning order
alerts the FDC that the target will be located with the respect to the
observer’s position. The observer’s location must be known to the FDC. The
observer then senders the direction (in mils) and distance.

-)Laser Polar- Laser data are sent to the nearest 1 mil for direction and
the nearest 10 meters for distance.

-)Shift- In a Shift mission, the target will be located in relation to a

preexisting known point or recorded target. The point or target from which
the shift is made is sent in the warning order. The observer then sends the
observer target direction, Normally it is sent in mils, however, the FDC can
accept degrees or cardinal directions.

Then, the lateral shift in mils from the known point. Then, the range
shift ( how much further [ADD] or closer [DROP] the target is in relation to
the known point.

4th Element: TARGET DESCRIPTION

The observer must describe the target in enough detail that the FDC
can determine the amount and type of ammunition to use. The FDC selects
different ammunition for different types of targets, which is explained later in
this handout. The observer should be brief, but accurate. The description
should contain the following:

-)What the target is (T-72, supply depot, dismounts)

-)What the target is doing (digging in, in assembly area)

-)The number of elements in the target (squad, platoon, 3 tricks, 6

tanks)
-) The degree of protection (in the open, in the treeline, in bunkers)

5th Element: METHOD OF ENGAGEMENT

The observer may indicate how he wants to attack the target. This
element consists of the type of adjustment, DANGER CLOSE, MARK,
trajectory, ammunition and distribution.

-) Type of Adjustment- there are 2 types of adjustments that may be

employed – Are fire and precision fire. Area fire is standard without request.
 -) Area Fire – Area fire is used to attac an area target. Since many
area targets are mobile, the adjustment should be quick as possible,
consistent with accuracy, to keep the target from escaping. A well defined
point at or near the center of the area to be attacked should be selected and
used as an aiming point. This point is called the adjusting point during adjust
fire missions. Normally, adjustment on an area target is conducted with one
adjusting weapon.

-) Precision Fire – Precision fire is conducted with one weapon on

a point target. IT is used to either obtain registration corrections or to destroy
a target. When the missions is a registration, it is initiated by the FDC with a
message to observer (MTO). If the target is to be destroyed, the observer
announces DESTRUCTION.

-)Danger Close- Danger close is included in the method of engagement

when the target is within 600 meters of friendly troops for mortars and
artillery, 750 meters for 5 inch and below naval guns, and 1000 meters for
above 5 inches.

-)Mark- is included in the method of engagement to indicate that that

the observer is calling for rounds for either of the following reasons:

-) To orient himself in his zone of observation

-) to indicate targets to ground, aircraft, or other observers.

-)Trajectory

-)Low Angle – is standard without request.

-)High Angle – if high angle is desired, it is requested

immediately after type of engagement. If the firing unit determines that high
angle must be used to attack a target, the FDC must inform the observer in
the MTO that high angle will be used. Mortars only fire high angle.

-) Ammunition- Is covered in the last page of this handout

-)Distribution – the observer may control the pattern of bursts in the

target area. This pattern of bursts is called a sheaf. Unless otherwise
requested, the battery computer system (BCS) assumes a circular target with
a radius of 100 meters. A converged sheaf places all rounds on a specific
point and is used for small, hard targets. An open sheaf separates the bursts
by the maximum effective burst width of each shell fired.

6th Element: METHOD OF FIRE AND CONTROL

The Method of fire and control is included after the method of

engagement, but on the same transmission line. The purpose of the method
of fire and control is for the observer to indicate control over specific aspects
of the fire mission. The methods of fire and control are as follows, and are
announced as indicated:

-)Fire When Ready - This method is standard without request

-)At My Command. If the observer wishes to control the time of

delivery of fire, he includes AT MY COMMAND in the method of control. When
the pieces are ready to fire, the FDC announces PLATOON (or BATTERY or
BATTALION) IS READY, OVER. (Call signs are used.) The observer announces
FIRE when he is ready for the pieces to fire. This only applies to adjusting
rounds and the first volley of a FFE. AT MY COMMAND remains in effect
throughout the mission until the observer announces CANCEL AT MY
COMMAND, OVER.
-)Cannot Observe. CANNOT OBSERVE indicates the observer cannot
see the target (because of vegetation, terrain, weather, or smoke); however,
he has reason to believe a target exists at the given location and that it is
important enough to justify firing on it without adjustment.

-)Time on Target (TOT). The observer may tell the FDC when he
wants the rounds to impact by requesting TIME ON TARGET, 0859, OVER. The
observer must ensure his time and the FDC's time are synchronized prior to
the mission.

-)Time to Target (TTT). The observer may tell the FDC when he
wants the rounds to impact by requesting TIME TO TARGET (so many)
MINUTES AND SECONDS, OVER, STANDBY, HACK, OVER. Time to target is the
time in minutes and seconds after the "hack" statement is delivered when
rounds are expected to hit the target.

-)Continuous Illumination. In this method of control, illumination

projectiles are fired at specified time intervals to provide uninterrupted
lighting on the target or specified area. The observer may specify the time
interval (in seconds). If the observer does not provide a time interval, the
FDC determines the interval by the burning time of the illumination
ammunition in use. If any other interval is required, it is indicated in seconds.

-) Coordinated Illumination. The observer may order the interval

between illumination and HE projectiles, in seconds, to achieve a time of
impact of the HE coincident with optimum illumination; or he may use normal
AT MY COMMAND procedures. The command ILLUMINATION MARK is used to
tell the FDC when the illumination round is providing optimal visibility on the
target (see Chapter 8).

-) Cease Loading. The command CEASE LOADING is used during the

firing of two or more rounds to indicate the suspension of loading rounds into
the gun(s). The gun sections may fire any rounds that have already been
loaded.

-) Check Firing. CHECK FIRING is used to cause an immediate halt in

firing. Use this command only when necessary to “immediately” stop firing
(e.g., for safety reasons) as it may result in cannons being out of action until
any rammed/loaded rounds can be fired or cleared from the tubes.

-)Continuous Fire. In FA, mortars and NGF, continuous fire means

loading and firing as rapidly as possible, consistent with accuracy, within the
prescribed rate of fire for the equipment. Firing will continue until suspended
by the command CEASE LOADING or CHECK FIRING.

-)Repeat. REPEAT can be given during adjustment or FFE missions.

During Adjustment REPEAT means firing another round(s) with the last data
and adjust for any change in ammunition if necessary. REPEAT is not sent in
the initial call for fire.

-)During FFE, REPEAT means fire the same number of rounds using the
same method of FFE as last fired. Changes in the number of guns, the
previous corrections, the interval, or the ammunition may be requested.

-)Request Splash. SPLASH can be sent at the observer's request. The

FDC announces SPLASH to the observer 5 seconds prior to round impact.
SPLASH must be sent to aerial observers and during high-angle fire missions.

-)Do Not Load. DO NOT LOAD allows the section to prepare

ammunition and lay on the target without loading a projectile. When the
command CANCEL DO NOT LOAD is given the section automatically loads
and fires the weapon (except for an at my command mission).

-)Duration. DURATION is usually used for suppression missions.

DURATION will tell the FDC the total time a target needs to be engaged.

This concludes the breakdown of the 6 Elements of the Call for Fire. On the
next page, you will see a graph containing information as for what
ammunition is used for what kind of target.
TYPE OF AMMUNITION

HE with QUICK FUZE:

-)used against personnel standing

-)used against personnel prone

-)used against unarmored vehicles

-)used against light material

HE DELAY

-)used against troops in woods

-)used against light earth bunkers, buildings

-)used against unarmored vehicles

WP

-)used for marking, incendiary, observing and screening

-)used against vehicles

-)used against ammo storage

-)used against enemy observers.

SMOKE

-)used for obscuring enemy activity and screening friendly movement.

ILUM

-)used against suspected enemy positions

IMPROVED CONVENTIONAL MUNITIONS (ICM)

-) Two Types

-)AP

-)used against armored vehicles

-)PP

-)used against light armored vehicles and personnel.