Key Points

1. Indirect Fire Planning Process
2. Tactical Uses of Planned Indirect Fire
3. Fire Planning the Defense
4. Fire Planning the Offense

Introduction

C-1. Fire planning starts as soon as the leader gets a mission. Once begun, fire planning continues through the operation’s completion. The primary aim of fire planning is to develop how fire is to be massed, distributed and controlled to best support the leader’s concept of the operation. (See table C-1) for capabilities of indirect fire support.

C-2. Fires are either targets of opportunity, or planned targets. Targets of opportunity are not planned in advance, but are engaged as they present themselves in accordance with established engagement criteria and ROE. Planned targets are ones on which fires are prearranged, although the degree of this prearrangement may vary. The degree of prearrangement influences the time it takes to receive fires. The greater the prearrangement, the faster the reaction time. The subject of this section is planned fires.

C-3. Planned targets are categorized as scheduled, or on-call. Scheduled fires are fired in accordance with a pre-established time schedule and sequence. On-call targets are fired in response to a request for fires. Priority targets are a special type of on-call target. Priority targets have quick reaction times because the firing unit has guns set on a specific target when not engaged in other fire missions.

C-4. Fires must be integrated and synchronized in time, space, and purpose over the entire concept of the operation . Integration means all available assets are planned and used throughout an operation. Synchronization means these assets are sequenced in time, space, and purpose in an optimal manner, producing complementary and reinforcing effects of the maneuver element.