Mortar Training

MORTAR and FORWARD OBSERVER BASICS

Terminology -
FDC - fire direction center
FO - forward observer
OP - observer position
TRP - target reference point
TGT - target
FFE - fire for effect
HE - high explosive
BDA - battle damage assesment
O/T direction/line - the direction from the observer to the target
left/right - lateral adjustments
add/drop - range adjustments
up/down - elevation adjustments

Tips -
Mortar team will be filling the roll of the FDC.  Normally, the fire direction center would calculate the solution.
Strive for initial accurate fire, it will save you from going through the adjustment phase.
Use mils over degrees, they are nearly 18 times more accurate
Use prominent terrain features as target reference points(TRP) on the map.  These should be easily recognizable in game.
Have a pen and paper ready for recording grids, mils, targets, and ranges
Have a stopwatch ready if you have one.



Pre-planning - (map phase)

plan fire support requirements in advance if possible - includes firing solutions on:
known targets
probable targets - area where the enemy is likely to be
choke points (area denial)
Final protective fire line
No fire zones (for protection of civilians and friendlies in the area)

Knowing your location -
Know where you are within 100 meters at all times.
Know which direction you are facing.
Use terrain features and target reference points (TRPs) to translate your location to a grid reference if you don't have a gps.
	OPTIONAL EXERCISE:  Find map location w/o gps

Locating the target -
There are three primary methods of locating the target
GRID - preferably 8 digit grid (DAGR) accurate to 10 meters, "keypad method" accurate within 33 meters, does not require FDC to know FO's position.
	EXERCISE: Given an 8 digit grid, mark position on the map
POLAR - Distance and direction from observer's position, FDC must know observer's position
	EXERCISE: Given an OP (observer position) on the map, direction, and distance, mark point on the map
SHIFT - or "shift from known point" deviation from a point known to the FDC.  Given from observer's point of view so FDC must know O/T direction.
	EXERCISE: Given an OT direction, and shift instructions, mark new position on the map

Targets(TGT) and target reference points(TRP) -
Can be pre-planned or recorded or registered in mission.
Destroyed targets make great points to shift from as the FDC already has corrected the errors in the firing solution.
target names are two letters followed by digits, the letters are the same throughout.

Main types of fire missions -
adjust fire - one "spotting" round HE fired so FO can adjust the rounds onto the target
fire for effect - predetermined # of rounds designed to destroy the target (determined by FDC)
immediate suppresion - emergency fire of everything onto target, stopped by FO cease fire call **special radio procedure**


***FIRE DISCIPLINE*** (radio communications)

registering OP (observer position) - register position and altitude
registering TRP (target reference points) - register position and altitude
registering targets - register position and altitude, method of engagement
Can be done in the field, given by grid or direction and distance from known point.

CALL FOR FIRE -
normally 6 elements in 3 transmissions

1st transmission
	observer identification
	warning order
2nd transmission
	target location
3rd transmission
	target description
	method of engagement
	method of fire and control


1st transmission

observer identification -	<FDC Callsign>, this is <FO Callsign>,
warning order -	    		<type of mission>,<method of target location>, over
	EXAMPLE: "Brimstone, this is Cerberus, adjust fire, shift AD002, over"
			(you are requesting a spotting round shifted from known point AD002)
	EXAMPLE: "Brimstone, this is Cerberus, fire for effect, polar, over"
			(you are requesting a fire mission at a certain direction and distance from you, the FO.)
	EXAMPLE: "Brimstone, this is Cerberus, adjust fire, over"
			(you are requesting a spotting round at grid coords.  When no method of location is specified,
			the FDC assumes you're going to give grid coords.)
	SPECIAL EXAMPLE: "Brimstone, this is Cerberus, immediate suppresion, grid 1046 2783 over"
			 "Brimstone, this is Cerberus, immediate suppresion, AD007 over"
			(For an immediate suppression mission, you are requesting all available pieces to focus on the target
			with whatever they've got loaded, and continue until you call cease fire.  With immediate suppression,
			you include the target location in the first transmission and skip the 2nd and 3rd transmissions.)

	FDC will repeat order back
	EXAMPLE: "Cerberus this is Brimstone, adjust fire shift AD002 over"
	FDC REPLY: "Cerberus this is Brimstone, adjust fire shift AD002 over"

2nd transmission

target location 	"grid <grid ref>, <altitude>, over (alt is only needed if target is over 35 meters different from the FO.)
			OR
			"direction <in mils>, distance <in meters>, <altitude>, over (if needed)
			OR
			"direction <in mils>, left/right <lateral shift in meters>, add/drop <distance in meters>, up/down - if needed, over

	EXAMPLE: 	"direction 3420, right 300, drop 150, over" (round to nearest ten)
	FDC REPLY:	"direction 3420, right 300, drop 150, over"


3rd transmission


target description - <how many><what it is><relavent info such as cover/if they're moving/entrenched/garrisoned/etc.>  (required)
method of engagement - <ammunition type - optional><if within 600 meters - call danger close> (mortars have only HE - high explosive and smoke shells)
			(ammunition type is a request.  FDC will ultimately decide what rounds to use.)
			(If not danger close, the method of engagement element is optional.)
method of control - <when to fire - also optional>
			(Fire when ready is understood if this section is ommited.  Other options are at my command and time on target.
			(if at my command is called, firing solution is readied and FDC announces ready in the message to observer.) - rarely used
			(time on target, FDC fires to make rounds impact at specified time) - also rarely used

	EXAMPLES:	"infantry in the open, fire when ready, out (if not specified, this is understood as the default)"
			"two times tanks in the treeline, smoke in effect, out"
			"squad garrisoned in building, danger close, out"(danger close distance is defined by the artillery piece safe distance, usually 600 meters)
			"platoon entrenched attitude north/south, on my mark, over"

THIS IS WHEN THE FDC CALCULATES THE FIRING SOLUTION AND DECIDES ON THE AMMUNITION  (usually accompanied by a long pause)
	EXERCISE:  Calculate firing solution from a point on the map, to another.

MESSAGE TO OBSERVER -  <any changes to call for fire> <number of rounds> <target designation> <relavent info - time of flight/probable error, etc>
			EXAMPLE:	"Message to Observer, Brimstone, dpicm in effect, 2 rounds, AD0017, over (HE in effect is understood as the default)
			FO REPLY:	"Brimstone, dpicm in effect, 2 rounds, AD0017, out

FIRE MISSION IS EXECUTED


		After first gun fires,
		FDC CALLS 	"shot over" said at 25 seconds to impact of first round
		FO CALLS 	"shot out" to acknowledge FO knows rounds are in the air
		FDC CALLS 	"rounds complete" when all rounds have been fired in FFE mission

		FDC CALLS	"splash over" 5-10 seconds before impact
		FO CALLS	"splash out" to acknowledge

ADJUSTMENTS - called like a shift, no need to announce direction if FDC has it.
	EXAMPLE:  FO: "right 300, drop 150, over"
		 FDC: "right 300, drop 150, over"
			one round adjustment - shifted onto target and FFE is called (if you're both good or you have a vector)
			use bracketing when you need to estimate range -
				sucessive bracketing - spot round, adjust for max distance away.
				If round falls on the other side, half adjustment the other way,
				work rounds into smaller and smaller brackets until within 50 meters then call FFE.

				hasty bracket - only one bracket, ffe called as percentage between bracket ends

				creeping fire - intentional under adjustments used in danger close from far to near

END OF MISSION - mission end and BDA (battle damage assesment)
			end fire mission - target condition (destroyed, routed, combat ineffective, etc.)
			or
			repeat

		EXAMPLE:  	FO CALLS "end of mission, target destroyed over"
				FDC CALLS "end of mission, target destroyed out"

	EXERCISE: Run fire missions, one at a time.


REFERENCES AND READING:
thanks to Simon Silence video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSESTMW13EA
reference FM 3-22.91 mortar fire direction procedures manual
reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_discipline
https://ace3mod.com/wiki/feature/vector.html
https://ace3mod.com/wiki/feature/mk6mortar.html
https://ace3mod.com/wiki/feature/maptools.html
http://www.trngcmd.marines.mil/Portals/207/Docs/TBS/B2C2497%20Call%20For%20Indirect%20Fire.pdf?ver=2015-05-07-105809-593



FOR MISSION BUILDERS:
methods of control in game:
equipment of FO (see below)
equipment of mortar team - (range tables are always neccesary if the artillery computer is disabled)
No Fire Areas marked on map - (usually due to civilian population, friendly positions,
				 or high value buildings/objects in vicinity