Fire Support

During the month of February, the Battalion was operating out of VCB.  Units were deployed on Fire Bases and patrolled the AO extensively.  The Battalion often maintained the Division Reaction force.  The area of operation changed frequently, and the Battalion never moved to the field as a Unit.

The artillery daytime H&I program around VCB is almost non-existent due to the excessive air traffic.  However, it would be possible to employ weapons such as the 81mm and 60mm mortars.  Clearance should be given to these weapons from the FSCC, and Sav-a-plane can be followed and visual contact with aircraft will ensure safety to all concerned.  The tactical situation will determine the volume to which these fires will be expended.

Artillery night defensive fires are still being fired with a battery one in adjustment and a battery one in effect.  This extensive use of ammunition did and will again lead to critical shortage in the battery. This in turn could cause a reduction in the amount of fire support given to the Battalion when it is in the field.  Safety can still be maintained with a sheaf check at a safe distance of approximately 900 meters depending on terrain and the adjustment phase carried through with a platoon one.  I believe this method will definitely increase artillery support which can be given to the Battalion.

New counter mortar plans have been affected for all Fire Support Bases.  The average time from the call for fire to the initial round is eleven minutes.  Clearances have been operating very smoothly.

One of our biggest problems seems to lie with coordination with air.  Air observers usually do not come up on the artillery conduct of fire net.  They remain on the air frequency and fire missions end up being relayed through the FSCC.  This process is slow and could be dangerous.  Instructions should be given to FSCC that fire missions can only be called over the artillery net.  This alternate should only be used in a definite emergency.

We have recently faced a problem of pilots not checking into the Regimental Air Net when they enter our AO.  Therefore, the only way we find out about their presence is when the FO sees him over the impact area.  This situation occurred twice this month and must be corrected.  The check fires which come from this type of situation are extensive because of the difficulty in raising the pilot.  This is wasted time in which the Battalion cannot receive fire support.

H&I targets during February                646 Targets

Number of rounds expended                6068 rounds

This page last corrected 4 September 2011