You guys all have GPS (I think) and that makes it easy to know where you are. But someone must make the adjustment to tell the FACAIR or fire direction control(FDC) where the enemy is. In the 60s and 70s after determining where we wanted a fire mission, we would call for a fire mission by stating a grid location for ourselves and a distance and direction from our location to the enemy with a word about the type of enemy situation (troops in open, enemy in bunkers, etc). The FDC would calculate the offsets using triangulation techniques with the 'old' rotary calculator and give the munitions type, range and azimuth to the batteries and they would fire. Then, noting where the rounds fell, we would adjust by stating the distance movements needed to be on target relative to our location and how many rounds we wanted. How does this work now. And quit laughing at me. We actually killed a few. It seems so primitive now. Oh, can an LT or Sgt call fire now? Average rounds to on target now? Air?
2007-01-29 05:19:55 · 6 answers · asked by Nightstalker1967 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I appreciate your concern and don't want absolute details or divulgence of anything secret. However, the manner in which armie's called their fire missions was known to all participants (Russkis, Chinese, Viets, etc) in our day, had been established for decades and was about the same for everyone. I imagine you are fooling yourself if you think your enemy does not know your SOP today, BTW. As a rather informed retired engineer and former Infantry officer I can imagine several techniques without help, and some (laser spotted, automatic radar tracked trajectory control at the tube, etc) have even been on TV (news, not fiction) already. I just wanted to know the general manner that it is done now in a tactical situation. Used to go about like this: "Red Dragon, Red Dragon, Leap Frog 26, over.."Lima Foxtrot 26, Red Dragon, over" "Red Dragon, Fire Mission, enemy in open, Marker round, position blah blah, over" confirm data then "Shot out, 11 seconds, over" etc..You guys must be better!Envy
2007-01-29 05:52:36 · update #1
Believe it or not, its not so different now to what it was 30 years ago!..Fire control is a specialist thing, and observation is still paramount !.You have to take into account many variables, even barometric pressure around the target area!..You even have to consider what type of 'bang' your calling in!..If its tube artillery, ok!..If its rocket projectiles, dig a bloody big hole and hide in it!..{experience speaking here!}..Ive seen satellite positioning fail to many times to talk about it!..Many field 'grunts' only use it as a means of verification!..If your calling up air support, mark the area you want splattered 30 seconds before they arrive with smoke from mortars or grenades! And tell them what to look for!..They can see coloured smoke easily, and wont give it all to you!.Never rely on technology to do the job, unless its overhead and has a clear view from firebase!..Can American platoon officers call in a barrage?..No, they have to get approval from battalion or divisional hq!..Its totally stupid, but its been going on for years and has cost many American casualtys!..Its entirely political in nature, learned from Vietnam and its supposed to stop what they called "John Wayne-ism"what ever that was?..But no, technology isnt as big as many people think, and the old tried and true is still most used!.
2007-01-29 06:12:59 · answer #1 · answered by paranthropus2001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
calling for Fire has pretty much been the same way since ww2.
as long as you know where you are at, you can still call a artillery or CAS mission. Same way, just with lot better radios and better planes. Even the artillery hasnt changed much since then. It all goes boom and sends rounds down range.
2007-01-29 10:32:39 · answer #2 · answered by almond_jy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definitely an OPSEC issue, here. Keep in mind that the US aren't the only ones with access to the internet!
2007-01-29 05:35:17 · answer #3 · answered by Nathan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wew! I'm in Iraq and I sure don't know who is reading this stuff, but I don't want to give them this kind of info or answers. OPSEC, baby! Watch out for the Muslim monsters
2007-01-29 05:28:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sorry this is a need to know information, besides the History or discovery channel may have what you are looking for.
2007-01-29 05:29:07 · answer #5 · answered by mdjarhead 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i agree there should be no answers to this question on here. you can find it somewhere else a bit less public.
2007-01-29 05:31:15 · answer #6 · answered by tankbuff, 19 violations so far 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋