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8/12/2019 CG IMLC0304 Mortar
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MORTAR EMPLOYMENT
IN THE OFFENSE ANDDEFENSE
IULC
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Overview
Defensive Considerations
Priority of Targets
Priority of Fires
Ammunition
RSOP
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MORTAR UNIT
DEFENSIVE MISSIONS Used to button up armor with PROX
Air defense vehicles (SEADS)
Enemy mortars
EN that is maneuvering
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Used against Dismounted
Break up formations
Canalize
Troop Concentrations
Enemy trying to reach FR. Obstacles
Cover dead spaceFPF
Deny Terrain
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Mortars can also
Break up the enemy’s formations.
To suppress and neutralize supporting
weapons.
To destroy as much of the enemy force
as possible.
Also Illuminate, Screen, Mark
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Priority of Fires
Order of requests
Can change as situation changes
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• Priority targets should lie in the sector of the company or platoon having priority of fires to prevent confusion.
• Priority targets are not always fired on using HE
ammunition.
• Final Protective Fires (FPF) are the highest type of priority
targets and take precedence over all other fire requests.
•PRIORITY OF TARGETS
IN THE DEFENSE
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General Support (With
Priority of Fires)When two or more observers are call for
fire at the same time, the mortar platoon
has clear guidance as to whom theplatoon should support first.
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•
•This delivery of fires on a specific target takes precedence
over all other fires for the mortar section or platoon.
• It lays its mortars on this target when not engaged in other
fire missions. If any observer calls for the priority target to be
fired, the mortar platoon does so immediately, even ifengaged in another fire mission.
•PRIORITY OF FIRES/TARGETS
•General Support (With Priority Targets)•IN THE OFFENSE
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•MORTAR AMMUNITION
• Fins- Stabilize the round during flight.
• Charge- Propellant for the round.
• Obsturating Ring- Swells to keep all
gasses from being expelled, causing the
round to rise.
• Fuse- Used to detonate the round.
• Body- Contains the explosives of
• the round.
• Primer- Ignites the charge when struck by the firing pin.
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DEFINITION
Recon is the examination of terrain to determineits suitability for use in accomplishing the mortar
platoon’s mission.
Continuous/aggressive recon is essential to timely andaccurate fire support
Ldrs continuously performs recon/plan for contingency
Given location or proposes it to higher
Process know as reconnaissance, selection, andoccupation of mortar positions (RSOP)
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METHODS OF
RECONNAISSANCE
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METHODS OF RECONNAISSANCE
3 Methods:
Map
Air
Ground Combo of all three is best if feasible
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METHODS OF
RECONNAISSANCE (cont)Map:
Any recon begins with a map recon
Potential new routes chosenFast and eliminates unsuitable routes
Helps identify ambush sites
Might be only recon available
2 major disadvantages
Terrain changed or does not exist
Surface conditions (soils)
Photos supplemented if possible
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METHODS OF
RECONNAISSANCE (cont)Air Reconnaissance:
If time and resources allow (cobras)
Beneficial in selecting routes and pos fast
Surface conditions distorted
Flight plan may compromise routesMay not be available to Ldrs
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METHODS OF
RECONNAISSANCE (cont)Ground Reconnaissance:
Best method because of physical
inspection
True condition of terrain fully examined
Disadvantage
Becomes slowest method/time restraints
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POSITION SELECTION
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)Based on:
Mission
accomplishment Tactical situation
Range
Target area coverage
Survivability
Overhead and mask
clearance
Surface conditions
Communications
Routes
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)Mission Accomplishment.
Pos must allow sect/plt to accomplish its primarymission
Most important factor
Tactical Situation.
Must know tactical situation, friendly loc and threats
Provides effective fire support and mortar security
Range Criteria.
Maximize fires without reducing support
½ to 2/3 of range to front of forward elements
Far enough back to cover rifle plts defensive pos
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)Survivability.
Many threats to mortars (counter, air/ground)
Consider active and passive defensive measures:
Can’t be hit by direct or low-angle fire (defilade)
Can be entered w/out enemy obs
Offers good cover/concealment Avoids obvious ave of approach
Multiple entrance and exit routes
Takes advantage of existing terrain features/natural
obstacles
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)
Defilade
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)Overhead and Mask Clearance.
Overhead Mortar into max elevation/look up along side to
estimate a round’s line of flight
Mask Mortar elev down to min and visually inspect
clearance from end of mortar tube to front
Notify FDC if exists
Deep defilade is suggested even w/ restrictions
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)
Overhead and Mask Clearance
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)Surface Conditions.
Soil well drained and firm (plates)
Construct fire pads if neededFrozen ground – chop slots into earth
Extra time allotted to emplace mortars
Freezing conditions – ensure baseplate does not get frozen into
surface
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POSITION SELECTION
(cont)Communications and Routes.
Comm is key
Within units/internal mortar sqds to FDCRadio checks conducted at new pause
Wire reduces electric signature
Pos close to access routes, speed resupply &displacement
Don’t compromise concealment
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OCCUPATION
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OCCUPATION
Advance party starts occupation of new
firing position
Continuation of actions by advance party
until Plt arrives
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OCCUPATION (cont)
Advance party starts by:
Verifying pos location
Checks for mines, NBC, and enemy Establish local security and OP’s
Marks mortar pos
Sets up M2A2 and determines Az/DOF
Direction stakes
Completes a rough lay of mortar pos (compass/M2A2)
Useful for night Ops
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NIGHT OCCUPATIONS
Must establish detailed SOP and training
Utilize wire comm important
Guides briefed/routes paced Plt elementsColor code Sqds for easy ID of gear (NADs/chem)
Maintain light discipline
Even w/chem lights Plt conducts sustainment ops as needed
Fire capped 1st, then priorities of work
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TYPES OF OCCUPATIONS
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TYPES OF OCCUPATIONS
Three types of occupations: Deliberate, hasty and emergency
Deliberate Occupation Procedures:
Has been planned and adv party conducts preparations
Guide meets Plt at pickup point/entrance: Adv party lead Sqds to firing point
Issues initial Def and DOF to Sqd
Previously laid wire for comm. used w/FDC Plt Sgt implements security to available personnel
Occupation time increased
Guides know vehicles order of march for linkup
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TYPES OF OCCUPATION
(CONT)Hasty:
Planned but short on time; necessary b/c of rapidcombat ops or unforeseen circumstances
Plt requires more time to occupy hasty Limited prepared tasks available
Limited recon and pos selection results in:
Delay in vehicles moving into pos Laying by voice
Increased lay time (no guide prep)
Increased FDC preparation time
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TYPES OF OCCUPATION
(CONT) Emergency:
CFF received while making movement
First available spot is occupied without prep
Better known as a hip shoot
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DISPLACEMENT PLANS DURING
OFF/DEF AND RETROGRADE
OPERATIONS
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DISPLACEMENT PLANS DURING
DEF/OFF/RETROGRADE (cont)
Detailed displacement planning aids in providingimmediate responsive fires (SOP’s)
Offensive Plan.
Must permit rapid displacement/immediate fire support Flexible to SOM changes
Sit, dist, supp requirements determine displacetechniques
Defensive Plan. Same requirements as offense
Ldr plans extensive use of alt/supp positions
Anticipate future ops for displacement into offense
Same factors affecting displacement in offense apply
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DISPLACEMENT PLANS DURING
DEF/OFF/RETROGRADE (cont)
Displacement Timing.
Bn Cmdr controls displacement of Plt in one of 2ways:
Displace on order.
Bn cmdr restricts or delegates authority to FSO
Mortar ldr must report when he covers less than 1/3 or morethan 2/3 of battle area
Mortar ldr stays abreast of unit mvmnt and situation Keeps cmdr informed on displacements (requests permission)
If comm is lost w/higher ldr uses best judgment to displace
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DISPLACEMENT
TECHNIQUES
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DISPLACEMENT
TECHNIQUES Dependent upon METT-T factors:
SOM of supported unit
Enemy activity
Trafficability of terrain
Number of sect/mortars in Plt
Availability of supporting arty Time available
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DISPLACEMENT TECHNIQUES
(cont)DISPLACEMENT BY PLATOON.
Little immediate likelihood of enemy contact or whenarty can provide adequate supp
Plt displaces all at once
Limited fire supp/response (hip shoots)
Movements from AA to initial firing pos
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DISPLACEMENT TECHNIQUES
(cont)DISPLACEMENT BY SQD/SECT
Same as sect, but less mortars
Utilize successive or alternating bounds
(Traveling/bounding)
Displacement is rapid w/elements = Alternate
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TYPES OF BOUNDS
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MORTAR SECTION AND
PLATOON FIRING
FORMATIONS
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MORTAR SECTION AND PLATOON
FIRING FORMATIONS
Always consider METT-T
Emphasis is on mission accomplishment
Considers appropriate dispersion
Need for pos hardening and available
camouflage and concealment
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TERRAIN MORTAR
POSITIONINGUsed when dispersing
over a larger area
Maximizes use of natural
cover and concealment
W/out regard to set
distances between
mortars or effects on
parallel sheaf
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LAZY W FORMATION
Lays mortars on amodified line
Provides better flank
security with almost sametgt coverage as parallelformation
If all mortars fire same data
When terrain affords
little cover andconcealment
Adds depth to sheaf
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DIAMOND FORMATION
Allows a 4-mortar Plt to fire
in all directions with equal
ease
When 6400-mil coverage is
required
Creates a tight, defensible pos
against ground attack
Excellent in restricted terrain
Formation is more vulnerable toair attack
Useful in built-up areas (sheaf
patterns)
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DIAMOND FORMATION
(cont)
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THREATS TO MORTAR
SURVIVABILITY
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THREATS TO MORTAR
SURVIVABILITY Ldr must consider a number of threats
Greatest dangers to mortars are:
enemy counterfire
ground attacks air attacks
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THREATS TO MORTAR
SURVIVABILITY (cont)
Mortars face intense counterfire threat:
Reduces fire support from friendly mortars Radar, sound ranging, and recon methods all
used against us
Can be located by radio direction-finding
Array of detection equip w/ huge amounts of
enemy arty
presents major threat to survivability of US mortars
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THREATS TO MORTAR
SURVIVABILITYRadio direction finding locatestgts w/in 300m accuracy (2-6mins)
Adversaries have begun amassive expansion in arty andheavy mortar assets
Adversary doctrine calls for
massive indirect fire before anattack (prep)
Some rnds contain enhanced blast subprojectiles (Flechette rounds)
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THREATS TO MORTAR
SURVIVABILITY(cont)Ground attacks:
During offensive Ops Chance contact w/enemy bypassed forces (greatest
threat)
During defensive Ops Greatest threats are enemy recon and main forces.
Enemy recon teams may encounter mortars by chancecontact can be given specific mission to locate mortar pos
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THREATS TO MORTAR
SURVIVABILITY(cont)
Air attack
Difficult in concealing firing pos from aerial
observation
Ldr employs passive air defensive measures as
per SOP’s
Armed Helo’s pose a major threat
Due to standoff acquisition ability
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SURVIVABILITY
TECHNIQUES
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SURVIVABILITY
TECHNIQUES (cont)Mortars can occupy
behind large hill massesand tall buildings
Can still fire out of
defilade to hit tgts(trajectory)
Deep defilade
partly reduces max range ofa mortar (mask/clearance)
protects pos from fieldguns/howitzer fires (directfires)
not from enemy mortarfires
(Deep defilade coverage)
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SURVIVABILITY
TECHNIQUES (cont)Mortars should not be positioned close to glass
Short bldgs don’t provide much dead space butwill stop enemy frags
Dead space depends on Wpn, rnd, charge, rng combo,and elev difference between Wpn and tgt
Incoming rnds have to be almost a direct hit todamage mortar sqd
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MORTAR POSITIONS
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MORTAR POSITIONS
All mortar Sqds dig in during defensive Ops and
cont to improve their pos
Takes more time and material to harden pos
A very slow and fatiguing process by hand
Engineers assistance is quicker w/ less fatigue
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MORTAR POSITIONS
DISMOUNTED MORTAR POSITIONS Only one type of dismounted dug-in mortar position (dog leg or L shape variations)
Standard dismounted dug-in mortar pos has 3 stages ofconstruction: STAGE I-Gun pit
STAGE II-Gun pit w/ personnel shelters
STAGE III-Gun pit w/ personnel shelters and ammo bunkers
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QUESTIONS?
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Summary
Characteristics for RSOP
Characteristics for selecting mortar position
Characteristics for occupation of mortar positionCharacteristics for mortar formations
Characteristics for displacement of mortars
Characteristics for mortar survivability techniquesCharacteristics of a dug in mortar position
Characteristics of FDC bunker
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MORTAR EMPLOYMENT IN THE
OFFENSE AND DEFENSE