When a firing battery is using voice commands, a warning order of FIRE MISSION is announced. The section chief depresses the cycle key of his SCA to silence the alarm and acknowledge the receipt of fire commands. In a BCS-equipped battery, the warning order is a steady alarm signal from the case assembly of the GDU, which indicates the start of the fire mission. WARNING ORDERĪ warning order is always announced to alert the firing unit to the mission. The elements of the fire command are discussed in paragraphs 7-5 through 7-15 below. When this occurs, FFE may be AT MY COMMAND (AMC) to maintain the element of surprise and achieve maximum effect on the target. (b) Time permitting, FDC will send firing data for each individual howitzer. This command is usually given after digital communications are reestablished. (a) If the FDC uses TGPCs, these will be applied and used until the command CANCEL TGPCs is given by the FDC. (3) In the degraded GDU mode, the FDC may compute data, deflection and quadrant, from the base piece to center of target and send data to the guns by voice. The howitzers will ignore GDU data and take all voice fire commands. (2) If two or more howitzers lose digital communications, the battery or platoon notifies them by voice to go to the degraded GDU mode. (All parties should try to reestablish the digital capability.) (1) If one howitzer in the battery or platoon loses digital communications, the FDC sends voice commands to that howitzer. A solution to degraded digital communications is to use the BCS purely as a technical fire direction computer and send the data by voice. If lost or degraded, communications should be reestablished as soon as possible. For BCS-equipped units, digital communications are the primary means for transmitting fire commands. Fire command standards are discussed in more detail in paragraph 7-24.Ĭ. To facilitate the use of voice commands, the FDC will provide the fire command standards to the section chief when the unit first occupies the position. Voice fire commands are used by units without BCS, or in the event the equipment fails to function properly. The section chief can recall specific parts of the fire command by depressing the appropriate key on the SCA. As a data check, the gunner and assistant gunner read back the deflection and quadrant.

The section chief, however, still announces the entire fire command, including the deflection and quadrant. Also the deflection is displayed on the gunner's gun assembly (GA) and the quadrant elevation is displayed on the assistant gunner's GA. The entire fire command is displayed on the section chiefs assembly (SCA). Digital fire commands are used by units equipped with BCS. Quadrant elevation may never be standardized. Certain elements of the fire command may be standard and these need not be sent on each subsequent fire command. For example, the propellant charge can be cut and the fuze set (if required) while the deflection and quadrant are being set.ī.

This sequence allows actions to occur at the same time. This saves time and confusion each member of the section knows the sequence and can anticipate what is coming next. The elements of a fire command are always given in the same sequence ( Table 7-1). This creates obvious problems when the fire for effect (FFE) is entered or if shell, fuze, and fuze setting are changed.Ī. In the race to be first, they may look only at charge, deflection, and quadrant elevation. Note: Section chiefs must completely view the entire digital fire command on every round. Quadrant elevation is given in every fire command and allows the howitzer section to load and fire, if in a when ready (WR) status. Subsequent fire commands must include only those elements that have changed, except quadrant elevation.

Initial fire commands include all elements necessary for orienting, loading, and firing the piece. In a battery using BCS, fire commands are sent digitally from the computer to the gun display unit (GDU) at the howitzer. In a battery without BCS, fire commands must be sent by voice. CHAPTER 7 FIRE COMMANDS AND FIRING REPORTSįire commands are used by the FDC to give the howitzer sections all the information necessary to start, conduct, and cease firing.

Fire commander in army