Replies

The use of a FDC would require commo to a FO for adjusting fire, and commo to the mortar position if the FDC is not co-located with the mortars( or any artillery unit).

lar- my point was us gun bunnies wouldn't be able to calculate elevation/deflection for the initial rounds w/out FDC types-I'm assuming one of "your kind" would be with us(err, umm...the terrorist shiite heads, that is)- that's the whole point- .

I would suspect you, or Sgt. Holtz, or Rodriguez would, using a US milspec map, be able to hook up us gun bunnies, give us good Elevation/Deflection/Charge info, with which we (they) would be able to drop some good rounds, even without FO/Adjustment. That's the whole point.

As Prodigal Son noted, direct lay is best for quick and dirty...but if you can see them, they can see you.

For indirect High Angle Hell first round smackage...we need FDC types.

"The use of a FDC would require commo to a FO for adjusting fire, and commo to the mortar position if the FDC is not co-located with the mortars( or any artillery unit).

lar- my point was us gun bunnies wouldn't be able to calculate elevation/deflection for the initial rounds w/out FDC types-I'm assuming one of "your kind" would be with us(err, umm...the terrorist shiite heads, that is)- that's the whole point- .

I would suspect you, or Sgt. Holtz, or Rodriguez would, using a US milspec map, be able to hook up us gun bunnies, give us good Elevation/Deflection/Charge info, with which we (they) would be able to drop some good rounds, even without FO/Adjustment. That's the whole point."

My gig in artillery and mortars preceded GPS locating abilty. Prior to that, determing co-ordinates was dependent upon the accuracy of the maps and the ability of soldiers to interpret those maps, if you didn't have surveyed firing points for indirect fire and accurate targeting data such as target reference points.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if IIRC, heavy mortar platoons had landlines from the FDC to each tube.

Artillery battalions used the battalion FDC to control the fire of its batteries in an analogous fashion. You must have secure commo between the FDC and artillery tubes.

It appears to me that the Iraqis are totally lacking in surveyed positions for their firing at any probable targets, which is the reason for having a FDC, IMHO.