ATP 3-21.90 MCTP 3-01D TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT OF …

ATP 3-21.90 MCTP 3-01D TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT OF MORTARS

October 2019

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes ATTP 3-21.90/MCWP 3-15.2, dated 4 April 2011.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Foreword

This publication has been prepared under our direction for use by our respective commands and other commands as appropriate.

GARY M. BRITO Major General, U.S. Army Commanding General Maneuver Center of Excellence

W. F. MULLEN III Major General, U.S. Marine Corps Commanding General Training and Education Command

This publication is available at the Army Publishing Directorate site () and the Central Army Registry site

(). It is also available at the U.S. Marine Corps Doctrine site

()

Army Techniques Publication No. 3-21.90

Marine Corps Tactical Publication No. 3-01D

*ATP 3-21.90 *MCTP 3-01D

Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC, 09 October 2019

Marine Corps Combat Development Command Quantico, VA

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Tactical Employment of Mortars

Contents

Page

PREFACE.................................................................................................................... ix

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... xi

ORGANIZATION ....................................................................................................... 1-1

Section I ? Mortar Element Capabilities ................................................................ 1-1 Purpose of Indirect Fire ............................................................................................. 1-2 Role of Mortar Elements............................................................................................ 1-5

Section II ? Mortar Element Composition and Equipment .................................. 1-5 Mortar Weapon Systems ........................................................................................... 1-5 Mortar Fire Direction Systems ................................................................................... 1-8 Mortar Unit Organization ......................................................................................... 1-13 Battalion Mortar Platoon Leadership ....................................................................... 1-20 Company and Troop Mortar Section Leadership .................................................... 1-24

FIRE SUPPORT OPERATIONS ............................................................................... 2-1

Section I ? Battalion and Company Fire Support Operations............................. 2-1 Army Organizations ................................................................................................... 2-1 United States Marine Corps Organization ................................................................. 2-2

Section II ? Mission Command .............................................................................. 2-2 Key Personnel Responsibilities ................................................................................. 2-2 Control ....................................................................................................................... 2-4

Section III ? Fire Support Planning ........................................................................ 2-6 Priority of Fires .......................................................................................................... 2-7 Command Relationships ........................................................................................... 2-8 Support Relationships ............................................................................................... 2-9

Section IV ? Graphic Control Measures .............................................................. 2-13 Maneuver Control Measures ................................................................................... 2-14 Fire Support Coordination Measures ...................................................................... 2-14 Targets and Targeting ............................................................................................. 2-18

Section V ? Battalion Fire Support Plan.............................................................. 2-23

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. *This publication supersedes ATTP 3-21.90/MCWP 3-15.2, dated 4 April 2011.

Contents Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Target Refinement .................................................................................................. 2-25 Tactical and Technical Triggers .............................................................................. 2-26 Ceasing or Shifting Fires......................................................................................... 2-27 Clearance of Fires................................................................................................... 2-27 Operation Order ...................................................................................................... 2-27 Echelonment of Fires and Risk Estimate Distance ................................................. 2-31 Risk-Estimate Distance ........................................................................................... 2-32

MORTAR UNITS IN OPERATIONS ......................................................................... 3-1

Section I ? Unified Action....................................................................................... 3-1 Operational Environment .......................................................................................... 3-1 Threats and Hazards................................................................................................. 3-3

Section II ? Unified Land Operations .................................................................... 3-4 Principles and Tenets of Unified Land Operations ................................................... 3-4 Operations Structure ................................................................................................. 3-4

Section III ? Decisive Action .................................................................................. 3-5 Offensive Operations ................................................................................................ 3-6 Defensive Operations................................................................................................ 3-6 Stability Operations ................................................................................................... 3-6

Section IV ? Offensive Operations ........................................................................ 3-6 Movement to Contact ................................................................................................ 3-7 Attack ........................................................................................................................ 3-8 Exploitation.............................................................................................................. 3-10 Pursuit ..................................................................................................................... 3-10 Mortar Support in the Offense................................................................................. 3-11 Fires ........................................................................................................................ 3-11

Section V ? Defensive Operations....................................................................... 3-12 Area Defense .......................................................................................................... 3-13 Mobile Defense ....................................................................................................... 3-13 Retrograde .............................................................................................................. 3-14 Mortar Support in the Defense ................................................................................ 3-15 Fires ........................................................................................................................ 3-16

Section VI ? Stability Operations Tasks ............................................................. 3-19 Decentralized Operations ....................................................................................... 3-19 Components ............................................................................................................ 3-19 Preparation for Stability Operations Tasks ............................................................. 3-21 Nonstandard Missions ............................................................................................ 3-21

Section VII ? Tactical-Enabling Operations........................................................ 3-21 Reconnaissance...................................................................................................... 3-21 Security ................................................................................................................... 3-22 Troop Movement ..................................................................................................... 3-22 Passage of Lines..................................................................................................... 3-25 Relief in Place ......................................................................................................... 3-25 Encirclement Operations......................................................................................... 3-25

PLATOON AND SECTION OPERATIONS.............................................................. 4-1

Section I ? Employment Operations ..................................................................... 4-1 Employment Techniques .......................................................................................... 4-1 Availability of Personnel and Equipment .................................................................. 4-4

Section II ? Mortar Positions.................................................................................. 4-5 Reconnaissance........................................................................................................ 4-5 Planning the Reconnaissance .................................................................................. 4-6 Position Selection Considerations ............................................................................ 4-6

ii

ATP 3-21.90/MCTP 3-01D

09 October 2019

Chapter 5

Contents

Advance Party Operations......................................................................................... 4-9 Movement Briefing..................................................................................................... 4-9 Occupation .............................................................................................................. 4-10 Night Occupation ..................................................................................................... 4-11 Occupation Types.................................................................................................... 4-11 Position Improvement.............................................................................................. 4-12

Section III ? Displacement Planning .................................................................... 4-13 Displacement Timing ............................................................................................... 4-14 Displacement Plans ................................................................................................. 4-15 Displacement Techniques ....................................................................................... 4-15

Section IV ? Movement ......................................................................................... 4-17 Independent............................................................................................................. 4-17 Open Column .......................................................................................................... 4-17 Closed Column ........................................................................................................ 4-18 Infiltration ................................................................................................................. 4-18 Off-Road Movement ................................................................................................ 4-18

Section V ? Mortar Unit Firing Formations ......................................................... 4-18 Terrain Mortar Positioning ....................................................................................... 4-18 Parallel Formation ................................................................................................... 4-19 Lazy W Formation ................................................................................................... 4-19 Diamond Formation ................................................................................................. 4-19 Triangle Formation .................................................................................................. 4-20

Section VI ? Air Assault Operations .................................................................... 4-21 Air Assault................................................................................................................ 4-21 Air Movement .......................................................................................................... 4-22

Section VII ? Airborne Operations ....................................................................... 4-22 Airborne Assault Force ............................................................................................ 4-22 Initial Available Fire Support.................................................................................... 4-22

Section VIII ? Mountain Operations ..................................................................... 4-23 Mortars in Mountain Operations .............................................................................. 4-23 Effects of Mountains on Mortar Operations ............................................................. 4-23

Section IX ? Urban Operations............................................................................. 4-26 Position Selection .................................................................................................... 4-26 Collateral Damage................................................................................................... 4-27 Rules of Engagement and Clearance of Fires ........................................................ 4-27 Communications ...................................................................................................... 4-27 Magnetic Interference .............................................................................................. 4-27 Aiming Posts............................................................................................................ 4-28 High-Explosive Ammunition..................................................................................... 4-28 Illumination .............................................................................................................. 4-28

Section X ? Jungle Operations ............................................................................ 4-28

SURVIVABILITY TECHNIQUES .............................................................................. 5-1

Section I ? Survivability .......................................................................................... 5-1 Enemy Counterfire..................................................................................................... 5-1 Ground Attack............................................................................................................ 5-2 Air Attack ................................................................................................................... 5-2

Section II ? Counterfire Protection ........................................................................ 5-2

Section III ? Protected Positions............................................................................ 5-6 Considerations........................................................................................................... 5-7 Ground-Mounted Mortar Positions ............................................................................ 5-8

Section IV ? Standard Ground-Mounted Protected Mortar Position .................. 5-9

09 October 2019

ATP 3-21.90/MCTP 3-01D

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