FIRE SUPPORT
Section VIII. TARGET ACQUISITION
5-33. GENERAL
Field artillery TA units are composed of weapons-locating radar (WLR) sections, survey sections, and target-processing sections. These are controlled by HQ sections or by section leaders. WLR sections are organized by mission and equipment differences and are equipped with either AN/TPQ-36 or AN/TPQ-37 radars. TA units can be organized into TABs, TA platoons, TA detachments, and separate sections under a staff organization.
a. Organizations.
(1) A TAB is organic to heavy and motorized divisions. The radar platoon consists of two AN/TPQ-37 radar sections, three AN/TPQ-36 radar sections, and a three-man radar platoon HQ. The TAB is assigned to the DIVARTY.
(2) A target acquisition platoon of a separate maneuver brigade is assigned to the HHB of the organic artillery battalion.
(3) At corps level, the corps target acquisition detachment (CTAD) is organic to corps artillery on the basis of one per light division. It is designed to be attached to each light infantry, airborne, and AASLT DIVARTY on deployment. The CTAD consists of a HQ section, a position azimuth determining system (PADS) team, and two WLR sections. There are two AN/TPQ-37 radars in the CTAD. The coverage provided by these radars is in addition to the coverage provided by the AN/TPQ-36 radar organic to each DS artillery battalion in the light division.
b. Radius. The primary mission of AN/TPQ-36 and AN/TPQ-37 WLRs is to detect and locate enemy mortars, artillery, and rockets quickly and accurately enough to permit immediate engagement. Their secondary mission is to observe registrations and help the FDC adjust fire for friendly units. The secondary mission should be performed only when absolutely necessary.
(1) The AN/TPQ-36 is optimized to locate shorter-range, high-angle, lower-velocity weapons such as mortars and shorter-range artillery; however, it can also locate longer-range artillery and rockets within its maximum range. It is normally placed 3 to 6 kilometers behind the FLOT. It has a maximum range of 24 kilometers and a minimum range of 900 meters. It is normally attached to a DS FA battalion.
(2) The AN/TPQ-37 is optimized to locate longer-range, low-angle, higher-velocity weapons such as long-range artillery and rockets. It is normally deployed 8 to 12 kilometers behind the FLOT. The Q-37 can be emplaced and ready for operation within 30 minutes and march-ordered within 15 minutes during daylight operations. It has a maximum range of 50 kilometers and a minimum range of 3 kilometers. The AN/TPQ-37 is normally attached to a GS FA battalion.
5-34. AN/TPQ-36 AND AN/TPQ-37 FIREFINDER RADARS
a. Positioning considerations. Both tactical and technical aspects of positioning must be considered. Search zones rank the search pattern and provide the reaction posture of the radars to best meet the maneuver commander's intent and priorities. Each firefinder radar can store up to nine different zones. There are four different types of zones used with the radar.
b. Types of zones.
(1) Critical friendly zone (CFZ): friendly unit or location that maneuver commander designates as critical to achieving his mission. Generates priority 1 call for fire.
(2) Call for fire zone (CFFZ): area beyond the forwared edge of the battle area (FEBA) that the maneuver commander wants suppressed, neutralized, or destroyed. Generates priority 2 call for fire.
(3) Artillery target intelligence zone (ATIZ): area in enemy territory that the maneuver commander wishes to monitor closely.
(4) Censor zone (CZ): area in which the commander wishes to ignore all target detections.
c. Radar deployment order (RDO) responsibility.
(1) FA battalion: FA battalion S2.
(2) DIVARTY CP: counterfire officer.
(3) FA brigade CP: counterfire officer.
(4) Maneuver brigade CP: FSO and/or targeting officer.
d. Cueing agents. Cueing agents designate who has authority to turn on the radar. The person with the most accurate and timely knowledge of the battlefield should be responsible for the cueing agent.
e. Reporting channels. Radios on the reporting channels will receive combat information from the radar for target processing.