THE MISSION OF THE

FIELD ARTILLERY
The mission of the Field Artillery is
to destroy, neutralize, or suppress
the enemy by cannon, rocket, and
missile fire and to help integrate all
fire support assets into combined
arms operations.
 TERMINAL LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
• ACTION: Execute Quick Smoke, Immediate
Smoke/Suppression and Fire For Effect missions.

• CONDITION: Given a GUARDFIST simulator

and tactical situation along with appropriate
publications to include FM 6-30.

• STANDARD: Be able to locate a target within +/-

250 meters and achieve effects within +/- 50
meters.
 ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
• RISK ASSESSMENT: Low
• ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS: None
• EVALUATION: All materials is testable
on future exams and other graded events.
 ENABLING LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
• Explain the reasons for employing smoke.
• Explain the factors that affect the employment of smoke.
• Explain other considerations to include enemy and friendly
forces
• Explain the types of smoke missions and the CFF of an
immediate smoke mission
• Explain the purpose and requirements for quick smoke and
how to determine them.
• Explain how to adjust quick smoke and the rules for
corrections.
Smoke is the thinking man’s ammunition
SMOKE EMPLOYMENT
• Obscuration
• Screening
• Deception
• Signaling
FM 6-30 Pg. 6-12
 FACTORS AFFECTING
SMOKE EMPLOYMENT
• Wind speed
• Wind direction
• Humidity and precipitation
• Air temperature
• Ammunition amount and type
• Delivery technique
• Command and Control
• Delivery means
FM 6-30 Pg. 6-14
 Equivalent wind scale table
Knots Observation
1 Smoke, breath, dust rises vertically. There is no leaf movement

1-3 Direction of wind slightly shown. Slight movement of leaves

4-6 Wind slightly felt on face. Leaves rustle

Leaves and small twigs in constant motion

7-10
11-16 Wind raises dust. Loose paper and branches move.

17-21 Small trees with leaves sway. Wavelets form on water.

22-27 Large branches in motion. Whistle heard in fence wires

28-33 Whole trees in motion. Effect felt when walking.

Optimum wind speed for smoke is 4-14 knots

FM 6-30 Pg 6-16
 EFFECTS OF TERRAIN

• Seeks low areas

• Deep mud, water, or snow will reduce effects
• Avoid employing on steep slopes
CONSIDERATIONS
Enemy
• Observation Posts
• Tactical movements
• Obstacles
Maneuver Forces
• Command and Control
• Boundaries

FM 6-30 Pg. 6-18

 TYPES OF SMOKE MISSION
• Immediate Smoke
•Goal: Effects within 150M/5Mins
• Shell/Volume dictated by SOP
• Targets of Opportunity
• Quick Smoke
• Maneuver responsibilities
• Normally planned target
 Immediate Smoke
Objective: Obscuration
Employment considerations:
- Similar to immediate suppression
- Can be used again planned target
- Backup for ineffective immediate suppression
- Not as responsive as Shell HE, but suppresses
longer
FM 6-30 Pg. 6-18
 The
adjusting
point for
immediate
smoke is the
target itself
Change to FM 6-30 Pg 6-19
 Immediate Smoke Call for Fire
• One transmission to the FDC
• Normally grid method
• Can be fired on a planned target
• Omit target description

“M 84 de M 32, Immediate Smoke, Grid 355849, k”

 Quick Smoke
Primary Purpose: Screen friendly
maneuver forces
• Best results are as a planned target
• Requires maneuver commander input
• M825 or HC smoke shell types
• May require coordination
FM 6-30 Pg. 6-20
 REQUIREMENTS
Commander’s Guidance FSO Determines

• Nature of target
• Route of march
• Maneuver target
• Size of screen direction (MTL)
• Duration of screen • Adjusting point
• Wind direction
 Maneuver Target Line (MTL)

The MTL is an imaginary line

drawn from the maneuver unit
on the point at which it is most
vulnerable along its route of
march, to and through the
target.
 N
Objective

M T L

To determine the wind

direction you must
Most vulnerable point on route imagine yourself
standing at the most
vulnerable point
looking at the enemy.
 N
Objective

M T L

Most vulnerable point on route

If the wind hits you...
 N
Objective
Left Cross

M T L

Head
Tail

Right Cross
 N

Objective
Left Cross

M T L

Head
Tail

Change to FM 6-30 Pg. 6-17

Right Cross
 How to Determine the MTL
1. Determine the length of smoke screen from the
commander’s guidance.
2. Determine the maneuver unit’s most vulnerable point
3. Determine the wind direction.
4. Determine how many minutes the smoke screen is
needed from the commander’s guidance.
 LMDIRT
L- Length of smoke screen
M- MANEUVER-TGT LINE DIRECTION
D
I Direction of wind
R
T- Time (duration) of smoke screen
 Quick Smoke Call for Fire
H42 de H24, AF, k

Grid 537654, k

Screen enemy OP, 200, MTL 0800, Left

Cross, 7 minutes, Smoke i/e, k

Change to FM 6-30 Pg 6-20

 Practical Exercise
• Given:
Screen size: 500 meters
Duration: 5 minutes
Shell- M825
Adjusting point grid 645890
Target: enemy trench line
Wind is from the right
 Objective
Most vulnerable point on route
T L
M
The adjusting point is
where ever the observer
wants the center of the
smoke screen( in the PE
at grid 645890)
Solution to Practical Exercise
B 77 de B 12, AF, k

Grid 645 890 , k

Screen trench line, 500, MTL 1200, Right

Cross, 5 minutes, Smoke i/e, k
 N

Objective

T L
M

Most vulnerable point on route

The FO adjusts all
adjusting rounds (both
HE and SMK) onto the
ADJ POINT
 N

Objective

T L
M

Most vulnerable point on route

The FDC determines an
aim point for the FFE so
that the center of the
smoke screen is over the
ADJ POINT
 Adjusting Quick Smoke
• HC Smoke
• HE ADJ until splitting the 200 M bracket
• Request shell smoke
• Correct HOB if necessary
• Request FFE
Change to FM 6-30 Page 6-21
• M825
Same as HC smoke, except no HOB
correction is required. The FO may fire
one M825 shell to verify airburst.
Rules for adjusting quick smoke
DEVIATION
Minimum correction- 50 meters
FM 6-30 Pg. 6-18

RANGE
Minimum correction- 100 meters
 HC Smoke Corrections

• Ground Burst- UP 100, FFE

• Bouncing canisters- UP 50, FFE
• Spread out canisters- DOWN 50, FFE

FM 6-30 Page 6-18