Call for Fire

Call for Fire (CFF) is…

- Clear and concise

- Contains all information needed by the Fire

Direction Center (FDC)

- Broken into 3 messages

- Is a request, not an order

 Pre Planned Targets vs. Immediate Fires
Pre Planned Fire targets…
- Location is determined, marked and loaded prior to
operation
- Can be initiated with a fire command or a specified time /
phase of the operation
Immediate Fires…
- Is needed ASAP (oh shit)
- Uses a CFF transmission
 SIX ELEMENTS OF THE CALL FOR FIRE
1. OBSERVER IDENTIFICATION - “Hey you, this is
Me.”

2. WARNING ORDER…
- Clears the net for the fire mission
- Consists of the type of mission (Adjust fire, FFE, Suppress,
Immediate suppression/smoke)
2. WARNO

- Size of the (artillery) element to fire for effect (If not

specified by observer the FDC decides)

- Method of target location (Grid, Polar, Shift from

known point)

“BREAK”
2. WARNO
- “Fire for effect” - Observer is certain the target
location is accurate and that the first burst
should have the desired effect on the target so
that little or no adjustment is required.

- “Adjust Fire” - observer believes the situation

requires an adjusting round because of
questionable target location.
2. WARNO
- “Suppress” - Quickly bring fire on a target that is not
active. Usually fired on planned targets, with the
duration of fire associated with the call for fire.
3. Target Location…
- Grid: 6 or 8 digit grid coordinates of target

- Polar plot: Distance (nearest 100m) and direction (nearest 10

mils) of target from observer’s location

- Shift from a known point: Same as polar (FDC must know the
point)
“BREAK”
4. Target Description…
- Observer describes target in enough detail that the FDC can
determine the amount and type of ammunition to use. The FDC
selects different ammunition for different types of targets.
- Type - troops, trucks, tanks, buildings
- Activity - digging in, in an assembly area
- Size - squad, 4 trucks, 2 tanks
- Degree of protection - in the open, bunkers, armored vehicles
- Target size and shape - only if significant ie. a large compound
with buildings
5. Method of Engagement…
- Consists of the type of adjustment (Area by default)
- Precision fire → point target
- Area fire → moving target or larger area

- Trajectory
- Low Angle (standard)
- High Angle (if requested or mortar fire)

- Ammunition (HE quick fuze by default)

- Projectile: HE, Illumination, Smoke etc.
- Fuze: Quick, Timed etc.
- Volume: Observer can request # of rounds
5. Method of Engagement…
- Mark: Orient observer or indicate targets

- Danger Close within…

- 600m for Artillery and Mortars
- 750m for Naval Guns

- Distribution
5. Method of Engagement…

- Standard Sheaf
- Circular area with a 100m radius
- Implied distribution unless specified
- Converged Sheaf
- Rounds impact at the same point and time on the
ground.
- Small, hard targets
- Parallel Sheaf
- Rounds impact in a straight line
- Bursts spaced one effective burst width apart.

- Open and Special Sheaf

- Popcorn bursts or some other FO stuff
6. Method of Fire and Control…

- The method of fire and control element

indicates the desired manner of attacking the
target, whether the observer wants to control
the time or delivery of fire, and whether the
target can be observed.
6. Method of Fire and Control…
- Method of Fire
- Specific guns and specific intervals between rounds
- Adjust fire uses one gun normally w/ five second interval

- Method of Control
- “FIRE WHEN READY” is implied if not specified (don’t need to say it if it’s what
you want)
- “AT MY COMMAND” “FIRE” this stays in effect until “CANCEL AT MY
COMMAND” is given
- “TIME ON TARGET” observer tells FDC when he wants rounds to impact
- “CONTINUOUS FIRE” load and fire as fast as possible
- “REPEAT” fire again without any adjustments
- “CANNOT OBSERVE, CONTINUOUS ILLUM., COORDINATED ILLUM.”
Full CFF Transmission
“Thunder 6, this is Wolf 6, Fire for effect, Grid, Break”
FDC reads back
“EC 4132, 8675, BREAK’
FDC reads back
“One squad in the open one tank, Danger close, At my command”
FDC read back…
“Fire”
Summary / Back Brief
Pre planned and immediate fires
6 Elements of a CFF
3 Main types of fire missions
3 Main methods of giving target location
3 Main distribution patterns

ATP 3-09.30, Chapter 4, page 4-9

Ragnar HB
Observer ID + WARNO, Target Location, Target description + Method of Engagement +
Method of Fire and Control

FFE, Adjust Fire, Suppress

Grid, Polar Plot, Shift from a known point

Standard, Parallel and Converged