Infantry Drills

Section IV – Direct Fire Control



Previous: B-31: Avoiding Fratricide and Friendly Fire

B-33. The small unit leader communicates to his subordinates the manner, method, and time to initiate, shift, and mass fires, and when to disengage by using direct fire control measures. The leader should control his unit’s fires so he can direct the engagement of enemy systems to gain the greatest effect. The leader uses IPB and information collection to determine the most advantageous way to use direct fire control measures to mass the effects on the enemy and reduce fratricide and friendly fire from direct fire systems. (Refer to ATP 2-01.3 and FM 3-55 for more information.)

Next: B-34: Fire Control Measures

Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad