Figure 4-22.--Panoramic view of tactical area.
troops or equipment, and the targets with their
Scenario
individual data.
A machine gun fire team has been attached to the
EXPEDIENT METHODS OF LAYING
third platoon of Alfa Company. The squad leader and
FOR PREDETERMINED FIRE
another gun team have become casualties. The
platoon is deployed in a tree line overlooking a bridge.
The enemy is suspected to have infiltrated the village
During different tactical situations, a T and E
on the other side of the river. The mission of the
mechanism (refer to Seabee Combat Handbook,
platoon is to stop any attempt from the enemy to cross
Volume 1, for predetermined fire) may not be
the river via the bridge. The first platoon is to the right
available. This may be due to the lack of either a T
of the third platoon, and Bravo Company has joined
and E mechanism or a tripod or a system is needed
the third platoon on the left. The commander of the
that is more applicable to firing at night. Whatever
third platoon has informed the machine gun team
the reason, the following methods can be just as
leader that the machine gun fire team is to be deployed
effective:
on the left flank of the platoon. The team leader is to
1. Muzzle Stakes: This method is good for night
get the best angle to fire across the bridge. The team
firing. It requires no illumination to lay on a target and
leader informs the machine gun fire team to lay the
can be used with or without a T and E mechanism. It is
gun on a PDF centered on the bridge. The lone tree
on the immediate right is the right sector limit, and the
most effective when used with your gun mounted on a
leftmost edge of the grove of trees across the river is
tripod. It can be used from a bipod mount if a notched
stake is used to stabilize the rear of the weapon. Each
the left sector limit. Using a compass or GPS, the
target is designated by driving a stake into the ground
machine gun fire team has located the gun at grid
coordinate 468262. The grid is also 350 meters from
under the muzzle. Drive the stake into a position and
to a depth that will result in the gun being correctly
a road junction that is located on a magnetic back
aimed when the muzzle is lowered directly over the
azimuth of 5,420 mils. The PDF lies on a magnetic
stake (fig. 4-25). The gun is tripod-mounted and will
azimuth of 4,120 mils.
use swinging traverse fire.
Figure 4-23 shows the beginning stages of the
2. Notched Log under Muzzle: Instead of using
range card. It shows the weapon symbol, the magnetic
individual stakes, this method uses a log or board under
North arrow, the magnetic orientation line and
the muzzle. This method is also used for night fire.
location grid coordinates, the sector limits, and the
Notches are cut into the log or board to the depth and
PDF.
position required to fire on each target. This method is
Figure 4-24 shows the completed range card.
very limited in depth, but if the ground that is fired over
Details have been added, such as the unit identification
is level or uniformly sloping, this may not be a problem
block, the terrain features, the location of friendly
