Modelo de Planeación Estratégica

Mechanized units are trained to use terrain driving techniques to conceal movement, and drivers are taught to move vehicles quickly from one concealed position to another. TOW gunners and squad leaders must determine the range to a target and determine if the exposure time―the time a vehicle is in an opening between positions―is long enough to allow a missile to reach its target.

a. Determine if a Target is Within Range. The TOW gunner or squad leader can use the nightsight method or the binocular method to determine if a target is within range. (1) Nightsight Method. The reticle within the nightsight is marked with stadia lines on each side of the vertical crossline and just above the intersection of the vertical and horizontal crosslines (Figure 5-1, page 5-2). Use these stadia lines to determine if a target is within range.

(a) Check to ensure the nightsight is in the narrow field of view.

(b) Look at the flank (broadside) of a target. If the ends of the target touch or extend beyond the stadia lines, the target is within range (Figure 5-2, page 5-2).

(c) If the target is moving straight or at an angle toward the position, use one-half of the stadia lines. If one side of the vehicle touches one of the stadia lines and the other side of the vehicle touches or extends beyond the vertical line of the crossline, the target is within range (Figure 5-3, page 5-2).

Figure 5-1. Stadia lines.

Figure 5-2. Target within range.

Figure 5-3. Target moving straight toward or away from position within range.

NOTE: When using the stadia lines to determine if a target is within range, keep two things in mind. First, the range is a rough estimate, based on the size of the target. A large vehicle may be out of range when the stadia lines show it to be in range. Second, the stadia lines are designed for a maximum engagement range of 3,000 meters.

(2) Binocular Method. Use the reticle in binoculars to determine if a target is within range by looking at the length, width, or height of the vehicle. Follow the same procedures when using the M17 and M19 binoculars, even though the reticles differ slightly. The M17 tick marks are only 1.7 mils long while the tick marks on the M19 reticle are 5 mils long (2.5 mils on each side of the horizontal and vertical scales).

(a) To determine if a target is within range at 3,000 meters based on the length of the target, place the length of the target on the vertical scale. If one-third or more of the vehicle extends beyond the tick mark, the vehicle is in range (Figure 5-4). A vehicle 6.5 meters long will measure about 2.2 mils at 3,000 meters and about 1.7 mils at 3,750 meters.

Figure 5-4. Target within range (flank or oblique) using M17 binoculars. (b) To determine if a target is within range at 3,000 meters based on the width of the target, place the target on the small tick mark on the vertical scale. If the target covers two-thirds or more of the tick mark, the vehicle is within range (Figure 5-5, page 5-4). A vehicle 3.4 meters wide will measure 1.1 mils at 3,000 meters and .85 mils at 3,750 meters. (Most Warsaw Pact APCs are less than 3.4 meters wide and can be engaged at smaller mil values.)

(c) To determine if a target is within range at 3,000 meters based on the height of the target, place the target on one of the tick marks on the horizontal scale. If the height of the vehicle is one-half or more of the height of one of the tick marks, the vehicle is within range. A vehicle 2.4 meters high (the size of most Warsaw Pact vehicles), will measure .8 mils at 3,000 meters and .6 mils at 3,750 meters (Figure 5-6, page 5-4).

Figure 5-5. Target within range (frontal or rear) using M17 binoculars.

Figure 5-6. Target within range based on height.

NOTE: This method cannot be used if the weapon system is in an elevated firing position or if the lower portion of the target vehicle is hidden by foliage or terrain.

b. Determine Exposure Time. The half-sight method of determining exposure time is based on a vehicle speed of 35 kilometers per hour (the expected top vehicle speed of armored vehicles on level or gently sloping dry terrain).

(1) Daysight Tracker Method. Use the crosslines on the daysight tracker to determine the exposure time of a target.

(a) Place the crosslines of the daysight tracker on the center of the visible mass of the vehicle.

(b) If the area between the vertical crossline and the edge of the field of view in the direction of travel is clear of obstruction, the target is engageable (Figure 5-7).

(c) If obstructions appear between the vertical crossline and the edge of the field of view, the time of exposure would not be long enough for the missile flight before the target moved out of sight (Figure 5-7).

Figure 5-7. Obstruction.

(2) Nightsight Method. The procedure to determine exposure time is the same for the nightsight as for the daysight tracker, except the nightsight must be set on narrow field of view.

(3) Binocular Reticle Method. Use the reticle in the binoculars to determine the exposure time of a target.

(a) Place the zero tick mark of the horizontal scale at the center of the vehicle.

(b) If the area between the vehicle and the 50-mil tick mark is clear of obstructions in the direction of travel, the target is engageable (Figure 5-8).

Figure 5-8. Binocular reticle method. 5-2. FIRE COMMANDS

The six elements of a fire command are alert, type of missile, target description, target direction, range, execution, and closing. Whether mounted or dismounted, the elements of the fire command are the same. (Figure 5-9, page 5-6, shows an example of a squad fire command.)

Figure 5-9. Example of a squad fire command.

a. Alert. The first element of the fire command alerts the crew for an immediate engagement. The squad leader commands, “Squad,” and the gunner begins observing the target area.

b. Type of Missile. Because a variety of TOW missiles are used and their capabilities vary, a particular type of missile must be specified. A TOW crew in battle will probably have a mix of different missiles and a wide variety of target arrays to engage (see Chapter 1, TOW missile types and configurations). For example, if the target is a BTR-60 or BMP-1, the squad leader may command, TOW 2; if the target is a T-80 with reactive armor, he may command, TOW 2B.

c. Target Description. The second element identifies the target for the gunner. If several similar targets are present, this element tells the gunner which target to engage first. Most targets can be described by using the terms listed in Table 5-1. Targets that are combinations of the ones listed in Table 5-1, such as a truck mounting a missile system, are identified by combining terms—for example, TRUCK MOUNTING ANTITANK. When the gunner sees the target, he announces, “Identified.” If multiple targets appear, the commander may specify which target will be engaged by the gunner--for example, FIRST TANK or RIGHT TRACK. (See Appendix H for information on OPFOR/Threat counterpart systems.)