FIRING INCIDENT

FIRING INCIDENT BACKGROUND 2 SOLDIERS KILLED/ 13 WOUNDED 1 WAS KILLED NEAR POINT OF IMPACT/THE OTHER WAS KILLED 50 METERS AWAY CASUALTIES WERE FROM AN MI COMPANY CONDUCTING RECONNAISSANCE TRAINING. POINT OF IMPACT WAS A STATIC LOCATION SITTING ON SHELF OUTSIDE THE IMPACT AREA

CONDITIONS POOR LEADERSHIP FDO / FAIRLY NEW TO THE UNIT (INEXPERIENCED) FIRE DIRECTION NCO WAS ALSO NEW TO THE UNIT AND INEXPERIENCED AT THE BATTERY LEVEL. FDC’S WERE BEING CERTIFIED BY THE BATTERY AND NOT THE BATTALION OR DIV ARTY (BDE)

BACKGROUND THE BATTERY OCCUPIED THE POSITION LATE THE PREVIOUS EVENING THE UNIT HAD DIFFICULTIES ESTABLISHING DIGITAL COMMUNICATION WITH THE GUNS (GDU’S). THIS LED TO A LACK OF SLEEP FOR KEY PERSONNEL UNIT WAS PREPARING TO CONDUCT CALIBRATION MISSIONS STARTING AT APPROX 0530. UNIT FIRES TWO CHECK ROUNDS WHICH IMPACTED 930 METERS SHORT OF THE TARGET RESULTING IN THE CASUALTIES HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

WHAT HAPPENED! BC INSTRUCTS THE FDO TO USE THE AFATDS FOR SAFETY COMPUTATIONS, FDO WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SYSTEM FDO DID NOT PERFORM MANUAL SAFETY COMPUTATIONS AS BACKUP AFATDS OPERATOR INPUTS DATA AND PRODUCES SAFETY T’S / THE FDO SIGNS OFF WITHOUT VERIFYING THE DATA AFATDS OPERATOR DID NOT ENTER IN AN ALTITUDE WHEN PERFORMING THE SAFETY COMPUTATIONS FDC CONDUCTS A DRY FIRE MISSION FOR CHECK RDs / QUADRANT EXCEEDS THE SAFETY T

WHAT HAPPENED! BC PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE FDC TO GET THE MISSION FIRED DATA RE-INPUT / OPERATOR FAILS TO ENTER AN ALT AFATDS DEFAULTS TO 0 / DATA NOW WITHIN THE SAFETY T NO SECONDARY CHECK / FDC STILL IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP THE CHART CHECK RDS ARE FIRED AND IMPACT 930 METERS SHORT LACK OF ALTITUDE RESULTED IN APPROX 40 MIL DECREASE IN QE ACCOUNTING FOR 500 METERS / INTERVENING CREST ACCOUNTED FOR THE OTHER 430 METERS.

LESSONS LEARNED PRE-OCCUPATION SAFETY UNDERSTANDING MANUAL GUNNERY AND HOW NON-STANDARD CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT YOUR DATA SELF CERTIFICATION SHOULD NEVER BE AN OPTION SLEEP PLANS ARTILLERY IS INHERENTLY SAFE UNTIL YOU START TAKING OUT THE SECONDARY CHECKS!!!

TROUBLESHOOTING

TROUBLESHOOTING Determine magnitude of the Total Error Isolate errors Use a systematic approach to correct the errors

DETERMINE MAGNITUDE OF TOTAL ERROR Source is observer’s spottings Relative to the Gun-Target line Range errors: Over, short Lateral errors: Left, right Cardinal direction North, south, east, west

ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: ISOLATE ERRORS ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

EQUATIONS AFATDS - ACTUAL ERROR (~10 METERS) ACTUAL - AFATDS WHAT WAS FIRED - WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED ERROR (~10 METERS)

SYSTEMATIC APPROACH 4 1 2 3 5 ACCURATE METRO INFO ACCURATE TARGET LOCATION & SIZE ACCURATE FIRING UNIT LOCATION ACCURATE WPN & AMMO INFO 5 ACCURATE COMPUTATIONAL PROCEDURES

1. ACCURATE TARGET LOCATION & SIZE SYSTEMATIC APPROACH 1. ACCURATE TARGET LOCATION & SIZE

AFATDS SI TGT 400M - PLT 368M VI = +32M SI = +7 SITE ERROR (Example 1) FO reports the MBL is 140M over the target (ref GT line). Actual target ALT is 350M, but the FDO extracts target ALT 400M. Platoon ALT is 368M. What is the magnitude of the SI error? RG 5000, CHG 4GB AFATDS SI TGT 400M - PLT 368M VI = +32M SI = +7 ACTUAL SI TGT 350M - PLT 368M VI = - 18M SI = - 4 SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 5 - CHANGE IN RG FOR A CHANGE IN 1 MIL OF EL AFATDS + 7 mils x - ACTUAL - 4 mils x ERROR 13M = + 91M 13M = - (- 52M) + 143M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) OVER 140 M

SITE ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

AFATDS SI TGT 400M - PLT 438M VI = - 38M SI = - 5 SITE ERROR (Example 2) FO reports the MBL is 250M short of the target (ref GT line). Target ALT is 400M. Actual platoon ALT is 348, but COB ALT in the AFATDS database is 438M. What is the magnitude of the SI error? RG 8500, CHG 2L AFATDS SI TGT 400M - PLT 438M VI = - 38M SI = - 5 ACTUAL SI TGT 400M - PLT 348M VI = +52M SI = + 7 SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 5 - CHANGE IN RG FOR A CHANGE IN 1 MIL OF EL AFATDS - 5 mils x - ACTUAL + 7 mils x ERROR 15M = - 75M 15M = - (+105M) - 180M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) SHORT 180M

SITE ERROR (Example 2) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error? 70M SHORT unaccounted

SITE ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE LATERAL ONLY RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR

2. ACCURATE FIRING UNIT LOCATION SYSTEMATIC APPROACH 2. ACCURATE FIRING UNIT LOCATION

* * ORSTA ERROR (Example 1) + + 34 33 AFATDS 44810 31442 400 32 FO reports the MBL is 500M short of the target (ref AFATDS GT line). The AFATDS operator entered an incorrect ORSTA location. What is the magnitude of the ORSTA error? DOF 1600 A Actual ORSTA B AFATDS ORSTA Target Impact 44 45 46 47 31 32 34 33 A B + * AFATDS 44810 31442 400 - ACTUAL 44310 31442 400 ERROR 500M WEST + *

ORSTA ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

* * ORSTA ERROR (Example 2) + + 34 33 AFATDS 44810 31442 400 32 FO reports the MBL is 500M left of the target (ref AFATDS GT line). The AFATDS operator entered an incorrect ORSTA location. What is the magnitude of the ORSTA error? DOF 6400 A Actual ORSTA B AFATDS ORSTA Target Impact 44 45 46 47 31 32 34 33 A B + * + * AFATDS 44810 31442 400 - ACTUAL 44310 31442 400 ERROR 500M WEST

ORSTA ERROR (Example 2) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

* * ORSTA ERROR (Example 3) + + 34 33 AFATDS 44810 31442 400 32 FO reports the MBL is 350M short and 350M left of the target (ref AFATDS GT line). The AFATDS operator entered an incorrect ORSTA location. What is the magnitude of the ORSTA error? DOF 0800 A Actual ORSTA B AFATDS ORSTA Target Impact 44 45 46 47 31 32 34 33 A B + * + * AFATDS 44810 31442 400 - ACTUAL 44310 31442 400 ERROR 500M WEST

ORSTA ERROR (Example 3) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

ORSTA ERROR (Example 3) + 44 45 46 47 31 32 34 33 A B * 500M 350M 350M

ORSTA ERROR (Example 3) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

ORSTA ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE LATERAL ONLY RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC

AOL ERROR (Example 1) RG 5700, CHG 5WB R50 ACTUAL AOL - AFATDS AOL DOF 1600 = AFATDS AOL Therefore, AFATDS determines DF 3200 R50 Gun fires DF 3200. However, the howitzer is actually laid on DOF 1650. ACTUAL AOL - AFATDS AOL ERROR (RALS) 1650 1600 R50 mils 5.7 x RG (1000’S) ERROR R285M / 1.0186 = R279.8 (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) = RIGHT 280M

AOL ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error?

AOL ERROR (Example 2) RG 6300, CHG 1L L500 1300 1800 L500 mils Gun fires DF 3200. However, the howitzer is actually laid on DOF 1300 L500 DOF 1800 = AFATDS AOL Therefore, AFATDS determines DF 3200 1300 1800 L500 mils ACTUAL AOL - AFATDS AOL ERROR (RALS) x RG (1000’S) 6.3 ERROR L3150M / 1.0186 = L3092.5 (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) = LEFT 3090M

AOL ERROR (Example 2) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error?

AOL ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE LATERAL ONLY AOL RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC

3. ACCURATE WEAPON & AMMUNITION INFORMATION SYSTEMATIC APPROACH 3. ACCURATE WEAPON & AMMUNITION INFORMATION

PROJ [] WT ERROR (Example 1) FO reports the MBL is 50M over the target (ref GT line). M107 on gunline is 5 [], but the AFATDS database contains 3 [] M107. What is the magnitude of the [] weight error? RG 16000, CHG 4H SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 18 & 19 - RG CORR FOR CHANGE IN [] WT +28M = +28M - 24M = - (- 24M) + 52M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) OVER 50M AFATDS D 1[] x - ACTUAL I 1[] x ERROR

PROJ [] WT ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

PROJ [] WT ERROR (Example 2) You have two lots of M107; Lot A is 4 [] and Lot B is 5 []. FO reports one burst out of sheaf, 40M short of the target (ref GT line). Lot A/L was announced as a fire command, but Gun #5 fired lot B/L. What is the magnitude of the [] weight error? RG 5700, CHG 1L SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 18 & 19 - RG CORR FOR CHANGE IN [] WT +0M = 0 M +35M = - (+35M) - 35M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) SHORT 40M AFATDS STD[] x - ACTUAL I 1[] x ERROR

PROJ [] WT ERROR (Example 2) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

PROJ [] WT ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT LATERAL ONLY AOL RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC

SEE TFT, TBL E – EFFECT ON MV FOR CHANGE IN PTEMP PROP TEMP ERROR FO reports one burst out of sheaf, 50M over the target (ref GT line). Gun #2 reports PTEMP 48°F. The AFATDS operator transposes numbers and enters PTEMP 84°F in the AFATDS database. What is the magnitude of the PTEMP error? RG 9000, CHG 2L SEE TFT, TBL E – EFFECT ON MV FOR CHANGE IN PTEMP AFATDS 84°F = ACTUAL 48°F = +0.9M/S - 1.5M/S SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 10 & 11 - RANGE CORR FOR +/-1M/S CHANGE IN MUZZLE VELOCITY AFATDS I 0.9M/S X - ACTUAL D1.5M/S X ERROR - 20.3M = - 18.3M + 20.4M = - (+30.6M) - 48.9M ( EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M ) SHORT 50M

PROP TEMP ERROR Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error? 100M OVER unaccounted

PROP TEMP ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT PTEMP LATERAL ONLY AOL RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC

SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 10 & 11 - RG CORR FOR +/- 1M/S CHANGE IN MV MVV ERROR M94 MVS calibrated MV of 572.3 m/s for Gun #3. The AFATDS operator entered an MVV of -1.5 m/s for Gun #3. FO reports one burst out of sheaf, 220M short of the target (ref GT line). What is the magnitude of the MVV error? RG 6000, CHG 3H, M777A2 SEE TFT, M777A2 STANDARD MV ACTUAL MVV = 572.3M/S - 587.8 M/S = - 15.5 M/S SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 10 & 11 - RG CORR FOR +/- 1M/S CHANGE IN MV +15.8M = +23.7M +15.8M = - (+244.9M) - 221.2M ( EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M ) SHORT 220M AFATDS D 1.5M/S X - ACTUAL D15.5M/S X ERROR

MVV ERROR Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

MVV ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT PTEMP MVV LATERAL ONLY AOL RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC

4. ACCURATE METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMATIC APPROACH 4. ACCURATE METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

METRO ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT PTEMP MVV AIR TEMP AIR PRESS MDP ALT LATERAL ONLY AOL RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC WIND DIR WIND SPEED WRONG MET

5. ACCURATE COMPUTATIONAL PROCEDURES SYSTEMATIC APPROACH 5. ACCURATE COMPUTATIONAL PROCEDURES

DF ERROR (Example 1) ACTUAL DF (FIRED) - AFATDS DF (COMP) ERROR (LARS) FO reports one burst out of sheaf, 950M left of the target (ref GT line). AFATDS operator announced fire command DF 3340, but Gun #1 fired DF 3430. What is the magnitude of the DF error? RG 10800, CHG 7WB AFATDS (COMP) DF 3340 ACTUAL DF (FIRED) - AFATDS DF (COMP) ERROR (LARS) 3430 3340 L90 mils CMN DF 3200 ACTUAL (FIRED) DF 3430 x RG (1000’S) 10.8 ERROR L972M L972M / 1.0186 = L954.3M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) = LEFT 950M

DF ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

DF ERROR (Example 2) ACTUAL DF (FIRED) - AFATDS DF (COMP) ERROR (LARS) FO reports the MBL is 1570M right of the target (ref GT line). AFATDS determined DF 3319, but the operator announced DF 3139. What is the magnitude of the DF error? RG 8900, CHG 3H ACTUAL (FIRED) DF 3139 CMN DF 3200 ACTUAL DF (FIRED) - AFATDS DF (COMP) ERROR (LARS) 3139 3319 R180 mils AFATDS (COMP) DF 3319 x RG (1000’S) 8.9 ERROR R1602M R1602M / 1.0186 = R1572.7M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) = RIGHT 1570M

DF ERROR (Example 2) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

DF ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT PTEMP MVV AIR TEMP AIR PRESS MDP ALT LATERAL ONLY AOL DF RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC WRONG MET WIND DIR WIND SPEED

QE ERROR (Example 1) ACTUAL RG ACHIEVED (QE 530) FO reports one burst out of sheaf, 1700M over the target (ref GT line). AFATDS operator announced fire commands: CHG 4GB and QE 350. Gun #2 fired QE 530. What is the magnitude of the QE error? ASSUME SI = 0, NO OTHER ERRORS EXIST SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 1 - RG CORRESPONDING TO EL (INTERPOLATE TO NEAREST 10M) ACTUAL RG ACHIEVED (QE 530) - AFATDS RG COMPUTED (QE 350) ERROR 7260M 5560M +1700M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) OVER 1700M

QE ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

QE ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT PTEMP MVV AIR TEMP AIR PRESS MDP ALT QE LATERAL ONLY AOL DF RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC WRONG MET WIND DIR WIND SPEED

CHARGE ERROR (Example 1) FO reports one burst out of sheaf, 1140M over the target (ref GT line). AFATDS operator announced fire commands: CHG 4GB and QE 350. Gun #6 fired CHG 5GB. What is the magnitude of the CHG error? ASSUME SI = 0, NO OTHER ERRORS EXIST SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 1 - RG CORRESPONDING TO EL (INTERPOLATE TO NEAREST 10M) ACTUAL RG ACHIEVED (5GB) - AFATDS RG COMPUTED (4GB) ERROR 6700M 5560M +1140M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) OVER 1140M

CHARGE ERROR (Example 1) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error?

CHARGE ERROR (Example 2) FO reports the MBL is 7400M over the target (ref GT line). Fire Order SOP includes CHG 4H and the Fire Command standards include Lot A/H. AFATDS determined data for CHG 4WB and QE 320. The FDO did not verify that the fire commands accurately reflected the fire order, so “CHG 4” was announced as the voice fire command to the gunline. What is the magnitude of the CHG error? ASSUME SI = 0, NO OTHER ERRORS EXIST SEE TFT, TBL F, COL 1 - RG CORRESPONDING TO EL (INTERPOLATE TO NEAREST 10M) ACTUAL RG ACHIEVED (4H) - AFATDS RG COMPUTED (4WB) ERROR 12980M 5600M + 7380M (EXPRESS TO NEAREST 10 M) OVER 7380M

CHARGE ERROR (Example 2) Is it affecting the ENTIRE BATTERY? Is it affecting ONE GUN ONLY? Is it a RANGE error ONLY? Is it a LATERAL error ONLY? Is it a RANGE AND LATERAL error? Does the solution account for the ENTIRE error? 20M Over Unaccounted For

CHARGE ERROR RAPF 1 2 3 4 5 RANGE ONLY SITE [] WT PTEMP MVV AIR TEMP AIR PRESS MDP ALT QE CHG LATERAL ONLY AOL DF RANGE AND/OR LATERAL TARGET LOC OBS LOC / DIR ORSTA / GUN LOC WRONG MET WIND DIR WIND SPEED

TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES 1. IS THE ERROR GUN SPECIFIC OR ENTIRE BATTERY? 2. IS THE ERROR IN DEFLECTION, RANGE, OR HEIGHT OF BURST? 3. ONCE THE ERROR IS ISOLATED, WAS THE ERROR OF THE CORRECT MAGNITUDE AND IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION? 4. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ERRORS? 5. HAS THE DATABASE BEEN VERIFIED? 6. HAS THE GUNLINE BEEN VERIFIED?

THE KING OF BATTLE