ATP 3-09.50 — The Field Artillery Cannon Battery
ATP 3-09.50 governs procedures for cannon battery units, including employment, survivability, gunnery, defense, training, and sustainment.
- Publication number: ATP 3-09.50
- Title: THE FIELD ARTILLERY CANNON BATTERY
- Date: 05/04/2016
- Proponent: T2COM
- Status: ACTIVE
View ATP 3-09.50 on armypubs.army.mil
ATP 3-09.50 covers Army and Marine Corps cannon unit organization, firing positions, laying and reporting data, fire commands, and hasty survey. It includes techniques for battery defense, composite and distributed units, deployment, communications, ammunition management, and training.
Topics covered
- Cannon battery organization
- Howitzer laying and positioning
- Firing position reconnaissance
- Battery defense
- Fire commands
- Minimum quadrant elevation
- Composite and distributed units
- Hasty survey
Questions and answers
What are the limitations of cannon battalions?
All cannon battalions have several limitations. The firing signature of howitzers makes the unit vulnerable to detection by threat target acquisition assets. The battalion has limited self-defense capabilities against ground and air attacks. The battalion also has a limited ability to destroy armored moving targets. (paragraph 1-4)
What does the gunnery sergeant prepare during a daytime position occupation?
The gunnery sergeant prepares the position for occupation, to include: Select howitzer locations. Select FDC location. Issue priorities of work to advance party members. Select orienting equipment location, as required. Establish survey, as required. Determine deflection (DF), distance, and vertical angle to each howitzer location. Record howitzer information on weapons location data card. Obtain site to crest (see Appendix E) and piece to crest range from each howitzer representative. Determine minimum quadrant elevation, as required. Initiate perimeter sketch and defense diagram. Supervise advance party personnel in the execution of their duties. (paragraph 3-41)
What is the preferred defense technique against indirect fire?
The preferred defense technique against indirect fire is a combination of dispersion, hardening, and survivability movements. (paragraph 5-20)
What reports does a howitzer section chief make after firing a round?
The howitzer section chief submits the report SHOT NUMBER (so and so) after a round is fired. However, if the method of fire is more than one round, the howitzer section chief reports SHOT only after the initial round. (paragraph 5-21)
What does the howitzer section chief report when the final round is fired?
The howitzer section chief reports ROUNDS COMPLETE NUMBER (so and so) when the final round designated in the method of fire is fired. (paragraph 5-21)