Cpl (Ret) Medina

Medina,

I was doing some research on Mortars, and specifically on making corrections at short ranges, when there is no time to dial up a computer for a perfect correction...

Here is a summary of what I found. (This is based upon the manual I linked you in discord.)

Ladder Fire Adjustment Method (used for saturation and to ensure area is suppressed)

First round is deliberately 50 meters “over” or to one side, second is deliberately ON target, third is 50 meters to the other side.   10 second delay prevents one explosion from obscuring another. This is easier to use when rounds are Short or Over, rather than with Left / Right corrections, but possible...

Example of ladder West to East: Round 1       Round 2 <TARGET>       Round 3.

Bracketing Method (used to get on target quickly for FFE):

Following first shot, Forward Observer makes deliberate correction that is designed to make the second shot miss the target in the opposite direction. If first shot was SHORT, F.O. would call for correction to make second shot go OVER the target. By estimating the distance between the two misses, the mortar crew and work their way into the target, splitting the area of the miss in half until a hit is achieved.

Example:    Round 1       Round 3     <TARGET>Round 4         Round 2.

Creeping Method of Adjustment (used for Danger Close to avoid accidental short rounds / blue on blue)

                Used for Danger Close, or when special precision is required. Forward Observer puts in a 200 meter safety margin to make sure the first round does not fall short and hit friendlies. In this example the forward observer/mortar crew knows that 1200 meters is the correct range, but starts at 1400. He then slowly works the rounds backward by 50 meter increments (short increments) so that he does not mistakenly fire a round short and hit advancing friendly troops. When he is on target, FIre For Effect is called. In this case friendly troops advancing form the south, so first round is 200 meters north intentionally.

Round 1   (1400 meters from Mortar)

Round 2  (1350 meters from Mortar)

Round 3

Round 4 (1250 meters from Mortar)

Round 5 (1200 meters from Mortar) <HIT - TARGET>

Just some concepts that might be useful.

PS - Gave your gunner buddy (Willow) a mathematical way of estimating the amount of degrees to turn right and left to achieve fire that is X meters left or right of a previous shot. Something to try out in training or free time. Cheers.

Galen