FM 1-140 Helicopter Gunnery
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This document reproduces the complete and unabridged text of a United States Army Field Manual first published by the Department of the Army, Washington DC. All source material contained in the reproduced document has been approved for public release and unlimited distribution by an agency of the US Government. Any US Government markings in this reproduction that indicate limited distribution or classified material have been superseded by downgrading instructions that were promulgated by an agency of the US government after the original publication of the document. No US government agency is associated with the publishing of this reproduction. Digital viewer interface reformatting, viewer interface bookmarks and viewer interface links were revised, edited, ammended, and or provided for this edition by I.L. Holdridge. This page and the viewer interface reformatting © I.L. Holdridge 1999. All rights reserved. *FM1-140 Headquarters Field Manual Department of the Army 1-140 Washington, DC, 29 March 1996 FM 1-140 HELICOPTER GUNNERY Table of Contents PREFACE CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Training Strategy Gunnery Standards Gunnery Tables Readiness Reporting Master Gunner Program Weapons Training Standards CHAPTER 2. HELICOPTER GUNNERY TRAINING STRATEGY Section 1. Training Assesment and Planning The Commander's Assesment Planning the Training Effective Assesment and Training Section 2. Pregunnery Training Subject Areas and Techniques Table V Section 3. Helicopter Gunnery Range Training Qualification Gates Individual Gates Crew Simulator/Ground Training Gates Crew Live-Fire Gates Engagement Scoring System Scoring Criteria Engagement Scoring Scoring Moving Engagements Scoring Hellfire Engagements with the VRS and AVTR Remote Hellfire Engagement Scoring Section 4. Posttraining Assesment After-Action Review Required Documents Range Score Sheet CHAPTER 3. RANGES FOR HELICOPTER GUNNERY TRAINING Section 1. Range Requirements Range Considerations Realistic Training Operational Requirements Range Scheduling Section 2. Personnel Responsibilites and Duties Officer in Charge Range Safety Officer Master Gunner Laser Range Safety Officer or NCO Radio Operators Class III/V OIC or NCOIC Section 3. Helicopter Gunnery Range Safety Ground Safety Firing Safety Aircraft Emergency Plan Section 4. Range Layout Considerations Multipurpose Range Complex Aerial Weapons Scoring System Attack Helicopter Gunnery Range Section 5. Successful Training Guides to Successful Training CHAPTER 4. BALLISTICS Interior Ballistics Exterior Ballistics Aerial Ballistics Terminal Ballistics Dispersion CHAPTER 5. MUNITIONS FOR HELICOPTER WEAPON SYSTEMS Section 1. Linked Ammunition 7.62 Millimeter for M60/M60d Machine Gun .50 Caliber for OH-58D Kiowa Warrior 20-Millimeter for AH-1E/F 30 Millimeter forthe AH-64 M230 Cannon Section 2. Rockets 2.75 Inch Rockets Rocket Warheads (Tactical and Training) Fuzes Section 3. Missiles Missile Configurations Missile Performance Capabilities Missile Performance Distracters TOW Missile Air-To-Air Stinger CHAPTER 6. CREW WARFIGHTING Section 1. Fratricide Prevention Situational Awareness Contributing Factors Fratricide Prevention Section 2. Target Aquisition Acquisition Defined Target Acquisition Process Crew Search Aerial Search Techniques Techniques for Crew Search Target Detection Target Detection Challenges Target Location Target Classification Confirmation Section 3. Range Determination Range Determination Aircraft Mil Values Laser-off Operations Section 4. Crew Communications Crew Communications Fire Commands Lines of Communications Phraseology Remote Hellfire Missile Firing Remote Call for Fire Call for Fire Description Example of Call for Fire, One Missile, Two AHs Example of Call for Fire, Two Missiles, Ripple Fire, Two AHs Autonomous Fire Mission to Apache Section 5. Precombat Checks Precombat Checks Before Mission Receipt Checks Upon Mission Receipt Preparing for the Mission Final Checks Crew Checks Run-up Checks Communications Checks Conclusion CHAPTER 7. ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES Section 1. Modes and Types of Fire Types of Fire Modes of Fire Target Effect Standards Section 2. Terminology and Information on Weapons Effective Range 2.75 inch Rocket Boresighting and Dynamic Harmonization Section 3. Crew Techniques Firing Techniques TTP for the Modes of Fire Section 4. Night Gunnery for Non-C-NITE AH-1 AH-1 Night Firing Issues with Night AH-1 Gunnery Section 5. Air Combat Weaponeering Weapon Systems Engagement Ranges Target Engagement Factors APPENDIX A. HELICOPTER DOOR GUNNERY APPENDIX B. HELICOPTER GUNNERY TABLES APPENDIX C. ENGAGEMENT TIME POINT CALCULATION SHEETS GLOSSARY REFERENCES AUTHENTICATION DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes TC 1-140, 30 September 1991. PREFACE This manual describes the helicopter gunnery training and qualification portion of Army Aviation's Aircrew Training Program. It provides tactics, techniques, and procedures for crews, teams, platoons, companies, and battalions to engage and destroy enemy targets efficiently in combat. This manual is written for commanders, staffs, aircrews, and instructors. It is for use in coordinating, planning, executing, and teaching helicopter gunnery training and qualification. Through the Aircrew Training Program, it links the training and qualifications of helicopter weapons systems to the doctrinal employment of Army Aviation. In addition, FM 1-140 outlines a standardized, progressive program to train weapon system proficiency through the conduct of helicopter gunnery tables. Ammunition resources in this manual reflect authorizations contained in DA Pamphlet 350-38. All Aviation units are encouraged to recommend ideas to upgrade the tasks, conditions, and standards in this manual. The proponent of this publication is HQ TRADOC. Send comments and recommendations on DA Form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) to Commander, United States Army Aviation Center and Fort Rucker, ATTN ATZQ- TDS (Helicopter Gunnery), Fort Rucker, AL 36362-5000. This publication implements the following international agreement: STANAG 3117 (Edition Five) Aircraft Marshalling Signals (Air Sdt 44/42A) This publication has been reviewed for operations security considerations. Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns and pronouns do not refer exclusively to men. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Army must prepare its soldiers, leaders, and units to deploy, fight, and win in combat at any intensity level, anywhere, anytime. Therefore, our training is top priority, and the focus of training is on our wartime mission. An important part of the wartime mission for units equipped with armed helicopters is helicopter gunnery. Every training program, including helicopter gunnery, must be carefully planned, aggressively executed, and thoroughly assessed. 1-1. TRAINING STRATEGY The helicopter gunnery program begins with individual qualification on aircraft weapon systems and progresses through crew qualification to unit collective training. The unit training strategy must build on the skills learned by individual crew members during the aircraft qualification course. It must include and balance individual, gunnery, tactical, and maintenance training for both aviators and support personnel. The unit gunnery program must be progressive and continuous. It must emphasize training that allows integration of new personnel while maintaining qualified crews. This manual provides commanders with the information and guidance needed to develop and incorporate gunnery training into the Aircrew Training Program while meeting the standards in DA Pamphlet 350-38, Chapter 7. This program is focused on building warfighting units that can engage and destroy the enemy. a. Helicopter gunnery range training is a training event where individuals, crews, teams, and companies show proficiency and validate the operational readiness of the helicopter weapon systems. Crew qualification on Table VIII is the cornerstone of this gunnery program. Table VIII qualification is a live-fire event and an annual requirement. Once crews qualify, units can begin work on the advanced tables that focus on collective training. b. The unit's mission essential task list and mission training plan enable the commander to focus helicopter gunnery training on the unit's primary mission. This procedure allows the commander to exercise command, control, and communication functions while conducting gunnery. Commanders can use training devices like the MILES/AGES to enhance the collective training program so that the unit can train as it fights. Commanders tailor the advanced tables (Tables IX through XII) to meet their particular unit's mission and training requirements. 1-2. GUNNERY STANDARDS The goal of Army training is a combat ready force that can deploy on short notice, fight, and win. To achieve this goal, commanders must have a common set of weapons and weapon systems qualification standards. They also must have an objective way to judge those standards. Army Aviation's gunnery program standards are discussed below. a. The Aerial Weapon Scoring System or comparable DA approved objective scoring system is the standard for objective scoring of cannon and rocket fires with no subjective upgrades. b. A target hit within the effective range of the system is the standard for cannon and machine gun engagements. c. A target hit also is the standard for Hellfire, TOW, and Stinger missile engagements. d. Target neutralization is the standard for rocket engagements.