User:RekonDog/United States Marine Corps Counter-battery Radar

The United States Marine Corps Counter-Battery Radar, or CBR platoon, is organic to the headquarters battery of the USMC artillery regiment. The platoon consists of a headquarters section, four AN/TPQ-46A radar sections, and a target processing center (TPC). The primary mission of the CBR platoon is to locate enemy rocket, mortar, and artillery weapons and process all acquired enemy locations in a timely manner for counterfire and intelligence purposes. Secondary missions that can be assigned by the supported artillery unit are adjusting or registering artillery.

The CBR platoon is normally employed as a unit and controlled by the regimental artillery commander. The TPC is established in the regimental artillery main combat operations center (COC) or co-located with the fire support coordination center (FSCC) at the Division COC. The CBR platoon commander works closely with the regimental S2 and S3 to ensure that all CBR assets are being optimally utilized and that all counterfire and intelligence data generated by those assets are being processed correctly.

The CBR platoon commander coordinates the employment of radars operating under regimental control. The S2 and S3 provide guidance as deduced from the plan of observation and the S3 designates areas that will receive radar coverage. Based on this guidance, the CBR platoon commander selects a sector of search and general position area for each radar section. The radar section leader selects the actual radar site.

Meteorological and survey support are provided to the CBR platoon by the artillery regimental headquarters battery. If attached to a direct support field artillery battalion, the artillery battalion survey team will provide survey support. Figure 2-9 shows the organization of the CBR Radar Platoon.

Organization
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS

The platoon headquarters consists of the platoon commander and the radar employment chief. They perform duties similar to the radar platoon leader and platoon sergeant in U.S. Army TA organizations. Table 2-6 shows the composition of the platoon headquarters.

AN/TPQ-46A RADAR SECTION

The AN/TPQ-46A weapons locating radar section has a crew of nine marines. Its primary mission is to locate enemy mortars, artillery and rocket firing positions for counterfire and intelligence purposes. This radar is optimized to detect high-angle indirect fire. It is also capable of developing accurate grid locations of indirect fire units using low-angle indirect fire. As a secondary mission the friendly fire mode can be used to perform high-burst, datum-plane, or impact-predict registrations. The fire direction center can use the impact data provided by the radar in the friendly fire mode to conduct adjust-fire missions. Table 2-7 shows the composition of the AN/TPQ-46A radar section.

TARGET PROCESSING CENTER

The TPC is a detachment of the CBR Platoon. The TPC aids in processing counterfire targets and provides liaison between the supported unit and radars. Under most circumstances, the TPC is located with the regimental fire support coordination center (FSCC) to take advantage of available intelligence, facilitate clearance of counterfires and coordinate air attack of counterfire targets with the division air officer. Table 2-8 shows the composition of the TPC.

Mission
DUTIES OF USMC COUNTERBATTERY RADAR PLATOON PERSONNEL The following paragraphs provide the duties and responsibilities performed by USMC radar platoon personnel. The duties performed by USMC radar platoon personnel are very similar to those performed by U.S Army TA personnel.

PLATOON COMMANDER

The platoon commander's duties are similar to the target acquisition or radar platoon leader's duties in Army TA organizations. The platoon commander performs the following duties:

Commands and directs the operations of the platoon.

Advises the supported commander and staff on the technical considerations affecting the employment of radars and recommends the general locations of radar sites.

Performs reconnaissance and selection of radar sites with the radar section leader.

Examines, writes and interprets SOPs, orders, directives and technical publications for data pertinent to employment of radars and the processing of counterfire and intelligence data.

Supervises the activities of all radar platoon personnel.

Inspects and tests equipment to determine the adequacy of maintenance.

Reviews and consolidates requisitions for tools, repair parts, technical supplies and equipment.

Coordinates survey, logistical and security requirements.

RADAR EMPLOYMENT CHIEF

The duties of the radar employment chief are similar to the duties of target acquisition or radar platoon sergeant in Army TA organizations. The radar employment chief performs these duties:

Performs the duties of the platoon commander in his absence.

Plans, coordinates and supervises the internal functioning of the platoon, to include, maintenance, repair, inventory, logistics, administration and training.

Assists the platoon commander.

Orders maps and trig lists for operational areas.

RADAR SECTION PERSONNEL

Radar Section Leader

The duties of the radar section leader are similar to the radar section chief in Army TA organizations. The radar section leader performs the following duties:

Assists the Platoon Commander in the selection of radar sites.

Evaluates the radar site after selection to determine the location of all equipment, vehicles, and local security.

Supervises the march order, emplacement, camouflage, local security and all other activities within the radar site.

Provides completed initialization worksheets to the radar operators.

Checks all initialization data entered into the radar computer prior to the operator entering into the operational program.

Ensures adherence to safety procedures by section personnel.

Instructs radar personnel in radar operations and MOS related skills.

Conducts hasty survey as necessary.

Commands the radar section.

Plans and supervises the maintenance of all section equipment.

Orders parts for repair/replacement of radar equipment through the radar employment chief.

Determines all manual terrain following data.

Radar Watch Chief

The duties of the radar watch chief are similar to the duties of the senior Firefinder radar operator in Army TA organizations. The radar watch chief performs the following duties:

Assists the radar section leader in the accomplishment of his duties.

Performs the duties of the radar section leader in his absence.

Initializes the radar.

Operates or supervises the operation of the radar.

Provides technical guidance and training to the radar operators.

Performs other duties assigned by the radar section leader.

Radar Watch Chief/Radar Operator

This individual performs the same radar operator duties as other radar operators. When this person is the senior individual present in the radar section, he also performs duties as the radar watch chief.

Radar Operator

The duties of the radar operator are similar to the duties of the radar operator in Army TA organizations. The radar operator performs these duties:

Operates, emplaces, and march orders the radar and all auxiliary equipment.

Performs operator maintenance on the radar and all auxiliary equipment.

Provides local security and unit defense.

Camouflages the radar and all auxiliary equipment.

Performs other duties assigned by the radar section leader or watch chief.

TARGET PROCESSING CENTER PERSONNEL

Processing Section Leader

Performs the duties of the radar employment chief in his absence.

Trains and supervises the personnel within the target processing section.

Performs the duties of the Platoon Sergeant of the radar platoon.

Assists the supported unit's S2 and S3 within the COC to ensure proper integration of the Target Processing Center into the COC, and the timely processing of counterfire and intelligence data generated by the radars.

Ensures that the Target Processing Center is fully manned and functioning at optimum efficiency to support all operational commitments.

Makes liaison with the supported unit's Battery Gunnery Sergeant to ensure that all Target Processing Center personnel are included in the unit local security plan.

The Processing Team Leader

Performs the duties of the processing section chief in his absence.

Supervises the operations of his watch section within the Target Processing Center.

Provides technical guidance and training to the members of his watch section.

Performs other duties assigned by the processing section chief.

The Recorder/Plotter

Records counterfire and intelligence data received from the radar teams.

Plots all counterfire and intelligence data received to include radar data, flash and crater analysis rays, to ensure authenticity and to produce actual target data.

Passes all counterfire and intelligence data to the supported unit's S2 after it has been checked, and assists the S2 in processing that information.

Performs other duties assigned by the processing section leader or processing team leader.

The Recorder/Driver

The recorder/driver performs the same duties as the recorder/plotter. In addition, the recorder/driver performs duty as a vehicle driver.