"Fire discipline - the language of fire control"

 INTRODUCTION

'Fire Discipline' was the term for the procedures (fire orders and reports) for controlling artillery fire.  It's a vocabulary of words and phrases with specified meanings and various conventions applied to gunnery and sufficiently flexible to orchestrate fire in infinite ways.  Its purpose was to eliminate ambiguity and confusion and maximize efficiency in the application and control of artillery fire.  It was the highest priority traffic in artillery communications.  It was used over wireless and line communication and by direct voice on the gun position.

To attack a target the guns have to be told where it is and what is to be done to it.  In an engagement or 'shoot' against any target there were up to three stages.  :

• Initial orders from the observer (or fireplanner) to the Gun Position Officers (GPO) in their Command Posts (CP) and, after editing and calculations, from the CPs to the Numbers 1 of the guns.
• Ranging, when the observer ordered corrections to the CPs to get fire onto the target, with the CPs again editing and calculating data and ordering it to the guns.
• Fire for effect, when the observer ordered the required fire onto the target and the form of its delivery.

Initial orders were always required but an observer could go directly to fire for effect or end the engagement after ranging and registering the target.   Tactical information, notably a description of the target, could be sent at any convenient stage in the shoot since the observer was giving orders it was not required as part of the engagement process by tactical decision makers in the rear unless the observer required a regimental or larger concentration and was not authorised to order it.

The orders and reports flowed between several participants:

• The originator, usually an observer (OP Officer, Forward Observation Officer, Battery Commander, Air OP, Commander's representative), but also Counter Bombardment staff, sound ranging, flash spotting or observation sections in a survey regiment, or any artillery HQ to gun positions and/or HQs.
• Gun positions (Command Post Officer and/or GPO) to observers and HQs, and to the guns.
• GPOs gave orders to and received reports and acknowledgements from the Numbers 1 of the guns.  In most cases the Nos 1 repeated the orders to their gun detachments.  Most notably only the No 1 of a gun could order it to fire (for obvious safety reasons).  Nos 1 acknowledged orders from their GPO using the Tannoy system, if this wasn't working then acknowledgement was given visually by holding an arm vertically, if this visual method was impossible then guns acknowledged in turn by verbally reporting "No 1 (etc) through".

Fire discipline required that orders were always given in a particular sequence and that data was spoken in a particular way, in these examples the 1942 phonetic alphabet is used.  For example:

For elevations (ranges in yards):

• 4000 was spoken as "Four thousand"
• 5600 was spoken as "Five six hundred"
• 8825 was spoken as "Eight eight twenty-five"

For bearings and angles of sight (with either "elevation" or "depression" added) in degrees and minutes:

• 15° 5´ was spoken as "One five degrees five minutes"
• 30° 30´ was spoken as "Three owe degrees three owe minutes"
• 125° 25´ was spoken as "One two five degrees two five minutes"

For switches from a Zero line:

• The zero line "Zero lines'
• 15° right of the zero line was spoken as "Zero, one five degrees"
• 15° left of the zero line was spoken as "Zero, three four five degrees"
• 30° 30´ left of the zero line was spoken as "Zero, three two nine degrees three owe minutes"

Fuze lengths and correctors:

• Fuze 3.5 was spoken as "Fuze three point five"
• Fuze 10.1 was spoken as "Fuze ten point one"
• Fuze 12.0 was spoken as "Fuze twelve"
• Corrector 95 was spoken as "Corrector nine five"
• Corrector 120 was spoken as "Corrector one two owe"

However, for switches from a previous switch (cumulative), more means add, less means subtract:

• 2° 5´ to the right was spoken as "More two degrees five minutes"
• 3° 35´ to the left was spoken as "Less three degrees two five minutes"

Pairs of elevations (optionally used in section ranging):

• 10,000 - 9,100 spoken as "Ten thousand, nine one"
• 7,900 - 7,200 spoken as "Seven nine, seven two"

Observers always ordered corrections, if using distances (instead of angular switches):

• For a shell falling 200 yards left of the target the order was "Right two hundred"
• For a shell falling 150 yards right of the target the order was "Left one fifty"

Intervals between guns firing:

• 5 seconds - spoken as "Five seconds"
• 10 seconds spoken as "One owe seconds"

Recorded targets had the form:

• A12 spoken as "Able one two"
• U 35 spoken as "Uncle three five"

Some of the important conventions of fire discipline were:

• If the observer did not specify ammunition then HE fuzed with No 117 was used with British equipments (or in the case of WW1 legacy guns whatever the standard fuze was, eg No 106).
• If the observer did not specify the method of ranging then a section of two guns firing 5 seconds apart at the same elevation was used.
• If the observer ordered section ranging with different elevations then the right hand gun fired first at the higher elevation.
• Ranging guns reloaded as soon as they fired (unless using time fuzed ammunition) and fired again as soon as they had relayed on the next elevation ordered.

There were other conventions used with air observers, for example reporting the shell's time of flight.

SEQUENCE OF ORDERS

Orders were given by both Observers and GPOs in the following sequence, those in bold were always given by GPOs to the guns.  The same sequence was used during the process of ranging and when moving the fire during fire for effect:

• Nature of Target
• OP only: Target Location - map reference, target number or switch from target
• OP only for regimental and larger concentrations: Target Location - target letter and number
• Ammunition and charge
• Line (either Switch, and if required concentrations or distributions, or "Direct Laying")
• Angle of Sight
• GPO only: position corrections
• OP only: "Apply correction of the moment" (if required)
• Fire by order

and either, when ranging was to be used:

• Method of Ranging
• Interval
• Fuze length or corrector
• Elevation(s)
• Fire

or, when an engagement started with fire for effect:

• Fuze length or corrector
• Elevation(s)
• Number of rounds
• Method of Fire for Effect
• Interval
• Fire

Initial orders

The observer decided the nature of the target, the ammunition, the location of the target and the method of fire.  He usually sent this in two 'packets', the first being the nature of the target and ammunition, this acted as a warning order while he determined the target location, which he then sent with the method of fire.

The nature of target had two elements, the number of guns and any special instructions, for example:

• "Troop target"
• "Link shoot Easy troop control" - a battery target through Easy troop
• "Battery target"
• "Battery gunfire target" - target moving or likely to move, speed essential.
• "Troop close target" - target close to own troops, maximum care in laying, charge not to be changed.
• "Battery smoke screen"
• "Troop target registration" - register one or more points in succession and record them for future use.
• "Troop target fire plan" - register a target for latter use in a fire plan.
• "Regimental target" - until 1943.
• "Mike target, mike target, mike target" - regimental target 1943 onwards.
• "Stonk" - a linear target usually ordered to several regiments, official procedure from early 1944.
• "Fresh target" - the observer engaged a new target of the same nature immediately after the previous one.

Guns were numbered 1 - 4 in each troop, and troops were Able, Baker (P battery), Charlie, Dog (Q battery), Easy, Fox (R battery).

The observer had a choice of four methods of ordering the target location.  These were:

• Switch from zero line and an elevation - "Zero, 5 degrees" and "4500".  This was the preferred method against unregistered troop targets or less and battery targets using the link CP procedure.

This first option was ordered as two separate elements at their place in the sequence of orders, the following were ordered with or as soon as possible after the nature of the target.

• Map reference - "Map reference 123456 height 250 feet", "Map reference 12345678 height 150 feet".  This was always used for regimental and higher targets, unless one or other of the next two methods was used. If the height wasn't given then the GPO(s) found it.  A 6 figure map reference was generally used except for predicted fire and Stonks.
• A recorded target - "Target Mike 7", "DF 26", "DF(SOS)"
• Switch from a recorded target or last target - "Target Able 5 North West 300"; or "South 250" - the guns always remained aimed at the last target unless required to aim at a DF(SOS).  If a single cardinal point bearing was insufficiently precise then two were used - "North 150, West 400"

A target letter and number was always allocated and ordered by the observer for regimental and higher targets (authorised observers were each given a 'block' of unique numbers to use) -"Target Mike 55" (regimental target), "Target Uncle 23" (divisional target).

 The observer could order any facet of ammunition, including shell type, fuze and fuze option, charge - "Charge two" - and propellant. For the observer to order the charge the engagement would be by a battery or less.  If other than the standard impact fuze was required with HE then the observer ordered it - "HE 119 cap on", "HE 231".  If non-standard ammunition was required and might require preparation the observer could order it "Troop target smoke screen, prepare 10 rounds per gun".  If he said nothing the GPO selected and ordered the charge, and propellant type if there was a choice on the gun position, and ordered "HE 117" (or whatever the standard fuze was).  When the GPO had received ammunition orders (as given in 'nature of target'), and if necessary made his own selections, he ordered "Load", unless times fuzes were ordered.  

Whichever method was used for target location the GPO had to have or produce line (eg by the GPOAs measuring it from the artillery board for a map reference or reading it from the target records) and order it to his troop in the form of a switch from zero lines "Zero, 350°".  

The observer could also order concentrations (which meant the guns did not fire parallel but 'converged' their fire) and distributions (which 'undid' concentrations or increased the troop frontage.  Both were usually relative to the pivot gun, and for simplicity in the CP the observer could order the range at which the concentration angle was to apply.

• "Concentrate at 7400" - on the pivot gun (No 1) at a range of 7400 yards
• "Concentrate"- on pivot gun at current range
• "Concentrate on No 3" - at current range
• "Concentrate 20 minutes on No 2" - reduced the troop frontage towards No 2
• "Distribute" - revert to parallel lines of fire
• "Distribute 20 minutes" - increase the frontage from the pivot gun

The GPO would order a calculated or ordered an angular correction as applicable:

• "Concentrate 20 minutes on No 1" - No 2 applies more 20, No 3 more 40, No 4 more 1 degree
• "No 2 more 20 minutes, No 3 more 1 degree, No 4 more 1 degree 50 minutes" - guns widely and irregularly spaced

The observer could order the angle of sight "Angle of sight 2° 20´ elevation" including using zero, again an observer would usually only order this if engagement would be by a battery or less.  The GPO/CPO always ordered an angle of sight common to all guns.

 British practice was to fire with each troop aiming its guns roughly in a straight line at right angles to its line of fire.  This was achieved by 'position corrections', ordered to the nearest 25 yards in range and added to the ordered range by each gun.  If the guns were deployed in a fairly straight line then these corrections would start for the gun furthest from the pivot gun when the switch was about 20° or more from the zero line. The distances were tabulated in Range Tables Part 2.  The GPO ordered them "Position corrections No 4 plus 25" - No 4 gun added 25 yards to all subsequent elevations order during the engagement.

"Fire by Order" meant that the guns could not fire until given the executive order "Fire" originating from the person who initiated "Fire by Order".  The Observer had to order it for divisional and larger concentrations and the GPO always ordered it with air observers. When fire by order was in force "Ready" was reported upwards from the guns to the person who initiated it.  It remained in force until a new sequence of initial orders or "Cancel fire by order"

At this point the sequence of orders diverged depending on whether the engagement was going to start with ranging or fire for effect.  At this point the observer could also elect to control the moment guns fired, both for ranging and for fire for effect, by ordering "Fire by Order".  This meant that the guns had to report "Ready" and the observer order "Fire", althpough he could order fire withpout waiting for the report of "Ready".

If Ranging

The mechanics of ranging are explained on the 'Basics of Gunnery' page.  Method of ranging was always ordered by GPOs and usually by observers.  Since section ranging was standard practice the observer/GPO ordered "Right ranging" or "Left ranging".   If single gun ranging was used then a gun was ordered "No 1 ranging".  With section ranging the observer could order a pair of elevations so that the 2 guns in the section would each fire at a different one "Right ranging 99, 92", and the GPO ordered this to the guns.   The observer could also change the standard interval of 10 seconds for section ranging "Right ranging 10 seconds".

If time fuzed ammunition was being used then the GPO had to order a fuze length (guns didn't have fuze indicators) "Fuze 11.9" or corrector "Corrector 120" if they had indicators.  The observer could order corrector, if the observer did not order a corrector then it meant that ranging was to be with percussion fuzes.

The elevation, the range in yards for guns equipped with guns rules, was ordered by the observer if a switch from zero lines was being used. It was always ordered by the GPO, "7850" whatever the form of target location.

Finally "Fire" had to be ordered by the observer and by the GPO for the first ranging rounds but not for subsequent ones. For these the GPO always ordered an elevation, even if it hadn't changed, and this authorised the ranging guns to fire when laid.  This could be given at any time, but if "Fire by Order" was in force it would not be given until "Ready" was reported.  When the ranging guns fired the GPO reported "Shot" and the number of the first gun firing to the observer, and if the observer had not ordered the elevation (range) this was also reported "Shot 1, 7900".

Ranging continued with the observer ordering switches to move the fall of shot onto the target and, if airburst shells were being to used, to adjust the height of burst.  The normal ranging procedure was to move the fall of shot onto the Battery - Target (BT) line then bracket the target along the BT line. These orders applied to all guns unless particular guns, troops, batteries or regiments were specified.  Line and range corrections could be combined into one order.

• "More 2° 15´" - used with a single battery or less, all guns add 4° to the angle on the dial sight.
• "8200" - used with a single battery or less, all guns set 8200 adjusted for any position correction they have, on the gun rule.
• "Right 200" - GPO/CPO calculates new angular switch and range relative to their BT line and orders it to all their guns - eg "More 1° 30´".
• "Drop 400" - GPO/CPO calculates new angular switch and range relative to their BT line and orders it to all their guns - eg "7800".
• "Raise angle of sight 20´" - the observer could change the angle of sight at any time.
• "Corrector 110" - the observer could change the corrector to adjust the height of burst when fuze indicators are in use. The GPO orders the same correction to the guns.
• "Shorten fuze .2" - the observer could shorten or lengthen the fuze length as an alternative to changing the corrector to adjust the height of burst. The GPO orders the same correction to the guns.

After completion of ranging the observer could order "Record as target Queen 42" or whatever ever number was allotted to him. Letters Able to Fox were for troop targets of those troops in a regiment, Peter to Tare for battery targets for up to 5 batteries in a regiment.  If appropriate the observer could order a final correction to 'record at' without firing it.  Instead of recording the target at this stage the observer could order fire for effect.

Fire for Effect

The order for fire for effect was usually combined with the final ranging correction, and the key elements of the observer's orders were the number of rounds to be fired and the method of fire for effect.  The normal method of fire for effect was 'Gunfire', all methods of fire for effect were an order to fire unless 'fire by order' was in force.  The GPO always ordered the elevation with each fire for effect order, whether or not it had changed from the last ranging or fire for effect rounds.  During fire for effect the observer could order further corrections, 'concentrate' or 'distribute' as necessary at any time.  Orders by the observer and GPO were in the following form:

• "2 rounds Gunfire" - or any other quantity, fired by all guns as fast as they can.
• "5 rounds Gunfire 30 seconds" - each gun fires 1 round every 30 seconds to a total of 5 rounds. The interval could be changed at any time - "20 seconds".
• "5 rounds section fire 30 seconds" - the 2 guns in each section fire in succession from the right with an interval of 30 seconds.
• "5 rounds troop fire 30 seconds" - the 4 guns in each troop fire in succession from the right with an interval of 30 seconds. "from the left" could be added.

Normally guns fired for effect the instant they were ready (loaded, received an elevation, ammunition order and method, and completed laying) unless fire by order was in force. If this was the case then "Ready" was reported back to whoever had initiated "Fire by Order", and this person ordered "Fire"at their right moment.  However, "Salvo" could be ordered in which case the GPO signaled the moment to fire to the guns.  An open ended "Fire" order could be used which meant the guns kept firing Gunfire until ordered to "Stop".

The area covered by a shoot could be expanded by the use of "Sweep" and/or "Search".  Sweep spread the fire out laterally across the line of fire of each troop, search spread it out along the line for fire.  On the guns 'sweep' was achieved without altering the sights, merely standards numbers of turns of the traversing hand wheel.

• "3 rounds Gunfire, sweep 2 degrees" - each gun fires at the current line, then 2° right of it then 2° left of it.
• "3 rounds Gunfire, search 100" - each gun fires at the current elevation then 100 yard plus of it then 100 yards minus of it.
• "3 rounds Gunfire, search 200 by hundreds" - each gun fires at the current elevation then 100 yard plus of it then 200 yards plus then 100 yards minus then 200 yards minus.

Standard stonks were regimental linears 525 yards long, but aligned as necessary.  An 8 figure map reference defined the centre point, "Map reference 12345678" and  the alignment was at right angles to the axis ordered "Axis 50 degrees", "Apply correction of the moment" was also usually ordered.

Another widely used order was "Repeat", this could be used during ranging or fire for effect, but only by observers, and basically meant repeat what you've just done; the GPO(s) gave full orders to their guns.  The last order was 5 rounds Gunfire; "Repeat" meant the guns fire another 5 rounds gunfire, "North West 500 repeat" meant 5 rounds gunfire 500 yards NW of the previous fire for effect.

For concentrations of more than a battery it was often necessary to correct the fire of individual batteries or regiments, particularly if survey hadn't been completed.  This was done by prefixing the order with the code-sign (wireless callsign) of the unit to apply the correction.  These individual orders could be combined with orders to all guns by using the prefix "all".  Controlling concentrations, which could involve guns of different calibres and hence capabilities, could use other orders as well:

• "All engage at  1335 hours" - all guns started firing at the specified time without allowing for time of flight "Time on target 1335 hours" meant the rounds started impacting at the stated time.   
• "No fire after 1340"
• "Scale 4" - scale meant that all ordered batteries and regiments had to fire the equivalent of 4 rounds per gun, if they had troops or batteries on other targets or guns out of action then the fire of these was made up by the others.
• "Rate Normal for 3 minutes" - meant that the guns fired at their normal rate (which varied with the type of gun) for the specified duration.

SOME OTHER TERMS

At the conclusion of ranging or fire for effect the observer could order the target recorded, either at the last firing data "Record as Target Mike 17" or at a correction from the last rounds "Record as target M17 at north 200".

Other terms used by observers and GPOs were:

• "Stop" - stop firing until cancelled by "Go on" or a new sequence of initial orders.
• "Stop loading" - guns cannot reload until "Go on" ordered.
• "Stand fast" - all activity is suspended until "Go on" ordered.
• "Stand easy" - engagement suspended, cartridges unloaded and detachments may withdraw from the guns.
•  "Rest" - engagement temporally suspended, guns made safe but detachments may not withdraw from the guns.
• "Take post" - cancels "Rest" and "Stand easy".

Before moving it may have been necessary to empty the guns by firing them, and with some types of fuzes that could not be made safe these too had to be fired before moving.  The observer ordered "Empty guns" usually with an Add correction (the guns would be laid on either the last target or the DF(SOS)).  If the guns had to move and empty guns had not been ordered then the GPO would request it "Check empty guns".  The order to bring the guns out of action and move was give by the GPO or other officer in command of them and on the gun position "Cease firing".  When the guns were in action on a new position this was reported by the GPO to the observer "Troop ready".

There were also reports and orders for when things went wrong, eg a misfire, a mistake in transmitting orders or incorrect laying.  

Direct fire engagement of tanks had their own orders.  

• "Prepare for tanks" - ordered by GPO if he received information that an attack was likely, guns ensure appropriate ammunition is prepared and anti-tank sights fitted, look-outs posted but normal firing continues.
• "Tank alert" - ordered by the GPO if attack was imminent, other engagements lapse, guns loaded for anti-tank, GPO could order which type of sights were to be used. Cancelled by "Cancel tank alert".
• "Engage" - ordered by the GPO when tanks were to be engaged, it passed control to the Nos 1 of each gun who then engaged tanks in their allotted arc of fire.  A full order might be "Tanks right sector, Right section engage".  Cancelled by "Stop".

COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES

Fire orders had to be transmitted almost always by telephone, R/T or W/T.  When W/T (or L/T) was used then the various fire discipline terms were converted to two and three letter groups using the Artillery Code and transmitted in Morse Code.  More information about artillery communications is on the 'Communications' page.

Simple shoots between an observer and CP were straightforward, the shoot was initiated by the observer (F troop in this example) saying "Fox troop target" and the troop CP repeating "Fox troop target" back.  The main difference between line and wireless was that with the latter each transmission had to be concluded with "Over".  This was important because the observer was probably using a remote unit from his wireless and an operator with the wireless had to listen to the transmissions and switch the remote function between send and receive as necessary. In these simple cases subsequent orders from and reports to the observer dropped the use of troop name or code-sign.  However, they were retained if a rotation shoot was being conducted by wireless, this was used when two observers from the same battery were both engaging their own troop targets.  Code-signs were also retained for concentrations.  However, code-signs were invariable abbreviated to their first letter so that the battery or regiment CP with the code-sign TNQ would be known as "Tare".

EXAMPLES OF SHOOTS

Example 1 - Troop Target Using R/T

 Example 2 - Battery Target Using Linked Troop Procedure via the CP Line Between Troop CPs.  

This example uses a map reference and corrections by the OP in yards, but ranges and switches could be used as in the previous example.

Battery Targets

The Battery CP (BCP) had only one wireless, which was on the regimental net.  Therefore if an OP decided to call a "Battery target", he did so on the battery wireless net by ordering the shoot to both Troop CPs and using a map reference.  The OP's own TCP repeated all orders and the other TCP acknowledged them, both sent their reports to the OP.

When the battery participated in formation (divisional, etc) targets initiated by CRA's representatives, etc, the BCP received the orders from RHQ.  For regimental targets from a CO's representative each BCP would receive the orders directly from the observer.  In these cases the BCP passed the target to its TCPs using the CP line.  For these targets the BCP calculated firing data for both troops and compared it to that calculated by each TCP.

Example 3 - Divisional Concentration by CRA's Representative

Showing communications traffic between regiments and batteries in one regiment (that is ready first and ranges).  Wireless code-signs:

• CRA's Rep - POP 12
• RHQ 1st regiment - DXT
• RHQ 2nd regiment - POP
• BCP P battery - TAN
• BCP Q battery - EST
• BCP R battery - NJL
• RHQ 3rd regiment - AYF

 For regimental and formation targets that were initiated by an observer who was not a CO's, etc, Representative, the relevant HQ had to approve the shoot.  Normally such targets would be initiated by an OP ordering "Mike target, Mike target, Mike target" (etc) to his TCP, who passed it by CP line to the BCP who sent it by wireless to RHQ and the other batteries.  If ranging was ordered the TCP would immediately start preparing to fire.  RHQ would approve the shoot by ordering all or some batteries and a target number "Target numbered Mike 17, All engage" or if less than the full regiment "Target numbered Mike 33, Easy and Nan engage".  The same process was followed for formation targets.  After approving the target, the HQ did not participate further but the orders and reports would continue to flow from and to the OP along the same path - battery net between OP and TCP, CP line to BCP, regimental net from OP's BCP to other BCPs.  If it was a divisional target then RHQs would be involved as in Example 3.

 Copyright © 2002 - 2014 Nigel F Evans. All Rights Reserved.