A quick reference taken from the manual to explain fire support.
Guide to Fire Support Parameters
Artillery Parameters
These are the Parameters for Artillery Missions. Which Parameters are shown for a specific request depends on the chosen support asset (for example, Smoke Missions are only available for assets that actually have smoke ammunition available):
Target
Sets the size and shape of the area to hit:
- Point Fire - focuses on a single Action Spot or specific enemy unit.
- Area - one click for the center and one for the perimeter Line - requires two clicks, one for each end of the line.
- Number - sets the portion of the Asset to use, from 1 to the total number in Asset (usually 2, 3, or 4).
Mission
Responsible for establishing initial Rate of Fire (ROF) and sustained ROF:
- Emergency - no spotting rounds, otherwise like Heavy (not available for pre-planned artillery strikes).
- Harass - very slow ROF to conserve ammunition.
- Light - slow ROF, remaining at slow ROF.
- Medium - medium ROF, then going to sustained ROF.
- Heavy - max ROF, then going to heavy sustained ROF.
- Precision - single round, fires up to one precision guided shell per tube at the target. Only available for Pojnt Fire targets. No spotting rounds, and Adjust is not available.
- Smoke - medium ROF, firing smoke ammunition to create a smoke screen rather than explosive ammo to damage or destroy the target.
Duration
Determines number of rounds to use per mission:
- Quick - 2-4 rounds.
- Short - 6-12 rounds.
- Medium - 12-18 rounds.
- Long - 20-28 rounds.
- Maximum - exhausts ammo supply.
Type - sets the munition mix based on the target type:
- General - generic setting.
- Personnel - weights in favor of airburst antipersonnel rounds.
- Note: Planned artillery strikes as well as strikes or- dered on a TRP can airburst if set to a “personnel” target. This simulates the use of timed fuses. Not all shells will airburst, although airburst capability is much more common in modern war titles.
- Delay - establishes when to start the support, prep time inclusive.
The options are:
- Immediate - no extra delay.
- 5 Min - sets for 5 minutes min 10 Min - sets for 10 minutes min 15 Min - sets for 15 minutes min.
Air Mission Parameters
These are the Parameters for Air Missions (which Parameters are actually shown depends on the selected Air asset):
Target
Sets the size and shape of the area to hit:
- Point - focuses on a single Action Spot or unit.
- Area - one click for center and another click for perimeter.
Mission
Responsible for establishing the scope of the attack:
- Light - lighter Munitions.
- Medium - mix of lighter and medium Munitions.
- Heavy - medium Munitions with a smattering of lighter.
Type
Sets the munition mix based on the target type:
- General - favors unguided HE munitions.
- Personnel - favors HE munitions.
Delay
Establishes when to start the support, prep time inclusive. The options are:
- None - no extra delay.
- 5 Min - sets for 5 minutes min 10 Min - sets for 10 minutes min ect.