Prepare a Range Card for a Machine Gun

8/3/2019 Prepare a Range Card for a Machine Gun

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Prepare a Range Card for a Machine Gun

071-000-0005

Conditions: During daylight, in a defensive fighting position, given a tripod-mounted machinegun with a traversing and elevation (T&E) mechanism; an assigned primary sector of fire withrecognizable targets (either an FPL [final protective line] or PDF [principal direction of fire]); a

secondary sector of fire with recognizable targets; blank DA Forms 5517-R, Standard RangeCard; a pencil; a lensatic compass; and a map of your assigned sector of fire.

Standards: Prepare a range card for your position in duplicate; sketch the terrain in your assigned sector of fire; locate and sketch magnetic north using the appropriate symbol; andsketch sector limits, the gun symbol, an FPL or a PDF, and dead space. In the DATA SECTIONwrite the weapon, the unit, and other data; sketch terrain features that offer likely targets andnumber them in priority; and record the range and direction to and the elevation and descriptionof each target.

Performance Steps

1. Show the gunner where to place fires on designated targets during limited visibility conditions such

as night, fog, or smoke.2. Provide the gunner conducting a relief in place with all the information he needs to respond

immediately to enemy action.

3. Provide the platoon leader and company commander with information they need to plan fires.

4. Write all necessary information on the range card. Prepare a duplicate range card for the platoonleader. Include all sketches, symbols (Figure 071-000-0005-1) and data on both copies.

Figure 071-000-0005-1. Symbols.

a. On the range card, roughly sketch the terrain in front of the position.(1) Center the machine gun position at the bottom of the sketch.(2) Include any prominent natural and man-made features that a target could use to take

cover.b. Using the lensatic compass, determine magnetic north.c. Write the following information in the top portion of the range card (Figures 071-000-0005-2

and -3):



Performance Steps

Figure 071-000-0005-2. Primary sector with principal direction of fire.



Performance Steps

Figure 071-000-0005-3. Primary sector with final protection line.

(1) SQD. Write in the squad's designation.(2) PLT. Write in the platoon's designation.(3) CO. Write in the company's designation.(4) MAGNETIC NORTH. Sketch the direction for magnetic north using the symbol shown in

B, Figure 071-000-0005-1.d. Determine the location of the gun position relative to a prominent terrain feature. You could

use a hilltop, road junction, or building--in other words, use either a man-made or naturalterrain feature.

(1) Use any terrain feature located within 1,000 meters of the gun.(2) If no such feature exists, then, somewhere near the gun position on the sketch, write in

the eight-digit map coordinates for your position (Figure 071-000-0005-2).(3) Use a compass to determine the azimuth in mils or degrees from the terrain feature to

the gun position or from the gun position to the terrain feature. Compute the back

azimuth from the gun to the feature by adding or subtracting 3,200 mils or 180 degrees.(4) Determine the distance between the gun and the feature by pacing or looking at a map.(5) Draw the terrain feature in the lower left- or right-hand corner of the card, whichever

better shows the terrain feature's position relative to the gun.(6) Draw a barbed line between the position and the terrain feature.(7) Above the line, record the distance in meters.(8) Below the line, record the azimuth in mils or degrees from the terrain feature to the gun.(9) Use the direction of the arrow's barbs to show the direction of the azimuth.

e. Sketch the primary sector of fire (C, Figure 071-000-0005-1), using either a PDF or an FPL.



Performance Steps(1) FPL. Use a FPL (Figure 3 DATA SECTION, Item No. 1) only if the position offers a good

grazing distance. Base the primary sector of the line of fire. Make the FPL the sector limit closest to friendly troops.( a) Sketch in the limits of the primary sector of fire.( b) Sketch an FPL (D, Figure 071-000-0005-1) on the sector limit assigned by your

leader.( c) Have someone walk the FPL (if the enemy situation permits) to identify and

measure dead spaces (section[s] of a FPL where a person drops below the light of sight).

( d) Show the dead space(s) on the sketch by a break(s) in the FPL symbol. Write inthe ranges to the beginning and end of each dead space(s).

( e) Write in the maximum range of graze.(2) PDF. If you cannot identify an FPL, you must assign a PDF (Figure 071-000-0005-2

DATA SECTION, Item No.1).( a) Sketch in the limits of the assigned primary sector of fire, whose angle should not

exceed 875 mils (the maximum traverse of a tripod-mounted machine gun).( b) Sketch the symbol for a light automatic weapon (A, Figure 071-000-0005-1). Orient

the symbol toward the most dangerous target in the sector. (Get this informationfrom the platoon leader.)

f. Label the targets in the primary sector in their order of priority. Label the FPL or PDF with thenumber "1" (Figures 071-000-0005-2 and -3).

g. Sketch the secondary sector of fire (E, Figure 071-000-0005-1).(1) Label the range (in meters) from the gun to each target in the secondary sector.(2) Sketch aiming and elevation stakes between the gun position and the target as shown

in Figures 071-000-0005-2 and -3.

5. Using the T&E mechanism, determine the direction, elevation, and range to each target. Write thisinformation in the DATA SECTION of the range card as follows (Figures 071-000-0005-2 and -3):

a. Center the traversing handwheel on the center mark.b. If assigning an FPL, lay the gun for direction. For this step, you will not write anything on the

range card.(1) Lock the traversing slide on the extreme left or right side of the bar, depending on which

side of the primary sector the FPL is on.(2) Align the barrel on the FPL by moving the tripod legs.



Performance Steps

Figure 071-000-0005-4. Traversing and elevating mechanism.

c. When assigned a PDF, lay the gun for direction.(1) Align on the primary sector by traversing the slide to one side.(2) Move the tripod to align the barrel on the sector limit.(3) Align on the PDF by traversing the slide until the machine gun is aimed at the center of

the target.d. Fix the tripod legs in place by digging them in or sandbagging them.e. Determine the direction to each target.

(1) Lay the gun on the base of the target.

(2) Read the direction on the traversing bar at the left edge of the traversing bar slide(figure 071-000-0005-4).(3) Determine by the direction of the barrel whether the reading is right or left.

f. Determine the elevation for each target.(1) Lay the gun on the base of the target by rotating the elevating handwheel (figure 071-

000-0005-4).(2) Read the number (including a "+" or "-" sign, unless the number is "0") above the first

visible line on the elevating scale. (In figure 071-000-0005-4, this reading is "-50.")(3) Read, from the elevating handwheel, the number in line with the indicator. (In Figure

071-000-0005-4, this reading is "3.")

6. Record the data you found using the T&E mechanism (Figure 071-000-0005-4).a. Enter the reading in the ELEVATION column in the DATA SECTION of the range card,

separating the two numbers with a slash.

b. Enter the range to each target in the appropriate column in the DATA SECTION.c. Enter the description of each target in the appropriate column in the DATA SECTION.d. Fill in the REMARKS block for each target as needed.e. Enter the width and depth (in mils) of linear targets. The "-4" in Figure 071-000-0005-3

REMARKS block means that depressing the barrel 4 mils will cause the strike of the roundsto go to ground level along the FPL.

f. When entering the target width (TW) in the REMARKS block, give the width in mils, andexpress it in two values. For example, in Figure 071-000-0005-2, Target 3 measures 7 milswide. The second value, R3, means that if the gunner lays the gun on the target and



Performance Stepstraverses 3 mils to the right, the point of aim will lay to the right edge of the target. Target 3,Figure 071-000-0005-3, shows the width of the target as 15 mils; traversing 8 mils to the leftwill move the point of aim to the left edge of the target.

g. Do not determine data for the secondary sector of fire; the gunner will fire the weapon in thebipod mode.

7. Keep one copy of the range card at the machine gun position. Send the other copy to platoonheadquarters. Complete range cards for primary positions. Partially prepare range cards for alternate and supplementary positions. Prepare the range card as soon as you arrive in a position,regardless of the expected length of stay. Continually revise the range card the whole time youoccupy the position.

Evaluation Preparation: SETUP: Provide the Soldier with all the equipment to prepare a rangecard: pencil, paper, a stationary firing position, sector of fire, and a designated target referencepoint.

BRIEF SOLDIER: Tell the Soldier to prepare only one copy of the range card for trainingpurposes.

Performance Measures GO NO-GO

1. Prepared the range card. —— ——a. Sketched the terrain located in front of the position.b. Determined the direction of magnetic north.c. Sketched the direction of magnetic north.d. Completed the DATA SECTION.e. Determined the location of the gun position relative to a prominent terrain

feature.f. Sketched the primary sector of fire using either a PDF or a FPL.

g. Labeled the targets.h. Sketched the secondary sector of fire.

2. Used the T&E mechanism, determined the direction, elevation, and range. —— ——

a. Centered the traversing handwheel.b. Layed the gun for direction.c. Adjusted the tripod legs.d. Read the direction to each target.e. Read the elevation to each target.

3. Used the T&E mechanism to determine data for targets and record it on the rangecard.

—— ——

a. Entered the reading for elevation in the ELEVATION block in the DATASECTION of the range card.

b. Entered the range to the target in the RANGE block in the DATA SECTIONof the range card.

c. Described each target in writings.d. Completed the REMARKS block for each target, as needed.

Evaluation Guidance: Score the Soldier GO if all performance measures are passed. Score theSoldier NO-GO if any performance measure is failed. If the Soldier scores NO-GO, show theSoldier what was done wrong and how to do it correctly.

ReferencesRequired RelatedFM 3-22.68



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Prepare a Range Card for a Machine Gun