MG Ammunition Requirements - IASAAW SOP

Learn how to calculate/predict the amount of MG ammo needed to support your mission...

Key Terms

AG - Assistant Gunner (Team Leader)
ASSLT - Assault section/element
BTN - Battalion
CAS - Close Air Support
FO - Forward Observer
HLZ - Helicopter Landing Zone
IASAAW - In the Army Some Always Asks Why
MG - Machine Gun
Mike(s) - Minute(s)
NCO - Non-Commissioned Officer
OBJ - Objective
PLT - Platoon
PSG - Platoon Sergeant (Senio PLT NCO)
SBF - Support By Fire
SQD - Squad
WPN SQD LDR - Weapon Squad Leader

Intro

In this guide we will cover how to:
- calculate the ammo needed for a WPN SQD to sustain a PLTs mission OBJ(s) in combat

Based on the PLT mission(s), the WPN SQD LDR will need to:

• calculate the ammo needed

• consider WPN SQD resupply needs and resupply availability

• plan with PLT PSG/BTN S-4 (Logistics) for needed resupply

For the U.S. Army the PLT is the smallest independent fighting element

This is because a PLT has:

• an officer in charge (1LT) & a senior NCO (PSG)

• 3 'line' SQDs (maneuver) and 1 WPN SQD (fire)

• habitual attachments (medic/FO)

• it can perform ambushes/raids/operate a patrol base

An acronym used to help remember the ammunition planning portion is:

• I-A-S-A-A-W

It is pronounced: I...A...SAW = I A SAW

Rates of Fire

Know the 3 rates of MG fire

IASAAW - In the Army Someone Always Asks Why

I...A...SAW = I A SAW

Another way to remember this is the saying:

• In the Army Some Always Asks Why

Identify Key Events
Allocate Ammo to Each Key Event
Support Movement with Suppressive Fires
Add Everything Together
Analyze and Adjust if Necessary
Work Backwards

I-dentify Key Events

Identify the key events from your mission OBJ(s)

Common examples are:

Raid

• "provide SBF to ASSLT element maneuvering towards breach point"

• "provide suppressing fire for breach element"

• "provide suppressing fire for ASSLT element on the OBJ"

• "prepare for a counter-attack on the OBJ"

Ambush

• "provide automatic fires into 'kill zone' "

• "prepare for a counter-attack"

Defend a Strongpoint

• "sustain MG defensive operations until resupply"

A-llocate Ammo to EACH Key Event

Raid

• "provide suppressing fire for breach element"
  - rapid rate for 5 mikes = 1,000 rds

• "prepare for a counter-attack on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds

Ambush

• "provide automatic fires into 'kill zone' "
  - cyclic rate for 1 mike = 800 rds

• "prepare for a counter-attack"
  - rapid rate for 5 mikes = 1,000 rds
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds

Defend a Strongpoint

• "sustain MG defensive operations until resupply"
  - rapid rate for 10 mikes = 2,000 rds
  - sustain rate for 20 mikes = 2,000 rds

• "sustain friendly counter-attack to ENY flank"
  - sustain rate for 20 mikes = 2,000 rds
  - rapid rate for 10 mikes = 2,000 rds

S-upport EACH Movement with Suppressive Fires

Raid

• "provide SBF to ASSLT element maneuvering towards breach point"
  - sustain rate for 5 mikes = 500 rds

• "provide suppressing fire for ASSLT element on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 8 mikes = 800 rds

Ambush
*No supporting fires for movement*

Defend a Strongpoint

• "sustain friendly counter-attack to ENY flank"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds
  - rapid rate for 10 mikes = 2,000 rds

A-dd Everything Together

Raid

• "provide SBF to ASSLT element maneuvering towards breach point"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds

• "provide suppressing fire for breach element"
  - rapid rate for 5 mike = 1,000 rds

• "provide suppressing fire for ASSLT element on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds

• "prepare for a counter-attack on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds

TOTAL: 4,000 rounds

Ambush

• "provide automatic fires into 'kill zone' "
  - cyclic rate for 1 mike = 800 rds

• "prepare for a counter-attack"
  - rapid rate for 5 mike = 1,000 rds
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds

*No supporting fires for movement*
TOTAL: 2,800 rounds

Defend a Strongpoint

• "sustain MG defensive operations until resupply"
  - rapid rate for 10 mike = 2,000 rds
  - sustain rate for 20 mikes = 2,000 rds

• "sustain friendly counter-attack to ENY flank"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds
  - rapid rate for 10 mike = 2,000 rds

TOTAL: 7,000 rounds

A-nalyze and Adjust if Necessary

Determine:

• how much ammo do I need in total?
  - combat load +20%

• how much ammo do I have available?
  - combat load +20%; 1/2 combat resupply if needed

• when/will I receive ammo resupply?
  - during consolidate & reorganize time via HLZ on the OBJ

• how much weight will all the ammo be?
  - too much for sure

• can I lower my ammo needs?
  
  • number of Key events?
    - cannot lower the number
    
  • number of Movements to Key Events?
    - cannot lower the number
    
  • can I shorten rapid/sustained burst rate?
    
  • can I shorten the time amount on each Key Event/Movement to Key Event?

W-ork Backwards

Ammo Reduction Needs:

- by shortening the length of time of fire (cyclic/rapid/sustained)
- by shortening the time needed to suppress the ENY during friendly movement
- seeking other combat enhancement measures:

• in-direct fires to provide smoke/suppression
  
• CAS support to help suppress ENY forces

***
Take 1 mike off each fire segment:

Raid

• "provide SBF to ASSLT element maneuvering towards breach point"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds 9 mikes = 900 rds

• "provide suppressing fire for breach element"
  - rapid rate for 5 mike = 1,000 rds 4 mikes = 800 rds

• "provide suppressing fire for ASSLT element on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds 9 mikes = 900 rds

• "prepare for a counter-attack on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds 9 mikes = 900 rds

TOTAL: 4,000 rounds new round count: 3,500 (-500 rds)

***
***

Sustained rate of fire every 4-5 seconds every 9 seconds

Rapid rate of fire every 2-3 seconds every 5 seconds

***For ease of calculations BOTH sustained/rapid rates are 10 round bursts***

Raid

• "provide SBF to ASSLT element maneuvering towards breach point"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds
  - every 9 seconds =
  - 60 sec divided by 9 sec interval = 6.67 burst/mike
  - 6.67 burst/mike X 10 mikes = 66.7 bursts over 10 mikes
  - 66.7 bursts over 10 mikes = 667 rds over 10 mikes
  - *1,000 rds* = 667 rds (-333 rds)
  
  
• "provide suppressing fire for breach element"
  - rapid rate for 5 mike = 1,000 rds
  - every 5 seconds =
  - 60 sec divided by 5 sec interval = 12 burst/mike
  - 12 burst/mike X 5 mikes = 60 bursts over 5 mikes
  - 60 bursts over 5 mikes = 600 rds (-400 rds)
  - rapid rate for 5 mike = 1,000 rds = 600 rds (-400 rds)
  
  
• "provide suppressing fire for ASSLT element on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds= 667 rds (-333 rds)
  
• "prepare for a counter-attack on the OBJ"
  - sustain rate for 10 mikes = 1,000 rds= 667 rds (-333 rds)
  TOTAL: 4,000 rounds 1,934 rounds (-2066 rds)
  
  

***REAL WORLD HACKS***

When preparing for BOTH offensive/defensive operations:

1) NEVER use you own combat load, prepare your fighting position(s) with extra ammo. You fighting load is for personal defense or when other sources of ammunition do not exist

2) Keep a 50; 100; or 200 round ammo box attached to your MG, but NOT loaded. Use the extra ammo from point #1 as your ammunition. This way when you have to move, you have a full box of ammo and all you have to do is feed into the MG

3) Mark your rounds every 7 rounds (single dot) for sustained fire and every 11 rounds (double dot) for rapid fire. Use a paint pen in white so that you can identify them better in limited visibility. Mark only the 'link' part and not the bullets or else it will warm your barrel

4) Set up the ammo from point #1 in the correct round count so that you can keep accurate track of rounds used and/or use tracers to help identify your fired round count. Example: if during an ambush you go cyclic 100 rounds, then place 2 tracer rounds next to each other; this will let you know (and your ASSLT element) that you are now going to go to sustained rate for 200 rounds; place another 2 tracer to let you know it's time to change your barrel and that you have 400 more rounds of sustained by using the white dot system to track the accurate ammo usage


Barrel changing based on rates of fire:

Sustained: every 10 mikes
Rapid: every 2 mikes
Cyclic: every mike

1 can = 200 rounds

1 minute of cyclic (650 - 950 rds.) = barrel change

Add tracers at known intervals and set amount to indicate ammo usage
Example: 1 tracer as the first round, then 2 tracers every 100 rounds and 3 tracers at the end

Real World Ammo Carrying SOP

While mounted vehicles can literally carries THOUSANDS of rounds, dismounted infantry often can only take the amount they can carry and still be functional with the PLT.



As you can see, a typical light infantry WPN SQD carries: 800 rds
How many ENY contacts will reduce the WPN SWD to BLACK ammo?

Conclusion

[Greybeard]

CubicCarl, I sincerely appreciate your support and I haven't kept count but I'll try to do my best to keep it going ! !