Gunnery Officer Gunnery Officer INFORMATION SHEET
STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY
Information Sheet Number: 1.14
INTRODUCTION
As with ship handling, standard phraseology is an extremely important part of any gun fire exercise. Gunnery Officers must ensure all personnel involved with gun fire exercsies know and understand the proper terminology and phraseology associated with gun firings. This is especially important in the event of a casualty. There can be no confusion among key watch standers and personnel regarding gunnery commands and status reports. Standard phraseology is the key to avoiding any confusion.
REFERENCES
(a) Ship specific Combat Systems Doctrine
INFORMATION
A. GENERAL
1. Just as in ship control standard commands, misinterpretation of gun order commands can severely endanger a ship and crew.
2. Standardization of all commands and reports used in controlling and firing weapons is extremely important. Therefore, all personnel must have a thorough knowledge of the commands and reports with no room for misinterpretation.
3. Whenever a ship is conducting training, the training should be held at the level of an actual firing exercise.
a. Standardized phraseology should be the only terminology used.
b. Verbatim repeat backs should be enforced at all times.
c. Periodic inter-divisional training should be conducted with gunnery and fire control personnel.
B. STANDARD COMMANDS
1. MANNED AND READY REPORTS
a. "Manned"
(1) All assigned personnel are on station and in full battle dress.
(2) This does not mean all personnel are present and accounted for, but all personnel are present IAW the Watch Quarter and Station Bill.
b. "Manned and Ready"
(1) The station is fully manned and ready to fire at a normal rate using primary control methods.
(2) If any personnel are not present "manned and ready with the exception of GMGSN Late" is acceptable.
2. EMERGENCY ORDERS AND REPORTS
a. "Silence"
(1) All personnel will freeze in their position until further orders or "Carry On" is heard.
(2) This order can be given by any person recognizing a dangerous or unsafe condition and the senior person in the group will take charge to remedy the situation.
b. "Carry On"
(1) This order cancels "silence". Given by the on-site supervisor when unsafe conditions have been corrected.
3. VOICE RESTRICTION/COORDINATION ORDERS
a. "Cease Fire"
(1) All firing is stopped, but target tracking continues.
(2) Current firing solution is dropped.
b. "Check Fire"
(1) Used after "Commence Fire" or a similar command has been given. All tracking continues, and stations should be ready to recommence firing.
(2) Current firing solution is maintained.
(3) May be canceled by the "Commence Fire" order.
c. "Hold Fire"
(1) Do not open fire or cease fire.
(2) Maintain firing solution.
(3) "Hold Fire" is used when target identification is not clear or when the target has not yet been designated as a gun/missile target.
4. MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS
a. "Stand Easy"
(1) Personnel are allowed to relax on station.
(2) The standards for battle dress remain in effect.
b. "Stations"
(1) This order cancels a "Stand Easy" order.
(2) Personnel resume on-station duties.
5. AMMUNITION COMMANDS AND REPORTS
a. "Load"
(1) "Load" is used when loading ammunition to the gun.
(2) Type of ammunition and placement shall be used with this command. (ie. Mount 51, WCC, Load 20 rounds BL & P to the loader drum).
b. Checksight reports
(1) Checksight clear: Report given when the GTL is clear of all visual contacts. Example of this would be a PAC fire where the intended target is a manual surface track.
(2) Checksight foul: Report given when any contact other than the intended target is observed along the GTL.
(3) Checksight on target: Report given when only the intended target is visible along the GTL.
c. "Bore clear/foul" (casualty report)
(1) "Bore clear, no casualty", indicates that there is no round in the gun, and it is not in a dangerous state to friendly forces.
(2) This report is given immediately after a "Cease Fire" order to prepare for the next action.
(3) "Bore Foul" indicates that there is something blocking the bore of the gun and it is not in a safe condition (ie. powder, round).
(4) The report is given in the event of a casualty to alert all stations of the status of the gun (ie. Misfire Mount 51, bore foul).
d. "Strike"
(1) This order is used to unload ammunition.
(2) As with load, the exact details of specifying the type of ammunition and its placement must be used (ie. Mount 51, WCC, Strike all BL & P ammunition below).
6. FIRING COMMANDS
a. "Shoot" is used to designate a station to control the time of firing.
b. "Load and Shoot" is sometimes used to denote specified number of rounds desired to be loaded and fired.
c. "Rapid and continuous" is used when the GFCS has a solid track and lock on a target and multiple salvos are required.
d. "Slow salvo" is normally used when applying spots on a certain target.
7. CHECKSIGHT OBSERVERS. Tasks and required reports for checksight observers and supervisory personnel operating the MK 86 GFCS and MK 34 GFCS can be found in job sheet JS-1-14-1.