Advanced Infantry Optics and Their Future in Armor

The past few years have seen the proliferation of advanced infantry optics throughout the Army. These technologies, which were primarily limited to light infantry and special operations units, are now being fielded to units across the Army, to include armor and cavalry units. While some of the equipment associated with own-the-night (OTN) technologies have been in the force for some time, others have only recently been fielded. Consequently, much confusion exists since the usual doctrinal references for these systems are not typically found in many tank companies or cavalry troops. Many of us take owning the night for granted while on armored vehicles. However, most of the missions that armor and cavalry forces have conducted in the past decade are not high-intensity combat operations in the traditional paradigm. Indeed, the vast majority of operational deployments have been peace enforcement or peacekeeping missions, which underscore the need to examine all the tools available at our disposal, particularly those that pertain to the close fight. A comprehensive review of advanced infantry marksmanship strategies and standards (AIMSS) is beyond the scope of this article, but fielding OTN most commonly seen in units includes the following equipment: M68 close combat optic (CCO). The M68 sight is a reflex (nontelescopic) sight. It uses a red aiming reference (collimated dot) and is designed for the “two eyes open” method of sighting. The dot follows the horizontal and vertical movement of the gunner’s eye while remaining fixed on the target. No centering is required. The M68 is designed for use on the M4 and M16 family of rifles. Backup iron sight (BIS). The BIS is a fold-up/fold-down iron sight, equipped with a range selector and a windage adjustable rail-grabbing base. It is intended to remain on the M4/M16A4 modular weapons system (MWS) while the M68 reflex sight is used as the primary means of day fire control. Should the primary sight fail, it can be removed and the pre-zeroed BIS folded up and used to continue the mission. The BIS should remain on the MWS at all times, unless the carrying handle/sight is installed or obstructs the installation of something else. The BIS provides a backup capability effective out to extended ranges. The BIS is not usable, nor is it required on the M16A2. M145 machine gun optic (MGO). The MGO is a fixed 3.4 power, 28mm optical sight that has been designated to engage targets accurately out to 1200m range. The reticle pattern has a built-in trajectory companion from a 300m to 1200m range and can be illuminated. The MGO is ballistically matched to 7.62mm and is normally used on the M240B machine gun, but can be mounted on the M249 squad automatic weapon in the light machine gun role. Trijicon advanced combat optical gunsight (ACOG). The ACOG is designed to provide enhanced target identification and hit probability for the M4 MWS out to 500 meters. Although it is designed primarily for use during the day, it has a tritium-illuminated reticle for night and low-light use. The 4x32 scope is topped with a set of iron sights for close-range engagements. The scope features a unique combination of fiber optics and self-luminous tritium. Tritium illuminates the aiming point in total darkness, while the fiber optic light collector increases reticle brightness according to light levels. The ACOG is a lightweight, rugged, fast and accurate four-power optical scope. The body is machined from aluminum 18 — forgings; both the material and finish are identical to that of the M4 MWS. The scope is internally adjustable to allow the shock to be carried by the scope body and not the adjustment mechanism. The ACOG is designed for the M4 and M16A4 rifles. AN/PAQ-4C infrared aiming light. The aiming light projects an infrared laser beam which cannot be seen with the eye but can be seen with night vision goggles (NVGs). The aiming light mounts on various weapons with mounting brackets and adapters. The AN/PAQ-4C can be mounted on almost any weapon, but is most commonly found on rifles and light machine guns. It uses the AN/TVS-5 mounting bracket to attach to the M2 and the AN/ PAS-13 thermal weapons sight mounting bracket to attach to the MK19. AN/PEQ-2A target pointer/infrared aiming light (TPIAL). The TPIAL emits a highly collimated beam of infrared light for precision aiming, as well as a separate infrared illumination beam with adjustable focus. The beams can be operated individually or in concert, and can be zeroed to the weapon and each other. The TPIAL is used with night vision devices as either a handheld or weapon-mounted illuminator/pointer. The AN/PEQ-2A can be mounted on almost any weapon, but is most commonly found on medium and heavy machine guns. The AN/PAQ-4C and AN/PEQ-2A share many common parts. AN/PEM-1 laser borelight system. The borelight is a class IIIa laser that emits a highly collimated beam of visible light for precise zeroing of an aiming light or weapon sight to the weapon. The borelight assembly includes mandrels that are attached inline to the visible laser component of the borelight. The assembly is inserted into the muzzle end of the weapon to accomplish weapon boresighting. The borelight is used in combination with the aiming light or weapon sight using naked eyes, powered optics, or night vision devices. The borelight comes with 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and.50-caliber man-drels. Those familiar with the 120mm tank muzzle boresight device will notice some striking similarities to the procedures used with the borelight. A 40mm mandrel for the MK19 grenade launcher is commercially available but is not a basic issue item for the borelight. M4 and M5 rail adapter systems (RAS). The M4 RAS mounts to the M4 and M4A1 carbines, the M5 RAS to the M16A4 rifle. It provides a rail to the top, bottom, left, and right of the forward handguards of those weapons, converting them into the modular weapons system configuration. There are other modification work orders that mount rails to other weapons such as the M249 and M240B. While the official specification of the rail is under MIL-STD 1913 (hence the Marine Corps’ nomenclature “1913 rail”), it is also known as the Picatinny (for Picatinny Arsenal, its developing agency), or weaver rail (for its shape). What does all of this equipment mean for armor and cavalry in the future? As it turns out, the procedures and mechanics of these sights all recall various concepts from tank gunnery (and to a lesser extent, Bradley gunnery). Terms, such as parallax and cant, are old hat to most tank gunners; the principles to account for both are also factors for boresighting and zeroing small arms. However, the biggest challenge in the fielding of OTN is educating the force on its capabilities and procedures. One particular area of note is the impact of OTN on light cavalry gunnery. The point calculation worksheets incur-Above and right, an M68 close combat optic mount ed in conjunction with the AN/PEQ-2A aim ing light on an M16A2. Note that the M68 mounting bracket cannot be mount ed to the top carrying handle of the M4 or M16A4. At left, an M4 con figured with the lead edge of the rail grabber in line with the reference line on the upper receiver. In addition, the BIS is mount ed on the rearmost rail position on the upper receiver. The sight is pictured here flipped up for use. The M4 MWS above mounts the AN/PEQ-2A on the right side since the upper rail of the handguard is taken up by the grenade launcher’s leaf sight. Note the BIS is flipped up. — 19 rent field manuals are threat-based; using aiming lights in conjunction with NVGs has a great positive impact on engagements. The use of OTN, however, highlights a gap between light cavalry (current conduct of fire does not address this additional capability) and infantry doctrine (which does not address mounted conduct of fire). Training. The most immediate impact of OTN equipment is on training plans and requirements. Small arms night tables are markedly different for units using AIMSS and those that do not. In addition, conduct of preparatory marksmanship instruction (PMI) is absolutely critical for new personnel not familiar with new equipment and standards. OTN equipment requires a sizeable up-front investment in PMI or the unit will waste ammunition with reckless abandon. For example, troops should be comfortable wearing NVGs on their head or helmet to have both hands free to properly apply the steady-hold factors involved for night AIMSS fires. Most armor and cavalry unit marksmanship programs do not address the shooting skills involved in short range (inside 50m) marksmanship (often called “reflexive fire”). Given that much recent combat has occurred at short range, omission of reflexive fire in a unit dismounted gunnery program is significant indeed. The other activity inherent to building the confidence required to accurately fire this equipment is known-distance shooting, which gets short shrift outside the infantry. However, time spent on known distance ranges will give the individual shooter an understanding of where his shots fly, something ignored by most until now. Leader development. The lack of widespread institutional knowledge on AIMSS in the armored force starts from the beginning. At Fort Benning, Georgia, basic trainees are provided instruction on the AN/PAQ-4C, M68, borelight, and use of NVGs during one-station unit training. Infantry lieutenants train on the AN/PAQ- 4C, AN/PEQ-2A, M68, borelight, and using NVGs during officer basic course. The AIMSS committee teaches a Department of the Army-approved AIMSS course and is the proponent for that instruction, but this has been a recent development only in the past few years. The lack of organized instruction in the schoolhouse has led to implementing courses at the unit level. The 82d Airborne Division, which has had advanced infantry optics (specifically the AN/PAQ-4 and M68) since the mid-1990s, developed a small arms master gunner course to teach the mechanics and procedures for OTN and to implement AIMSS at the small-unit level. During inprocessing, the 82d Airborne Division also teaches noncommissioned officers and officers the OTN, its associated AIMSS, and most importantly, divisional OTN mounting standard operating procedures. This is not unique to the 82d; other organizations, such as the 10th Mountain Division, have similar leader training programs. This in-house instruction and standardization should not be solely germane to the light infantry community. Nonetheless, the first time an armor enlisted soldier or officer sees this equipment and standards is usually not at Fort Knox. This must change as more and more units are fielded OTN. From my own personal experience (troop command while fielding four different types of OTN in 12 months), and watching other units go through fielding these systems, this is an absolutely critical area to examine. If leaders do not understand the implications of AIMSS, particularly on ammunition allocations, coordination of equipment, and planning, units are doomed to failure. Organization. Responsibility for AIMSS proponency at unit level could be piggy-backed onto existing company/troop-level master gunners. Since the purview of the master gunner includes advanced gunnery methodology, turret weapons systems maintenance, and gunnery training management, existing master gunners could also assume responsibility for a dismounted gunnery program (which full implementation of AIMSS would imply) and are already easily capable of explaining the actual “why” behind the “what.” At brigade level and above, this position should be filled with an AIMSS or equivalent course graduate, particularly in light of the training and, more importantly, unit standardization responsibilities that OTN equipment entails. The importance of standardization cannot be overemphasized in unit OTN standard operating procedures! One difficulty many units face is where to mount the multitude of equipment that is (or eventually will be) fielded. While AIMSS doctrine states that OTN equipment can be mounted in any location on the 1913 rail, most units have learned (some the hard way) the lesson of having command-directed standardized mounting configurations for every weapons system. There is a reason why the 82d Airborne Division dictates divisional mounting standards for its OTN. They eliminate confusion, speed precombat inspections, and most importantly, have been proven in combat — twice. Above, an M249 with both the M145 machine gun optic and the AN/PEQ-2A aiming light (hidden). The rib guard for the left rail on the front carrying handle is in place to prevent the shooter’s hands from being burned. Also note the “gangster grip,” which is mounted to the bottom rail, affording better weapons control in the close fight. In the closeup at left, the AN/ PEQ-2A is mounted on the right side to avoid being fouled in the weapon sling. 20 —

Materiel. Current Department of the Army pamphlets do not address ammo requirements for AIMSS and tank crewmen. While cavalry scouts in actual scouting positions (category I) are allotted the ammunition to fire AIMSS tables to standard, standards in training commission (STRAC) allots 98 rounds of 5.56mm per rifle per year for tankers. Zeroing and firing day iron sights, day optics, and night aiming light tables require a minimum of 178 rounds just for one density, which does not include reflexive or practice fires. The ammunition allocation tables for category II do not factor in night aiming lights. Even infantry units have been known to use other units’ STRAC allocations because current allocations do not permit all troops in a unit to fire night and day record fire to standard, let alone other critical competencies such as reflexive fire. Personnel. Aside from earlier observations on organization and leader development, there are no issues with existing personnel force structure and AIMSS. Indeed, the nature of optics (zeroed to the weapon, not the individual shooter) means that almost anyone can pick up a properly zeroed weapon and accurately fire it without rezeroing. Facilities. This is another often-overlooked issue with AIMSS, and one that is particularly problematic given the sizeable investment in weapons racks in most units. Although most OTN will retain zero after dismounting and remounting (in the same rail location as before), hard-earned lessons in weapons configuration have taught that after taking the trouble to zero the backup iron sight, optics, and aiming lights, those sights are best left on the weapon. Any potential enemy, being aware of American combat operations in the past three years, will almost certainly seek to nullify our demonstrated strengths. Our ability to kill at long range is unparalleled. Our enemies, knowing this, will seek to engage us in the close fight. Thus, it is not an unrealistic expectation that the bulk of our direct fire contact will occur at ranges within 500 meters. There are armor units, both Active and National Guard, currently in possession of OTN. These units are often deployed without heavy armor, falling in on high mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) instead. Given the increasing likelihood that even a 19K tank crewman might find himself conducting dismounted patrolling, AIMSS is not just for the infantry any more. Our precious time and resources mandate that every soldier, from junior soldiers to senior leaders, understand what AIMSS is and what it entails. The equipment is out there — do not leave it sitting on the shelf out of ignorance! Captain Francis J. H. Park is currently a strategic plans and analysis officer at the U. S. Army Special Operations Command. He received a B. A. from the Johns Hopkins University, and an M. A from St. Mary’s University. His military education includes Basic Airborne Course, Armor Officer Basic Course, Scout Platoon Leader Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and Jumpmaster Course. He has served in various command and staff positions, including assignment to 1st Battalion, 312th Regiment as a company and battalion trainer for the 1st Battalion, 252d Armor, North Carolina Ar my National Guard; commander, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; assistant G3 plans officer, Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; XO, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX; assistant S3, Headquarters, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood; scout platoon leader, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood. “Any potential enemy, being aware of American combat operations in the past three years, will almost certainly seek to nullify our demonstrated strengths. Our ability to kill at long range is unparalleled. Our enemies, knowing this, will seek to engage us in the close fight. Thus, it is not an unrealistic expectation that the bulk of our direct fire contact will occur at ranges within 500 meters.” — 21