Overview of Naval Gunfire Support from a Type 21 Frigate
The naval gun has proved to one of the most flexible
and cost effective weapon systems available to any
nation’s warships. To provide NGS capability Royal Navy
frigates like Ardent were fitted with a 4.5” (114mm) Mk
8 medium range gun controlled by the Ferranti WSA 4
digital weapon system. Delivering NGS is a team effort
consisting of both the gun fitted Royal Navy ship and a
Forward Observation Officer (FOO). The role of FOO is
normally provided by officers of the 148 Commando
Forward Observation Battery Royal Artillery. This
special forces unit consists of Royal Marine Commando
qualified army gunners and Royal Navy communication
personnel. 148 Battery has been in existence under
various names since 1842.
With the general reduction of the Royal Navy, and gun-armed ships in particular, there seemed to be less need for these units. 148 became the sole remaining Naval Gunfire Forward Observation unit after years of cost cutting. It too was scheduled for disbandment when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982, which is somewhat ironic really, when history reveals how much Britain relied on them during this conflict.
With the 4.5” Mk 8 system on a Type 21, the Royal Navy had a gun that could deliver a highly accurate targeted round of High Explosive (HE) ammunition to targets some 12 miles rom their patrol line at sea. The secret to successful targeting was a combination of the Ferranti fire control system and the skills of the ship’s Bombardment Control Officer (BCO) weapon director. Weapons directors are trained to work with a Royal Navy communicator during NGS engagements as well as talking direct with the FOO if required.
With the general reduction of the Royal Navy, and gun-armed ships in particular, there seemed to be less need for these units. 148 became the sole remaining Naval Gunfire Forward Observation unit after years of cost cutting. It too was scheduled for disbandment when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982, which is somewhat ironic really, when history reveals how much Britain relied on them during this conflict.
With the 4.5” Mk 8 system on a Type 21, the Royal Navy had a gun that could deliver a highly accurate targeted round of High Explosive (HE) ammunition to targets some 12 miles rom their patrol line at sea. The secret to successful targeting was a combination of the Ferranti fire control system and the skills of the ship’s Bombardment Control Officer (BCO) weapon director. Weapons directors are trained to work with a Royal Navy communicator during NGS engagements as well as talking direct with the FOO if required.
Although the Ferranti fire control system would do all
the necessary computations to provide accurate fire
control solutions for the bombardment, the secret was
in the provision of a reference point to base the
computations on. Using the frigates 912 radar trackers
the reference point is acquired and locked onto. Its
grid position is then entered into the ship’s weapons
computers. With this information, the ship can keep a
perfect firing solution whilst maintaining an accurate
firing grid position throughout its movement on the
patrol line.
The FOO communicates with the NGS ship by radio using authentication codes to confirm their identity. The passing of information is known as the "Call for Fire". It takes the format of the target unique ID number, a description of the target, the targets grid position and what type of fire required. This is entered into the weapon control system and the ship’s gun brought to bear, its main magazine ring now loaded with ammunition. Onboard the ship the BCO observes the calculated time for the shells flight and five seconds before impact, "falling" is broadcast to alert the observer to the imminent arrival of the high explosive rounds.
Any corrections are now calculated and sent back to the NGS ship by the FOO. It may be required to do some more adjustments but as soon as the target is locked down, the main bombardment commences. For the ground troops on the receiving end, cowering underneath this bombardment, it must surely rate as one of the most unpleasant aspects of warfare they can endure. Not only do they not know where the bombardment is coming from but it is also a relentless barrage of highly accurate weapons fire.
The FOO communicates with the NGS ship by radio using authentication codes to confirm their identity. The passing of information is known as the "Call for Fire". It takes the format of the target unique ID number, a description of the target, the targets grid position and what type of fire required. This is entered into the weapon control system and the ship’s gun brought to bear, its main magazine ring now loaded with ammunition. Onboard the ship the BCO observes the calculated time for the shells flight and five seconds before impact, "falling" is broadcast to alert the observer to the imminent arrival of the high explosive rounds.
Any corrections are now calculated and sent back to the NGS ship by the FOO. It may be required to do some more adjustments but as soon as the target is locked down, the main bombardment commences. For the ground troops on the receiving end, cowering underneath this bombardment, it must surely rate as one of the most unpleasant aspects of warfare they can endure. Not only do they not know where the bombardment is coming from but it is also a relentless barrage of highly accurate weapons fire.