Methods of Engagement

As with all fire support, potential uses of armed cargo ships fall into two categories, direct fire and indirect fire. The first category, direct fire, encompasses those situations where gunners aim the weapons by means of visually aligning sights with the target. The second category, indirect fire, is those situations where the weapons are aimed by use of plotting and mathematical calculation.

Direct fire is a simple proposition, the gunner sees the target, points the weapon, and fires. This would be the sole mode of operation for all tanks chained to decks, and an option for guns, howitzers, and MRLs. Some differences between these systems would include range and accuracy.

A gunner can only use direct fire on what he sees, so the weapon sights are the limiting factor for most direct fire ranges. A weapon with rudimentary telescopic sights, such as the 152mm Type 66 Howitzer, has an effective range of about 1000 meters against point targets such as bunkers. Tanks that would likely be chained to the deck of a ship rather than used ashore, like the Type 59 Tank, have an effective range of 1500 meters. ATGMs such as the HJ-73 Red Arrow have a range of 3000m, that range is based on the maximum distance the missile could travel under guidance.

On board a ship at sea, accuracy is degraded by wave motion. This has a direct impact on the ability of a weapon to engage a point target. To compensate for this motion, most PLA tanks have the advantage of being gyro-stabilized in one or more axes. Gyro-stabilization would certainly be an advantage while chained to the deck of a cargo ship. The Type 59-II Tank for example is equipped with two-axis stabilization. Towed systems such as the Type 59 130mm Gun have no stabilization.

Indirect fire involves considerably more technical skill than the point-and-shoot of direct fire. The objective of indirect fire is to accurately get the first rounds fired on the target. If this objective is not met, the effectiveness of indirect fire can decrease significantly as rounds are adjusted onto target. Tanks can move away from the barrage, soldiers will take cover. When firing from armed cargo ships it is even more imperative that this goal is met, because the guns themselves are moving and pure adjustment may never bring rounds onto the target. Specifically, five elements are required for accurate indirect fire [10].

The first element of accurate indirect fire is obtaining accurate target location and size. Against permanent emplacements defending a beach, it is nearly a foregone conclusion that the PLA could readily identify and plot these locations far in advance of any amphibious operation. Against opportunity targets such as reinforcements or hasty defensive works, PLA artillery would rely on well trained forward observers to determine target location. With the rapid advances the PLA is making in laser rangefinders and GPS, a low amount of target location error could be expected [17].

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