Time On Target
Encyclopedia
Time On Target is the military co-ordination of artillery
fire by many weapons so that all the munitions arrive at the target
at precisely the same time. The military standard is plus or minus three seconds from the prescribed time of impact. In terms of place, the historical standard was for the impact to occur within one circular error probable
(CEP) of the designated target. CEP is the area on and around the target where most of the rounds will impact and therefore cause the maximum damage. The CEP depends on the caliber of the weapon, with larger caliber munitions having greater CEPs or greater damage on the target area. With the advent of "smart" munitions and more accurate firing technology, CEP is now less of a factor in the target area.
to help improve the effectiveness of artillery firepower, but the levels of communication and co-ordination required to achieve it were not reliably established until after WWII
It had been found during the World War I
that most of the casualties in an artillery bombardment occur within the first few seconds. During the first few seconds however troops may be in the open and may not be prone. After that enemy troops have gone prone and/or sought cover. This dramatically lessens the casualties from shrapnel
or high explosive blast. World War II
Allied artillery units were often trained to fire their guns in a precise order, so that all shells would hit a target at the same time, delivering the maximum possible damage.
A shorter TOT usually means a smaller or less important target, and the deployment of less artillery or aircraft. A longer TOT means that the target is large or extremely important, so preparations for a massive bombardment or air strike will take longer.
As field artillery encompassed fire support
, TOT also encompassed all delivery systems: close air support, naval gunfire, attack aviation, and direct fire ground systems. Therefore, TOT now designates the exact time and place where all weapon systems now focus firepower to destroy or neutralize the enemy target.
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
fire by many weapons so that all the munitions arrive at the target
Targeting (warfare)
Targeting is the process used to select objects or installations to be attacked, taken, or destroyed in warfare.Technologically advanced countries can generally select their targets in such a way as to minimize collateral damage and civilian casualties. This can fall by the wayside, however, during...
at precisely the same time. The military standard is plus or minus three seconds from the prescribed time of impact. In terms of place, the historical standard was for the impact to occur within one circular error probable
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
(CEP) of the designated target. CEP is the area on and around the target where most of the rounds will impact and therefore cause the maximum damage. The CEP depends on the caliber of the weapon, with larger caliber munitions having greater CEPs or greater damage on the target area. With the advent of "smart" munitions and more accurate firing technology, CEP is now less of a factor in the target area.
Origins
The theory of TOT was first developed by the US Army shortly before World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to help improve the effectiveness of artillery firepower, but the levels of communication and co-ordination required to achieve it were not reliably established until after WWII
It had been found during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
that most of the casualties in an artillery bombardment occur within the first few seconds. During the first few seconds however troops may be in the open and may not be prone. After that enemy troops have gone prone and/or sought cover. This dramatically lessens the casualties from shrapnel
Fragmentation (weaponry)
Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an artillery shell, bomb, grenade, etc. is shattered by the detonating high explosive filling. The correct technical terminology for these casing pieces is fragments , although shards or splinters can be used for non-preformed fragments...
or high explosive blast. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Allied artillery units were often trained to fire their guns in a precise order, so that all shells would hit a target at the same time, delivering the maximum possible damage.
Practice
When multiple artillery units are firing it is important to coordinate the TOT so that all units participating have their rounds land in the target area at exactly the same time as late arriving rounds do proportionally far less damage than the initial ones. The TOT calculations thus include distances of participating units and the speed (muzzle velocity) of projectiles involved.A shorter TOT usually means a smaller or less important target, and the deployment of less artillery or aircraft. A longer TOT means that the target is large or extremely important, so preparations for a massive bombardment or air strike will take longer.
As field artillery encompassed fire support
Fire support
Fire support is long-range firepower provided to a front-line military unit. Typically, fire support is provided by artillery or close air support , and is used to shape the battlefield or, more optimistically, define the battle...
, TOT also encompassed all delivery systems: close air support, naval gunfire, attack aviation, and direct fire ground systems. Therefore, TOT now designates the exact time and place where all weapon systems now focus firepower to destroy or neutralize the enemy target.