In the context of artillery, what is the primary purpose of the Fire Direction Center (FDC)?

The primary purpose of the Fire Direction Center (FDC) is to coordinate artillery fire. This involves gathering all relevant information regarding targets and ensuring that artillery units can fire in a synchronized and effective manner. The FDC serves as the brain of the artillery operation where it calculates firing data, including the necessary adjustments for factors such as range, wind, and target movement. Ultimately, by focusing on coordination, the FDC ensures that artillery strikes are accurate and timely, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the fire support team on the battlefield.

While analyzing target data and determining trajectories are essential functions performed within the FDC, they serve the larger purpose of coordination, which is critical for successful artillery operations. Training drills, on the other hand, while important for maintaining proficiency, are not the core mission of the FDC in real-time operations.