Who is responsible for counterfire throughout the depth of their areas of operations in large-scale combat operations?

• A. The FAB or DIVARTY designated as counterfire headquarters handles all counterfire without higher-level coordination.
• B. Corps and division commanders are responsible for counterfire throughout the depth of their areas of operations.
• C. Division and brigade commanders share responsibility equally with no single lead.
• D. An allied multinational task force handles all counterfire.

Answer: (B)

Counterfire in large-scale combat operations requires clear authority to ensure a timely and coordinated response to enemy indirect fires across the full depth of the operation. The corps and division commanders are responsible for counterfire throughout the depth of their areas of operations because they command the fires and have the authority to marshal and synchronize counterbattery efforts across multiple subordinate units. This leadership ensures priority setting, target selection, and deconfliction with other fires and maneuver, creating a unified and efficient response that can reach deep into the enemy’s firing positions.

Putting counterfire in the hands of a single counterfire headquarters or expecting a division to share lead without a clear senior authority would Fragment coordination and risk gaps or fratricide. Relying on an allied multinational force to handle all counterfire also undermines unity of effort and the necessary reach and control within a single nation’s AO.