Multipurpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range

Fort Polk, Louisiana

WRA was awarded the MPMG range design in September 2010 by the Fort Worth District USACE and successfully completed the design in 2012. This MPMG range is used to train and test soldiers on the skills necessary to zero, detect, identify, engage, and defeat Stationary Infantry Targets (SITs), Moving Infantry Targets (MITs), and Stationary Armor Targets (SATs) in a tactical array with their prescribed weapons. This range also supports night fire operations.

The MPMG is designed to support light through heavy machine gun, Mk-19, and M21/24 sniper weapons. The MPMG standard design includes 10 firing lanes, 25 meters wide at the baseline, and 100 meters wide 800 meters downrange. Targets in 4 lanes (typically the center lanes 4 thru 7) extend downrange 1500 meters, while the outer 6 lanes extend downrange 800 meters.

The MPMG site selected at Ft. Polk had significant environmental and boundary limitations which made this MPMG design very complicated.

The MPMG was sited near sensitive habitats for the red Cockaded Woodpecker, and wetlands and two significant creek tributaries ran through the downrange targetry.

The downrange terrain includes rolling hills which interfere with Line of Sight (LOS) for many of the targets. Along specific firing lanes significant excavation and grading was required to maintain the integrity of LOS.

The surface danger zone (SDZ) constraints also influenced significantly the ability for the range footprint to be shifted to avoid site issues.

WRA worked with the Fort Polk Range Control, DPW, Fort Worth and Huntsville District USACE, TCM-Live, FORSCOM as well as numerous other agencies, in order to maximize avoidance of important site environmental concerns and reduce excessive site grading while maintaining a safe SDZ. WRA accomplished this complicated design by shifting lanes 4 and 5 (1500-meter lanes) to lanes 8 and 9, rotating the range footprint slightly, and shortened the length of the sniper lanes from 1500 meters to 1300 meters.

WRA successfully completed the design, including construction drawings, specifications, cost estimate, design analysis, on time and within budget with no change orders. The design was prepared consistent with the most recent range design guidelines (TC 25-8) and Huntsville standards for range design and the DD Form 1391 for Military Construction Army (MCA).

Range Operations Control Buildings (ROCA) based on the latest Huntsville standard design for the MPMG were also integral to the design, including:
Range Control Tower
Operations / Storage Building
Classroom
Dry-Vault Latrine
Bleacher Enclosure
Covered Mess
Ammo Breakdown Building
WRA was the prime AE for the design of the MPMG and our role included:

Coordination with Huntsville, Ft Worth, Fort Polk, TCM-Live, FORSCOM and other review agencies;
Site planning and MPMG layout based on range standards;
Line of Sight (LOS) analysis for all targets
Surface Danger Zone (SDZ) assessment for range footprint
Civil design (grading, access roads and parking, optimizing cut/fill using advanced terrain modeling, etc.)
Stormwater design based on Ft. Polk guidelines.
Wetland coordination and avoidance
Preparation of 3D Visualization
Preparation of Construction Documents and Specifications (SpecsIntact)
Preparation of MCACES – MII Cost Estimate
LEED scoring of range buildings with air-conditioning was performed