Doctrinal Concepts Flashcards

Question

Terrain-based fire control measures | Terrain-based Quadrant

Answer 1

A terrain-based quadrant entails use of a TRP, either existing or constructed, to designate the center point of the axes that divide the area into four quadrants. This technique can be employed in both offensive and defensive operations. In the offense, the company commander designates the center of the quadrant using an existing feature or by creating a reference point such as using a ground burst illumination round, a smoke marking round, or a fire ignited by incendiary or tracer rounds. The axes delineating the quadrants run parallel and perpendicular to the direction of movement. In the defense, the company commander designates the center of the quadrant using an existing or constructed TRP. tthe quadrants are marked using the letter "Q" and a number (Q1 to Q4); quadrant numbers are in the same relative positions as on military map sheets (from Q1 as the upper left quadrant clockwise to Q4 as the lower left quadrant).

Answer 2

The friendly based quadrant technique entails superimposing quadrants over the unit's formation. The center point is based on the center of the formation, and the axes run parallel and perpendicular to the general direction of travel. For rapid orientation, the friendly quadrant technique might be better than the clock direction method because different elements of a large formation are rarely oriented in the same exact direction and because the relative dispersion of friendly forces causes parallax to the target.

Answer 3

A MEL is the linear image of the farthest limit of effective fire for a weapon or unit. This line is determined both by the weapon’s or unit's maximum effective range, and by the effects of terrain. For example, slope, vegetation, structures, and other features provide cover and concealment that may prevent the weapon from engaging out to the maximum effective range. A MEL serves several purposes. The company commander may use it to prevent engaging beyond the maximum effective range of their weapons, to define criteria for the establishment of triggers, and to delineate the maximum extent of battle space on the sector sketch.

Answer 4

An RFL is a line established between converging friendly forces (one or both might be moving) that prohibit fires and effects across the line without coordination with the affected force. In the offense, the company commander may designate an RFL to prevent a base of fire platoon from firing into the area where an assaulting platoon is maneuvering. In the defense, the company commander may establish an RFL to prevent the unit from engaging an Infantry squad positioned in restricted terrain on the flank of an enemy avenue of approach.

Answer 5

The FPL is a line of fire established where an enemy assault is to be halted by the interlocking fires of all available weapons. The unit reinforces this line with protective, tactical, and supplemental obstacles and with FPFs whenever possible. Initiation of the FPF is the signal for elements and individual Soldiers to shift fires to their assigned portion of the FPL.

Answer 6

1. Fire Patterns a. Frontal Fire b. Cross Fire c. Depth Fire 2. Target Array 3. Engagement Priorities a) Prioritize Targets: b) Employ Best Weapons for Target c) Distribute Unit’s Fires 4. Weapons Ready Posture 5. Engagement Criteria 6. Rules of Engagement 7. Weapons Control Status a) WEAPONS HOLD (Engage only if engaged or ordered to engage) b) WEAPONS TIGHT (Engage only targets positively identified as enemy) c) WEAPONS FREE (Engage any targets not positively identified as friendly) 8. Engagement Techniques a) Point Fire b) Area Fire c) Alternating Fire d) Sequential Fire e) Simultaneous Fire f) Observed Fire g) Time of Suppression h) Reconnaissance by Fire

Answer 7

Fire patterns are a threat-based fire control measure designed to distribute the fires of a unit simultaneously among multiple, similar targets. They are most often used by platoons to distribute fires across an enemy formation. Leaders designate and adjust fire patterns based on terrain and the enemy formation. The basic fire patterns are frontal fire, cross fire, and depth fire. a. Frontal Fire: Leaders may initiate frontal fire (Figure 9-7) when targets are arrayed in front of the unit in a lateral configuration. Weapons systems engage targets to their respective fronts. For example, the left flank weapon engages the left-most target, and the right flank weapon engages the right-most target. As the unit destroys targets, weapons shift fires toward the center of the enemy formation and from near too far. b. Cross Fire: Leaders initiate cross fire (Figure 9-8) when targets are arrayed laterally across the unit's front in a manner that permits diagonal fires at the enemy's flank or when obstructions prevent unit weapons from firing frontally. Right flank weapons engage the left-most targets, and left flank weapons engage the right-most targets. Firing diagonally across an EA provides more flank shots, thus increasing the chance of kills. It also reduces the possibility of the enemy detecting friendly elements. As the unit destroys targets, weapons shift fires toward the center of the enemy formation. c. Depth Fire: Leaders initiate depth fire (Figure 9-9) when targets are dispersed in depth, perpendicular to the unit. Center weapons engage the closest targets, and flank weapons engage deeper targets. As the unit destroys targets, weapons shift fires toward the center of the enemy formation.

Answer 8

Target array permits the company commander to distribute fires when the enemy force is concentrated and terrain-based controls are inadequate. This threat-based distribution measure is similar to the quadrant method mentioned in terrain-based fire control measures. The company commander creates the target array by superimposing a quadrant pattern over an enemy formation. The pattern centers on the enemy formation, with the axes running parallel and perpendicular to the enemy's direction of travel. Quadrants are described using their relative locations. Figure 9-10, page 9-16 shows examples of the target array technique.

Answer 9

Engagement priorities entail the sequential ordering of targets to be engaged. They serve one or more of the following critical fire control functions. a) Prioritize Targets: In concert with his concept of the operation, the company commander determines which target types provide the greatest threat to the company and sets these as engagement priorities. For example, he may decide that destroying enemy engineer assets is the best way to prevent the enemy from breaching an obstacle. b) Employ Best Weapons for Target: Establishing engagement priorities for specific friendly systems increases the effectiveness with which the unit employs its weapons. As an example, the engagement priority for the Javelin could be enemy fortifications first, then enemy armored vehicles. c) Distribute Unit’s Fires: Establishing different priorities for similar friendly systems helps to prevent overkill and achieve effective distribution of fires. For example, the company commander may designate the enemy fortifications as the initial priority for one Infantry platoon while making the enemy vehicles the priority for another Infantry platoon. This decreases the chance of multiple Javelins being fired against two enemy vehicles while ignoring the dangers posed by the fortifications. 4. Weapons Ready Posture: The weapons ready posture is a means by which leaders use the tactical information available to specify the ammunition and range for the most probable engagement. Ammunition selection depends on the target type, but the leader may adjust it based on engagement priorities, desired effects, and effective range. Range selection depends on the anticipated engagement range, and it is affected by terrain intervisibility, weather, and light conditions. Within the company, the weapons ready posture affects the types and quantities of ammunition and where they are located or cached. 5. Engagement Criteria: are a specific set of conditions that specify the circumstances in which subordinate elements are to engage. This is often referred to as a trigger. The circumstances can be based on a friendly or an enemy event. For example, the engagement criteria for a friendly platoon to initiate engagement could be three or more enemy combat vehicles passing or crossing a given point or line. This line can be any natural or manmade linear feature, such as a road, ridgeline, or stream, or a line perpendicular to the unit's orientation, delineated by one or more reference points. 6. Rules of Engagement: The ROE specify the circumstances and limitations under which forces may engage. ROE include definitions of combatant and noncombatant elements and prescribe the treatment of noncombatants. Factors influencing ROE are national command policy, the mission and commander's intent, the operational environment, and the law of war. ROE always recognize a Soldier's right of self-defense; at the same time, they clearly define circumstances in which he may fire.

Answer 10

The three levels of weapons control status (WCS) outline the conditions, based on target identification criteria, under which friendly elements may engage. The commander sets and adjusts the weapons control status based on friendly and enemy disposition. In general, a more restrictive WCS relates to a higher probability of fratricide. The three levels, in descending order of restriction, are-- a) WEAPONS HOLD (Engage only if engaged or ordered to engage) b) WEAPONS TIGHT (Engage only targets positively identified as enemy) c) WEAPONS FREE (Engage any targets not positively identified as friendly)

Answer 11

Engagement techniques are effects-oriented direct fire distribution measures. The following engagement techniques are the most common in Infantry company operations. a) Point Fire: Point fire concentrates the effects of a unit's fire against a specific, identified target such as a vehicle, machine gun bunker, or ATGM position. When leaders direct point fire, all of the unit's weapons engage the target, firing until it is destroyed or the required time of suppression has expired. Employing converging fires from dispersed positions makes point fire more effective because the unit engages the target from multiple directions. The unit may initiate an engagement using point fire against the most dangerous threat, then revert to area fire against other, less threatening point targets. (Use of point fire has been rare because a unit seldom encounters a single, clearly identified enemy weapon.) b) Area Fire: Area fire involves distributing the effects of a unit's direct fires over an area in which enemy positions are numerous or are not obvious. If the area is large, leaders assign sectors of fire to subordinate elements using a terrain-based distribution method such as the quadrant technique. Typically, the primary purpose of the area fire is suppression; however, sustaining effective suppression requires judicious control of the rate of fire. c) Alternating Fire: In alternating fire, pairs of elements continuously engage the same point or area target one at a time. For example, a company team may alternate fires of two platoons; a tank platoon may alternate the fires of its sections, or an Infantry platoon may alternate the fires of a pair of machine guns. Alternating fire permits the unit to maintain suppression for a longer duration than simultaneous fire. It also forces the enemy to acquire and engage alternating points of fire. d) Sequential Fire: In sequential fire, the subordinate elements of a unit engage the same point or area target one after another in an arranged sequence. Sequential fire can also help preserve ammunition, as when an Infantry platoon waits to see the effects of the first Javelin before firing another. Also, sequential fire permits elements that have already fired to pass on information they have learned from the engagement. An example would be an Infantryman who missed an armored vehicle with AT4 fires passing range and lead information to the next Soldier preparing to engage the same armored vehicle with an AT4. e) Simultaneous Fire: Units employ simultaneous fire, also referred to as volley fire, to mass the effects of their fires rapidly or to gain immediate fire superiority. For example, a unit may initiate a support-by-fire operation with simultaneous fire, then change to alternating or sequential fire to maintain suppression. Simultaneous fire is also employed to negate the low probability of hit and kill of certain antiarmor weapons. As an example, an Infantry squad may employ volley fire with its AT4s to ensure rapid destruction of a BMP that is engaging a friendly position. f) Observed Fire: Observed fire is normally used when the company is in concealed defensive positions with extended engagement ranges. It can be employed between elements of the company, such as an Infantry platoon observing while the machine gun section fires; or it can be employed between machine guns in the section. The company commander or platoon leader directs one element to engage. The remaining elements or vehicles observe fires and prepare to engage on order in case the engaging element consistently misses its targets, experiences a malfunction, or runs low on ammunition. Observed fire allows for mutual observation and assistance while protecting the location of the observing elements. g) Time of Suppression: Time of suppression is the period, specified by the company commander, during which an enemy position or force is to be suppressed. Suppression time typically depends on the time it will take a supported element to maneuver. Normally, a unit suppresses an enemy position using the sustained rate of fire of its weapons. In planning for sustained suppression, leaders must consider several factors: the estimated time of suppression, the size of the area being suppressed, the type of enemy force to be suppressed, range to the target, rates of fire, and available ammunition quantities. h) Reconnaissance by Fire: Reconnaissance by fire is the process of engaging possible enemy locations to elicit a tactical response such as return fire or movement. This response permits the company commander and his subordinate leaders to make accurate target acquisition and then to mass fires against the enemy element. Typically, the company commander directs a platoon to conduct the reconnaissance by fire. For example, he may direct an overwatching platoon to conduct the reconnaissance by fire against a probable enemy position before initiating movement by a bounding elements.

Answer 12

``` Envelopment Flank Attack Frontal Attack Infiltration Penetration Turning Point ```

Answer 13

1) Envelopment 2) Flank attack 3) frontal attack 4) infiltration 5) penetration 6) turning movement

Answer 14

1. Intelligence 2. Fundamentals 3. Organization 4. Mass 5. Synchonization

Answer 15

``` SOSRA Suppress Obscure Secure Reduce Assault ```

Answer 16

Leadership Information ``` Mission Command Movement and Maneuver Fires Protection Sustainment Intelligence ```

Answer 17

``` Vee Wedge Line File Column Echelon Coil and Herringbone ```

Answer 18

``` Traveling Traveling Overwatch Bounding Overwatch Infiltration Overwatch ```