O160 Defensive Operations Flashcards
Types of defensive operations
- mobile defense
- area defense
- retrograde
Purposes of defensive ops
- deter or defeat enemy offense
- gain time
- achieve economy of force
- retain key terrain
- protect the populace, critical assets, and infrastructure
- develop intelligence
Characteristics of defensive ops
Disruption, flexibility, maneuver, massing effects, operations in depth, preparation, and security
Forms of defense
- Defense of a linear obstacle
- Defense of a perimeter
- reverse slope defense
What is Area defense
Deny enemy forces access to designated terrain for a specific time rather than destroying the enemy outright. It limits the enemy’s freedom of maneuver and channeling them into killing areas
What is mobile defense
Destroy or defeat the enemy through a decisive attack by a striking force. A force oriented defensive action that focuses on the destruction of the enemy rather than the retention of terrain.
What is a striking force
A dedicated counter-attack force in a mobile defense constituted w/ the bulk of available combat power
-supplemented by the fixing force
What is retrograde?
Organized movement away from the enemy. Has 3 forms: delay, withdrawal, and retirement
7 step engagement area development
1) identify all likely enemies avenues of approach
2) determine likely enemy schemes of maneuver
3) determine where to kill the enemy
4) emplace weapon systems
5) plan and integrate obstacles
6) plan and integrate indirect fires
7) rehearse
2 main types of obstacles
1) existing (natural or manmade)
2) reinforcing (tactical or protective)
Natural: rivers, mountains, etc.
Manmade: railroads, towns, cemetery, etc.
Tactical: directed, situational, or reserve
Protective: defense or security
Types of individual obstacles
1) Demolition (blown bridges, road crater, etc.)
2) Constructed (wire, tetrahedron, tank ditch)
3) Mines (conventional, scatterable)
Effects of obstacles
Disrupt (break up), turn (divert), fix (slow down), or block (stop) advances. Study different shapes of arrows for each.
5 kinds of battle positions
1) primary
2) alternate
3) supplementary
4) subsequent
5) strong point
Primary battle position:
The position that covers the enemy’s most likely avenue of approach into the AO
Alternate battle position
The position that covers the enemy’s most likely avenue of approach into the AO and occupied when the primary becomes untenable or unsuitable
Supplementary battle position
The position that covers the best sectors of fire and defensive terrain along an avenue of approach that is not the primary avenue of attach
Subsequent battle position
The position that a unit expects to move to during the course of battle
Strong point battle position
Heavily fortified position tied to a natural or reinforcing obstacle to create an anchor for the defense or to deny the enemy decisive or key terrain.
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what are forms of defense?
distinct tactical combinations of unique characteristics that differ primarily in the relationship between the maneuvering force, terrain, operational objectives, and the enemy
2 reasons for transition
- if defense is successful, transition to the offense
- if defense is unsuccessful, transition to retrograde operations
defensive planning considerations
- understand the CO’s intent
- establish priorities of work
- execute security and reconnaissance operations
- combine natural and manmade obstacles to canalize enemy forces into engagement areas
- position forces in depth
- prepare reserves
- designate counterattack forces
- conduct rehearsals
- continue preparation until offense begins or defenders retrograde
