Offense

Question 1

Characteristics of
offensive tasks (4)

Answer 1

􀁸 Surprise
􀁸 Concentration
􀁸 Tempo
􀁸 Audacity

Question 2

Army offensive tasks (4)

Answer 2

An offensive task is a task conducted to defeat and destroy enemy forces and seize terrain, resources, and population centers.
􀁸 Movement to contact
􀁸 Attack
􀁸 Exploitation
􀁸 Pursuit

Question 3

What is Movement to Contact?

Answer 3

Movement to contact is an offensive task designed to develop the situation and establish or regain
contact

Question 4

What is an attack? What are the forms?

Answer 4

An attack is an offensive task that destroys or defeats enemy forces, seizes and secures terrain, or
both.
Forms of the Attack:
􀁸 Ambush
􀁸 Counterattack
􀁸 Demonstration
􀁸 Feint
􀁸 Raid
􀁸 Spoiling attack

Question 5

What is an exploitation?

Answer 5

Exploitation is an offensive task that usually follows the conduct of a successful attack and is designed to disorganize the enemy in depth (ADRP 3-90). Exploitations seek to disintegrate enemy forces to the point where they have no alternative but surrender or take flight.

Question 6

What is a pursuit?

Answer 6

A pursuit is an offensive task designed to catch or cut off a hostile force attempting to escape, with the aim of destroying it (ADRP 3-90). A pursuit normally follows a successful exploitation. However, any offensive task can transition into a pursuit, if enemy resistance has broken down and the enemy is fleeing the battlefield. Pursuits entail rapid movement and decentralized control.

Question 7

What are Forms of Maneuver (6)?

Answer 7

Forms of maneuver
􀁸 Envelopment
􀁸 Turning movement
􀁸 Frontal attack
􀁸 Penetration
􀁸 Infiltration
􀁸 Flank attack

Question 8

What is an envelopment?

Answer 8

Envelopment is a form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to avoid the principal enemy defenses by seizing objectives behind those defenses that allow the targeted enemy force to be
destroyed in their current positions. Envelopments focus on seizing terrain,
destroying specific enemy forces, and interdicting enemy withdrawal routes.
Three types:
Single, Double, Vertical

Question 9

What are control measures for envelopments?

Answer 9

AOs using boundaries
Phase Lines
Support by fire and attack by fire positions
Fire coordination measures (restrictive fire line)

Question 10

How do commanders organize forces for an envelopment?

Answer 10

Friendly force to perform two
primary tasks: fixing the enemy force in its current location and conducting the envelopment.
Also allocates forces for shaping operations, such as reconnaissance, security, reserve, and sustaining tasks.

Question 11

What is a turning movement?

Answer 11

A turning movement is a form of maneuver in which the attacking force seeks to avoid the enemy’s principle defensive positions by seizing objectives behind the enemy’s current positions thereby causing the enemy force to move out of their current positions or divert major forces to meet
the threat. (usually division or larger force)

Question 12

What are control measures for a turning movement?

Answer 12

AOs using boundaries
Phase Lines
Support by fire and attack by fire positions
Fire coordination measures (restrictive fire line)

Question 13

How do commanders organize forces for a turning movement?

Answer 13

Three main tasks: conduct a turning movement (ME), conduct shaping operations, and conduct reserve operations.
Attacks to divert enemy
Reserve to exploit
Sustainment

Question 14

What is an infiltration?

Answer 14

An infiltration is a form of maneuver in which an attacking force conducts undetected movement through or into an area occupied by enemy forces to occupy a position of advantage behind those enemy positions while exposing only small elements to enemy defensive fires.
􀁺 Reconnoiter known or templated enemy positions and conduct surveillance of named areas of
interest and targeted areas of interest.
􀁺 Attack enemy-held positions from an unexpected direction.
􀁺 Occupy a support by fire position to support the decisive operation.
􀁺 Secure key terrain.
􀁺 Conduct ambushes and raids to destroy vital facilities and disrupt the enemy’s defensive
structure by attacking enemy reserves, fire support and air defense systems, communication
nodes, and sustainment.
􀁺 Conduct a covert breach of an obstacle or obstacle complex.

Question 15

What are control measures for an infiltration?

Answer 15

􀁺 An AO for the infiltrating unit.
􀁺 One or more infiltration lanes.
􀁺 A line of departure (LD) or point of departure (PD).
􀁺 Movement routes with their associated start points (SPs) and release points (RPs), or a direction
or axis of attack.
􀁺 Linkup or rally points, including objective rally points.
􀁺 Assault positions.
􀁺 One or more objectives.
􀁺 A limit of advance (LOA).

Question 16

How do commanders organize forces for an infiltration?

Answer 16

Avoid detection means the infiltrating force’s size, strength, and composition are usually limited.
Security forces on screen or guard mission
Sustainment limited

Question 17

What is a penetration?

Answer 17

A penetration is a form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses on a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system.

Question 18

What are control measures for a penetration?

Answer 18

AO to every maneuver unit,
a LD or line of contact (LC);
time of the attack or time of assault; phase lines;
objective;
Limit of advance (or battle handover) to control and synchronize the attack
Checkpoints, SBF/ABF, FSC, Attack or assault positions

Question 19

How do commanders organize forces for a penetration?

Answer 19

Overwhelming combat power in the area of penetration and combat superiority to continue the momentum of the attack. The commander designates a breach, support, and assault force.
Reserve, follow-on and support missions. Force to fix enemy reserves.

Question 20

What is a frontal attack?

Answer 20

A frontal attack is a form of maneuver in which an attacking force seeks to destroy a weaker enemy force or fix a larger enemy force in place over a broad front to:
􀁺 Clear enemy security forces.
􀁺 Overwhelm a shattered enemy during an exploitation or pursuit.
􀁺 Fix enemy forces in place as part of a shaping operation.
􀁺 Conduct a reconnaissance in force.

Question 21

What are control measures for a frontal attack?

Answer 21

AO, defined by unit boundaries, and an
objective, at a minimum.
Also could including—
􀁺 Attack positions.
􀁺 Line of departure.
􀁺 Phase lines.
􀁺 Assault positions.
􀁺 Limit of advance.
􀁺 Direction of attack or axis of advance for every maneuver unit.

Question 22

How do commanders organize forces for a frontal attack?

Answer 22

A commander conducting a frontal attack organizes the unit into an element to conduct reconnaissance and security operations, a main body, and a reserve.

Question 23

What is the difference between an envelopment and a flank attack?

Answer 23

Depth. Envelopments are delivered beyond the enemy flank. Flank attacks are directed directly at the enemy.