Platoon in the Offense

Question 1

What occurs during the initial statges of initial decisionmaking?

Answer 1

This initial decision-making will allow a commander to choose a form of maneuver and task organization. This information along with the enemy situational update, timelines, and commander’s intent is enough information to issue a warning order. The warning order allows subordinate leaders to begin their planning while the commander writes the full order. The subordinate leaders can build a terrain model, prepare mission-essential gear, or conduct rehearsals that apply to the situation, mission, task organization, and chosen form of maneuver listed in the warning order.

Question 2

Who provides what during COC coordination?

Answer 2

• S-2: Ground, signal, and human intelligence sources provide information on terrain and enemy
• S-3: Based on availability, aviation assets provide reconnaissance on the route and objective and real-time information on terrain and enemy. Along with reconnaissance aviation assets also offer preparatory fires.
• S-4: The S4 supports the logistics necessary to accomplish the mission to include ammunition, chow, water, specialized equipment such as breach kits, transportation, fuel, etc.
• S-6: The S6 is responsible for disseminating updated Communication Electronics Operation Instructions (CEOI) and challenges/passwords

Question 3

What are some prioirities of recon in relation to the enemy?

Answer 3

• Confirm presence and orientation of EN and CSWs
• Confirm/deny C/D/S of EN on Obj
• What is the EN’s CG?
• Are there any manmade obstacles?
• Are there any LP/OPs?
• What are their comm capabilities How can this impact their IDF/Depth/Patrols?

Question 4

What are some prioirities of recon in relation to friendlies?

Answer 4

• Aves of Approach
• Route planning
• What is the EN engagment area?
• Where are positions to use for SBF?
• What is the location of potential aslt pos?
• Take a marking kit to mark on the deck (e-tape, subdued IR chem lights to figure out where the hell we are)

Question 5

What equipment should you take on leader’s recon?

Answer 5

Binos, map kit, DAGR, PRC 152, PRC117F to report sitrep, chow/water

Question 6

What is the general layout of an offensive leader’s recon?

Answer 6

• Get eyes on EN
• Find Aslt Pos
• Hit Az to En
• Establish SBF pos for MGs: Establish TRPs (tied to terrain), Verify dir and dist, Pull MSLs at 15 degrees
• Establish pre-planned tgt with higher
• Mark pos for MGs, SBF hot pos, SBF cold pos
• Return and provide a Frag O to give the rest of the plt the info you have received (PROVIDE DETAILS TO YOUR MARINES TO ALLOW THEM TO EXECUTE)

Question 7

How does your Frag-O change post-Leader’s Recon?

Answer 7

Question 8

Give an example of a maneuver element tasking statement

Answer 8

• “Upon SBF suppression, dstry en sqd on obj A IOT allow the co FOM in the AO”
• Condition, Observed effect, observer (pri: PC (aslt pos) Alt: ME sqd ldr (aslt Pos))

Question 9

Give an example of an SBF element tasking statement

Answer 9

“Upon IDF supression, supress the EN sqd on Obj IVO Hill 300 IOT allow the mnvr element to dstry the EN”

Question 10

Types of Attacks

Answer 10

Hasty
* “an attack when the commander decides to trade preparation time for speed to exploit an opportunity.”
* attacks rely on intuitive decision-making vice analytical decision-making
* must be simple and flexible
* will rely heavily on unit SOPs and battle drills to replace the lack of details in the operations order

Deliberate
* “a type of offensive action characterized by pre-planned and coordinated employment of firepower and maneuver to close with and destroy the enemy.”
* rely on analytical decision-making for detailed planning to coordinate all available resources that allow the unit to close with and destroy the enemy

Question 11

Keys to Success for O Attacks

Answer 11

Gain and maintain contact with the enemy
* EN/FR/Terrain Analysis
* Leader’s Recon
* Finalize the plan/brief your Marines

Distrupt and fix the enemy
* Sequence of events/set conditions
* Combined arms dilemma

Maneuver
* Close with the enemy in the last 200m
* Assessing effects and leveraging your assets

Follow Through
* Expoit your success and prepare for follow on missions

Question 12

Forms of Offensive Manuever

Answer 12

Frontal Attack
* main action is directed against the front of the enemy forces

Flanking Attack
* directed at the flank of an enemy, minimizing the effects of the enemy’s frontally oriented combat power

Infiltrartion
* friendly forces move through or into an area or territory occupied by either friendly or enemy troops or organizations while avoiding contact
* force must avoid detection and engagement

Penetration
* attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses on a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system
* begins in the enemy’s security area and passes through their main defensive positions into their rear area
* commander employs a penetration when there is no assailable flank, methods of envelopment are impractical or will take too much time, or enemy defenses are overextended and possess exploitable weak spots

Envelopment
* main attacking force passes around or over the enemy’s principal defensive positions to secure objectives at the enemy’s rear

Turning Movement
* utilizes an attacking force to pass around or over the enemy’s principal positions to secure objectives in the enemy’s rear
* Differs from envelopment in two ways. (1) Friendly force does not engage the enemy in their current position, but seeks displacement. (2) Friendly forces normally rely on external support, such as aerial resupply, to accomplish their mission

Question 13

Describe Fire and Maneuver

Answer 13

• Requires a separate and distinct tactical task assigned to each element
• One unit suppresses the enemy IOT allow another unit to manuever to a position of advantage
• Fire and movement used once advantage is gained
• Requires good C2 to reduce risk of fratricide

Question 14

What are some considerations in establishing an SBF position?

Answer 14

• The support by fire (SBF) position is ideally located on the enemy frontage. This allows the support by fire elements to effectively fix and suppress the entire enemy defense as the maneuver element attacks the enemy flank.
• The SBF direction of fire is ideally located 60-90 degrees offset from the maneuver element’s movement corridor. This allows the maneuver element to advance as close to the enemy as possible under friendly suppression without the risk of fratricide.
• The SBF position preferably provides cover and concealment. This protects the support by fire element from detection by the enemy. The two methods of occupying the SBF position are by stealth and by force
• Stealth. An occupation by stealth is achieved when the enemy does not observe the occupation.
• Force. Occupation by force is required when the enemy observes the occupation, or is currently positioned on the planned support by fire position. The SBF element will need to destroy, clear, or neutralize any enemy on that SBF location and be prepared to begin immediate suppression in the objective.

Question 15

Examples of TCMs in platoon offensive attack?

Answer 15

• Boundaries
• AA
• Atk Pos
• LOD
• Check Points
• Phase Lines
• Release Points
• TRPs
• Aslt Pos
• Objective
• Limit of Advance
• Linkup Point

Question 16

Example Offensive SOM

Answer 16

“2nd Platoon will conduct a flanking attack on (Co Obj
A) with two rifle squads on line as a maneuver element (ME, SE1) and one rifle squad supporting by fire (SE 2). Direction of attack is north. We will depart the assembly area in platoon column (SE 1, ME, SE 2) and move to the attack position, where we will establish priority target AB1001 and request permission to cross the LD. From the LD to RP 3, we will travel in platoon wedge (SE 1, ME, SE 2). At RP 3, SE 2 will release and travel via an independent route to PL Green and hold there. The maneuver element will continue to CP 6 in echelon right (SE 1, ME). When the maneuver element has crossed West Creek, SE 2 will call for three minutes of suppression on AB1001, seize the SBF position, and begin suppressing Co Obj A at the rapid rate between TRP 1 and TRP 2, switching to the sustained rate after one minute. At CP 6, the maneuver element will transition into a line (SE 1, ME) and continue to the assault position. When SE 2 is effectively suppressing the enemy on Co Obj A, the maneuver element will begin the assault. On signal, SE 2 will shift their fires and suppress withdrawing or reinforcing enemy between TRP 2 and TRP 3 at the sustained rate. The maneuver element will assault through the objective and, on signal, SE 2 will cease fires. The maneuver element will consolidate facing east, SE 1 with 9 to 12 and ME with 12 to 3. On signal, SE 2 will displace by unit via most direct route and link up with the guide at LU 1. When SE 2 joins consolidation, SE 1 will have 8 to 12, ME will have 12 to 4, and SE 2 will have 4 to 8. When consolidation, reorganization, and resupply are complete, the platoon will be prepared to continue the attack to the north.

Question 17

What are the (3) categories of FSP?

Answer 17

• Preparatory fires: Fires conducted before the platoon initiates the attack, usually at the battalion level or higher. These fires isolate the objective by targeting enemy command and control, logistics, fire support, and possible reinforcements.
• Fires in support of conduct: Fires used by the platoon commander to support the platoon’s movement and actions on the objective. Possible targets are the enemy security plan (LP/OPs, patrol routes), the enemy main defense, and likely reinforcement routes.
• Fires in support of consolidation: Fires targeting enemy counterattack and likely withdrawal routes.