Random Flashcards
Steps of Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
Define the Operational Environment
Describe the Operational Environment’s Effects
Evaluate the Threat
Determine Threat Courses of Action
Principles of War
(MOOSEMUSS) Mass Offensive Objective Surprise Economy of Force Maneuver Unity of Command Simplicity Security
Characteristics of Offensive Operations
(SCAT)
Surprise – attacking the enemy in a time/place he does not expect or in a manner for which he is unprepared
Concentration – the massing of overwhelming combat power to achieve a single purpose
Audacity – a simple plan, boldly execute
Tempo – necessary to retain the initiative
Characteristics of Defensive Operations
Preparation Security Disruption Massing Effects Flexibility
Forms of Maneuver
(PETIF)
Penetration – an attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses on a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system
Envelopment – an attacking force seeks to avoid the principle enemy defenses by seizing objectives to the enemy rear to destroy the enemy in his current positions – focus on seizing terrain, destroying specific enemy forces, and interdicting enemy withdrawal routes
Turning Movements – an attacking force seeks to avoid the enemy’s principle defensive positions by seizing objectives to the enemy’s rear and causing the enemy to move out of his current positions or divert major forces to meet the threat
Infiltration – undetected movement into an area occupied by enemy forces to occupy a position of advantage in the enemy rear while exposing only small elements to enemy defensive fires
Frontal Attack – an attacking force seeks to destroy a weaker enemy force or fix a larger enemy force in place over a broad front
Tenets of Breaching Operations
Suppress – tactical task used to employ direct or indirect fires. Can also be an electronic attack.
Obscure – protects forces conducting obstacle reduction and the passage of assault forces by hampering enemy observation and target acquisition
Secure
Reduce – creation of lanes through or over an obstacle to allow an attacking force to pass
Assault – breaching complete when all enemy on the far side of the obstacle are destroyed and a battle handover (when necessary) with follow-on forces has occured
Elements of Combat Power
(LIMP-F) Leadership Information Maneuver Protection Firepower
The Levels of War
Strategic Level – the art and science of developing and employing armed forces and other instruments of national power in a synchronized fashion to secure national or multi-national objectives.
Operational Level – series of tactical actions (battles, engagements, strikes) conducted by various combat forces of a single or several services, coordinate in time and place, to accomplish operational and sometime strategic objectives in an operational area.
Tactical Level – employment of units in combat; includes the ordered arrangement and maneuver units in relation to each other, the terrain, and the enemy to translate potential combat power into victorious battles and engagements.
The Warfighting Functions
Intelligence Movement and Maneuver Fire Support Protection Sustainment Command and Control
OAKOC
Observation and Fields of Fire – the ability of both the company and the enemy to see the battlefield and to engage with direct fire
Cover and Concealment – the ability of both the company and the enemy to utilize the terrain to provide protection from fire and protection from observation
Obstacles – how the terrain will limit or enhance mobility, counter-mobility, and survivability for both the company and the enemy
Key Terrain – identify locations which the seizure, retention, or control affords a marked advantage to either combatant; must also determine if any terrain is decisive terrain, which the seizure, retention, or control of is necessary for mission accomplishment
Avenues of Approach – air/ground routes of an attacking force of a given size leading to the OBJ or key terrain; also mobility corridors are areas where a force will be canalized due to terrain restrictions
Weapons Control Status
Weapons Free – engage any targets not positively identified as friendly
Weapons Tight – engage only targets positively identified as enemy
Weapons Hold – engage only if engaged or ordered to engage
Actions on Contact
Deploy and Report
Evaluate and Develop the situation
Choose a Course of Action
Execute/Recommend a Course of Action
3 Dismount options with advantages and disadvantages
Short of the Objective
On the Objective
Beyond the Objective
Short of the Objective
5-203. The advantages of dismounting the infantry squads before reaching the objective include protection of the infantrymen during the dismount process, control at the dismount point, and the ability to continue suppression of the enemy by supporting indirect fires during the dismount.
Disadvantages include exposure of the infantry squads to indirect and small arms fires as they maneuver to the objective area and the possibility that suitable dismount points will be targeted for enemy indirect fires.
On the Objective
5-204. The primary advantages of this option are greater speed and enhanced protection of the infantry squads as the company team maneuvers to the objective area. There are several disadvantages in dismounting on the objective—difficulty in orienting the dismounted elements on specific
locations and objectives while they are riding in the BFVs; problems that may arise in establishing control at dismount points; and vulnerability of BFVs to short-range anti-armor weapons.
Beyond the Objective
5-205. This dismount option has several potential advantages—effective control at the dismount point; greater ease in orienting the dismounted elements to the terrain and the objectives of the assault; confusion or disorientation among enemy elements when they are forced to fight in an
unexpected direction. At the same time, there are significant disadvantages, including vulnerability of the company team to attack from enemy positions in depth or from enemy reserve forces; vulnerability of the BFVs to short range
anti-armor systems; and increased risk of fratricide.
Principles of Direct Fire Control
Mass the effects of fire. Destroy the greatest threat first. Avoid target overkill. Employ the best weapon for the target. Minimize friendly exposure. Prevent fratricide. Plan for extreme limited visibility conditions. Develop contingencies for diminished capabilities.
Fire Control Process
Identify probable enemy locations ,
determine the enemy scheme of maneuver.
Determine where and how to mass (focus and distribute) fire effects.
Orient forces to speed target acquisition.
Shift fires to refocus or redistribute their effects.
Terrain-based Fire Control Measures
Target reference point (TRP) · Engagement area · Sector of fire · Direction of fire · Terrain-based quadrant · Friendly-based quadrant · Maximum engagement line (MEL) · Restrictive fire line (RFL) · Final protective line (FPL)
Threat-based Fire Control Measures
· Fire patterns · Target array · Engagement priorities · Weapons ready posture · Trigger · Weapons control status · Rules of engagement (ROE) · Weapons safety posture · Engagement techniques
Three methods for resupply operations
Tailgate Resupply:
Service Station Resupply:
Emergency Resupply:
Tailgate Resupply:
Normally used only in assembly areas.
Combat vehicles remain in their vehicle positions or back out a short distance to allow trucks carrying Class III and Class V supplies to reach them. Individual crewmen rotate through the feeding area, pick up mail and sundries, and fill or exchange water cans. Any EPWs are centralized and guarded. KIAs, with their personal effects, are brought to the holding area, where the 1SG takes charge of them.
Service Station Resupply:
Vehicles move individually or in small groups to the designated resupply point. Vehicles enter the resupply point following a one-way traffic flow; only vehicles requiring immediate maintenance stop at the maintenance holding area. Vehicles move through each supply location, with crews rotation individually to eat, pick up mail and sundries, and refill or exchange water cans. Combination
Emergency Resupply:
Occasionally (normally during combat operations), the company team may have such an urgent need for resupply that it cannot wait for a routine LOGPAC. Emergency resupply can be conducted using either the service station or tailgate method, although procedures may have to be adjusted when the company team is in contact with the enemy. In the service station method, individual vehicles pull back during a lull in combat on order of the commander or platoon leader; they conduct resupply and then return to the fight. With tailgate resupply, the company team brings limited supplies forward to the closest concealed position behind each vehicle or element.
Forms of Maneuver
- envelopment,
- flank attack,
- frontal attack,
- infiltration,
- penetration,
- turning movement.
Employment Methods for Attack Aviation
Continuous Attack.
Phased Attack
Maximum Destruction.
Continuous Attack.
To exert constant pressure on the enemy force. This
method ensures that at least one company will be in the battle at all times. While one company is in the battle, the other two prepare to relieve the engaged company as they remain in HAs or the FARP or move between the FARP and the battle. Many times during a continuous attack the ATKHC commander on station may send only the attack helicopters to rearm and refuel. This allows the scouts to remain in enemy contact, coordinate with the relieving ATKHC commander, and reconnoiter successive BPs. Multiple BPs, ABF positions, or SBF positions selected during mission planning provide the flexibility needed for a coordinated battle handover between companies. The continuous attack method provides the most flexibility and the most efficient FARP operations. It also provides sustained fires over long periods.
Phased Attack.
A modification of the continuous attack method and is used to increase the initial firepower of the battalion. Using this method, the commander initially employs one company to begin the attack. He then quickly phases in the second company from a different BP. The third attack company is phased into the fight when either of the other companies is low on fuel or ammunition. The phased attack method may be reversed, or the commander may vary how the phased attack is conducted. For example, he may employ one company to set
up the fight and then exploit the attack with his other two companies. If the phased attack method is used, aircraft turnaround time in the FARP must be kept as short as possible. Because of FARP limitations, eventually the phased attack method reverts to the continuous attack method.
Maximum Destruction.
f the ATKHB commander wishes to place as much
combat power as possible into the battle, he uses the maximum destruction method. To overwhelm the enemy with massed fires, the battalion deploys with all three companies in contact from different positions. In this situation, the supported commander must realize that the ATKHB will be out of the fight for 20 to 90 minutes at the completion of its initial attack. The exact time depends upon the distance to the FARP and the time it takes to replenish fuel and ammunition after the initial engagement.
Company Trains Operations
- Provide vehicle recovery, medical aid, and maintenance services.
- The 1SG normally positions the trains and directly supervises CSS operations.
-The trains normally operate 500 to 1,000 meters (or one terrain feature) to the rear of the company team.
· The M88A1/2 recovery vehicle.
· The maintenance M113.
· The 1SG’s M113.
· The armored ambulance (M113).
· The command HMMWVs.
· Maintenance tool truck or Forward Repair System-Heavy (FRSH)
(normally located in the UMCP, but should repair forward
when possible).
Mobility Assets available to Company/Team for mechanical proofing of a lane through an obstacle.
Mine Plow
Mine Roller
Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE)
Mine Plow
Also known as the mine-clearing blade, the mine plow is used to breach and proof minefields. The system affords good survivability. When fully operational, a tank equipped with a mine plow can quickly clear two 68-inch-wide lanes, one in front of each track. Does not work well on rocky or uneven ground. (NOTE: The plow’s dog bone assembly will detonate the tilt rods of mines in the area between the two plowed lanes; however, only plows equipped with the improved dog bone assembly (IDA), will defeat magnetically activated mines.)
Mine Roller
The mine roller is used to identify the forward edges of a minefield and to proof lanes. The roller sweeps a 44-inch path in front of each track and is also equipped with a dogbone assembly. It is also effective at breaching wire obstacles. The roller, however, is not effective on broken or uneven ground. The mine roller, like the mine plow, will not defeat magnetically fuzed mines unless equipped with the IDA. The main gun must be traversed to the side or rear when contact with a mine is possible or imminent; detonation can throw the roller (or pieces of it) violently upward, possibly damaging the tube.
Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE)
Using its blade, the ACE can defeat reduce berms and AT ditches. The ACE may also breach or proof a minefield with its blade. However, it is more vulnerable and slower in this role than a plow tank or roller. The vehicle is further limited by its one-man crew. This skim technique is described in FM 3-34.2 (FM 90-13-1).
Movement Techniques:
Traveling,
Traveling Overwatch,
Bounding Overwatch
