Rifle Plt in the Defense Flashcards
What is the main purpose of the defense?
A coordinated effort to defeat an attack by an opposing force and prevent it from achieving its objectives.
What other purpose can the defense be conducted to do?
Gain time
Retain key terrain or deny a vital area to the enemy
Counter surprise action by the enemy
Economize force, allowing combat power to be concentrated elsewhere
Increase the enemy’s vulnerability by forcing him to concentrate his forces
Attrite or fix the enemy as a prelude to offensive operations
Prepare to resume the offensive.
What are the 10 fundamentals of the defense?
- Knowledge of the enemy
- Maneuver
- Preparation
- Use of terrain
- Surprise
- Mass and concentration
- Flexibility
- Offensive action
- Mutual support
- Defense in depth
What is a hasty defense?
Organized while in contact with the enemy or when contact is imminent and time available for organization is limited.
What is a deliberate defense?
Organized when out of contact with the enemy or when contact with the enemy is not imminent and time for organization is available.
What does it mean to employ defense in depth?
The positioning of mutually supporting defensive positions throughout the defensive battlespace to absorb and progressively weaken an enemy attack. It provides maneuver space within the defensive area for the maneuver of subordinate units against the enemy’s main effort.
What is mobile defense?
The bulk of the force is held as a mobile striking force with strict economy applied to dedicated positional supporting efforts designed to canalize, delay, and disrupt the enemy’s attack.
What is position defense?
Orients on retention of terrain by absorbing the enemy in an interlocking series of positions and destroying him largely by fires.
What is are the types of defensive techniques?
Battle position
Strongpoint
Perimeter defense
Reverse-slope defense
What is a battle position?
Defense position oriented on the most likely enemy avenue of approach from which a unit may defend or attack.
What is a blocking position?
Type of battle position designed to deny enemy access.
What is a strongpoint?
Fortified defensive position designed to deny the enemy certain terrain as well as the use of an avenue of approach.
What is a perimeter defense?
Defense oriented in all directions
What is a reverse-slope defense?
Organized so that the main defensive positions are masked from enemy observation and direct fire by a topograhipical crest.
What is the engagement area?
Location where the platoon commander intends to destroy an enemy force using the massed fires of all available weapons and supporting assets.
How do you develop the engagement area?
Identify all likely enemy avenues of approach.
Determine likely enemy SOM.
Develop EMLCOA.