—Allowing for cook off (two seconds maximum) and shouting, “Frag out,” the second soldier prepares and throws a grenade around the corner.
—Upon detonation of the grenade, the lead soldier moves around the corner, firing three-round bursts and advancing as he fires. The entire fire team follows him to the next corner or intersection.
•The squad leader:
—Follows behind the team.
—Ensures that the trailing fire team moves up and is ready to pass the lead at his direction.
—Rotates fire teams as necessary to keep his soldiers fresh and to maintain the momentum of the attack.
—Requests indirect fires, if required, through the platoon leader. The squad leader also directs the employment of the M203 to provide immediate suppression against positions along the trench line.
—Ensures fire teams maintain sufficient interval to prevent them from being engaged by the same enemy fires.
•At each corner or intersection, the lead fire team performs the same actions previously described.
•If the lead soldier finds that he is nearly out of ammunition before reaching a corner or intersection, he announces, “Ammo!” The following then occurs:
—The lead soldier stops and moves against one side of the trench, ready to let the rest of the team pass. He continues to aim his weapon down the trench in the direction of movement.
—The next soldier ensures that he has a full magazine, moves abreast of the lead soldier, taps him, and announces, “Taking the lead.”
—The lead soldier acknowledges that he is handing over the lead by shouting, “Okay.” Positions rotate and the squad continues forward.
•The trailing fire team secures intersections and marks the route within the trench as the squad moves forward. The trailing fire team leader ensures that follow-on squads relieve his buddy teams to maintain security.
•The squad leader reports the progress of the clearing operation. The base-of-fire element must be able to identify the location of the lead fire team in the trench at all times.
Step 10. The platoon leader rotates squads to keep the soldiers fresh and to maintain the momentum of the assault.
Step 11. The platoon sergeant (PSG) calls forward ammunition resupply and organizes teams to move it forward into the trench.
Step 12. The base-of-fire element ensures that all friendly forces move into the trench only through the designated entry point to avoid fratricide.
Step 13. The platoon leader reports to the company commander that the trench line is secured, or that he is no longer able to continue clearing. If trench line is secured, then the platoon leader directs the platoon FO to develop a fire plan to support the defense of the platoon position.
Breach an Obstacle Drill
The breach an obstacle drill is used when the lead squad identifies a wire obstacle, reinforced with mines, that cannot be bypassed, and when there are enemy positions on the far side of the obstacle.
Step 1. The platoon leader moves forward with his FO and one machine-gun team.
Step 2. The platoon leader determines whether he can maneuver.
Step 3. The platoon leader directs one squad to be the base-of-fire element, another to be the breach squad, and a third to be the assault squad once the breach has been made.
Step 4. The base-of-fire squad is joined by the platoon sergeant and the second machine-gun team. Together they begin to suppress the enemy and obscure the enemy positions with smoke.
Step 5. The platoon leader leads the breach and assault squads to the breach point.
1.The breach squad leader designates a breach fire team and a support fire team.
2.The breaching fire team moves to the breach point using the covered and concealed route. The squad and fire team leader obscure the breach point, using smoke grenades.
3.The breaching fire team leader and an automatic rifleman are positioned on one flank of the breach point to provide security.
4.The grenadier and rifleman of the breaching fire team probe for and mark mines and cut the wire obstacle, marking their path as they proceed. (If available, Bangalore torpedoes are preferred for clearing a lane through a minefield.)
Step 6. Once the obstacle has been breached, the fire team leader and the automatic rifleman move to the far side of the obstacle and take up covered and concealed positions with the rifleman and the grenadier.
Step 7. The squad leader signals the supporting fire team to move up and through the breach to the far side, where it takes up covered and concealed positions. The squad leader then moves through the breach and joins the breaching fire team.
Step 8. The squad leader reports to the platoon leader and consolidates as needed.
Step 9. The platoon leader leads the assault squad through the breach and positions it to support the movement of the remainder of the platoon, or assaults the enemy position covering the obstacle.
Step 10. The platoon leader reports to the company commander.
5
Defense
Platoons and squads normally defend as part of a larger force to disrupt, disorganize, delay, or defeat an attacking enemy; deny an area to an enemy; or protect a flank. They may also defend as part of a larger unit in a retrograde operation. The challenge to the defender is to retain the initiative: that is, keep the enemy reacting and unable to execute its own plan. The characteristics of the defense are preparation, security, disruption, mass and concentration, and flexibility. These are also the planning fundamentals for the combat leader.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEFENSE
Preparation. The defender arrives in the battle area before the attacker. The platoon must take advantage of this by making all possible preparations for combat in the time available. Constant improvement on defensive positions and infrastructure (CCP location) is mandatory.
Security. The goals of the platoon’s security efforts are normally tied to the company’s efforts. Security efforts include providing early warning, destroying enemy reconnaissance units, and impeding and harassing elements of the enemy’s main body. Emplacing of listening/observation posts (LP/OP) and early warning devices provide needed alarm to the main body.
Disruption. Defensive plans vary with the circumstances, but all defensive concepts of the operation aim at disrupting the attacker’s synchronization. Counterattacks, indirect fires, obstacles, and the retention of key terrain prevent the enemy from concentrating his strength against selected portions of the platoon’s defense.
Mass and Concentration. The platoon masses to concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time if it is to succeed. Offensive action may also be necessary. For concentration, all available combat power should be requested and employed, not just numbers of soldiers and weapons systems.
Flexibility. Flexibility is derived from sound preparation and effective command and control (C2). The platoon must be agile enough to counter an attack, withstand the attacker’s blows, and then strike back effectively.
SEQUENCE OF THE DEFENSE
As part of a larger element, the platoon conducts defensive operations in a sequence of integrated and overlapping actions:
1.Reconnaissance, security operations, and enemy preparatory fires.
2.Occupation of a defensive position.
3.Approach of the enemy main attack.
4.Enemy assault.
5.Counterattack or withdrawal.
6.Consolidation and reorganization.
Reconnaissance, Security Operations, and Enemy Preparatory Fires
Security forces forward of the battle area must protect friendly forces in the main battle area (MBA) and allow them to prepare for the defense. The goals of a forward security force are to provide early warning, destroy enemy reconnaissance elements (within its capability), and disrupt enemy forward detachments or advance guard elements. During this last step, the platoon may be attached to a larger element or remain with the parent company. Additionally, the platoon performs counter-reconnaissance and security operations by conducting patrols or manning LP/OPs to observe named areas of interest (NAIs).