Priority of Work
Leaders must ensure that their soldiers prepare for the defense quickly and efficiently. Work must be done in order of priority to accomplish the most in the least amount of time while maintaining security and the ability to respond to enemy action. Below are basic considerations for priorities of work:
•Emplace local security.
•Position and assign sectors of fire for each squad (platoon leader).
•Position and assign sectors of fire for the crew-served weapons and the machine-gun teams (platoon leader).
•Position and assign sectors of fire for SAW, grenadiers, and then riflemen (squad leader).
•Clear fields of fire (remove vegetation if applicable) and prepare range cards.
•Prepare sector sketches (leaders).
•Dig fighting positions (stage 1; see Chapter 13).
•Establish communication/coordination with the company and adjacent units.
•Coordinate with adjacent units and review sector sketches.
•Emplace AT and Claymore mines, then wire and other obstacles.
•Improve primary fighting positions and add overhead cover (stage 2; see Chapter 13).
•Prepare supplementary and then alternate positions (same procedure as the primary position).
•Distribute and stockpile ammunition, food, and water.
•Establish the HQ element with communicator.
•Establish the CCP.
Priorities of work are dictated by unit SOPs and commander’s guidance based on METT-TC. Many actions are completed at the same time; thus it is important that leaders are constantly supervising activities.
Security in the Defense
Security in the defense includes all active and passive measures taken to avoid detection by the enemy, deceive the enemy, and deny enemy reconnaissance elements accurate information on friendly positions. The two primary tools available to the platoon leader are listening/observation posts (LP/OPs) and patrols. In planning for the security in the defense, the platoon leader considers the terrain and intelligence updates to plan his courses of action.
Listening/Observation Posts. An LP/OP gives the platoon its first echelon of security in the defense. It provides early warning of impending enemy contact by reporting direction, distance, and size. It also detects the enemy early and sends accurate reports to the platoon. The platoon leader establishes LP/OPs along the most likely enemy avenues of approach into the position or into the EA. Leaders ensure that LP/OPs have communication with the platoon.
Patrols. Platoons actively patrol in the defense. Patrols enhance the platoon’s ability to fill gaps in security between LP/OPs. The platoon leader forwards his tentative patrol route to the commander to ensure that it does not conflict with other elements within the company. The commander forwards the entire company’s patrol routes to the battalion. This allows the battalion S-3 and S-2 to ensure all routes are coordinated for fratricide prevention and that the company and platoons are conforming to the battalion intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) plan.
Establishment of Defensive Positions
Platoons establish defensive positions in accordance with the platoon leader and commander’s plan. They mark EAs using marking techniques prescribed by unit SOP. The platoon physically marks obstacles, TRPs, targets, and trigger lines in the EA. During limited visibility, the platoon can use infrared light sources to mark TRPs for the rifle squads. When possible, platoons should mark TRPs with both a thermal and an infrared source so the rifle squads can use the TRP.
Range Cards. A range card is a sketch of a sector that a direct-fire weapons system is assigned to cover. A range card aids in planning and controlling fires and aids the crew in acquiring targets during limited visibility. It is also an aid for replacement personnel, platoons, or squads to move into the position and to orient on their sector. During good visibility, the gunner should have no problems maintaining orientation in his sector. During poor visibility, he may not be able to detect lateral limits. If the gunner becomes disoriented and cannot find or locate reference points or sector limit markers, he can use the range card to locate the limits. The gunner should make the range card so that he becomes more familiar with the terrain in his sector. Range cards are prepared immediately during stage 1 of defensive fighting positions (see Chapter 13) and are updated as necessary. Two copies of the range card are prepared, one for the position and one for the squad leader to prepare his sketch.
The range card has two sections: a sector sketch section and a data section. The marginal information at the top of the card is listed as follows:
•SQD, PLT, and CO. The squad, platoon, and company designations are listed. Units higher than company are not listed.
•Magnetic north. The range card is oriented with the terrain, and the direction of magnetic north arrow is drawn.
The gunner’s sector of fire is drawn in the sector sketch section. It is not drawn to scale, but the data referring to the targets must be accurate.
•The weapon symbol is drawn in the center of the small circle.
•Left and right limits are drawn from the position. A circled “L” and “R” are placed at the end of the left and right limit lines, respectively.
•The value of each circle is determined by using a terrain feature farthest from the position that is within the weapon’s capability. The distance to the terrain is determined and rounded off to the next even hundredth, if necessary. The maximum number of circles that will divide evenly into the distance is determined and divided. The result is the value for each circle. The terrain feature is then drawn on the appropriate circle.
•All TRPs and reference points are drawn in the sector. They are numbered consecutively and circled.
•Dead space is drawn in the sector.
•A maximum engagement line is drawn on range cards for antiarmor weapons.
•The weapon reference point is numbered last. The location is given a six-digit grid coordinate. When there is no terrain feature to be designated, the location is shown as an eight-digit grid coordinate.
The data section is filled in as follows:
•Position identification. Identify the position as primary, alternate, or supplementary.
•Date. Enter the date and time the range card was completed.
•Weapon. The weapon block indicates the weapons used.
•Distance. Each circle equals meters. Write in the distance in meters between circles.
•No. Starting with left and right limits, list the TRPs and reference points in numerical order.
•Direction/deflection. List the direction in degrees and the deflection in mils.
•Elevation. List the elevation in mils.
•Range. List the distance in meters from the position to the left and right limits and TRPs and reference points.
•Ammo. List the type of ammunition used.
•Description. List the name of the object(for example, farmhouse, woodline, hilltop).
•Remarks. List the weapon reference point data and any additional information.
Sector Sketches. Leaders prepare sector sketches based on their defensive plan. They use the range card for each fighting position (prepared by the soldiers in each position). Detailed sketches aid in the planning, distribution, and control of the platoon fires. Squad leaders prepare squad sector sketches, section leaders prepare section sketches, and the platoon leader prepares the platoon sketch.