Reference
Platoon in the Offense/Defense
Platoon in the Offense: Phases of Attack
Prep phase: movement to AA, final preparations PCC/PCIs, movement to LOD
Conduct phase: Movement to ASLT Pos through the Objective, consolidation, repel En Counterattack
Exploitation/pursuit: follows a successful attack that has created advantage or exposed enemy vulnerability. When appropriate, exploit an advantage by pursuing the enemy
SBF Considerations:
Ideal SBF is 60 to 90 degrees offset from the objective.
Conduct leader’s recon, find the ASLT POS, then determine what location will be best for SBF COLD POS
Assignment, control, and distribution of fires: Determine implicit and explicit communication to increase rates of fire, observe maneuver element, and identify TRPs
Ensure MSLs are under stood and communicated to all
Maintain security at all times at all SBF positions
Fire Control Measures for MGs:
TRPs, used to initiate, distribute, and control fires. TRPs facilitate target acquisition and range determination. TRPs are not targets.
MSLs, defines the closest distance a maneuver element can come within an active GTL (15 degrees fixed, 45 degrees non-fixed). MSLs can be planned using imagery, and confirmed upon LR or during occupation.
Target precedence: give MGs a priority of targets, should multiple be present. An example during coordinating instructions: “MG target precedence is: light-skinned vehicles, crew-served weapons, and troop concentrations greater than a fireteam.”
Engagement criteria: defines when MGs should unmask. Example: “MG engagement criteria: upon effective suppression from IDF on Company Objective 2…”
Rates of fire: when additional suppression is needed, for how long, and how many rounds saved for consolidation. Crossing MSLs, covering open terrain. Example: “MG Rate of Fire: MGs will increase rates to the rapid as maneuver unmasks from the tree line and as they cross MSL1, 2, and 3. Allocate 300 rounds per gun for consolidation in case of counterattack.”
Displacement criteria: MORT / TMOR
Method
By unit: MGs move as one, sacrificing security for speed
By echelon: MG move as multiple elements, favoring security over speed
Objective: where are MGs going? Are they consolidating on the objective with the rest of the platoon or moving to SBF2 for next assault?
Route: Most covered and concealed or most direct?
Time/trigger: what conditions are set that allow MGs to displace? How long do they have to get to their next position or to consolidate?
Example using TMOR: "Upon platoon crossing the final MSL., MGs will displace by echelon to SBF2 using the most covered and concealed route. BPT isolate the objective oriented North.”
Platoon in the Defense: TDOOTS
SOM issued in the TDOOTS format:
Type/Method of defense — type: area defense or mobile defense, method: battle position (frontal blocking, L-shaped), strong point, perimeter, reverse slop.
Distribution of forces (ME, SE1, SE2, SE3)
Orientation (cardinal direction)
Occupation method: same as ambush (crow’s foot, bent-L, combination)
TCMS (how to sequence and control the defense: TRPs, trigger lines, patrol routes, passage points/MAKO gate, ORPs)
Security plan (how the platoon will provide local security during all aspects of defense (upon occupation, LP/OP and patrolling efforts, stand-to)
7 Steps of EA Dev:
Identify all likely avenues of enemy approach
Determine likely enemy SOM
Determine where to kill the enemy
Emplace weapons systems
Plan and integrate obstacles
Plan and integrate fires (organic/non-organic)
Conduct engagement rehearsals
Defensive Fire Control Measures:
Must brief: TRPs, Target precedence, Engagement criteria, Displacement criteria, Safe and effective geometries of fire, specifically regarding the FPL
Trigger lines: distances with prescribed engagement criteria and target precedence. When able, tie to terrain features.
(Long range, close defensive, and FPF)
Example:
TL Red:
Tied to: X terrain feature at Y distance
Engagement criteria: squad size or larger crossing the TL
Target precedence: enemy leadership, CSWs, troop concentrations FT or greater
TL Blue:
Tied to: X terrain feature at Y distance
Engagement criteria: FT or larger crossing TL
Target precedence: rocket/breacher teams, enemy leadership, troop concentration FT or greater
TL White:
Tied to: X terrain feature at Y distance
Engagement criteria: enemy reaches TL White and/or visual of a RSC (red star cluster), fire FPF. Displace to ALT positions
Target precedence: buddy pair or larger
Patrolling in the Defense:
Combat patrols:
Raid: surprise attack with planned withdrawal
Ambush: surprise attack on a moving or temporarily halted target
Contact: employed to establish or maintain contact when the enemy location is unknown
Security: employed in the defense to add depth, distrust enemy advance, and prevent surprise attacks
Recon patrols:
Route: obtain info about a route
Area: gain information about terrain or enemy ability to use it
Zone: obtained detailed information on all routes, obstacles, terrain, and enemy forces within a specific zone
T/O for patrols:
Combat: ASLT, SUP, SEC
Recon: Recon, Security
Priorities of Work in the Defense:
X: Occupation of position
X+15: Initial SAFE conducted (security, automatic weapons, fields of fire, entrenchment)
Security: All M27 IARs manned, using clock method, security is continuous
Automatic weapons: emplaced first and always manned, cover all AoA and key terrain
FoF: establish as soon as automatic weapons emplaced, must be interlocking, entire FT will cover same sector of fire, squad leader brings fire sketch plan to PC
Entrenchment: start to dig skirmishers once FoF have been verified by SL
X+30: LP/OP emplaced on likely En AoA
X+35: CSW sectors, FPLs, and PDFs verified and confirmed. Position construction begins.
X+50: primary position sectors verified
X+60: 1st patrol departs
X+90: squad fire plan sketches submitted to PC
X+120: primary position skirmisher’s trenches complete
Example Priorities of Work:
Assign sectors of fire and emplace MG on likely En AoA
Begin sector bag construction
Emplace LP/OP covering most likely En AoA for platoon’s defense
Verify CSW sectors of fire, specifically assigned missions of FPL or PDF. Once verified, begin entrenching positions
Verify sectors of fire for all other weapons and emplace sector bags
Begin patrol operations
Prepare range cards and fire plan sketches
Construct primary positions
Clear FoF for all positions and continuing entrenching primary positions until supporting efforts have skirmishers
Establish and register protective fires
Construct supplementary positions on flanks by supporting efforts, develop skirmishers
Establish and disseminate TRPs, TLC, etc
Once supplementary positions at skirmishers, continue primary trench construction
Emplace early warning devices on enemy AoA not covered by LP/OP (trip flares, claymore, bells)
Lay comm wire and field phones, bury comm wire
Establish rest plan
Construct alternate positions to skirmisher depth
Rehearse least engaged unit drill to supplementary positions
Continue supplementary position construction until chest deep
Rehearse counterattack and other contingency plans
Final Protective Fires:
Fired once enemy has penetrated your close defensive fires. Required to be fired by the highest ranking Marine or commander. The FPF can include either FPL or a PDF. Terrain will ultimately decide which type of FPF mission is assigned to each gun. A MG can only be assigned one FPF mission, a gun can’t be assigned two FPLs or a FPL and a PDF.
FPL: direct-laying the gun across the frontage of your defense, placing a barrier between close-in enemy assault and friendly positions. Goal is grazing enfilade fire. FPL must be steel-on-steel, can’t traverse any further on traversing slide bar. This allows easy firing of FPL at night and protects friendlies.
PDF: direct laying gun at likely enemy avenue of approach. Goal is frontal enfilade fire. Along natural line of drift, draw, or canalizing terrain. PDF should be on the zero line of tripod.
Allocate an amount of ammo to FPF. FPF ammo should be separated, marked, and protected. Firing the FPF is tied to the signal plan.
Rules for FPF:
Send CFF in 3 transmissions. Grid must be 400-600M from troops. FO will creep fires via adjustments closer to friendlies until 200M-400M from defensive line.
Fuze i/a will always be DELAY (HE/D) for a FPF, not HE/PD.
FPF is a danger close mission because closer than 600M.
Adjust closer to friendlies using 100M increments, smaller than 50M will not be fired.
Once rounds located on desired FPF location, say TGT#, any final refinements, FPF is registered, EOM.
EOM does not cancel FPF, it only ends the adjustment phase. FPF is a priority target.
Planning considerations for linear sheafs:
60 mm section (3 tubes) = 30x3 = 90Mx30M
81 mm section (4 tubes) = 35x4 = 140Mx35M or 35x8 = 280Mx35M
155 mm battery (6 guns) = 50x6 = 300Mx50M
Example transmission:
Carnage this is Raider, AF, over.
Grid, TH 1234 5678, ALT 350M, over.
Final protective fires, attitude 1900, danger close, delay i/a, at my command, over.
FDC sends MTO
MTO Carnage, 1 round, tgt #AB1000
Battery fires: TGT #AB1000, right 30, drop 100.
Battery fires, TGT #AB1000, drop 50.
Battery fires: TGT #AB1000, drop 30, FPF registered.
HE Employment Considerations
Mortar Fuze Functions:
HE NSB/Time: explode 1M above deck
HE PROX/Time: explode 1-3M above deck
HE/Q: explode on impact
HE/D: explode .05 seconds after impact
Artillery Fuze Functions:
VT: explode 7M above deck
Q/PD: explode on deck
Delay: explode .05 seconds after impact