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).

Occupation of a Defensive Position

The platoon plans, reconnoiters, and occupies the defensive position. This involves moving from one location to the defensive location. A quartering party that will clear the defensive position and prepare it for occupation normally leads this movement. The battalion establishes security forces, and the remaining forces prepare the defense.

Occupation and preparation of the defense site are conducted in accordance with the company commander’s plan and the results of the reconnaissance. The quartering party reconnaissance element marks the friendly positions, which are entered onto the operational graphics. Each squad moves in—or is led in by a guide—to its marker. Once in position, each squad leader checks his position location. As the platoon occupies its positions, the platoon leader manages the positioning of each squad to ensure they are located in accordance with the initial plan. The unit leader should personally walk the positions to ensure that everyone understands the plan in terms of the following:

•Weapons orientation.

•Machine-gun or weapons squads’ positions.

•Rifle squads’ positions.

•CCP location.

•Platoon leader’s and the platoon sergeant’s locations.

Once the position is occupied, subordinate leaders begin to develop their sector sketches based on the basic fire plan developed during the leader’s reconnaissance. Positions are improved continuously. In addition to establishing the platoon’s primary positions, the platoon leader and subordinate leaders normally plan for alternate, supplementary, and subsequent positions in accordance with the company order. The following are tactical considerations for these positions:

Alternate Position. Covers the same avenue of approach or sector of fire as the primary position. It is located slightly to the front, flank, or rear of the primary position; positioned forward of the primary defensive positions during limited-visibility operations; and normally employed to supplement or support positions with weapons of limited range, such as infantry squad positions.

Supplementary Position. Covers an avenue of approach or sector of fire different from those covered by the primary position and is occupied based on specific enemy actions.

Subsequent Position. Covers the same avenue of approach and/or sector of fire as the primary position, is located in depth through the defensive sector, and is occupied based on specific enemy actions or conducted as part of the higher headquarters’ scheme of maneuver.

Approach of the Enemy Main Attack

Higher-level units engage the enemy at long range using combat multipliers in an effort to disrupt his synchronization and degrade his combat power. Platoons cease security patrolling and usually bring LP/OPs back into the defense position. Positions may be shifted in response to enemy actions or other tactical factors.

Enemy Assault

During this step, enemy forces attempt to fix friendly forces and complete their assault. During execution of the defense, friendly forces attempt to mass effects of fires to destroy the assaulting enemy. The platoon leader determines if the platoon can destroy the enemy from its assigned positions; if it can, the platoon continues to fight the defense.

The platoon leader continues to call for indirect fires as the enemy approaches. The platoon begins to engage the enemy at maximum effective range and attempts to mass fires and initiate them simultaneously to achieve maximum weapons effects. Indirect fires and obstacles integrated with direct fires should disrupt the enemy’s formations, channel him toward engagement areas (EAs), prevent or severely limit his ability to observe the location of friendly positions, and destroy him as he attempts to breach tactical obstacles.