Rifle Squad Offensive And Defensive Tactics

Front 1

Purposes of the Offense 6:

Back 1

1. Destroy enemy forces, equipment, and resources
2. Deceive and divert the enemy
3. Deprive the enemy of terrain relevant to his objective
4. Gain information on the enemy
5. Fix the enemy in place
6. Disrupt enemy actions or preparations

Front 2

The purpose of the attack is to:

Back 2

defeat, destroy, or neutralize the enemy.

Front 3

Two types of attacks:

Back 3

1. Hasty Attack – An attack in which preparation time is traded for speed to exploit opportunity.
2. Deliberate Attack – Offensive action characterized by preplanned coordinated employment of firepower and maneuver to close with and destroy the enemy.

Front 4

Phases of the Attack 3:

Back 4

1. Preparation
2. Conduct
3. Consolidation / reorganization

Front 5

The preparation phase typically begins with a receipt of a __ __ or __ and will consist of the __ __ __ steps.

Back 5

warning order-mission-six troop leading

Front 6

Tactical Planning Analyze the order received from Higher 2:

Back 6

o Higher’s Intent
o Squad Tasks / Mission

Front 7

Main Effort:

Back 7

The commander provides the bulk of hiscombat power to the main effort to maintain momentum and ensure accomplishment of the mission. The main effort is provided with the greatest mobility and the preponderance of combat support. The main effort is the commander’s bid for success.

Front 8

Supporting Effort:

Back 8

A supporting effort can be both offensive and defensive operations carried out in conjunction with a main effort and is designed to support the main effort.

Front 9

Frontal Attack GOAL:

Back 9

The attack's goal is to break through the enemy defense and disrupt the defensive system, achieving a penetration.

Front 10

The frontal attack generally is the least preferred form of maneuver because it:

Back 10

strikes the enemy where he is strongest.

Front 11

A frontal attack may be appropriate 3:

Back 11

o For overrunning a weak or disorganized enemy
o During a pursuit
o For fixing an enemy in place

Front 12

Flanking Attack 2:

Back 12

1 Usually (but not always) involves a supporting attack to suppress/fix the enemy.
2 A reconnaissance of the enemy positions enhances the attacker's ability to identify and avoid automatic weapons, key obstacles, and mines.

Front 13

Types of Fires 4:

Back 13

1 Preplanned / preparation fires
2 Fires in support of the attack
3 Fires in support of the consolidation
4 Targets of opportunity

Front 14

Assembly Area (AA) 5:

Back 14

1 Issue Order
2 Rehearsals
3 Ammunition draw
4 Weapons / Equipment / Communication checks
5 Extra / Special equipment drawn

Front 15

Attack Position (ATK POS) 3:

Back 15

o Last minute preparation / Final checks completed
o Deployment into initial attack formations
o Coordination with higher
prepare to deliver it to the unit.

Front 16

Assault Position (ASLT POS) 4:

Back 16

1 Easily recognizable on the ground
2 Make final preparations for the assault
3 Deployment into final assault formation
4 Call for supporting fires

Front 17

Type of formation from:
Assembly area to attack position/line departure

Back 17

• Column

Front 18

Type of formation from: Line of departure to assault position

Back 18

• Wedge
• Column

Front 19

Type of formation from: Assault position to limit of advance

Back 19

• Wedge
• Column
• Squad Line
• Depends on terrain or enemy
situation their movement.

Front 20

The fire team leaders must be 2:

Back 20

• Able to move short distances to the left, right, forward, and back during movement
• Careful to guide off the general direction and speed of the base unit so as not to fire into other teams

Front 21

Fire and Maneuver:

Back 21

Fire and maneuver is a technique of advance in which one element (the maneuver element) moves while being supported by another element (the support by fire element). A separate and distinct mission is assigned to each element.

Front 22

Fire and Movement:

Back 22

Fire and movement is a technique of advance in which elements and individuals provide their own suppression and move by bounds. Elements and individuals alternate the firing and moving so that movement is always covered by fire, and the assault's momentum is retained.

Front 23

Consolidation / Reorganization
Phase 5:

Back 23

1 Preparation for the enemy’s counter attack
2 Reestablish Command and Control within the unit
3 Reestablish communications with higher
4 Address casualties / ammo
5 Preparation to resume the attack / pursue the enemy

Front 24

Ammo 2:

Back 24

o Receive ammo percentage from fire teams using some type of brevity code. (i.e. green (90%), yellow (50%), red (25%), black (0%))
o Redistribution among the squad

Front 25

Casualty 4:

Back 25

1 Treat (self, buddy, corpsman)
2 Move to Casualty Collection Point (CCP)
3 Radio higher for movement to next higher level
4 Casevac/Medevac to next higher level of care

Front 26

EPW:

Back 26

o Process and move to next higher level using
Search
Segregate
Silence
Speed
Safeguard
Tag

Front 27

S.A.F.E.

Back 27

Security, Automatic Weapons, Fields of Fire, Entrenchment

Front 28

Security 5:

Back 28

1 Post local security (LP/OP, patrolling effort)
2 All SAW’s manned at all times (at a minimum)
3 All units are responsible for their own security
4 Security is continuous
5 Use clock method to establish 180 or 360 degree security (i.e. 11-1, 1-3, 9-11)

Front 29

Automatic weapons 2:

Back 29

1 Emplaced first and always manned
2 Cover all avenues of approach and key terrain
a Roads
b Trails
c Draws

Front 30

Fields of Fire 4:

Back 30

1 Established as soon as automatic weapons are
emplaced
2 Must be interlocking
3 Remove obstructions, but do not clear cut
4 Entire fire team will cover the same sector of fire