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.
Leaders control fires using standard commands, pyrotechnics, and other prearranged signals. The platoon increases the intensity of fires as the enemy closes within range of additional weapons. Squad leaders work to achieve a sustained rate of fire from their positions by having buddy teams engage the enemy so that both soldiers are not reloading their weapons at the same time.
The enemy closes on the platoon’s protective wire. Crew-served weapons and machine guns fire along interlocking fields of fire or final protective lines (FPLs) as previously planned and designated. These include the platoon’s machine guns, while other weapons fire at their designated fields of fire. Grenadiers engage the enemy with M203 grenade launchers in dead space or as the enemy attempts to breach protective wire. The platoon leader requests final protective fire (if assigned in support of his positions).
The platoon continues to defend until it repels the enemy or is ordered to disengage. If the platoon cannot destroy the enemy from its assigned positions, the platoon leader reports the situation to the company commander and continues to engage the enemy. He repositions the platoon (or squads of the platoon) when directed by the commander to continue fires into the platoon sector, occupy supplementary positions, reinforce other parts of the company, counterattack locally to retake lost fighting positions, and/or withdraw from an indefensible position using fire and movement to break contact.
Counterattack
As the enemy’s momentum is slowed or stopped, friendly forces may counterattack. Counterattack can be launched purely for offensive purposes to seize the initiative from the enemy, or it may be mainly defensive—for example, to reestablish the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA) or to restore control of the sector. The company or platoon may participate in the counterattack as a base-of-fire element or as the counterattack force.
Consolidation and Reorganization
The platoon secures its sector and reestablishes the defense by repositioning forces, occupying advantageous terrain, destroying enemy elements, processing EPWs, and reestablishing obstacles. The platoon conducts all necessary combat service support (CSS) functions as it prepares to continue defending. Consolidation includes organizing and strengthening a position so that it can continue to hold against the enemy, using means such as adjusting other positions to maintain mutual support; reoccupying and repairing prior positions; relocating selected weapons to alternate positions if leaders believe that the enemy may have pinpointed them during the attack; repairing damaged obstacles; replacing mines (Claymores) and booby traps; and reestablishing security and communications.
Reorganization includes shifting internal resources within a degraded unit to increase its level of combat effectiveness, using means such as manning key weapons; providing first aid and preparing injured soldiers for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC); redistributing ammunition and supplies; and processing and evacuating EPWs.
BATTLEFIELD OPERATING SYSTEMS PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
The Battlefield Operating Systems (BOS) are the seven critical tactical activities whose synchronization and coordination are critical for success. The following BOS pertain to defense operations.
Maneuver. Effective weapons positioning enables the platoon to mass fires at critical points on the battlefield and to enhance survivability. The combat leader must maximize the strengths of the platoon’s weapons systems while minimizing its exposure to enemy observation and fires.
Fire Support. For the indirect-fire plan to be effective in the defense, the unit must plan and execute indirect fires in a manner that achieves the intended task and purpose of each target. Indirect fires slow and disrupt the enemy, prevent enemy breaching operations, destroy or delay enemy forces at obstacles, defeat attacks along dismounted avenues of approach using FPF, and obscure enemy observation, among other effects.