DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS TC9B83

Terminal Learning Objective Task: Execute defensive operations. Conditions: Given classroom, one PE, and multiple training areas. Standards: Apply defensive doctrine to platoon operations IAW FM 3-0, FM 7-8, FM 7-10, and FM 71-1. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

Safety Requirements: General: Fire Exits Risk: The risk assessment level is low Environmental Considerations: None Evaluation: The performance of the TLO will be evaluated using a written quiz on day two and an operations order practical exercise due on 30 Sept 04. Students must score at least 70% (60% for international students) on the written exam and the operations order practical exercise. You cannot test out. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

Enabling Learning Objective Action: Define basic defensive doctrinal terms Conditions: Given a 45 minute lecture in a classroom environment Standards: Students will define the basic defensive doctrinal terms IAW FM 3-0, FM 7-8, FM 7-10, and FM 71-1. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PURPOSES OF DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS Defeat enemy attack Gain time Concentrate forces Control key terrain Wear down enemy forces in preparation for attack Retain objectives FM 7-10 pg 5-3, FM 71-2 pg 4-3 What is the key to a successful defense? - Synchronization - Combined Arms How can we take away the enemies initiative? - Attempt to reduce the enemies options and increase your options. What must all leaders know? - Commander’s intent. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEFENSE Preparation Security Disruption Massing effects Flexibility FM 3-0 pg 8-2 What are the advantages of attacking? - Can talk the characteristics of the offense. - Surprise, Concentration, Tempo, Audacity Who retains the initiative initially? How can we take away the initiative and make the enemy react to us? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PREPARATION Defender arrives first Terrain analysis Rehearsals Security and reconnaissance Continuous process FM 3-0 pg 8-2 What is involved with preparation? - positioning in depth - improving terrain - war gaming - rehearsing - synchronizing - coordination - planning - R&S Why do we do these tasks to prepare? - To take away the initiative from the attacker DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SECURITY Deceive enemy Counter-reconnaissance Early warning Disrupt enemy attacks early Preserve combat power FM 3-0 pg 8-2 & 8-3 Why is security important in the defense? - Deception, deceive the enemy of our strengths and weaknesses - Prevent the enemy from gaining intelligence on our positions. - Provide early warning What can the platoon leader do to provide security? - R&S patrols - LP/OPs - 33% security DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DISRUPTION Prevent massing of combat power Counter-reconnaissance Disrupt in depth by: Defeating and misdirecting enemy recon, breaking up formations, and isolating units FM 3-0 pg 8-3 How do we disrupt? - Defeat or mislead - separate/ isolate - break up formations - Get in the enemies decision cycle - If he can’t execute his plan his will react to our plan. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

MASSING EFFECTS Concentrate combat power at the decisive point through flexibility Defender may accept risk in some places to mass at another FM 3-0 pg 8-3 What are the risks? How do we compensate? - concealment/ deception - security/ flexibility What combat power does a Mechanized platoon have? BFVs, 25mm Chain Gun, thermal sights, TOW What combat power does a Light Infantry platoon have? Dragon/ Javelin, AT-4, M60 Machine Gun, SAW, M203 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

FLEXIBILITY Preparations in depth - Alternate and supplementary positions - Alternate EAs Reserves Counter-attack plans FM 3-0 pg 8-3 How do we achieve tactical flexibility? - planning - counter attacks - Be Prepared or On Order missions What is the goal? - We want to be able to shift the main effort with out losing synchronization DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSIVE PATTERNS Mobile Area Retrograde FM 3-0 pg 8-3 What is a mobile defense oriented on? - Mobile defense orients on the destruction of the enemy force by employing a combination of fire and maneuver, offense, defense, and delay to defeat his attack. What force is committed to the Mobile Defense? - A minimum amount of combat power is committed to the pure defense. Maximum combat power is committed to a striking force which catches the enemy as they are attacking the defending element. It requires mobility greater than the enemy. What force is committed to an Area Defense? - The bulk of the defenders combat power is deployed to retain ground. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSIVE PATTERNS Mobile - Orient on destroying enemy - Setting conditions for counter-attack What is a mobile defense oriented on? - Mobile defense orients on the destruction of the enemy force by employing a combination of fire and maneuver, offense, defense, and delay to defeat his attack. What force is committed to the Mobile Defense? - A minimum amount of combat power is committed to the pure defense. Maximum combat power is committed to a striking force which catches the enemy as they are attacking the defending element. It requires mobility greater than the enemy. What force is committed to an Area Defense? - The bulk of the defenders combat power is deployed to retain ground. FM 3-0 pg 8-4 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSIVE PATTERNS Area - Orient on retaining terrain - Expose enemy to mutually supported Engagement Areas along avenues of approach What is a mobile defense oriented on? - Mobile defense orients on the destruction of the enemy force by employing a combination of fire and maneuver, offense, defense, and delay to defeat his attack. What force is committed to the Mobile Defense? - A minimum amount of combat power is committed to the pure defense. Maximum combat power is committed to a striking force which catches the enemy as they are attacking the defending element. It requires mobility greater than the enemy. What force is committed to an Area Defense? - The bulk of the defenders combat power is deployed to retain ground. FM 3-0 pg 8-4 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES Nonlinear Linear Defense of reverse slope Strongpoint Perimeter Battle positions Defense in sector FM 7-10 pg 5-22 thru 5-32 What are the five defensive techniques? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PERIMETER DEFENSE Area No adjacent friendly units 360 degrees (circular/ triangle) Assembly areas/ patrol bases Reserve blocks penetrations FM 7-10 pg 5-28 What are the disadvantages of a perimeter defense? - Easily bypassed - Least flexible - No concentration of firepower Why would we use a perimeter defense? - Enemy attacks from multiple directions - Control - Centralized reserve DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PERIMETER DEFENSE FM 7-8 pg 1-14 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

BATTLE POSITIONS Area/ Mobile Mutually supporting Concentrate combat power into EA Primary, alternate, supplementary positions and EAs FM-7-10 pg 5-25 How do you secure the Battle Position to prevent the enemy from pinpointing your position? - Must patrol forward to prevent the enemy from pinpointing the defensive trace. The platoon can harass forward to disorganize and confuse the enemy. Does the platoon leader place fighting positions on avenues of approach? - The platoon will cover avenues of approach with direct and indirect fires but fighting positions are not placed in avenues of approach. Common sense. Does your indirect fire plan dictate the placement of the obstacles or does obstacle placement dictate the indirect fire plan? - Obstacles are placed were they can best perform the assigned task and be tied into existing terrain. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

BATTLE POSITIONS FM 7-10, pg 5-25 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSE IN SECTOR Mobile Platoon sectors/ mutually supporting BPs on armor restrictive terrain or both Positions arrayed in depth Flexibility Exposes flanks of enemy throughout depth of sectors Degraded C2 and indirect fires FM 7-10 pg 5-24 What is the advantage of a defense in sector? - Very flexible, can surprise the enemy Do you need fighting positions for a defense in sector? - Platoons need fighting positions to survive indirect fires prior to the enemies main attack. Camouflage as very important. What is one of the first actions a platoon leader must do to be effective in a defense in sector? - The platoon leader must conduct a detailed recon of the sector to identify avenues of approach, choke points, tentative obstacle locations, etc Why is control difficult when conducting a defense in sector? - Communication is difficult, hard to control subordinate elements, very decentralized. Why is it difficult to control indirect fires in sector? - The platoon leader must control indirect fires to prevent fratricide. The platoon leader must know the locations of all friendly units in sector. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSE IN SECTOR FM 7-8 pg 1-15&16 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

CONDUCT OF THE DEFENSE Prepare for combat Move to defensive positions Establish defensive positions Locate the enemy Action on enemy contact Fight the defense Consolidate and reorganize DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PREPARE FOR COMBAT Troop Leading Procedures Conduct Leader’s Recon Check equipment and ammunition Camouflage Self and Equipment Rehearse Critical Tasks FM 7-8 pg. 2-66&67 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

MOVE TO DEFENSIVE POSITIONS Move on covered and concealed routes Avoid likely ambush sites Enforce camouflage, noise, and light discipline Maintain all around security including air guards Use formations and movement techniques based on M-TETTC DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

ESTABLISH DEFENSIVE POSITIONS Engagement Area development DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

ENGAGEMENT AREA DEVELOPMENT Identify all likely enemy avenues of approach Determine likely enemy schemes of maneuver Determine where to kill the enemy Plan and integrate obstacles Emplace weapons systems Plan and integrate indirect fires Rehearse the execution of operations in the engagement area DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

IDENTIFY ALL ENEMY LIKELY AVENUES OF APPROACH FM 71-1 pg 6-17 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DETERMINE WHERE TO KILL THE ENEMY DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS FM 71-1 pg 6-19

DETERMINE LIKELY ENEMY SCHEME OF MANEUVER DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS FM 71-1, pg 6-18

PLAN AND INTEGRATE OBSTACLES DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS FM 71-1 pg 6-20

OBSTACLES Slow enemy advance to mass fires Canalize enemy Separate enemy forces Strengthen lightly defended areas Protect defensive positions What are some examples of obstacles? - Triple strand concertina - 11 row concertina road block - Tanglefoot - Log Cribs, Log Hurdles - Mines - Tank ditches - Road craters - Abatis - Rubble - Persistent agents - Junked equipment or automobiles DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

OBSTACLES Disrupt Turn Fix Block DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

OBSTACLES Support tactical plan Reinforcing tied into existing Covered by observations and fires Constructed in depth Achieve surprise Why do we cover obstacles with direct and indirect fire? - If not covered than the enemy can disassemble at their leisure. Why do we tie obstacles in with existing terrain? - Eases the size of the obstacles we assemble and the Class IV can be used elsewhere. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

EMPLACE WEAPONS SYSTEMS & PLAN AND INTEGRATE INDIRECT FIRES DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS FM 71-1, pg 6-21

BRADLEYS AND INFANTRY IN THE DEFENSE DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DEFENSE WITH BRADLEYS AND INFANTRY Same BP covering Same AOA Same BP covering Different AOAs Different BPs covering Same AOA Different BPs covering Different AOAs DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SAME BP/ SAME AOA DEFEND AGAINST MOUNTED AND DISMOUNTED ATTACKS RAPIDLY REPOSITION/ REMOUNT USED WHEN TERRAIN ALLOWS GOOD FIELDS OF FIRE, COVER/CONCEALMENT FOR BOTH BFVs AND SQDs INCREASED C2, SECURITY FOR BFVs MOST CONSERVATIVE DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SAME BP/ SAME AOA DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SAME BP / DIFFERENT AOAs USED WHEN BP HAS TWO EQUALLY DANGEROUS AOAs (ONE LONG RANGE, ONE SHORT RANGE FIELD OF FIRE) EACH ELEMENT POSITIONED ON TERRAIN WHICH MAXIMIZES CAPABILITIES PLANS MUST BE MADE TO SHIFT BFVs/ SQDs DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SAME BP/ DIFFERENT AOAs FM 7-7J PG 2-102 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DIFFERENT BPs/ SAME AOA Forces positioned to engage enemy on the same AOA at different ranges BFVs must be able to support dismounted squads by fire Three techniques Dismounts placed close to the EA, mass fires with BFVs, and engage enemy in depth Dismounts positioned in relation to the EA to be able to engage enemy once BFVs force him to dismount Dismounts placed at choke point(s) and BFVs engage enemy as they try to pass MAX BFV/SQD SEPARATION 1500m REMOUNT DRILLS, LOCATION AND RALLY OPERATIONS REHEARSED DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DIFFERENT BPs/ SAME AOA FM 7-7 PG 2-103 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

DIFFERENT BPs / DIFFERENT AOAs USED WHEN LARGE NUMBER OF DISMOUNTS NEED TO SECURE KEY TERRAIN OR DISMOUNTS MUST OCCUPY RUGGED TERRAIN BFVs CAN’T NEGOTIATE DISMOUNTS NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED UNDER COMPANY XO DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

ENGAGEMENT AREA REHEARSALS Rearward passage of security forces (as required) Closure of lanes (as required) Movement from the hide positions to the BP Use of commands, triggers, and/or MELs to initiate direct and indirect fires Shifting of fires to refocus and redistribute fire effects FM 71-1 pg 6-22 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

ENGAGEMENT AREA REHEARSALS Preparation and transmission of critical reports using FM and digital systems (as applicable) Displacement to alternate, supplementary Cross-leveling or resupply of Class V Evacuation of casualties FM 71-1 pg 6-22 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

LOCATE THE ENEMY LP/OPs Security Patrols/ Counter-recon Security Night Vision Devices Thermal Devices FM 7-8 pg 1-16 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

ACTIONS ON ENEMY CONTACT Alert platoon chain of command Report to company commander Call in OPs Call for and adjust indirect fire Initiate long range direct fire weapons DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

FIGHT THE DEFENSE Continue calling indirect fires Control direct fires Fire FPF as needed Platoon engages until enemy is repelled or ordered to disengage DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PRINCIPLES OF DIRECT FIRE CONTROL Mass effects Destroy greatest threat first Avoid target overkill’ Employ best weapon for target Minimize friendly exposure Prevent fratricide Plan for extreme limited visibility Develop contingencies for diminished capabilities DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

CONSOLIDATION AND REORGANIZATION Reestablish security Re-man key weapons Provide first aid and prepare medevac Repair obstacles Redistributes ammunition and supplies Reestablish communication Prepare for enemy attack DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

Example Strongpoint Defense Gate 1 house 10 ft wall 6ft wall homes 3 Stories 1 Story Small Alley Side Road Gate 2 1 Story Major Road Gate 3 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

Strongpoint Defense In Urban Environment No true EA (Cannot canalize enemy) Not at full security (Running missions, 1 platoon usually gone, & other priorities other than defense) This is where you live and other civilians live (sharing the same area) Still need battle plan if attacked (i.e. who goes where sectors of fire or wpn orientation) Still need to account for dead space (behind walls or buildings, and etc.) What is the engagement criteria? Anything that moves? Anything with a weapon? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

P.E. DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT IN THE DEFENSE DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PERSONNEL SERVICE AND SUPPORT Strength accountability Casualty reporting Services EPWs What are some examples of other personnel services? - Mail - Phone - Showers - Worship - PX How do these affect our soldiers? - Morale - Comfort DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SERVICE STATION RESUPPLY FM 7-7J p. 2-181 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

TAILGATE RESUPPLY FM 7-7J p. 2-182 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PRIORITIES OF WORK IN THE DEFENSE DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PRIORITIES OF WORK ESTABLISH LOCAL SECURITY, IMPLEMENT R&S FOR OCCUPATION, ASSUME SECURITY POSTURE (33% MINIMUM) (PG 2-26) POSITION ANTI-ARMOR WEAPONS, MACHINE GUNS AND SQUADS AND ASSIGN SECTORS OF FIRE (CREW SERVED WEAPONS ARE ALWAYS MANNED) (PG 2-72 TO 2-76) POSITION ASSETS ATTACHED TO THE PLATOON ESTABLISH CP AND WIRE COMMO What is the most important priority of work? -Security What order does a platoon accomplish the priorities of work? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PRIORITIES OF WORK DESIGNATE FPLs, PDFs (PG 2-74) CLEAR FIELDS OF FIRE, PREPARE RANGE CARDS AND SECTOR SKETCHES (PG 2-76 TO 2-78, 2-80 TO 2-82) COORDINATE WITH ADJACENT UNITS (PG 2-85,-86) PREPARE PRIMARY FIGHTING POSITIONS (PG 2-87 TO 2-97) EMPLACE OBSTACLES AND MINES (PG 2-129 TO 2-142) What is the most important priority of work? -Security What order does a platoon accomplish the priorities of work? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PRIORITIES OF WORK MARK OR IMPROVE MARKING FOR TRP’s AND OTHER FIRE CONTROL MEASURES (PG 2-82, 2-158) PREPARE ALTERNATE POSITIONS THEN SUPPLEMENTARY POSITIONS ESTABLISH SLEEP AND REST PLANS RECON ROUTES BETWEEN PRIMARY, ALTERNATE AND SUPPLEMENTARY POSITIONS IMPROVE PRIMARY POSITIONS TO INCLUDE OVERHEAD COVER AND CAMO What is the most important priority of work? -Security What order does a platoon accomplish the priorities of work? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

PRIORITIES OF WORK REHEARSE ENGAGEMENTS, DISENGAGEMENTS AND COUNTERATTACK PLANS ADJUST POSITION OR CONTROL MEASURE AS REQUIRED STOCKPILE AMMO, FOOD AND WATER DIG TRENCHES TO CONNECT FIGHTING POSITIONS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE POSITIONS What is the most important priority of work? -Security What order does a platoon accomplish the priorities of work? DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

SUMMARY Characteristics of the Defense Conduct of the Defense Engagement Area Development Priorities of work DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

CONCLUSION Follow steps to EA development Use GTA 7-4-6 and GTA 7-6-1 DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS