Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC DCSINT

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Opposing Force Operations FM OPFOR FM Opposing Force: Operations Chapter 13 Airborne, Special- Purpose Forces, and Amphibious Operations

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne and Heliborne Operations Used for surprise and rapid envelopment of key objectives Used for regional power projection and access control Especially useful in transition and adaptive operations

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne and Heliborne Operations Airborne and Heliborne Operations Command and Control Airborne forces directly subordinate to the Supreme High Command May allocate to a theater HQ or OSC Landing force commander initially conducts the operation until linkup

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne and Heliborne Operations Airborne and Heliborne Operations Missions Strategic missions –Airborne forces against deep targets –Targets include national capitals, economic centers, ports, and airfields Operational missions –Normal force is airborne brigade –Targets include CPs, communications, nuclear weapons, logistics, and LOCs

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne and Heliborne Operations Airborne and Heliborne Operations Missions (Continued) Tactical missions –Limited airborne use; primarily heliborne –Helps ground forces reach operational/tactical objectives –Heliborne missions include repositioning forces, reconnaissance, tactical security, antilanding reserve, ambushes, and raids

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne and Heliborne Operations Airborne and Heliborne Operations Planning and Preparation Planning considerations include –Mission –Troops/support –Terrain –Depth of operation –Flight routes Planning time is 24 hours – Air superiority – DZs/LZs – Surprise – Security – Enemy situation

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne and Heliborne Operations Airborne and Heliborne Operations Conduct Air Force supports airborne insertion Army aviation supports heliborne insertions OPFOR secures flight corridor Speed and security are primary concerns moving to objective Tactics similar to normal infantry Success depends on early linkup with ground forces

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations SPF Command –Supports local irregular forces Service components –Used at operational level –Conducts direct action and reconnaissance at operational depth Navy and Air Force support insertions –Allows attack to enemy’s strategic depth –Conducts both direct action and strategic reconnaissance

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Command and Control SPF Command, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Internal Security Forces have organic SPF units SPF task organized for mission General Staff allocates assets to theater commander who can suballocated to OSC OSC can suballocate to tactical level Normally operate as small teams

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special Reconnaissance Major HUMINT source Priorities include –Precision weapons –NBC systems –HQ/C 2 –RISTA systems Can monitor targets or conduct direct action – Rail/road/air routes – Airfields & ports – Logistics facilities – ADA systems

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Direct Action Includes overt, covert, or clandestine attack on enemy Operations include assassination, abduction, sabotage, ambushes, and rescues Diversionary measures include – Direct action in enemy’s rear area – Disruption of C 2, commo, & LOCs – Misdirecting military movement – Spreading disinformation

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Missions Basic missions include –Neutralize WMD –Attack AD/airfields –Disrupt LOCs –Attack C 2 /RISTA –Disrupt defense –Spread panic Missions are conducted during peacetime, transition to war, and wartime – Disrupt power/transport – Conduct reconnaissance – Organize irregular forces – Prevent reserve movement – Assassination – Weapons guidance

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Commandos Part of SPF Command Emphasis on infiltration and fighting in complex terrain and at night Employed as battalions down to small teams Allocated to OSC, DTG, or BTG Can conduct normal infantry missions

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Commandos (Continued) Commando missions include –Collecting enemy information –Conducting terrain reconnaissance –Destroying WMD –Conducting raids and ambushes –Clearing LOCs –Clearing/emplacing obstacles –Creating disturbances in enemy territory –Acting as disruption/fixing/assault/exploitation/ security force –Act as antilanding reserve

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Special-Purpose Forces Operations Special-Purpose Forces Operations Commandos (Continued) Offense –Act as a disruption or fixing force –Part of an assault or exploitation force Defense –Provides reconnaissance in OSC disruption zone –Provides security in OSC support zone –Conduct stay-behind missions

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Amphibious Operations Limited capability for insertion of forces Forces used include –Naval infantry –Regular ground forces –SPF Amphibious landings can be operational or tactical in scale

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Amphibious Operations Amphibious Operations Missions Operational mission objectives include –Envelop/destroy enemy coastal positions –Seize/destroy key coastal objectives –Interdict enemy LOCs –Combined operations with airborne & SPF –Deception operations –Block reserve or counterattack routes –Establish coastal defenses

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Amphibious Operations Amphibious Operations Missions (Continued) Tactical missions most prevalent Tactical objectives include –Attack enemy rear area/flank on a coastline –Seize key objectives on enemy coastline

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Amphibious Operations Amphibious Operations Missions (Continued) Reconnaissance and sabotage missions –Conduct reconnaissance –Damage or destroy high-value installations near coast –Disrupt enemy C 2 and/or logistics –Tie down enemy troops defending coastline

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Amphibious Operations Amphibious Operations Command and Control Naval infantry can be allocated to OSC Overall C 2 by Navy commander when only Naval units involved Overall C 2 by OSC commander when joint operations Landing force commander conducts operation once on shore

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Amphibious Operations Amphibious Operations Conduct Naval infantry secures beachhead Buildup effort uses ordinary ground forces Heavy fire preparation is used Airborne or heliborne normally supports Amphibious operations conducted during regional, transition, and adaptive operations

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Airborne, Special-Purpose Forces, and Amphibious Operations Airborne, Special-Purpose Forces, and Amphibious Operations Summary Airborne and heliborne operations Special-Purpose Forces operations Amphibious operations