11 11TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

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Platoon Battle Drills(ARTEP 7-8-DRILL, 25 JUNE 2002)

• 07-3-D9103--React to Contact (Platoon/Squad)• 07-3-D9106--Knock Out Bunkers (Platoon)• 07-3-D9104--Break Contact (Dismounted)• 07-3-D9110--Enter/Clear a Trench (Platoon)• 07-3-D9105--React to Ambush (Platoon/Squad)• 07-3-D9112--Conduct Initial Breach of a Mined Wire

Obstacle (Platoon)• 07-3-D9108--Enter and Clear a Building (Platoon)• 07-3-D9282--React to a Chemical Attack

(Platoon/Squad)• 07-3-D9283--React to Nuclear Attack (Platoon/Squad)

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• Require minimal orders• Are rapid and sequential actions vital to

success• Apply to platoon and smaller units• Are trained and rapid response to

enemy actions or leader’s orders

Successful Battle

Drills

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React to Contact

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React To ContactDECISIONS

TEAM LDR SQUAD LDR PLATOON LDR

Assault Request Call For Fire (CFF) CFF

Establish Maneuver CFFBase of Fire Request CFF

Establish Maneuver

Base of Fire Establish Base of Fire

CFF

Break Contact

Break Contact Help Squad Break Contact

Break Contact

Considerations:- Can your element gain fire superiority?- Are you within hand grenade range?- Are you within an enemy kill zone?- Given fire superiority, from your position can a subordinate unit maneuver to a vulnerable flank?

11 Platoon LeaderDecision #1

Enemy Action• 1st Squad Base Left/Right

• Attack Left/Right

11 Platoon LeaderDecision #2

Enemy Action• 1st Squad Base Left/Right• Reinforce Base Left/Right

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Squad Leader Actions

Decides: • If lead team keeps assaulting, • If lead team establishes base of fire • If squad can or cannot assault the

enemy• To Advise PL on emplacement of

machine guns/other forces and best covered and concealed routes to enemy position

• where/when/how to consolidate and reorganize based on terrain/threat

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Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant Actions

Decide:• If squad in contact assaults (can handle

the fight)• If squad in contact establishes base of

fire (maneuver with other SQDs)• If squad in contact breaks contact

(Enemy contact too heavy to assault with the PLT, or need to re-group to set conditions for an assault)

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Platoon Leader and Platoon Sergeant Actions

• Employment of indirect fires

• PSG establish CCP (once 2-3 or more casualties are taken)

• Decide when/where/how to consolidate and reorganize

• Reporting (Sitrep or need additional assets from higher)

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NOTES ON DECISIONS

• The decisions required of leaders for React to Contact apply to all of the remaining battle drills as well.

• The employment of indirect fires is best left to the PL; however, SLs can send a call for fire to the PL.

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Knock out Bunkers

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• 1st Squad Est. SBF• Attack

•PL Calls for Fire•2nd Squad Reinforce SBF

•Base Left/Right or Assault left/right

•3rd Squad Assault Left/Right

Enemy Bunkers

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• 1st Squad Base Left/Right• Attack Left/Right

•2nd Squad Base Left/Right•3rd Squad Assault Left/Right

Shift Fire

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• 1st Squad Base Left/Right• Attack Left/Right

•2nd Squad Base Left/Right•3rd Squad Assault Left/Right

Shift Fire 2

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Break Contact

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Enemy Bunkers

• 1st Squad Base Left/Right• 2nd Squad Base Left/Right

• PL Call For Fire•3rd Squad Base L/R (if needed)

• 1st Squad Break Contact• 2nd Squad Break Contact• 3rd Squad Break Contact

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Enter and Clear a Trench (Platoon)

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PL identifies Entry Point

PL or PSG/WSL est. SBF

SQDs suppress the Entry Point or Entire trench (if the trench is small enough to do so)

Assault SQD (intermediate SBF)

Est. a foothold SQD

SBF and WPNs SQD

PL

WSLPSG

Entry PT

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Initial entry SQD moves forward

PL Calls for Both SBF and Intermediate SBF toShift Fire

Entry SQD est. itsown IntermediateSBF

Shift fire 1PL

PSGWSL

SL

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Initial entry TM gains foothold

PL

PSG WSL

SQD internal shift

SL

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Entry PT is marked with 2 x flags (usually engineer tape or VS-17 pannels) or Directional chem lights

PL calls Shift Fire 2 to Inter.SBF

Entry SL leads his 2nd TM into trench

PL

PSGWSL

SL

Shift Fire 2

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Entry SQD est. foothold and clears to first corners and holds, SL calls PL for follow on SQDs, helps guide SQDs through entry point

All teams must enter the trench between the lane markers to avoid the threat of fratricide in the trench

PL calls lift fire 1 to Assault SQD and moves with Assault SQD

PL

PSGWSL

SL

SLLift Fire 1

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Entry SQD consolidates and clears in one direction while Assault SQD clears the other Direction **You can decide to clear in only 1 directionfrom the beginning***

PL Calls Shift 3 to SBF

PL Lifts SBF and tells them to move into the trench

Front line trace marked by “Moses pole”

PL

PSGWSL

SL

SL

Shift Fire 3

Lift Fire 2

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TMs mark progress as they go

Tm from the Assault SQD est.Overwatch from the trench

SBF SQD assumes lead SQD

MGs wait to be emplaced

SQDs emplace securityAs they go to isolate top of trench from counter attack or enemy re-entry

PSG may assist in C2 of SQDs or est. CCP if neccessary

PL

PSG

SL

SL

SL

WSL

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SQDs clear in one directionAnd hold in the other

PL/WSL emplace Gun 1

PL/SL shifts overwatch TM

PL lifts overwatchTeam and orders to reposition for security

SQD HOLDS

Shift fire

PL

SL

SL

SL

PSG

WSL

CCP

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Establish foothold SQD and SBF SQD crosstalk to ensure no fratricide during final clear

PL/WSL emplace Gun 2

PL

SL

SL

SL

PSG

WSL

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PL

PSG

SL

SL

SL

WSL

Consolidation and Reorganization

Key Leaders spread out to C2 (SL helps controls gun 1)

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Realize this trench scenario was depicted with 0 casualties.

The PL locates himself so he can pass other SQDs/TMs to the front when the lead SQD becomes combat ineffective due to casualties or fatigue.

It is your job as the PL to monitor the tempo and know the status/location of the lead element.

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Trench TTPs• Replace lead man immediately if he goes “cold” (out of ammo)• Use frag grenades to clear hardened bunkers• Many MOUT techniques work in a trench• Be prepared to breach bunker doors• Marking progress will allow SBF to anticipate shifts and provided better direct fire support• Use Snipers to cover the trench using well aimed shots to interdict enemy pax pushed out by the clearing process• Keep talking to a minimum as this lets the enemy know where you are !• Do not flag your head above the trench as this could cause a frat with an overwatch element• Don’t be afraid to pull back a bit in order to prepare for another action

React To Ambush (Near)

“Frag out”

React To Ambush – (Far)

Shift Fire

Cease Fire

-If you have MTRs traveling with you, they can mark the contact (hip shoot) with WP, RP, Illum, IR Illum along with HE, lets everyone know where the contact is located when fighting in difficult terrain (easy to get disoriented)

Breach a Mined/Wire Obstacle

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Decisions Common to All Drills and Leaders

• When/Where/How to focus/distribute/shift fires

• What to do with casualties (stop bleeding, drag to cover and continue the fight; package in SKEDCO and move to CCP upon reorganization)

• When/where/how to consolidate and reorganize based on threat/time/unit condition

• How/when to use markings and signals (SOP)

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Common Mistakes

• Squads/Platoons slow to react to contact, take too many casualties as a result

• Platoons sometimes annihilated by fire-team or smaller size enemy force (must locate the enemy and fix him with direct or indirect fires while you maneuver to his flank)

• Momentum is too often lost, enemy escapes (remember simple plan boldly executed!!!!)

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Why problems occur?

• Overly complicated decision making processes

• Lack of all-round security– PLTs get focused in direction of initial

contact-enemy maneuvers on them

• Target fixation

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How to Get Better

• Train to HIGH standards

• Use “fall-out one” training

• “Cross Train” on weapon systems

• Develop/train/enforce SOPs

• Fire control and Distribution

• Train to make contact from different directions

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How to Get Better

• Build Teams Through Adversity– Do hard things together in training – Demand honesty – Instill high standards of conduct– Train junior leaders to make quick decisions based

on your intent and SOPs

• Train all PLT members to call for fire and to be proficient with radios

• Standard hand and arm signals• Tactical Patience• Enforce all-round security

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How to Get Better

• Train all soldiers to give “Go where, do what” orders (like using the “active voice” in writing)

• Reduce amount of verbal noise (silent, violent, silent)

• Clearly define what decisions you expect leaders to make under fire

• Instill decision-making at the lowest level

11 CONCLUDING PRINCIPLES

• Train how we fight (“tough love”)• Empower all leaders to tune their actions to local reality• Assault behind effective fire• Bound elements to have overwatch/effective fire when

closing the distance on the enemy• As a PL work on synchronizing the fight in terms of squads,

machine guns, and indirect fires (don’t want any lulls in fires being placed on the enemy)

• Battle handover and setting conditions (one event allows another to occur)

• Understanding of time, space, and forces• Development of leaders and teams

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QUESTIONS?