11

2

PLATOON OPERATIONS

B Co, IOBC

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2

TYPES OF ATTACKS

• Hasty

• Deliberate

• Raid

• Ambush

FM 7-8, PG 1-8

Special Purpose Attacks

or Combat Patrols

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2 ASSAULT OF A STRONGPOINT

FM 7-10, pp. 4-28 – 4-34

• Assault of a Strongpoint – basic template for all attacks

• Five steps – Relate them to your plan

1. Recon/Develop the Concept2. Move to the Objective3. Isolate the Objective and the Selected Breach4. Attack to Secure a Foothold5. Exploit the Penetration and Seize the DP

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2 ASSAULT OF A STRONGPOINT

FM 7-10, pp. 4-28 – 4-34

• Organization for Assault of a Strongpoint

1. Assault

2. Support

3. Breach

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2

RAID

• “A raid is an operation involving a swift penetration of hostile territory to secure information, to confuse the enemy, or to destroy his installations. It ends with a planned withdrawal after completion of the assigned mission.”

* SQDs do not execute raids

FM 7-8 PG 1-8

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2 Key Characteristics of the Raid

• Surprise– Unexpected direction– Unexpected time– During limited visibility

• Firepower– Concentrated at key points to suppress or kill the

enemy• Violence

– Facilitated by massed fires– Aggressive actions

FM 7-10 PG 6-22

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2 How is a Raid different from a Deliberate Attack?

• They are conducted in enemy controlled territory

• They are often conducted against an enemy of equal or greater strength

• Plans usually rely more heavily on artillery, CAS, and attack aviation assets

• Requires the most detailed reconnaissance and planning possible

• They involve an infiltration and (MOST IMPORTANTLY) an exfiltrationexfiltration plan!

FM 7-10 p.6-22

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2 Phases of a Raid

• PH I – PLT Infiltration

• PH II – Isolation of the Objective

• PH III – “Overcome” the Enemy Threat

• PH IV – Accomplish the mission before reinforcements arrive

• PH V – PLT Withdraws

(Foot,Vehicle,Helicopter,ABN ASLT)

(Obstacles,Indirect fires,Direct Fires)

(“Kill/Capture HVT”, Destroy, Clear, Secure,“BPT Seize for SSE)

(Treat and evacuate casualties, COB control, locate PIR, demolitions)

(Foot,Vehicle,Helicopter)

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2Phases and ARTEP 7-8 MTP (1994 ed)

1) PL plans mission IAW Develop and Communicate a Plan (7-3/4-1605)2) PL prepares for the mission IAW Prepare For Combat (7-3/4-1606)

3) PLT moves to ORP IAW Move Tactically (7-3/4-1134)4) PL, SLs, sel pax conduct LDR’d Recon5) PL decides to conduct or abort raid6) Recon element returns to the ORP, PL adjusts the plan7) Elements and teams move into positions

8) Security elements occupy designated positions9) Support element leader moves the support element into position10) PL Moves with the assault to the assault position11) Leaders inform the PL when they are ready to conduct the raid12) The PL directs the support element to fire IAW Perform Overwatch/SBF (7-3/4-1108)13) The assault element advances toward the objective14) The PL orders the assault15) The assault element attacks and secures the objective

16) The assault element attacks and secures the OBJ IAW Execute Assault (7-3/4-1103)17) On order or signal of the PL, the assault element withdraws off the OBJ18) The FO shifts indirect on the target19) Squads withdraw from the OBJ in sequence to a covered and concealed position away from the objective area20) The PLT forwards raid reports and continues the mission

PH V – PLT Withdraws

PH IV – Accomplish the mission before reinforcements arrive

PH III – “ Overcome” the Enemy Threat

PH II – Isolation of the Objective

PH I – PLT Infiltration

TLPs

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2

RAID PLANNING

• Assault of a strongpoint• Security element isolates OBJ from

inside and outside• Direct and indirect fire plans• Minimize time on OBJ• Withdrawal route• Be prepared to defend against CATK

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2

RAID PLANNING

• Task Organization

- Support - suppress / fix- Assault – destroy / clear- Security – isolate / secure

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2

RAID SEQUENCE

• Troop Leading Procedures• Leader’s Reconnaissance• Occupy Security, Support by Fire,

Assault Positions• Conduct Raid• Withdrawal • Consolidation and Reorganization

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2 RAID (in woodline)

ORP

RP

RALLY POINT

ASLTPSN

11

2

Most Common PLT Operations in OIF/OEF

• PLT and Company Raids• Movement to Contact / Patrols• Cordon and Search• TCP’s

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2 RAID PACKAGE (Iraq example)

• 1 Delta Company Platoon (4 gun trucks)• 1 Rifle Platoon • CA Team• Headquarters element

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2 RAID TGT HOUSE

Gun truck

Gun truck

Gun truck

LMTV

LMTV

Hummvee

Gun truck

Hummvee

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2

RAID

Sidewalk

Road

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2

RAID

Sidewalk

Road

11

2

RAID

Sidewalk

Road

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2

• A surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target

FM 7-8 PG 3-20

AMBUSH

11

2

• Deliberate

• Hasty

FM 7-8 PG 3-20

AMBUSH CATEGORIES

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2AMBUSH

CATEGORIES

• Deliberate: conducted against a specific target at a predetermined location

- detailed information: enemy size and composition, equipment, route times

FM 7-8 PG 3-25

11

2AMBUSH

CATEGORIES

• Hasty: conducted when visual contact is made with enemy force

- actions must be well rehearsed

FM 7-8 PG 3-22

11

2

• TYPES

- Point

- Area

FM 7-8 PG 3-20

AMBUSH TYPES

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2

• Point: soldiers deploy to attack enemy in a single kill zone

- squads or entire platoon depending on enemy composition

FM 7-8 PG 3-25

AMBUSH TYPES

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2

• Area: soldiers deploy in two or more related point ambushes

- principle ambush site supported by outlying ambushes on likely avenues of approaches

FM 7-8 PG 3-27,28

AMBUSH TYPES

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2AMBUSH

FORMATIONS

• FORMATIONS:- Linear- L-shaped

FM 7-8 PG 3-20, 21

11

2AMBUSH

FORMATIONS

• Linear: assault and support elements deploy parallel to enemy’s route

- achieve flanking fire

FM 7-8 PG 3-20

11

2AMBUSH

FORMATIONS

Linear

Security Support Assault

FM 7-8 PG 3-21

11

2AMBUSH

FORMATIONS

• L-shaped: assault element forms long leg parallel to enemy’s direction of movement, support element forms short leg at a right angle to assault element

- provides flanking and enfilading fires

FM 7-8 PG 3-21

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2AMBUSH

FORMATIONS

L-Shaped

Security

Support

Assault

FM 7-8 PG 3-21

11

2

AMBUSH PLANNING

• Cover the entire EA by direct/ indirect fire• Protect the assault and support elements

with mines and obstacles• Use security elements to isolate EA, equip

with AT systems, mines• Assault through EA to search dead and

wounded, collect PIR, destroy equipment • Rotate squads from ORP if possible

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2 TASK ORGANIZATION

Security

• Release Point/ Surv & Obs (2)

• Left Side (2)

• Right Side (2)

• ORP (2)

• SL w/ Primary Security Side

Support

• Gun 1

• Gun 2

• Attached Fire Team?

• SL

Assault

• ME Sqd

• SE Sqd (detached fire team?)

Headquarters

• PL – Assault

• PSG – RP

• FO – Support

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2

LEADER’S RECON

Leaving ORP

• Point Man

• PL, RTO, FO

• 1,2,3 SLs

• Security Squad

Returning to ORP

• Point Man

• PL, RTO, FO

• SLs

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2 AMBUSH SEQUENCE

ORP

Emplace S&O

PL designates Asslt/Spt Posns

Emplace Security

Leader’s Recon:Pinpoint OBJ

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2

AMBUSH SEQUENCE

ORP

Emplace Ambush:

SL Estab SBF

PL Estab Assault

PSG Estab RP

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2

AMBUSH SEQUENCE

ORP

Execute Ambush:Security reports to PL

PL reinitiates as neededPL initiates assault

LOA

PL initiates ambush

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2 AMBUSH SEQUENCE

ORP

Actions On OBJ:

LOA

PL calls EPWPL calls A&L

PL calls DemoPL initiates withdrawal

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2

AMBUSH SEQUENCE

ORP

Withdrawal:AssaultSupportSecurityDisseminate PIR in ORP

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2

SUMMARY

• Review of movement to contact

• Raid

• Ambush