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Keisuke

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Squad Tactics:Tactical Movement

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Basic Army Elements

Team or CrewSquadPlatoonCompanyBattalionRegiment/GroupBrigadeDivision

IIIIIIX

XX

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Organization of a Rifle Squad

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Squad Tactics

• Formations– Fire Team Wedge– Fire Team File– Squad Column– Squad Line– Squad File

• Movement Techniques– Traveling– Traveling Overwatch– Bounding Overwatch

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Movement Formations: Purpose

• Control

• Security

• Flexibility

• Fire Capability

Teams, Squads, and Platoons use formations for:

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Movement Formations: Fire Team File

• Use when terrain/visibility precludes use of wedge

• 10 meters between soldiers

• Return to wedge as soon as terrain permits

Team Leader

Rifleman

Grenadier

Auto Rifleman

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Movement Formations: Fire Team Wedge

• Basic formation• 10 meter interval

between soldiers• Expand/contract

depending on terrain

Team Leader

Rifleman

GrenadierAuto Rifleman

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Movement Formations:

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Squad Movement Formations:

• Squad Column – Normally used as the primary formation

• Squad Line – Used when maximum fire power is required to the front (i.e. laying base of fire)

• Squad File – Used within close terrain, vegetation, limited visibility conditions

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Movement Formations: Squad Column

• Basic formation• 10 meters between

soldiers• Distance between

teams depends on terrain, visibility, and likelihood of enemy contact

Team Leader(“Pointman”)

Rifleman(Pace)

Auto Rifleman Grenadier(Compass)

Squad Leader

Team Leader

Rifleman

Grenadier Auto Rifleman

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Movement Formations: Squad Line

• Basic assault formation

• Places maximum firepower to the front

• Limited flexibility, control and security

Team Leader

AutoRifleman

Rifleman Grenadier

Squad Leader

Team Leader

AutoRifleman

GrenadierRifleman

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Movement Formations: Squad File

• Same characteristics as fire team file

• Position of leaders and weapons depends on the situation

Team Leader

Rifleman

Auto Rifleman

Grenadier

Squad Leader

Team Leader

Rifleman

Grenadier

Auto Rifleman

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Squad Movement Formations

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Squad Movement Techniques

Movement Techniques:• Traveling (Contact not likely)

• Traveling Overwatch (Contact possible)

• Bounding Overwatch (Contact expected)

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Movement Techniques

THE PLATOON LEADER CONSIDERS THE METT-T AND THE ABOVE CHARACTERISTICS THEN DIRECTS WHICH MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE THE SQUAD WILL USE

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Squad Movement Techniques: Traveling

• Use when enemy contact is not likely

• Squad column, teams close together

• Speed is essential.

• Not normally used in enemy territory.

Team Leader(“Pointman”)

Grenadier(Compass)

Auto Rifleman

Rifleman(Pace)

Squad Leader

Team Leader

GrenadierAuto Rifleman

Rifleman

±20 meters

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Squad Movement Techniques: Traveling Overwatch

• Use when enemy contact is possible

• Squad column, teams farther apart

• “Default” technique

Team Leader(“Pointman”)

Grenadier(Compass)

Auto Rifleman

Rifleman(Pace)

Squad Leader

Team Leader

GrenadierAuto Rifleman

Rifleman

±50 meters

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Squad Movement Techniques: Bounding Overwatch

Use when:• Enemy contact is expected.• When the squad leader

feels the enemy is near.• When crossing a large,

open danger area.

Team Leader

GrenadierAuto Rifleman

Rifleman

Squad Leader

Team Leader

Grenadier Auto Rifleman

Rifleman

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Squad Movement Techniques: Bounding Overwatch

Overwatch Team is positioned to cover the Bounding Team’s movement. Team Leader

(“Pointman”)

Grenadier(Compass)

Auto Rifleman

Rifleman(Pace)

Squad Leader

Team Leader

Grenadier

Auto Rifleman

Rifleman

Overwatch Team

Bounding Team

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Bounding overwatch is used whenapproaching an objective, or in a tactical situation where enemy contact is likely or expected, and when speed of movement is not important.

Bounding Overwatch