Transcript Offensive Operations and Movement to Contact

MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Squad Tactics
Offensive Operations
Definition
Offensive operations aim at destroying or
defeating the enemy in order to impose the will of
the Army on the enemy and achieve decisive
victory. Offensive operations are used to deprive
the enemy of resources, seize terrain, deceive or
divert the enemy, develop intelligence or hold an
enemy in position.
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Characteristics of the Offense
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Surprise
Concentration
Tempo
Audacity
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Types of Offensive Operations
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Movement to Contact
Attack
Exploitation
Pursuit
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Movement to Contact (MTC)
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An operation to develop the situation and establish or
regain contact with the enemy
Used when the tactical situation is vague or not
specific enough to conduct an attack, or when the
enemy has broken contact
A properly planned and executed MTC will allow
friendly forces freedom of action
Normally conducted at battalion or brigade level
Smallest element conducting MTC is company
Squads and platoons conduct MTC as part of a
larger force (company and above MTC)
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Fundamentals
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Focus all efforts on finding the enemy
Make initial contact with smallest element
possible
Secure the main body from becoming
decisively engaged by the enemy
Task organize and select movement
formations that allow rapid deployment and
attack
Keep forces within supporting distances
Maintain contact with enemy
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Movement to Contact Techniques
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Approach March
Search and Attack
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Approach March:
Planning Considerations
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METT-TC
On order or follow on missions for subordinate units
Decision Points
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When do I commit main body
Will reinforcing the advance guard destroy the enemy or must
I maneuver the main body to attack the enemy?
When and how do I commit the reserve?
How do I use the main body or reserve if my flanks are
attacked?
Balance speed and ability to maintain mutual support
with elements
Soldiers load impacts stealth and mobility
Control measures and coordination with adjacent units
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Common Maneuver Elements
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Advance Guard
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Sometimes called Forward Security
Element (FSE)
Main Body
Security
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Flank and Rear (Screen or Guard)
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Advance Guard
“I ordered the advance guard (one squad)
to hold the farmhouse for an additional five
minutes, and then retire…I quickly ordered
a platoon…to open fire on the area to the
left and the advance guard began to drop
back under this fire protection.”
- Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
In his book, Infantry Attacks.
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Advance Guard
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Moves forward of and within supporting range of Main
Body’s weapon systems
Protects Main Body from surprise enemy contact
Ensures uninterrupted movement of Main Body by
reducing obstacles, create passage lanes, or identifies
bypass routes
Fixes the enemy to allow Main Body to develop the
situation
Determines and reports enemy composition,
disposition, strength, flanks and gaps
Protects Main Body while Main Body is deploying
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Main Body
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The primary mission of the Main Body is
to maneuver to destroy the enemy
The commander designates tasks or
missions to each unit in the main body
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Main effort to destroy the enemy
Follow and support missions
Reserve
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Flank and Rear Security
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Provided by the maneuver unit traveling on a
flank or to the rear of the Main Body
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The trail company traveling in battalion column acts
as the battalion’s rear guard
The battalion traveling on the left of a brigade
movement will use their battalion scouts to screen
the left flank
Can be dismounted, mounted or aviation units
Used to delay an enemy force by buying time
for the Main Body to react
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Search and Attack
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A technique primarily conducted by light
forces and supported by heavy forces
Executed at the battalion level
Uses platoon or squad-size elements
Recon element finds the enemy
Fixing force develops the situation
Finishing force conducts hasty or
deliberate attack to destroy the enemy
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
MTC: Purposes of Search and Attack
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Destroy the enemy
Deny unhindered use of friendly area by the
enemy
Protect a larger force by preventing the enemy
from massing, disrupting or destroying friendly
forces
Collect information on the enemy to confirm
enemy courses of actions predicted during the
intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB)
process
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Search and Attack:
Planning Considerations
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METT-TC
Decentralized operations at squad and platoon level
Mutual support to respond to other units in contact
Length of operation may require unit rotation
Soldiers load impacts stealth and mobility
Resupply and Medevac
Positioning of key leaders and personnel
Employment of key weapons
Requirement and location of patrol bases
How to enter the zone of operation
Details of unit linkup
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Offense: Attack
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An operation that destroys or defeats the
enemy, secures terrain, or both
Ambush
Spoiling Attack
Counterattack
Raid
Feint
Demonstration
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Raid
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Swift entry into hostile territory to secure
information, confuse the enemy, or
destroy installations
Ends with a planned withdrawal
Also used to rescue and recover
individuals/equipment in danger of
capture
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Offense: Exploitation
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Offensive operation that rapidly follows a
successful attack
Necessary due to the fact that total annihilation
of the enemy on the objective are rare
Exploitation operations are designed to
aggressively pursue the enemy in order to
finish or disorganize the enemy in depth to
prevent the enemy from occupying alternate
defenses, consolidating and reorganizing or
counterattacking to regain the initiative
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Offense: Pursuit
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An offensive operation to catch or cut off
an enemy attempting to escape in order
to destroy the enemy
Normally follows a successful
exploitation operation
May also result in any successful offense
or defense operation that causes the
enemy to break down and flee the
battlefield
MSL 301, Lesson 6b: Offensive Operations
Enemy Contact! Now What?
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Attack?
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Exploit?
Pursuit?
Defend?
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Hasty or Deliberate?
Hasty or Deliberate?
Retrograde?
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Delay?
Withdrawal?