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LESSON 2
TACTICAL CONTROL MEASURES, CONSOLIDATION,
AND REORGANIZATION IN THE OFFENSE
OVERVIEW
LESSON DESCRIPTION: Tactical control measures, consolidation, and reorganization in the offense.
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
| Action: | Identify tactical control measures, consolidation, and reorganization (offense). |
| Condition: | Given the subcourse material contained in this lesson. |
| Standard: | The student will demonstrate his comprehension and knowledge by identifying tactical control measures (offense), consolidating and reorganizing a platoon following enemy contact (offense), and completing the practical exercise at the end of the lesson. |
| References: | The material in this lesson was derived from the following publications: |
| FM 7-7 FM 7-7J FM 7-8 |
INTRODUCTION
As the platoon leader, your responsibility is the control of the platoon. During the conduct of an operation the platoon leader may receive many control measures from the company commander. These control measures are normally less restrictive in order to permit the platoon leader the freedom of action in executing assigned missions. All control measures should be easily identifiable on the ground.
OFFENSIVE TACTICAL CONTROL MEASURES
1. GENERAL.
a. Leaders use graphic control measures to regulate or direct the platoon's movement, positions, and fire.
b. Control measures are not intended to restrict the exercise of initiative (the function of command). Leaders use control measures to clarify their intent, focus the platoon or squad effort, and ensure synchronization. Each control measure should have a specific purpose that contributes to mission accomplishment. If a control measure fails the purpose test, leaders should not use it.
c. Offensive control measures can be drawn on a map, overlay, sketch or a terrain model. Leaders should strive to keep control measures easily identifiable and simple. Graphic control measures in the offense include—
(1) Assembly area. An area occupied by a unit when it is preparing for future operations. It should be on easily defensible terrain. An all-round defense is prepared within the time available. Desirable characteristics are concealment, room for dispersion, good routes forward and security from ground or air attack. While the unit is in this area, these activities may take place—
(a) Orders are issued.
(b) The unit is organized for its mission.
(c) Maintenance is done.
(d) Inspections are done.
(e) The unit is resupplied.
(f) The unit rehearses.
(g) The unit rests.
(2) Attack position. A covered and concealed place just behind the line of departure. The unit makes final coordination and deploys into the initial attack formation. The platoon stops in the attack position only when final preparations cannot be completed before reaching it or if the platoon is ahead of schedule for the attack.
(3) Line of departure (LD). A linear feature usually perpendicular to the direction of attack. It is used as a start line to coordinate the advance of attacking units. It is usually picked by the company commander. Ideally, it is held by friendly troops. The time of attack is the time for the unit to start crossing the LD. The LD may be the line of contact with the enemy. The line of contact (LC) is the trace of friendly units in contact with the enemy.
(4) Direction of attack. A specific route along which the center of mass of a unit is to advance. It is used when a commander needs to closely maintain control over the movement of his attacking units. The unit attacking along a direction of attack must clear the route of all enemy resistance. Units are not free to maneuver off the assigned route.
(5) Boundaries. Lateral limits used to control the lateral movement and fire of units. A unit may shoot direct fire weapons across its boundary at a clearly identified target. Indirect fire may be fired across a boundary after coordination with adjacent units. Boundaries are rarely established lower than company level. In highly compartmented areas, such as towns, platoon boundaries may be used.
(6) Route. A course a unit must follow to get from one location to another. The beginning of the route is designated as the start point (SP) and the end is designated as the release point (RP). A route is used to control movement prior to the LD.
(7) Axis of advance. A broadly defined route that indicates the general direction of attack for a unit. A unit may fire and movement to either side of an axis of advance, as long as it does not interfere with adjacent units. Squads are rarely given an axis of advance.
(8) Phase Line (PL). A linear feature perpendicular to the direction of attack that is used to control the movement of units. Normally, units do not stop at phase lines but must report their arrival at them.
(9) Final coordination line (FCL). A line close to the enemy positions and used to coordinate lifting or shifting of supporting fire or to coordinate the deployment of attacking units before an assault.
(10) Checkpoint. A location on the ground designated to provide a reference for quickly reporting locations and for controlling the movements of units. Checkpoints should not be used to report enemy locations.
(11) Assault position. A position designated between the LD and the objective where units complete the final deployment into their assault formation. It should be the last covered and concealed position short of the objective.
(12) Objective. The area or enemy force to be attacked. A unit assigned an objective must secure it or destroy the enemy force. The size of an objective must be within the capabilities of the unit to which it is assigned. A platoon objective may be a separate terrain feature, or a part of the company's objective. Squads are not normally assigned separate objectives. Squads attack to seize portions of the platoon's objective.
(13) Linkup point. An easy identifiable point on the ground where two forces conducting a linkup meet. When one force is stationary, linkup points normally are established where the moving force's routes of advance intersect the stationary force's security elements. Linkup points for two moving forces are established on boundaries where the two forces are expected to converge.
(14) Contact point. A place where two or more friendly units are required to make physical contact.
(15) Start point. A clearly defined initial control point on a route at which specified elements of a column of ground vehicles or flight of aircraft come under the control of the commander having responsibility for the movement.
2. Limited Visibility Control Measures.
a. The platoon may attack at night and during other periods of limited visibility. Darkness is just one condition that reduces a soldier's ability to see. Smoke, fog, dust, and heavy rain or snow also limit visibility. When visibility is poor, the following control measures may be used in addition to or instead of, some of those previously discussed. The degree of visibility will determine which of these measures are necessary.
b. The following limited visibility control measures are—
(1) Point of Departure (PD). The exact place where a unit must cross the LD. The PD is often used when passing through friendly positions. Guides may be posted there to help control movement.
(2) Release Point (RP). A point where a leader releases control of his subunits to their respective leaders. At a platoon RP, the company commander releases control of his platoons to the platoon leaders.
(3) Probable Line of Deployment (PLD). A location on the ground, short of the objective,where units in a night attack complete final deployment into their assault formation. The PLD should be on a terrain feature that is easy to find at night. It should be perpendicular to the direction of attack. It is generally as close to known enemy positions on the objective as the attacking commander thinks his troops can get without being detected. If practical, it should be on the enemy side of any obstacles.
(4) Limit of Advance. A restrictive control measure which specifies the farthest distance a unit may move across its objective in an attack. It should be on an easily recognizable terrain feature far enough beyond and to the flanks of the objective to give security elements space in which to do their job.
(5) Infiltration lane. A lane through which a unit moves by stealth in order to pass through lines without being detected. An infiltrating unit must stay within the limits of the lane.
3. Conclusion. This concludes the discussions of offensive tactical control measures, during which the methods and devices leaders use to regulate and direct their unit's movements were covered. Control measures which are used during limited visibility were also covered. It must be remembered that a leader should only use those control measures needed to control the operation.
CONSOLIDATION AND REORGANIZATION
1. General.
a. This part covers the consolidation and reorganization actions a platoon must take once the objective is seized.
b. Once enemy resistance on the objective has ceased, the platoon leader must quickly take steps to consolidate and prepare to defend against a counterattack.
2. Consolidation. During consolidation, the platoon leader's task and that of the squad leaders is to organize and position the men, squads, and weapons on the newly seized objective. The objective is consolidated so that it can be defended against a counterattack. During the consolidation of the objective is the most likely time for the enemy to launch a counterattack. The company commander will assign a part of the company's objective to each of the platoon leaders to consolidate. The commander may use coordinating points or a defensive control measure to make sure the platoons tie in with each other. A platoon leader will consolidate the objective by either the clock technique or the terrain feature technique.
a. Clock Technique. In using this technique, the platoon leader designates either a compass direction or the direction of attack as 12 o'clock. He then uses clock positions to identify the left and right boundaries for squads. The platoon leader positions key weapons along the most likely avenue of approach based on his assessment of the terrain, Figure 2-1.
Figure 2-1. Clock technique
b. Terrain feature technique. In a similar manner, the platoon leader identifies obvious terrain features as the left and right limits for squads. In both techniques, he ensures that squad sectors of fire overlap each other and provide mutual support for adjacent units, Figure 2-2.
Figure 2-2. Terrain feature technique
3. Reorganization.
a. Once platoons have consolidated on the objective, they begin to reorganize. Platoons reorganize to continue the attack.
b. Reorganization involves—
(1) Reestablishing command and control.
(2) Remanning key weapons, redistributing ammunition and equipment.
(3) Clearing the objective of casualties and enemy prisoners of war (EPW).
(4) Assessing and reporting the platoon status of personnel, ammunition, supplies, and essential equipment.
4. Consolidation and Reorganization of an M113 and BFV Platoon.
a. Consolidation of an M113 Platoon. The platoon leader of an M113 platoon must consider the carriers in planning consolidation and reorganization actions. As stated earlier, the platoon should consolidate and reorganization as soon as it takes an objective. This is done so that the platoon is prepared to—
(1) Repel an enemy counterattack.
(2) Continue with the attack.
b. Platoon Holding Objective. The platoon must hold the objective until the company commander orders other action. At times, especially with mounted assaults, the platoon may be directed to continue the attack with little or no hesitation in order to exploit success. In this situation, the platoon leader focuses only on doing the required reorganization, since consolidation is unnecessary. Additional consolidation actions the platoon leader must take are—
(1) Occupy the position designated in the attack order. Move the M113 into hull-down positions, if available, and assigned specific sector of fire.
(2) Designate positions for the dismount teams if the company commander wants them deployed away from the carrier team. The positions will normally be on a dismounted avenue of approach to the objective. The platoon leader should have the dismount team prepare hasty fighting positions as quickly as possible.
c. Reorganization of an M113 Platoon. During reorganization the platoon leader should also follow the SOP. One key is to make sure the squad leaders redistribute ammunition among dismount team members and obtain ammunition, as required, from the carrier.
d. Consolidation of a BFV Platoon. Once enemy resistance on the objective has ceased, the platoon must quickly take steps to consolidate and prepare to defend against a counter-attack. Consolidation is planned and rehearsed before the attack. A consolidation method is determined before crossing the LD/LC.
(1) Consolidation. Platoons use either the clock technique or the terrain technique in consolidation on the objective.
(2) All-round security is critical. The enemy might counterattack from any direction. The platoon leader must evaluate the terrain thoroughly.
(a) Clock Technique. In using this technique, the platoon leader designates either a compass direction or the direction of attack as 12 o'clock. The platoon leader uses the clock positions to identify the left and right boundaries for the squads. The platoon leader positions the key weapons along the most likely avenue of approach based on assessment of the terrain. BFVs receive the emphasis of emplacement. The majority of the platoon's firepower is with the BFVs. They should be oriented toward the likely enemy armor counterattack routes and incorporated into the clock technique.
(b) Terrain Feature Technique. The platoon leader identifies obvious terrain features as the left and right limits for the squad. In both techniques, the leader ensures that the squad sectors of fire overlap each other and provide mutual support for adjacent platoons. Again, BFVs receive emphasis for positioning. Adjacent platoons must be aware of the BFV sectors.
e. Reorganization. Once platoons have consolidated on the objective, they begin to reorganize to continue the attack. Reorganization of the BFV platoon is similar to infantry platoon except the BFV platoon personnel perform PMCS on the BFV.
5. Summary. This completes Lesson Two. You should know how to identify tactical control measures, and how to consolidate and reorganize a platoon once the objective is seized. After reviewing all the material in this lesson, you should complete the practice exercise for Lesson Two. Answers and feedback for the questions in the practice exercise will be provided to show you where further study is required.
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