Military

a.   Mounted Position. The mounted firing position is characterized by a hull-down posture where the TOW vehicle is behind either natural or constructed cover with only the TOW launcher exposed. Natural cover (shown in Figure 3-1) is best and is the easiest cover to prepare and camouflage.

b.   Dismounted Position. The dismounted position must protect squads from direct and indirect fires through cover and concealment. It is usually dug in with overhead protection, is intended to be retained, and is quite large. Overhead protection must allow for the bridge clamp to be raised and for inserting the indexing lugs on the encased missile into the launch tube indexing slots. As a result, overhead cover is usually used only when it can be properly camouflaged and concealed. The organic machine gun should also be positioned for self-defense.

Keep the following principles in mind when using the dismounted position:

• When constructing a dismounted position, the squad keeps the TOW system mounted in its vehicle and prepares a range card until the position can support and protect its employment. Only the tripod is used to outline the dismounted position, as shown in Figure 3-4.

• To keep the position dry, a layer of waterproof material, such as packing material or a poncho, should be laid over the logs before adding the dirt. If sandbags are used, they should also be covered with waterproof material since they become heavy when they are wet and can cause a cave-in.

c.   Hunter-Killer Position. To conduct a hit-and-run antiarmor ambush, a small position may be created that is just large enough to conceal the system and crew until the ambush is executed. These positions use no overhead cover and normally take advantage of existing terrain features such as folds in the ground.

d.   Urban Terrain Position. When antiarmor units are employed in urban terrain, the same considerations for position selection apply.

a.   Analyze Terrain. The first consideration in positioning the TOW system is to exploit every advantage offered by terrain for using the armor-killing capabilities of the TOW. In analyzing the terrain, the following principles are kept in mind:

• The antiarmor company commander must analyze all armor avenues of approach into the battalion sector. This analysis also should include all trafficable areas that provide cover and concealment, such as woods, or draws that the enemy could use to counter the TOW. This analysis should be made from the enemy's point of view. For example, what size force can be deployed and controlled on the approaches and where are the positions that can be used for overwatch? Much of this information can be obtained from the IPB performed by the battalion S2.
• Once the terrain has been analyzed from the enemy's perspective, the company commander then analyzes the terrain to identify potential armor engagement areas. He selects areas along the avenues of approach where the enemy will be most vulnerable to concentrated antiarmor fires. The areas selected influence how the battalion commander deploys his forces in the defense. Therefore, when the antiarmor company commander participates in the initial estimate process with the battalion commander, he recommends antiarmor engagement areas based upon his terrain analysis. The armor engagement areas that the battalion commander selects may be forward of the FEBA or within the main battle area. Their locations determine where the battalion commander will allocate supporting fires and place obstacles and mines.
• The antiarmor company commander selects flank shot positions throughout the depth of the battle area. From these positions, his platoons engage the enemy as he moves deeper into the main battle area. The positions selected must give the TOWs good fields of fire into the engagement areas. They must offer flank and rear shots along the avenues of approach and be located for mutual support and support by other weapons systems. The company should be able to mass fires into the engagement areas while keeping the TOW systems dispersed in the battle area.

b.   Protect the TOW Systems. To survive and contribute to the defense, the TOW systems must be positioned where they are protected from enemy direct fire and indirect fire and from mounted or dismounted assault. If possible, engineer support should be obtained for constructing survivability positions. In preparing survivability positions, keep the following principles in mind:

• The positions must be on terrain that provides natural or man-made cover and concealment. In the defense, use of concealment is the best way to surprise the enemy. When the scheme of defense is concealed, the enemy has trouble coordinating his fires and the maneuver of his forces against specific targets. The use of fires from flanking positions and the proper use of the TOW's standoff are excellent ways to provide protection from enemy fires.
• Protection from mounted assaults is gained by positioning the TOW system on terrain that restricts the movement of vehicles. Restricted terrain includes such features as forested areas, marshy ground, steep slopes, or built-up areas. Engineer support may be available to improve fields of fire or to create or improve obstacles.
• The defense of the TOW systems from dismounted infantry attack can be achieved in several ways. One way is to position antiarmor squads or sections with the infantry elements. Another is to position infantry along avenues of approach leading to the TOW positions. A third is to reposition reserve or uncommitted forces to counter dismounted attacks after they are discovered.

c.   Provide Mutual Support. Mutual support provides some protection for weapons and crews by ensuring complete, continuous coverage of engagement areas and avenues of approach. TOWs are positioned so that their fires interlock with the fires of other TOWs and antiarmor weapons systems (tanks, Dragons, AT4s). Also, they are positioned so that their fires can engage enemy armored vehicles assaulting other TOW positions.

d.   Reduce Vulnerability. The antiarmor company commander takes the following steps to reduce vulnerability to enemy suppressive fire:

• Avoids positioning platoons on easily-targeted terrain features.

• Designates on-order platoon positions throughout the battle area to aid in quickly deploying platoons once they have been targeted.

• Selects positions masked by terrain from which to fight.

• Enforces the use of camouflage, concealment, and OPSEC.

• Plans movement on covered routes to subsequent positions.

• Plans smoke to obscure movement and to suppress likely enemy overwatch positions.

e.   Identify Disengagement Points. In addition to selecting primary and alternate positions for his platoons, the company commander must identify disengagement points for his platoons. Disengagement points are selected by the commander so that he knows when to order his platoons to move to their next positions. The location for the disengagement point for each platoon is based upon the Threat and on the terrain.

If the commander wants his platoons to displace before they are in tank or BMP range, then he must determine where the Threat will be when he orders the platoons to move. If the terrain is open and unrestricted, the disengagement point must be farther out to allow the platoons time to displace. Conversely, if there are existing or reinforcing obstacles in front of the platoon position, the disengagement point can be closer.

The company commander must establish rules for disengagement if communications are lost. For example, the platoon and squad leaders could be told to displace, with or without orders, when the enemy reaches a certain point on the ground

Disengagement from terrain-masked positions is simplified because units are protected to their front from enemy direct-fire weapons. However, smoke should be used to conceal movement under any circumstances.

The company commander should have his platoons rehearse the disengagement to ensure that all squads know where to go and the route to use. Rehearsals also give the soldiers a better understanding of how the battle will be fought.

f.   Engage the Enemy from the Flank. Frontal fire must be avoided. It attracts attention and is therefore deadly. In addition to being able to fire from the flank, the weapon should be sited so that it is in defilade from the enemy's direction. Also, concealment of the launch signature, not only from trailing tanks but from overwatch forces as well, is essential.

a.   Rear Operations. Rear operations are any operations in rear areas that protect units, lines of communications, installations, and facilities from enemy attack or sabotage. Although CS and CSS units operating in the rear set up their own defenses, they may require the greater protection of combat forces if the enemy breaks through or launches special operations in the rear area. During these rear operations, the company acts as a reaction force. The unit must be prepared to respond in a specific amount of time. The unit SOP should address these readiness conditions. Dispersion and camouflage must be weighed against responsiveness. Preparing for these operations requires the same preparations as for any mission. The area of responsibility must be reconnoitered and forces must be organized to best accomplish the attack. A CP must be set up to provide the best possible command and control. The rear area operations center, base cluster operations center, base defense operations center, installation commanders, unit commanders who are being supported, and the military police (MPs) who act as the response force must coordinate plans for the defense of rear area installations and activities. As the combat force, the company/team provides security, destroys known forces in the area, and provides primary combat power to the rear area.

b.   Role of the Reserve. The TOW company/team can act as a reserve because of its firepower and mobility. Reserve forces at battalion level may consist of only those forces that are neither engaged nor assigned to be a dedicated reserve. As a dedicated or designated reserve, the company/team must be prepared for action at any time. As a standard reserve, the company/team is concerned with rear operations, counterattack, and relief operations.

c.   Security Operations. Counterreconnaissance, a subset of security, prevents hostile observations of a force, area, or place. The security or counterreconnaissance force prevents the main body from being observed or surprised by an enemy attack or reconnaissance probe. These operations are conducted forward, to the flanks, or to the rear of the battalion. The company/team can screen the battalion at great distances. Ideally, the antiarmor commander can be used as the counterreconnaissance coordinator. By placing scouts, tanks, and TOWs under the antiarmor commander's control, the battalion commander obtains a unified counterreconnaissance operation. The scouts are used to identify the composition and direction of movement of the enemy reconnaissance. The antiarmor commander can then use the tank and TOW assets to fix, fight, or delay the enemy. This provides the battalion with the time and space to position forces to fight the enemy.

a.   Observation Posts. TOW units can man observation posts (OPs) either dismounted or mounted, although dismounted OPs are often the better. The powerful day tracker (and thermal night tracker for TOW 2) allows TOW squads to effectively detect movement. TOW platoons can operate either independently or under OPCON of the scout platoon.

b.   Traffic Control Points. TOW squads can operate traffic control points (TCPs) to mark routes, to mark critical points, and to direct traffic during tactical motor and foot marches. Doing so allows the scout platoon to concentrate upon reconnaissance that is directly related to tactical missions. TOW squads operate TCPs best during motor marches, but they can do so (dismounted) during foot marches as well.

c.   Antivehicular Ambush. TOW units can perform antivehicular ambushes as an economy-of-force measure to kill enemy reconnaissance vehicles. For example, TOW platoons can set up a series of ambushes to the flank of an enemy battalion that is defending in depth in a forest. Having TOW units perform this mission eliminates the need to pull infantry squads away from their companies to do it. Normally, terrain prohibits TOW use. The TOW unit uses AT4s and M21 mines reinforced with Claymores, M249 machine guns, and M203 grenade launchers. The TOW section is the smallest element that can conduct an ambush alone. TOW sections can also conduct antipersonnel ambushes when armor is not a threat.

d.   Security Force. In military operations on urbanized terrain (MOUT), TOW platoons can relieve rifle platoons holding secured city blocks, freeing these platoons for other missions.

e.   Carrying Parties. In mountain warfare or, more often, in MOUT, TOW platoons can become carrying parties, moving supplies forward and carrying wounded back. TOW platoons can perform these tasks either mounted or dismounted.

f.   Provisional Heavy Machine Gun Sections. Except for mechanized infantry TOW units, most TOW units in infantry battalions are issued MK 19 40-mm machine guns and .50-caliber M2 machine guns as supplemental weapons. Both are excellent direct-fire suppression weapons, especially against enemy infantry, lightly armored vehicles, and fortifications. TOW sections operating heavy machine guns can offer support by fire. In most cases, TOW sections in this role employ the machine guns dismounted, although the section transports the guns and ammunition in its HMMWVs after cross-loading TOW missiles. The HMMWV's high silhouette and light armor could prevent it from being used as a machine gun platform.

a.   Chemical Contamination. During chemical contamination, units and individuals lose their identities, command and control deteriorate, and all simple human tasks, such as eating, sleeping, moving, and passing body wastes, become difficult, complicated, unclean, and miserable.

b.   Defense Against NBC. Defense against NBC means more than self-protection. Units must prepare to take educated, calculated risks. Casualties are the price of waging war. NBC is a condition, not a task. The reduction of capabilities that results from using MOPP gear must be weighed against potential casualties that might result if MOPP gear was not used during an NBC attack. Going too far in either direction can reduce combat power to unacceptable levels. NBC defense doctrine emphasizes "mission-oriented" when discussing mission-oriented protective posture. MOPP gives commanders the flexibility to maintain combat capability at the highest level possible in contaminated conditions. This process is called MOPP analysis, and is summarized in Figure 3-9.

c.   Balance Between Defense Against NBC and Mission Accomplishment. Training for defense against NBC must balance with mission accomplishment. It should include techniques of decontamination and MOPP relief used to rebuild combat potential. In combat, the enemy--not the contamination--should be the focus. Contamination is considered part of IPB and the commander's estimate of the situation.

a.   Avoidance of Contamination. Avoidance can be achieved by locating and marking contaminated areas along routes, in battle positions, and in assembly areas. Reconnaissance and quartering parties should be prepared to do this. Locating and identifying the type and concentration or density of contamination allows development of a plan to bypass, cross, or operate in a chemical or radioactive hazard.

b.   Detection of Liquid Contaminants. In addition to alarms, M9 paper can detect liquid contaminants. Strips of M9 paper taped to clothing, equipment, and vehicles can provide the first warning that a contaminated area has been entered or a chemical attack is occurring. However, since the paper can also react to nonthreatening liquids, the M256A1 chemical agent detector kit must be used to verify contamination.

c.   Symptoms of Contamination. Affected soldiers show signs of exposure to chemical contamination through their physical reactions. However, physical symptoms of a chemical agent can be similar to reactions to toxins. Therefore, an M256A1 kit or M8 paper should be used to verify chemical contamination when symptoms, such as those listed in Figure 3-10, appear.

d.   First Aid, Decontamination, and Protection. The methods of first aid, decontamination, and protection for nerve, blister,blood, and choking agents are shown in Figure 3-12.

a.   Battalion Level. A battalion task force sends no nuclear warning (NUCWARN). Battalion is the lowest level to receive a NUCWARN or chemical warning (CHEMWARN). Instead, battalion sends specific instructions about actions that should be taken. This is a brief message that contains the following:

• A proword indicating that the message is a nuclear strike warning.
• A directive to the team to observe a specific nuclear defense level or to evacuate the area.
• The expected time of burst.
• The direction of burst.

b.   Maximum Protection. For maximum protection, the TOW unit must do the following:

• Position armored vehicles to reduce blast damage and radiation exposure:

-   By orienting ITVs toward the strike location with the turrets stowed.

-   By removing TOW missiles from the launcher and stowing them.

-   By closing and securing all hatches.

-   By covering all vision blocks and sights.

-   By evacuating wheeled vehicle, ITV, and APC personnel to bunkers, if available. (Only personnel buttoned up in tanks and bunkers are considered to be under maximum protection).

• Use sandbags for radiation shielding, if available.
• Remove or secure and cover equipment that is stowed on the outside of the vehicle.
• Take down antennas and disconnect all cables, including handsets, from all radios except a few mission-essential sets to monitor specific nets as required by SOP.

c.   Minimum Protection. For minimum protection, the TOW unit must do the following:

• Assume positions at the bottom of hills if it is moving and has no time to dig in.
• Evacuate personnel from wheeled vehicles.

a.   Quick Decontamination. A TOW squad can direct the following quick decontamination actions:

• Decontaminate skin with the M280 squad wipes or M258A1 kit.
• Wipe personnel and equipment with the M280 decontamination kit individual equipment (DKIE).
• Spray the operator with the M13 decontamination apparatus portable (DAP). Spray vehicle exits and entrances and any areas necessary for operation with the M11 decontamination apparatus.

b.   Decontamination When Casualties Are Great. Casualties may be so great that the unit must disengage to decontaminate. This may be done by platoon, section, or squad. Decontamination by platoon offers the best command and control. Hasty decontamination should be conducted as far forward as possible, in accordance with the decontamination techniques shown in Figure 3-13.

a.   Individual Decontamination. To perform individual's contamination, take the following actions:

• Brush or wash clothing and equipment thoroughly to remove dust particles. (This should be done away from the position to be occupied).
• Shower and change clothes.
• If there is a great deal of dust in the air, wear a scarf or other piece of cloth to cover the mouth and nose. (Do not use the protective mask unless there is a chemical threat. The dust will contaminate the filters).

b.   Equipment and Area Decontamination. To decontaminate the equipment and area, take the following actions:

• Turn over soil (at least seven inches down) in the immediate area around fighting positions or vehicles.
• Wash vehicles and weapons using any available water source in an area away from the position.

Lesson 3 Practice Exercise:
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