Military

     The company commander uses control measures to regulate or direct his unit's movement, positions, and fire. Control measures can be drawn on a map, overlay, or sketch, or shown on a terrain model. Control measures are normally related to terrain features which are easy to recognize. The commander should use only those control measures needed to control the operation.

OFFENSIVE
CONTROL MEASURES

  . This is an area occupied by the company to prepare for future operations. Desirable characteristics of an assembly area include concealment, room for dispersion, covered routes in and out, and security from ground or air attack. It should be on defendable terrain out of range of enemy direct fire weapons. The amount of defensive preparation made by the company depends on its next mission and the time available for such preparation. In an assembly area, these activities may take place:

• Issuing orders.

• Organizing for the mission

• Performing maintenance.

• Conducting inspections.

• Conducting resupply.

• Conducting rehearsals.

• Troop rest

  . This is a position, short of the line of departure, where the company makes final preparation and deploys into its initial attack formation. It should be covered and concealed and should accommodate the deployed company. The company halts in the attack position only when final preparations cannot be completed before reaching it or if movement is ahead of schedule.

  . This is a linear feature, generally perpendicular to the direction of attack, used to coordinate the advance of attacking units. Units start crossing the LD at the time set (as the time of attack) in the operation order (OPORD). The LD may be the line of contact (LC). The LC is the trace of friendly units in contact with the enemy.

  . This is a specific route along which the center of mass of the company advances. It is used when a commander needs to maintain tight control of his company in an attack. When attacking along a direction of attack, the company must clear the route of all enemy resistance. A direction of attack is often used in a counterattack or a night attack.

  . This is a course on which the company moves when going from one place to another. The route's beginning is designated as the start point (SP), and its end the release point (RP). An SP time and RP time may be set for control when more than one unit will use the same route. Maneuver units, support units, and company trains may use different routes. A route is normally used behind the LD, but may be used in night attacks or other special operations.

  . This is a broadly defined route, extending from the LD to the objective, that indicates the general direction of attack. It should not be over impassable terrain. The company can fire and maneuver to either side of its axis of advance if such actions do not interfere with adjacent units. Enemy troops along the axis of advance, who do not threaten security or jeopardize mission accomplishment, may be bypassed. They must, however, be reported to the battalion.

  . These are limits which define areas of tactical responsibility and control lateral movement and fire. The company can maneuver or fire anywhere within its boundaries and can fire direct fire across its boundaries at a clearly identified enemy target. Movement or indirect fire across boundaries must be coordinated with the adjacent unit. Boundaries are designated so they do not split responsibility between units for key terrain or avenues of approach. The area between the company's boundaries in the offense is its zone of attack. In the defense, it is its sector.

  . This is an area forward of the LD assigned to the company. It is normally delineated by boundaries that extend from the LD into enemy territory. It designates an area to operate in and a direction of movement.

  . This is a position designated between the LD and the objective where the company completes its final deployment into its assault formation. The position should be the last covered and concealed position short of the objective and big enough for the company to deploy into its assault formation. The company should not stop in the assault position or lose momentum while deploying.

  . This is an area and/or enemy force against which an offensive operation is directed. The company's mission is to seize the terrain and/or destroy the enemy force on its objective. An objective as-

signed to the company must be within its capability to assault and occupy. The company's objective may be a separate terrain feature or a part of a battalion objective. A platoon's objective may be a separate terrain feature or a part of the company's objective.

     An objective assigned to a lead unit in a movement to contact is called a march objective. It is designated on terrain likely to be occupied by enemy troops and at a depth that is expected to insure contact with the enemy. Thus, march objectives help the lead element orient its movement.

     The commander may designate intermediate objectives he thinks will aid in accomplishing his mission. They are normally key terrain features between the LD and the final objective.

  . This is a linear feature perpendicular to the direction of movement that is used to control the movement of units. Units normally report arrival at a phase line, but do not stop unless so ordered.

  . This is a phase line often used by battalions and companies to coordinate lifting and shifting of supporting fire and/or to coordinate the deployment of attacking units before an assault.

  . This is a point on the ground designated to provide a reference for reporting friendly locations and to control movement. Checkpoints should not be used to report enemy locations.

  . This is a place where two or more units are required to make physical contact.

   This is a place where the company will pass through another in an advance or withdrawal. It is located where the commander wants his unit to physically pass through another unit.

  . This is a lane through a unit or obstacle along which the company moves. It begins at a contact point and ends at a release point (app G).

  . This is a place (that has previously been seen) where the company can reassemble if dispersed during movement.

  . This is a place (that has not previously been seen) where the company assembles after a movement.

   This is a place where the company may temporarily halt and prepare prior to action at an objective and return to after action at an objective. It is used primarily by patrols.

  . This is a point designated for use during movements where the commander releases control of his subunits to their leaders. The company commander designates the platoon RP. The platoon leaders designate the squad RP.

  . This is the exact place where the company crosses the LD. A PD, normally used during limited visibility, may be designated for the company by either the company or battalion commander. Guides may be posted at the PD to help the company find it and pass through friendly positions and obstacles. The company may use multiple points of departure.

  . This is a place (as close to enemy positions as the commander thinks his company can move without being detected) where the company--in a night attack--completes final deployment. When the company reaches a PLD, it deploys into the line formation and waits for the signal to assault. A PLD may be set by the battalion commander when more than one company is attacking. A PLD may be used in any attack when visibility is poor. It should be on a terrain feature that is easy to find at night and perpendicular to the direction of attack. It should be on the enemy side of any obstacles.

  . This is a recognizable terrain feature beyond which attacking troops will not advance. One is selected beyond each platoon objective if the platoons are to seize separate objectives. A limit of advance helps insure that supporting fire from friendly units is not fired on friendly troops. It should be far enough beyond (and to the flanks of) an objective to give security elements space in which to do their job.

  . This is a lane through which the company moves by stealth in order to pass through enemy lines without being detected. The company must stay within the limits of the lane.

     An attack is conducted to destroy or capture an enemy force or to secure key terrain. It is conducted in a bold and aggressive manner, usually ending in close combat. An attack may be either hasty or deliberate. The basic difference between hasty and deliberate attack is the time available for planning and preparation (app M).

     To successfully attack a position, the company must--

• suppress the enemy,

• seal off the objective area from enemy reinforcements or resupply,

• maneuver troops to overwhelm the enemy at an existing weak point (or at a place where a weak point can be created), and

• clear the objective of all enemy resistance.

ATTACK
PLAN

     On receipt of the battalion OPORD, the company commander starts his troop leading procedure (chap 2) and makes an estimate of the situation. His estimate is a consideration of the mission, enemy, terrain and weather, and troops and time available

(METT). Based on that, he makes his attack plan. The company's attack plan includes--

• a scheme of maneuver,

• a fire support plan, and

• the use of combat service support.

  . This is the positioning and movement of the maneuver element from the time the company crosses the LD through the consolidation on the objective. It includes:

  . The company commander decides how many platoons are needed in the maneuver element and what each one's mission will be. He also decides how he wants each platoon to accomplish its mission. Depending on the situation and the support provided by the rest of the battalion, the company's maneuver element may be one, two, or three platoons.

  . The company commander selects a route (or multiple routes) that take advantage of cover, concealment, and supporting fire. (Each route should aline the attack toward the enemy's flank or rear.) The routes must coincide with the battalion plan and the control measures (zone of attack, axis of advance, or direction of attack) assigned by the battalion.

  . The company commander may be told by battalion what formation (app Q) and/or movement techniques to use. If not, the company commander decides. His decision depends on the company's location within the battalion formation, the enemy situation, and terrain and visibility. The company commander may also decide the platoon formations and movement techniques.

     The company commander chooses an initial formation and movement technique. He may change these en route if there are changes in the enemy situation, terrain, visibility, or the desires of the battalion commander.

     If the distance to the objective is great, or if early enemy contact is not expected, the company may cross the LD initially in a column using traveling overwatch. As it approaches the assault position, the company may change to another technique (for example, bounding overwatch), or change its formation and use bounding overwatch.

     If the enemy location is known and the commander wants to maintain freedom of maneuver and reduce reaction time, he may lead with one platoon followed by two platoons abreast in overwatch. This is the company wedge. Once contact is made, the lead platoon becomes the fire element and the trail platoons become the maneuver element.

     If the distance to the objective is short and early contact is expected (or when in contact), the company commander may cross the LD with two platoons abreast and one to the rear in overwatch. This is the company V. It provides increased firepower forward while maintaining freedom to maneuver one platoon.

     The company commander may decide to cross the LD with all (three) platoons abreast in order to provide the maximum firepower to the maneuver element. This is the company line. In such cases, the fire element must be provided by company TO Ws or another unit in the battalion.

  . The battalion commander assigns control measures (to the company) needed to insure that the battalion plan is carried out. These may include: attack position, line of departure, axis of advance, direction of attack, assault position, phase

lines, zone of action, and objective. The battalion commander assigns only those control measures needed to insure control, and he may change them during an operation.

     To help him control his company, the company commander selects the following (based on the scheme of maneuver and control measures assigned by the battalion):

• His position within the company formation.

• Control measures needed within the company.

• The best means to communicate with the platoon and section leaders.

  . This is the reorganizing of platoons, sections, and squads in order to continue the attack. It is done both during and after an enemy contact. It should be part of the company SOP. During reorganization--

• each platoon leader reports his platoon's situation, position, casualties, and ammunition status to the company commander;

• the company commander reports his company's situation, position, casualties, and ammunition status to the battalion;

• ammunition is redistributed and units are resupplied;

• casualties are treated and those requiring it are evacuated;

• vacancies in key positions are filled;

• prisoners are silenced, searched, segregated, and (safely) sent to collecting points; and

• enemy information and materiel are collected and reported.

  . This is the organizing and positioning of platoons and weapons crews on a newly seized objective to defend against a counterattack. The company commander assigns a sector of the company's objective to each platoon to consolidate. He may use coordinating points to help the platoons tie in with each other He integrates TOWs and tanks into the defense and assigns them positions and sectors of fire. The company commander can use either the clock method or the terrain feature method, when assigning sectors to the platoons.

     In the clock method, the company commander divides the objective into hour segments like a clock. Twelve o'clock is either a compass heading or the direction of the enemy. He then assigns each platoon a sector by hour segments. For example:

     In the terrain feature method, the company commander gives each platoon two

easily identifiable terrain features as the right And left limits of its sector. For example:

During consolidation--

• security is established (OPs and security patrols),

• platoons and weapons crews are positioned on the most defendable ground and covering the most likely enemy avenues of approach,

• fields of fire are cleared and fighting positions are prepared,

• combat service support elements are moved forward, casualties and prisoners of war are evacuated (chap 6 and app K),

• the fire element is moved forward and integrated into the defense, and

• pressure is kept on the withdrawing enemy by firing on his last known or suspected positions.

  . The company commander may withhold a small reserve from the initial action. It may be as large as a platoon, but should not be smaller than a squad. The commander commits it (if needed) at a decisive time and place to--

• exploit success or an enemy weakness,

• support a forward platoon with fire and/or maneuver,

• assume the mission of a forward platoon,

• maintain the momentum of the attack,

• hold ground seized by forward platoons,

• defeat or block a counterattack, or

• maintain contact by attacking from a new direction.

     The reserve can also be used to secure a flank, provide security, clear and hold a bypassed enemy position, or patrol beyond the objective (after it is seized).

     The reserve follows the forward platoons closely, staying far enough behind so it will not be suppressed by enemy fire on the forward platoons. This allows the company commander to maintain the freedom to maneuver the reserve. The reserve leader must know the company plan, keep abreast of the situation, and be prepared to support or assume a forward platoon's mission.

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