Section IV. Signal Site Security
5-4. Types of Signal Sites
Signal sites must be able to defend against sabotage, ground forces, and airborne/air assault forces with little or no outside help. They must also be prepared to survive enemy air, artillery, and NBC attack.
There are different signal sites and different considerations must be made when planning a site defense for each. Current threat status/situation is an important factor when planning and committing assets and personnel to defend a site. Use mission, enemy, terrain, troops and time (METT-T) considerations and order priorities accordingly.
Remote Sites. These are small teams located in isolated positions, usually for relay or retransmission purposes. They cannot hope to defeat a large enemy force. Teams should try to remain concealed and report enemy activity to higher headquarters. Conduct risk assessment for remoted sites to determine the probability of mission success. Leaders must carefully track specific threats and move quickly when in danger.
Collocated Sites. These are usually teams that deploy to support a unit CP, such as an extension node. Usually, the team members are responsible for a portion of the perimeter defense. Careful coordination must be done with the collocating units. All defense matters for the site should be the responsibility of one central authority.
Node Sites. This is usually a platoon-sized signal unit that may or may not collocate with another unit. Based on the +6 enemy threat level, the signal site commander must plan a site defense and coordinate with nearby units for mutual support.
5-5. Site Defense Tasks
The following list provides guidelines for planning a site defense and should be prioritized according to the mission.
- Set up a dismount point and a blackout drive line.
- Park vans at least 50 meters apart or as dictated by
the tactical situation and/or environment to allow minimum
damage from indirect fire.
- Camouflage tents, vehicles, and equipment.
- Set up defensive positions with interlocking fields of
fire.
- Ensure aiming stakes are in place and place
antipersonnel mines along probable foot approaches.
- Set up personal defensive positions within the site.
- Establish overhead cover.
- Establish a site defense command center.
- Establish listening points outside earshot of
generators.
- Establish a roving guard force to cover the perimeter
and check on fighting positions.
- Establish external patrols to periodically sweep the
immediate area outside the perimeter.
- Position and over-watch obstacles, mines, and trip
wires.
- Position light antitank weapons (AT-4) along vehicle
approach routes.
- Establish perimeter control.
- Ensure communications exist to observation/listening
posts, dismount points, fighting positions, and casualty
evacuation points.
- Establish an additional line between collocating units
and the signal command center.
- Set up NBC monitoring equipment.
- Establish rally points and reactionary force plan.
- Coordinate a call for fire plan.
- Inventory sensitive items often to provide an accurate
battle status.
- Plan for medical support and evacuation.
- Set up ammunition resupply points.
- Set up a viable sleep plan that integrates into the
work/defense plan.
- Control weapons employment and ensure each soldier
has adequate ammunition (with magazines).
- Rehearse your plan according to the standards outlined
in the appropriate Army Training and Evaluation Programs
(ARTEPs), soldiers manuals, and/or SOPs. (See Appendix
C.)
Figure 5-3. Signal site defense diagram.
Continue with Chapter 5
Table of Contents
Index
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