Chapter 6

Defense

Contents
Section I. Purpose, Fundamentals and Schemes of Maneuver
Section II. Defend From a Troop Battle Position
Section III. Defend in Troop Sector
Section IV. Delay in Troop Sector

Defense is not the decisive form of war. While defense can deny success to the enemy, it seldom assures victory. The defense is, however, the stronger form of war due to the inherent advantages of the defender. Army operations recognize the strength of the defense, but emphasize the necessity to transition to the offense quickly.

Brigades, battalion task forces, and company teams are the principal defensive forces for the corps or division. Cavalry units normally perform security missions for the defense or reconnaissance missions to support attacks. Cavalry units frequently perform defensive operations as a part of security missions, or when required to defend in an economy-of-force role for a higher headquarters.

Section I. Purpose, Fundamentals, and Schemes of Maneuver

Purpose

The immediate purpose of defensive operations is to defeat an enemy attack and create opportunities to go on the offense. For both the heavy and light cavalry troops, defensive operations may also achieve one or more of the following:

Gain time.
Concentrate forces elsewhere.
Attrit enemy forces as a prelude to offensive operations.
Control key or decisive terrain.
Retain tactical, strategic, or political objectives.

In some cases, the troop may be required to defend because it cannot muster enough combat power to attack.

Fundamentals

Eight fundamentals are common to cavalry troop defensive operations.

Depth.Position platoons in depth, and place obstacles in depth. Depth allows the troop to-

Gain enemy contact early.
Perform counterreconnaissance tasks.
Ascertain enemy direction of attack/intentions.
Develop the situation, providing reaction time and maneuver space to concentrate combat power when and where it is needed.

Dispersion.Deploy subordinate elements as far apart as possible without losing their ability to concentrate (mass) firepower against the enemy. The more dispersed the troop, the harder it is for the enemy to mass fires against it as a whole. However, do not allow the enemy to concentrate its forces or fires against isolated elements.

Security.The troop may employ passive or active measures, or a combination of techniques. All must be considered in the defensive plan. Examples of passive and active security measures follow:

Passive Active

Disperse vehicles and Screen platoons.
Establish OPs.
Perform mounted/dismounted patrols.
Use camouflage/cover and concealment.
Establish GSR posts.
Impose radio listening silence.
Establish M8 chemical alarm net.
Use hide positions.
Enforce noise and light discipline.
Minimize movement.

Do not position in likely target areas.

MaximizeTerrain Advantages.Study the terrain. Reconnoiter it from both the troop commander's and the enemy's view, if possible, to determine-

Avenues of approach.
Reconnaissance avenues of approach.
Restricted/severely restricted areas.
Defiles (canalizing terrain).
Engagement areas.
Battle positions.
Subsequent and alternate battle positions.
Hide positions to support battle positions.
OP positions forward of defensive positions.
Subsequent and alternate OP positions.
Positions where obstacles can be tied in with natural obstacles to turn, disrupt, or block the enemy.
Positions that facilitate counterattacking by fire or by fire and maneuver into the flanks and throughout the depth of the enemy.
Routes to and from each position.

Stop Enemy Rate of Advance.Offense is based on two principles-speed and mass. Develop a defensive plan that blunts the momentum of the enemy attack through the use of obstacles and fires (direct and indirect). If most of his combat power is killed, the enemy will be forced to dig in and establish a hasty defense or withdraw from combat.

Mass Combat Power at the Right Place and Time.In order to defeat a massed attack, the troop must mass fires against the enemy where and when he is least able to escape its effects. The ability of the troop to mass combat power when and where it is needed is a function of-

Early warning/reaction time.
Responsive/rapid maneuver by subordinate elements.

Force the Enemy to Fight in Two Directions.When engaging the attacking force, maneuver platoons into positions that force the enemy to turn and fight in two or more directions. This will force him to split his fires, preventing him from concentrating fires, and to expose his vulnerable flanks.

Counterattack.Draw the enemy into structured engagement areas and attack him en massewith overwhelming firepower to destroy him quickly and decisively. Wrest the initiative from him. Maneuver forces to exploit the situation. Attack by fire and by fire and maneuver into his vulnerable flanks and throughout the depth of his formation.

Defensive Schemes of Maneuver

There are three basic schemes of maneuver the commander can use in designating a course of action for a defensive mission. These schemes of maneuver center on the use of battle positions and sectors for subordinate platoons, or a combination of the two.

Defend from a Troop Battle Position.Both heavy and light cavalry troops may defend from a battle position. This method is be used when the enemy situation is clear, when there is only one avenue of approach, or when the troop commander must coordinate subordinate unit fires. In this scheme of maneuver the troop commander retains most of the authority for fighting the battle. The troop commander must understand his squadron commander's intent and concept to prevent holding the troop in place and risking its destruction.

Defend in Troop Sector.Both the heavy and light cavalry troops may defend in troop sector. This method may be used when the enemy situation is vague, when there is more than one avenue of approach, or when subordinate platoons require more freedom or action. In this scheme of maneuver, the troop commander delegates much of the responsibility for fighting the battle to his subordinate platoon leaders. He maintains control through the use of effective control measures and a clearly understood intent and concept.

Defend by Combination of Battle Positions and Sectors.Both heavy and light cavalry troops may defend using a combination of battle positions and sectors. This is the most common method of defense for a cavalry troop as it provides the troop commander maximum flexibility to maneuver and mass fires throughout the depth of the sector when changes in METT-T dictate.

Section II. Defend From a Troop Battle Position

Either the heavy or light cavalry troop may defend from a troop battle position. This mission is normally assigned when the squadron commander elects to concentrate the direct fires of the troop or squadron within an engagement area. The troop cannot maneuver outside the position without the squadron commander's permission. Within the battle position, the troop commander positions his platoons to concentrate all direct fires where the squadron has specified. The troop fights to retain the position unless ordered by the squadron commander to counterattack or withdraw. The troop may still retain the task to screen/maintain contact with the enemy forward of the battle position, depending on the squadron commander's intent. If so, the tank/AT platoons will initially be positioned within the troop battle position, and the scout platoons may assume adjacent positions within the battle position following execution of a security drill (see Security Drill paragraph in Chapter 4, page 4-15).

Critical Tasks

To defend a troop battle position, the following critical tasks must be accomplished:

Decide where the enemy will be killed and designate the engagement area.
Establish OPs oriented forward and to the flanks of the BP to gain contact with the enemy force and provide early warning.
Establish primary and alternate platoon BPs to concentrate direct fires within the engagement area as directed by the squadron commander.
Designate supplementary platoon BPs to cover other routes of enemy approach.
Establish sectors of fire for each platoon.
Reconnoiter and establish platoon routes from hide positions to platoon BP, and for withdrawal to subsequent platoon/troop BPs.

Techniques

The squadron commander assigns troop battle positions when he can mass the fires of two or more troops in a squadron engagement area. The size of a troop battle position can vary, but it should provide enough depth and maneuver space for platoons to maneuver into alternate/supplementary positions and execute local counterattacks.

The troop commander conducts a thorough terrain study before the troop occupies the position, keeping in mind where the squadron commander wants the troop to concentrate its fires.

Designate primary and alternate positions for each platoon.
Position platoons to achieve flanking fires along the avenue of approach. Consider the effective range of each platoon's weapon systems.
Position platoons to mass direct fires within the engagement area and to provide mutual support.
Position platoons to cover any dead space in the engagement area. If not possible, plan indirect fires to cover the dead space.
Use TRPs to control fires and orient weapon systems for each platoon.
Occupy the BPs from the rear. Establish OPs to support the squadron plan. Allow platoon leaders time to reconnoiter and position vehicles to place effective direct fires within their sectors of fire. If better defensive terrain lies outside the BP, call the S3 or commander for approval to adjust the boundaries.
Once platoons are set, inspect them to make sure each platoon is properly oriented and has good fields of fire. When satisfied, have the platoons reconnoiter routes to subsequent positions and select firing positions for each vehicle. If time and engineer support are available, dig prepared positions for vehicles. Have the platoon leaders prepare platoon fire plans for approval.
After preparing the BP, have all elements except OPs move to hide positions to reduce the risk of enemy observation and to decrease their vulnerability to enemy fires.
Maintain security. Position the command post where it has FM communications with subordinate elements and the squadron. Position the troop trains behind good cover that is out of direct-fire range and allows quick access to each platoon position. The troop commander is positioned where he can observe the engagement area and control the troop. The FSO should be nearby to ensure coordinated fire support.
Identify trigger points/lines.
Upon the enemy reaching what terrain feature does the troop initiate indirect fires? Direct fires?
Upon the enemy reaching what terrain feature does the troop displace to prevent decisive engagement?
If the troop has to disengage and displace under fire to a subsequent position, bound the troop back by platoon(s), consistent with the squadron scheme of maneuver. If the troop disengagement and displacement are covered by another element, the troop may move as a whole to a subsequent position.

See Figure 6-1 for an illustration of the techniques described above.

Figure 6-1. Troop engagement area.

Section III. Defend in Troop Sector

Both heavy and light cavalry troops may defend in sector. METT-T considerations determine optimal troop sector width; however, the troop is normally allocated a sector oriented on a single battalion-size avenue of approach.

Either troop may defend in sector when-

The squadron cannot concentrate its fires due to--
extended frontages.
defending along a cross compartment.
multiple avenues of approach.
Retention of specific terrain features is not necessary.
The troop may use the depth of the sector to dissipate the enemy's attack.
Maximum flexibility to maneuver is desired.

Critical Tasks

Maintain continuous surveillance of high-speed routes or avenues of approach into the troop sector (screen).
Destroy or repel all enemy reconnaissance elements forward of the troop's initial defensive positions (counterreconnaissance).
Structure engagement areas.
Position platoon battle positions to support engagement areas.
Engage the enemy from more than one direction.
Determine criteria for initiating fires, counterattack, and disengagement.
Prevent the enemy from penetrating the troop rear boundary or designated NPL (no penetration line).