Chapter 6
|
A retrograde operation is a maneuver to the rear or away from the enemy. It is part of a larger scheme of maneuver to regain the initiative and defeat the enemy. Its purpose is to improve the current situation or prevent a worse situation from occurring. Its objectives are to gain time, to preserve forces, to avoid combat under unfavorable conditions, or to maneuver the enemy into an unfavorable position. Retrograde operations may facilitate repositioning forces, shortening LOCs, or permitting unit withdrawals for employment elsewhere.
6-1. TYPES OF RETROGRADE OPERATIONS
Retrograde operations allow the commander to improve the current situation or prevent a worse one from occurring. During the conduct of a retrograde operation the brigade may harass, resist, delay, or damage an enemy. Retrogrades may be conducted at the direction of higher headquarters or may be dictated by enemy action.
a. The three types of retrogrades are delays, withdrawals, and retirements. These types of retrogrades share some common characteristics and may at times appear indistinguishable from each other. One type of retrograde may transition to another (for example, as from a withdrawal to a retirement). The brigade may also transition from any other operation (for example, offensive or defensive operations may transition into a delay as when confronted with a superior force on indefensible terrain).
b. The most critical distinction among the types of retrograde are their purposes or the intent of the commander executing the operation. The intent of a delay is to maintain contact with the enemy and trade space for time. The intent of the withdrawal is to break contact and disengage a force from the enemy in order to free the force for other missions. The intent of the retirement is to tactically move a unit not in contact with the enemy to a new location.
c. Retrogrades on nonlinear battlefields will be even more challenging than retrogrades on linear battlefields. Without the sanctuary of nearby rear areas or the combat power of adjacent forces to assist the unit in retrogrades, the brigade on a nonlinear battlefield must look more to his own resources. The roles once played by adjacent units and DS artillery may be played by long-range fires, CAS, and army aviation, if available.
d. Every movement away from the enemy may be a movement toward another enemy force. This requires the retrograde be conducted as an offensive operation, such as an approach march-type movement to contact. Normally, the retirement is not conducted on a nonlinear battlefield.
As in offense and defense, the analysis of METT-T influences retrograde operations. The following are other basic planning considerations that influence all retrograde operations.
a. Leadership and Morale. Commanders and leaders must make sure soldiers understand the purpose of retrograde operations and their role in them. The leader's presence is critical in passing out information, making decisions, motivating soldiers and reducing rumors. The fact that the unit is moving away from the enemy will cause anxiety and speculation that may hinder the combat effectiveness of the members of the brigade.
b. Reconnaissance and Security. Accurate and timely intelligence is essential during a retrograde operation. The intelligence requirement increases as the brigade forces are echeloned to the rear and combat capabilities reduced. The brigade commander must task-organize a security force that can--
- Cover enemy avenues of approach.
- Deceive the enemy and defeat his intelligence efforts.
- Overwatch retrograding units.
- Provide rear guard, flank security, choke points, and demolition guard.
c. Mobility. To conduct a successful retrograde, the brigade seeks to increase its mobility and to slow the enemy force significantly or halt it.
(1) The brigade's mobility is improved by the following:
Reconnoitering the routes and positions.
Improving existing road networks and controlling traffic flow.
Executing well-rehearsed unit movement SOPs.
Using NBC contamination avoidance techniques.
Positioning air defense to provide area coverage and security forces at critical choke points.
Evacuating civilian refugees or restricting their movement to routes not used by the brigade.
Evacuating casualties, recoverable supplies, and unnecessary equipment early.
Displacing nonessential CSS activities.
(2) The enemy's mobility is reduced by the following:
- Occupying and controlling key terrain that dominates high-speed avenues of approach.
- Destroying roads and bridges on avenues not needed for the brigade's forces.
- Executing preplanned demolitions and reserved demolitions after brigade forces have passed.
- Improving existing obstacles with reinforcing obstacles and covering them with direct or indirect fire and observation.
- Employing indirect fire and smoke to degrade the enemy's vision and slow his rate of advance.
- Conducting spoiling attacks to keep the enemy off balance and force him to react.
d. Deception. The use of deception may conceal movement of the brigade's forces, surprise the enemy, and reduce the brigade's vulnerability. Deception is facilitated by the following:
- Taking advantage of limited visibility conditions.
- Employing both projected and generated smoke.
- Using infiltration techniques to disguise or hide the relocation and evacuation of units and material.
- Employing dummy minefields and decoy positions.
- Maintaining normal radio traffic patterns and artillery fires.
- Conducting overt preparations for operations other than those planned.
- Using feints and demonstrations.
- Conducting deceptive EW and psychological operation measures, if assets are available.
e. Avoiding Decisive Engagement. The brigade must maintain some freedom of action and be able to present the enemy with unexpected and threatening situations that cause the enemy to react. These situations create opportunities for the brigade to regain the initiative and dictate the terms and conditions of the battle. Once the brigade becomes decisively engaged with the enemy, it loses this freedom of action, must conform to the enemy's actions, and risks the destruction of the entire force by fighting on unfavorable terms. It is imperative that the intent of the retrograde is understood by all subordinate commanders and leaders. The intent should also be operationally manifested to subordinate units by providing specific disengagement criteria to each echelon. This allows the leader in contact to recognize the battlefield conditions that require him to act to presume his force and avoid decisive engagement.
6-3. BATTLEFIELD OPERATING SYSTEMS
Some of the battlefield operating systems have significant affect on the planning considerations for retrograde operations.
a. Fire Support. The commander must ensure that the fire plan augments mobility of the force. He must--
(1) Orient fires on enemy avenues of approach. Plan triggers to inflict the greatest destruction on the enemy while providing obscuration of friendly disengagement.
(2) Identify decision points in order to mass fires on high payoff targets and establish smoke screens for disengagement.
(3) Use FASCAM with consideration for time requirements to employ and its affect on the firing batteries ability to provide continuous fire support. Use only on compartmentalized terrain. FASCAM employment must be coordinated with the engineer staff officer.
(4) Position forward observers along routes to overwatch friendly movements. Use COLTs and FCTs to increase the effectiveness of the counterreconnaissance battles by attaching them to battalion reconnaissance platoons.
(5) Plan for the employment of CAS, along with the necessary control measures.
(6) Allocate FPFs to forces in vulnerable areas.
(7) Ensure firing battery positions and displacement plans provide for continuous coverage across the sector IAW the brigade commander's intent for fire support.
b. Air Defense. Air defense is critical throughout retrograde operations.
(1) Ensure air defense priorities and allocation support mobility of the force.
(2) Ensure overmatching coverage of flanks, choke points, and the rear.
(3) Integrate ADA assets into the scheme of maneuver.
(4) Incorporate passive air defense measures, increasing movement during limited visibility.
c. Combat Service Support. The FSB should be positioned to the rear of the force as far as possible without sacrificing the quality of support.
(1) Ensure essential support equipment and personnel remain forward.
(2) Plan evacuation operations.
(3) Prestock high-usage items.
d. Command and Control. Retrograde operations are characterized by widely dispersed forces, independent actions, and vague enemy situations. The greatest flexibility in missions give to subordinates allows the rapid application of maneuver to exploit enemy weaknesses. Planning is centralized at brigade while the execution is decentralized. The brigade commander controls retrograde operations by the following:
(1) Articulating his intent for the retrograde.
(2) Establishing control measures. The control measures must clearly support the commander's intent and scheme of maneuver. These control measures may include phase lines, boundaries, checkpoints, delay positions, and routes of movement.
(3) Designating the time and routes of the withdrawal.
(4) Limiting rearward movement without prior approval.
(5) Coordinating road movement priorities.
(6) Early siting and positioning of communications.
e. Mobility and Survivability. Engineers use obstacles (friendly obstacles, enemy obstacles and terrain obstacles) and other resources to reduce enemy mobility. Ideally, a battalion-sized force of engineers supports each committed brigade in the delay. Base on time available, engineers are employed--
- To prepare point obstacle targets (road craters, abatis), destroy bridges, and block tunnels. Execution is normally delegated to the maneuver unit having responsibility for the area of operations.
- To emplace hasty minefield, cut antitank ditches, and emplace other antiarmor obstacles to block enemy high-speed avenues of approach and to canalize the enemy into choke points.
- To conduct denial operations against any resources that the enemy can use to sustain the attack.
- To improve routes between battle positions.
- To prepare LZs and airfields to facilitate rapid retrograde operations.
A delay is an operation in which the brigade, under enemy pressure, trades space for time. In the delay, the destruction of the enemy is secondary to slowing his advance to gain time. Delay operations are conducted by delaying in sector or by delaying forward of a specified line for a specified time. These are referred to as low risk and high risk delays respectively. The delaying force must have a mobility advantage relative to the enemy. The infantry brigade will not normally delay against enemy mechanized or motorized forces in trafficable terrain. If required to do so, the mobility and firepower must be enhanced. The brigade may conduct a delay as a part of the following:
- Covering forces for defending or withdrawing MBA forces.
- The advance guard or covering forces when unexpectedly meeting superior forces, as in a movement to contact.
- An economy of force operation conducted to fix or contain an enemy attack on a less critical avenue of approach.
The delay is an economy-of-force operation that creates time to allow other actions to take place. Brigades may delay when its forces are insufficient to attack or defend or when the scheme of maneuver dictates maneuvering the enemy into an area for subsequent counterattack. Delays gain time for friendly forces to reestablish the defense, to cover a defending or withdrawing unit, to protect a friendly unit's flank, and to participate in an economy of force effort. Delays also slow or break up enemy momentum or do not allow it to begin.
a. Degrees of Risk. The commander specifies the degree of risk, which is used to aid in understanding how the delay is to be fought. He determines whether time or the preservation of the force is more important. Specified times for holding the enemy forward of delay lines or positions indicate increased degrees of risk.
(1) Low risk. The brigade must delay the enemy as long as it can without accepting decisive engagement. At the same time, it must maintain the combat effectiveness of the task force. No time limit is specified-the brigade trades space for time. This is difficult for a light force to do without additional mobility assets.
(2) High risk. A delaying force that must hold the enemy forward of a delay line or other location for a specified time is described as accepting a high degree of risk. The brigade may have to accept decisive engagement to gain more time.
b. Conducting a Delay. Planning considerations in conducting a delay include:
(1) Centralized control and decentralized execution. A delay mission is normally performed with maximum forces in contact and minimum forces in reserve. This results in a series of independent actions by units across the front. Each commander must have the freedom of action to engage the enemy. In the delay, the unit must maintain enemy contact and flank security. This ensures the enemy does not bypass or surround elements of the delay force. In addition, it prevents a penetration of the brigade's forces.
(2) Maximize use of terrain. Delay forces must make the best use of terrain. The brigade may conduct its delay by organizing battalion sectors or battle positions. Delay positions should be on terrain that controls likely avenues of enemy approach.
(3) Force the enemy to deploy. Engagement at the greatest ranges causes the enemy to take time-consuming measures to deploy, develop the situation, and maneuver to drive the delaying force from its position. An aggressive enemy commander will not deploy if he determines that the friendly forces are delaying. He uses mass and momentum to develop sufficient pressure to cause friendly forces to fall back. Therefore, the delay must be tenacious enough to leave him in doubt about the friendly mission. When the enemy commander believes he has encountered the main friendly defenses, he will then deploy.
(4) Use of obstacles. The commander uses obstacles to disrupt, turn, fix, or block the enemy's forward progress and to provide security to the flanks of the delaying force. This includes the use of demolitions, mines, field expedients, and obstacles. To obtain the greatest effectiveness, obstacles are covered by observation and fire. The commander examines the obstacle plan during the rehearsal to determine its effectiveness. Scatterable mines delay the enemy passage through choke points or compartmentalized terrain. The countermobility effort is shifted to the sector in which the enemy is making the most progress.
(5) Maintain contact. The brigade forces reconnoiter continuously to establish and maintain contact with the enemy. This requires visual observation of the enemy and the ability to observe and adjust fires (artillery, mortars, tactical aircraft, attack helicopters, and naval gunfire). It also includes maintaining freedom of maneuver to avoid decisive engagement or to break contact on order. An order to break contact may involve a battle handover and a rearward passage of lines through another unit.
(6) Avoid decisive engagement. Delay positions are occupied long enough to cause the enemy to deploy, develop the situation, and maneuver to attack each position. The delay force must displace to the next delay position before becoming decisively engaged and losing its freedom of action. However, in the high-risk delay, decisive engagement may be unavoidable. The commander must establish disengagement criteria in order to help his subordinates avoid decisive engagement.
(7) Coordination. The repositioning of forces rearward during the delay has significant affects on other units in the sector. The brigade must coordinate its actions with higher and adjacent units to ensure continuous coverage across the front and prevent gaps in fires and forces while in contact with the enemy. The repositioning of forces may also expose the flanks of adjacent units and leave them enemy attack.
Brigades conduct the delay by using one or a combination. The methods are vulnerable to of two methods delaying from successive positions and alternate positions. The method selected depends on the width of the front, the terrain, the forces available, the enemy, and the amount of time required of the delay. In either method, a mobility advantage over the enemy is required.
a. Delay From Successive Positions. A delay from successive positions involves fighting rearward from one position to the next, holding each as long as possible or for a specified time (Figure 6-1). In this type of delay, all battalions are committed on each of the brigade delay positions or across the sector on the same phase line.
(1) A delay from successive positions is used when a sector is so wide that available forces cannot occupy more than a single line of positions. The disadvantages of this delay are lack of depth, less time to prepare successive positions, and the possibility of gaps between units. When ordered to move, the brigade disengages, then moves and occupies the next designated position.
(2) A part of the unit displaces directly to the rear when the order to begin the delay is received and occupies the next designated position. The rest of the unit maintains contact with the enemy between the first and second delay positions. As these elements pass through the second position, the forces on that position engage the enemy at the greatest effective range. When the brigade can no longer hold the position without becoming decisively engaged, it moves to the next successive position.
(3) When conducting a delay from successive positions, the brigade may retain a reserve if the division has none. The reserve will frequently be small and employed as a counterattacking force. It protects a threatened flank, secures vital rear areas, or provides overwatch fires to a withdrawing unit.
(4) If a high risk delay is required or becomes necessary, the brigade retains the terrain until the conditions requiring the high risk delay are met. The battalion then disengages and resumes the delay.
b. Delay from Alternate Positions. A delay from alternate positions can be used when a force has a narrow sector or has been reinforced to allow positioning in depth (Figure 6-2). This is the preferred method of delay.
(1) One or more battalions employ this method to occupy the initial delay position and engage the enemy. The other battalions occupy a prepared second delay position. These elements alternate movement in the delay. While one element is fighting, the other occupies the next position in depth and prepares to assume responsibility for the fight.
(2) Units occupying the initial delay position can delay between it and the second position. When the delaying units arrive at the second delay position, they move through or around the units that occupy the second delay position. The units on the second delay position assume responsibility for delaying the enemy; the delaying procedure is then repeated. Moving around the unit on the next delay is preferred because this simplifies passage of lines. The alternate method provides greater security to the delay force and more time to prepare and improve delay positions.
(3) Normally, when delaying from alternate positions, the brigade commander does not maintain a reserve. The forces not in contact with the enemy are available to function in the role of a reserve if needed.
A withdrawal is an operation in which a force in contact disengages from the enemy. The purpose of a withdrawal is to remove a unit from combat, adjust defensive positions, or relocate forces. A withdrawal may free a unit for a new mission. A withdrawal may be executed at any time and during any type of operation. Brigades normally withdraw using a covering force and a main body. There are two types of withdrawals: assisted and unassisted. In an assisted withdrawal, the next higher headquarters provides the security forces that facilitate the move away from the enemy. In an unassisted withdrawal, the brigade provides its own security force. Withdrawal are generally conducted under one oft two conditions: under enemy pressure and not under enemy pressure.
a. Regardless of the type or condition under which it is conducted, all withdrawals share the following planning considerations:
(1) Keep enemy pressure off the withdrawing force. Position security elements to delay the enemy. Emplace obstacles and cover by fire to slow his advance.
(2) Maintain security. Know the enemy's location and his possible courses of action. Observe possible enemy avenues of approach.
(3) Gain a mobility advantage. Gain the advantage by increasing the mobility of the brigade, reducing the mobility of the enemy, or both.
(4) Reconnoiter and prepare routes. Each unit must know the routes or lanes of withdrawal. Establish priority of movement and traffic control if two or more units move on the same route.
(5) Withdraw nonessential elements early. Withdrawing nonessential elements early may include some C2 and CSS elements.
(6) Move during limited visibility. Movement under limited visibility provides concealment for the moving units and reduces the effectiveness of enemy fires.
(7) Concentrate all available fires on the enemy. Alternate movement between elements so seine of the force can always place direct or indirect fires on the enemy.
b. Withdrawing Under Enemy Pressure. Withdrawing under enemy pressure demands superior maneuver, firepower, and control. It is executed in the same manner as a delay, although its ultimate purpose is to break contact with the enemy rather than maintain it as in the delay. When conducting a withdrawal under enemy pressure, the brigade is organized into a security force and a main body. When planning a withdrawal under enemy pressure, the following considerations apply:
(1) Use control measures that facilitate the accomplishment of the commander's intent. These control measures may include-sectors, battle positions, phase lines, routes, passage points and lanes, contact points, checkpoints, and battle handover lines.
(2) Success depends on facilitating the disengagement of the main body by massing its own fires and the overwatching fires provided by the security element.
(3) The division commander may place adjacent units in overwatch, or he may require them to conduct security operations or limited counterattacks to support the withdrawing brigade.
(4) To assist withdrawing elements, the security force must be strong enough to detect and engage the enemy on all avenues of approach. The brigade may form its own security force from forward battalion elements. The security forces must:
(a) Stop, disrupt, disengage, or reduce the enemy 's ability to pursue.
(b) Reduce, through smoke and suppressive fires, the enemy 's capability to observe the movement of the main body.
(c) Rapidly concentrate additional combat power in critical areas.
(5) As the order to withdraw is given, the brigade must engage the enemy with concentrated direct and indirect fire to enable the withdrawing force to disengage, conduct a rearward passage through the security force, assemble, and move to their next position.
(6) The security force assumes the fight from the forward elements. This includes delaying the enemy advance while the bulk of the brigade conducts movement to the rear. On order, or when other predetermined criteria are met, the security force disengages itself and moves to the rear as a rear guard. Depending on the brigade's next mission, the security force may be required to maintain contact with the enemy throughout the operation.
c. When the brigade conducts a withdrawal not under enemy pressure, it must plan as though enemy pressure is expected, and then plan for a withdrawal without pressure. Withdrawal not under enemy pressure requires the formation of a DLIC.
d. Reconnaissance and deception are critical to conducting a withdrawal not under enemy pressure. The commander must be aware of the activities and movements of any enemy in the area that could influence his operation. He must also ensure the security of his force against surprise. The commander must project the impression that he is conducting operations other than a withdrawal. If the enemy becomes aware that the brigade is withdrawing, he may choose to exploit the brigade's relative vulnerability by attacking or employing indirect fires against elements in movement. Therefore, deception and OPSEC measures are essential to the success of a withdrawal not under enemy pressure. These measures include:
- Maintaining the same level of communications.
- Continuing the use of patrols.
- Moving during limited visibility.
- Maintaining the same level of indirect fires.
- Avoiding compromise of the operation by radio.
- Maintaining noise and light discipline.
- Using the DLIC to deceive the enemy into believing that friendly forces are still in position by simulating or continuing normal activities.
6-7. DETACHMENTS LEFT IN CONTACT
The DLIC is a force organized from within the brigade that maintains contact with the enemy while the majority of the brigade withdraws. The DLIC usually comprises one third of the available combat power. A three-battalion brigade may direct that three rifle companies, augmented with the necessary combat support forces and increased mobility and firepower, form the DLIC.
a. Two techniques for organizing the DLIC are designating one battalion as the DLIC or forming a new organization under the brigade S3. When one battalion forms the DLIC, it repositions its force through a series of company-sized relief in place operations with companies in the other battalion's sectors. The advantages of this technique is that command and control is facilitated by the organic nature of the units involved and the focus of the force as a whole is dedicated toward one mission-maintaining contact and preparing to fight a delay, if necessary. The disadvantages are the time needed to reposition and the increased amount of movement in the sector that may signal a vulnerability to the enemy.
b. Forming a new organization under a new controlling headquarters also has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are that the units of the DLIC may have to do less repositioning and some may not have to move at all. This advantage helps to deceive the enemy as to the intentions of the brigade. The disadvantage is that if the organization is ad hoc in nature, its ability to fight as a team is decreased. This organization must train together in order to avoid this disadvantage.
A retirement is a retrograde operation in which a force not in contact moves tactically to the rear or away from the enemy. Brigades and larger forces normally conduct retirements. A withdrawal may become a retirement once forces have disengaged from the enemy, and the main body forms march columns.
a. A retirement is conducted to occupy more favorable terrain, to conform to the disposition of another force, to permit the employment of the brigade in another sector, or to increase the distance between the brigade and the enemy.
b. A retirement is conducted as a tactical movement to the rear. The brigade may move on one or more routes depending on the routes available. Security for the main body is similar to that for a movement to contact using advance, flank, and rear guards. As in all tactical movements, all-round security must be maintained.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
