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Following are two examples of how failure to use smoke for obscuration proved to be fatal at company level:

MISSION ONE: The company was to follow the lead element and establish a support-by-fire position overlooking the objective area to allow follow-on units to attack the objective. During the execution phase, the company crossed a large open area and began to take casualties from direct and indirect fires. The company was caught in the open and was reduced to 10-percent combat power within nine minutes.

MISSION TWO: The company was tasked to trail the scout element, maneuver onto a known enemy position, destroy it, and establish a support-by-fire position overlooking a weapon storage site. This would allow follow-on units to secure the site. During the execution phase, the company halted at a choke point and deployed dismounts to clear the surrounding wood line. The company began receiving direct fires from their objective area. Lead elements were attritted. The dismount squads identified the location of the enemy weapon system and initiated the call for fire. The result was 12 rounds of mortar HE on their own position (poor target location). Several minutes later, another element of the task force identified dismounts in the same area and called for artillery fires which resulted in more fratricide.

Technique: Use of smoke would have provided a more successful outcome of the mission.

In mission one, the use of smoke would have screened the company's movement through the open area.

In mission two, obscuring the enemy position would have allowed the commander to maneuver his force onto the enemy position and destroy him.

Infantry Battalion C2 Facilities - The Command Group

Nested Concepts