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Military

IPB at the Battery Level

by CPT Terry Michaels

Too many batteries that rotate through CMTC get to meet the enemy "up close and personal." Battery defense and early warning do not always function in an effective, coordinated way to protect the unit from enemy contact.

Although FM 6-50 dedicates an annex to battery defense, units do not have a system to prepare or execute a defensive plan. Effective artillery relies upon the battery's defensive capability -- its ability to protect equipment and soldiers as well as its ability to provide continued support to maneuver during the battle. A successful defensive plan depends on the battery commander (BC)'s understanding of the type of enemy he faces and the terrain in which he will operate. The BC can use a modified IPB to help build the defense plan.

Defensive planning should begin when the BC receives the location that the battery is to occupy. Just as the S2 conducts an IPB for the battalion/bde, the BC must conduct an IPB of his area of operations. His IPB must focus on two areas:

1. Threat analysis.
2. Terrain analysis.

Step 1. The Threat -- What does the enemy look like? When the Bn S2 briefs the operations order, he discusses the enemy in terms of battalions or companies. The battery commander should break these down to assess what he may face at the battery location:

a. Number = Platoons or sections.

b. Avenues of approach = vehicles in line or two-vehicle teams.

c. Speed of enemy movement = determines how far away OPs need to be from the unit.

EXAMPLE: If the enemy travels 1 km every 3 minutes, the OP needs to be at least 2 km from the battery to give ample warning to the unit.

d. The dismounted threat = can cause as much havoc as a mechanized threat.

Techniques:

1. Consider reconnaissance teams and irregular forces when planning for the defense.

2. OPs in front of the position should be augmented with LP/OPs to cover dismounted avenues from woods or area tracked vehicles cannot travel.

EXAMPLE: Peace Support Operations (PSOs) threat considerations are distinctly different from high intensity operations. Priority would shift from a mounted to a dismounted enemy, thus placing a higher priority on soldier's protection than concealment.

Step 2. Terrain Analysis. After the battery commander has determined the type of enemy he may see on the battlefield, he must analyze the terrain in which his battery or platoon will operate.

Technique: Use OCOKA (Observation, Cover and Concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, Avenues of approach) to analyze the terrain.

1. Observation:

a. Focus on the enemy's ability to see the position.

  • Positioning the battery or platoon on terrain that can be observed 2-3 km away is inviting an enemy force to engage the unit.
  • Positions should allow the unit to remain hidden from an approaching force.

b. Select potential observation points around the battery/platoon that will give early warning in the event of enemy contact.

c. Carefully plan OPs. They can mean the difference between the life or death of a unit.

2. Cover and Concealment: For approaching mechanized forces:

a. Remain concealed.

b. Use trails or back road movement.

c. Do not depend on the same roads the enemy will use in their advance.

d. Availability of treelines and masking terrain are critical to concealment.

3. Obstacles:

a. Position the battery behind terrain that will slow or disrupt the enemy's movement.

b. Using forests or ridges as obstacles to enemy movement enhances the unit's survivability.

c. Use lateral movement to get on a route used for advance. Enemy forces rarely move laterally from high speed avenues unless they have sighted a friendly unit or the friendly unit is situated near an enemy objective.

4. Key terrain:

a. Any terrain that will affect the defense of the unit.

b. Examine major roads near the position, potential enemy objectives, towns.

c. During defensive operations, select positions away from road networks.

d. During offensive operations, select positions near roads. Use quick displacement to move forward and support maneuver.

5. Avenues of approach: View Avenues of approach from both the enemy and friendly point of view.

a. Enemy point of view:

  • Identify avenues into the position based on the threat.
  • Take note of both mounted and dismounted avenues for future LP/OP locations.
  • Positions with high speed avenues of approach:
    • Avoid during defensive operations.
    • Take advantages during offensive operations.
  • Use a time-distance relationship to establish OPs.
    • Provide the unit ample warning of an approaching enemy.
    • OPs must give the btry/plt at least 5 to 10 minutes of warning to allow the unit to move or prepare for a direct fire engagement.

b. Friendly point of view:
  • Identify egress routes for hasty displacement. Egress routes must be off main thoroughfares.
  • Identify routes to allow the unit to displace forward during offensive action. Deconflict maneuver movement routes to ensure that road networks which allow the units easy movement do not cause traffic jams.

Regardless of the method, threat and terrain analyses are prerequisites for successful FA battery mission. Thorough analysis maximizes the effectiveness of the firing battery's defensive capability and allows it to survive and be successful on the modern battlefield. Once the battery IPB is accomplished, the commander can accept risk just as a maneuver commander accepts risk. Without analysis, survival is a gamble. If the BC briefs the IPB as part of his operations order to the battery leadership, the IPB provides the additional benefit of giving the 1SG, PLT LDRs and PLT SGTs a starting point on their perimeter defense plans, thus reducing the chance the battery will get up close and personal with the enemy.

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