TA. 6 MOBILITY/SURVIVABILITY BOS &
NUCLEAR/BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL (NBC)
Positive Performance
6.1.1.1 Breach Minefields
* Breaching tenets and fundamentals of SOSR: TF staffs and engineer companies understand the breaching tenets and the fundamentals of SOSR - suppress, obscure, secure, and reduce. TF staffs identify the type of breach required: in-stride or deliberate and the method of breaching: explosive, mechanical or manual. TF breach plans are developed to support/apply breaching fundamentals. However, TF staffs did not develop the breach plans in sufficient detail to ensure synchronization.
Where to improve:
1. Updating the observation, obscuration, indirect fire and CFZ plan based on confirmed intelligence.
2. Integrating direct and indirect fires so the support force can achieve suppression.
3. Ensuring the support force has the required number of direct fire systems to mass on the enemy.
4. Identifying the commander of the support force, if two or more company/teams are used.
5. Identifying criteria, triggers, and signals for the commitment of the breach and assault forces.
6. Ensuring the assault force has the mobility assets required for the assault breach.
6.3 Enhance Survivability
* Improved HHC force protection against Levels 1 and 2 threats: Unit leadership establishes force protection priorities of work, and then supervises the accomplishment of critical tasks in order to achieve success in base defense.
6.3.1.1.1 Employ Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM)
* Direction finding system support for electronic attack missions: Direction finding (DF) systems have been useful in supporting electronic attack missions by locating the jamming targets. This allows the jammer's antenna to be more effectively aimed at the target. DF can also be used to determine if the frequency required as a jamming target is actually the intended target or a retransmission.
Technique: DF operations should not be dropped during a jamming mission, but should be used to increase jamming effectiveness.
6.3.1.1.2 Prepare Fighting Positions
* Engineer support to the BSA: The BSA received engineer vehicle support at each site. Obstacles were very sparingly used. The SEE was used to dig fighting positions. Dozers were used to berm critical assets within the BSA. The execution of hasty protective minefields was strong.
Where to improve:
1. The availability of materials to construct fighting positions.
2. Command emphasis of preparations.
3. Use of LP/OPs and night observation devices.
4. Monitoring of BSA/FSB NBC readiness.
Needs Emphasis
6.1.1 Overcome Obstacles
* Unsynchronized deliberate breaching operations: Despite some indications of improvement, TFs fail to properly plan for and rehearse deliberate breaches.
PROBLEMS:
1. SOSRs are not addressed in detail during the planning process.
2. Wargaming for the breach operation lacks sufficient detail.
3. Most units do not even talk through the events setting conditions for a successful breach because they use the "box" technique, causing them to miss the events leading up to the breach.
4. Breach rehearsals are lacking at all levels of the combined arms team. TF "rock drills" typically gloss over all details of the actual breach.
5. Rehearsals are often planned for, but rarely executed at TF level.
6. Units fail to plan for assault breaches.
Technique: Become familiar with FM 90-13-1, Combined Arms Breaching Operations. A deliberate breach implies sufficient intelligence to construct a good model at a rehearsal site where all elements involved can rehearse until they meet the standard necessary for successful execution.
6.2.2 Emplace Obstacles
* Siting tactical obstacles: Company/team commanders are not siting tactical obstacles together with their supporting engineers to ensure obstacle effects meet the TF commander's intent, and are integrated with direct and indirect fires.
PROBLEMS:
1. Engineer platoons typically site in tactical obstacles without prior coordination with the Co/Tms responsible for covering obstacles with fires. This problem is fueled by the brigade/battalion desire for a quick transition to the defense and early emplacement of obstacles.
2. Tactical obstacles are emplaced prior to TF engagement area recon and Co/Tm fire plan development.
RESULT: obstacle effects are not integrated with Co/Tm direct and indirect fires.
Technique: Maneuver unit commanders and staffs should work at Home Station with supporting engineers to develop battle drills designed to ensure obstacle integration with direct and indirect fires. Use FM 20-32, Chapter 4, Mini-rehearsal as a source of examples for low-cost drills that can be trained in the motorpool or in garrison.
6.2.2.2 Prepare/Emplace Constructed Obstacles
* Poor obstacle integration: Obstacles are not being used to attack enemy maneuver, and rarely multiply the effects and capabilities of firepower.
PROBLEMS:
1. Too often the obstacle plan is developed in a vacuum, as are the other portions of the plan.
2. If obstacles are even considered during wargaming, the obstacles are assumed to be "in place" as the wargame begins. Units are not adjusting obstacle plans based on wargaming results.
3. Most units do not take terrain into account when planning obstacles. EXAMPLE: Drinkwater Lake offers two main avenues of approach, one north and one south of the lake. The south approach is most often listed as a battalion-sized avenue. A proper terrain recon, or even a map recon, would show this avenue shrinks to a platoon or smaller at the southeast tip of the lake. However, units still choose to defend on top of the choke point where they cannot maximize the terrain available.
4. Maneuver teams do not understand what turn, fix, block, and disrupt mean in terms of their direct fire plan. Each of these obstacle intents should tell the commander something about how to plan his direct fires. Thus, even when obstacles are integrated at TF level, the intent is being missed at lower levels.
Techniques: Maneuver commanders should become very familiar with FM 90-7, Combined Arms Obstacle Integration. This is a relatively new FM that lays out the purposes of obstacles and how to integrate them with both fire and maneuver. The manual provides an excellent doctrinal basis for combined arms OPDs and sand-table exercises.
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A, STATEMENTS
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