CHAPTER
2
SQUAD
AND PLATOON BATTLE DRILLS
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BATTLE DRILL 7: ENTER/CLEAR A TRENCH (PLATOON) |
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TASK. Enter/Clear a Trench (Platoon) (7-3-110).
CONDITION. The platoon is attacking as part of a larger force and identifies enemy in a trench line. The platoon deploys and establishes a base of fire. The platoon leader determines that he has sufficient combat power to maneuver and assault the trench line.
STANDARDS.
1.
The platoon kills, captures, or forces the withdrawal of the enemy in its assigned
section of the trench.
2.
The platoon's main body is not surprised by the enemy counterattack.
3.
The platoon maintains a sufficient fighting force to defeat the enemy's counterattack
and continue operations.
PERFORMANCE
MEASURES.
1.
The platoon leader directs one squad to enter the trench and secure a foothold.
2. The platoon leader designates the entry point of the trench line using his hand-held laser pointer and controls the direction of movement once the platoon begins clearing.
3. The platoon sergeant positions soldiers and machine guns to suppress the trench and isolate the entry point. The platoon sergeant and weapons squad leader control the machine guns by hand-held laser pointers. The platoon sergeant and weapons squad leader monitor the lead element of the assaulting squad which is marked with a Phoenix Beacon carried by the Alpha Team Leader.
4. The assaulting squad executes actions to enter the trench and establish a foothold. (See Battle Drill No. 7A, Enter a Trench Line (Squad).) The assaulting squad leader signals to the platoon leader using his hand-held laser pointer that the foothold is secure, and the follow-on element can move into the trench.
5. The platoon leader directs one of the base of fire squads to move into the trench and begin clearing it in the direction of movement from the foothold.
6. The base of fire element repositions as necessary to continue suppressive fires.
7. The platoon leader moves into the trench with the assaulting squad.
8.
The assaulting squad passes the squad that has secured the foothold and executes
actions to take the lead and clear the trench. NOTE:
The fire support element must be able to identify the location of the lead
fire team in the trench line at all times. Lead team is marked with a Phoenix
Beacon mounted on a stick or sturdy radio antenna. When two teams are clearing,
the Phoenix Beacon will be programmed to distinguish between squads.
9. The platoon leader rotates squads to keep soldiers fresh and to maintain the momentum of the assault.
10. The platoon sergeant calls forward ammunition resupply and organizes teams to move it forward into the trench.
11. The base of fire element ensures that all friendly forces move into the trench ONLY through the designated entry point. (All movement must be made in the trench to avoid casualties by friendly fires.)
12. The platoon leader reports to the company commander that the trench line is secured, or that he is no longer able to continue clearing.
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