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Fighting vehicles which cannot achieve a full hide or defilade positions have little chance for survival against a strong enemy attack. Task forces at the NTC increasingly use engineer earthmoving equipment for the construction of vehicle fighting positions and less for anti-tank ditches. These survivability positions are basically the same as shown in FM 5-103, except that either a full turret defilade or a hide position is an essential, not a desirable feature, of the position. The "firing step" must be sloped so the firing vehicle may adjust its degree of hull defilade to allow various combinations of defilade and fields of fire. Vehicles can move from defilade to firing positions quickly. They can remain hidden until it is time to engage the enemy. They are very difficult to detect and can drop to full defilade if receiving effective fire. Since natural firing positions are limited in numbers and locations, the ability to construct positions can be critical. Construction of proper fighting positions which allow the defender to properly disperse weapons is essential to the defense.

The chain of command must select the location of fighting positions. The position must be checked by a vehicle to ensure adequate coverage of assigned sectors. The unit's leaders must supervise the construction to ensure that the position is the right depth before letting the bulldozer move.

Figure 2. Vehicle Fighting Positions

Dismounted infantry may require engineer support to dig fighting position. Use of backhoes and scoop loaders greatly reduces construction time for dismounted fighting positions. Construction of fighting positions for dismounted infantry should receive a high priority due to their vulnerability to indirect fire. Squad APCs must, by SOP, carry a basic load of materials required to construct overhead cover. Construction of infantry fighting positions must be carefully monitored to ensure that soldiers can both effectively fight and observe while protected by overhead cover.

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Fire Support

Air Defense