ATTACK TECHNIQUES
The key to defeating a Soviet defense built around AT weapons is to locate those weapons and then to either destroy or in some way make them irrelevant to our mission.
Since the critical phase of a deliberate attack typically occurs in the vicinity of the objective, planning should commence with actions on the objective and work backwards through crossing the LD and movement from the assembly area. Care must be taken not to devote so much attention to organizing the movement that the planning required to defeat the enemy on the objective does not receive sufficient emphasis. Specific terrain objectives, along with directions of attack, axes, and/or zones of action must be assigned to assault elements. Target reference points, phase lines, and other control measures are required to coordinate fires with maneuver. In other words, detailed planning helps. Do not assume that things will sort themselves out on the objective.
Effective reconnaissance is the key to detailed planning, but in-depth planning must normally begin long before much of the reconnaissance is accomplished. Plans are then refined as more is learned about the enemy. Also, a "review the bidding" session a few hours before LD time can be very beneficial. Commanders and staff are updated on intelligence that was not available when the OPORD was briefed, modifications to the plan are explained, and final coordination is effected.
The concentration of combat power against a small fraction of the enemy is a prerequisite for success, and the commander's control of the pace of the attack is a significant determining factor. A creeping attack provides the defender an opportunity to reposition, reinforce, and mass fires. An overly hasty attack risks loss of mass, fire support, and command and control; i.e., a piecemeal attack. In our experience, moving too fast for the situation is by far the more common error.
Avoid obvious killing zones. A vehicle that moves within 100 meters of a dead vehicle may be in the sight picture of the killing AT weapon. Do not commit forces through a group of recently destroyed vehicles unless you are reasonably certain that the killing systems have been neutralized.
Direct fire overwatch weapons play an important and sometimes dominant role. They provide the target acquisition, suppression, and destruction which can make an attack successful. It is sometimes prudent to overwatch with the majority of the force -- at least initially. The selection of positions and orientations can vary greatly depending on intent. Hence, the specific intent of the overwatch must be clearly specified; e.g., cover the maneuver element's movement to the objective, support the assault onto the objective, or fix a portion of the enemy to prevent repositioning. In all cases, actions between the overwatch and maneuver forces must be closely coordinated. The best procedure is face-to-face coordination on a vantage point overlooking the objective.
Overwatch can also be difficult mission. For forces in hasty positions to defeat a defender in prepared positions requires careful planning, preparation, and massed fires. Ideally, occupation should be preceded by reconnaissance to select and mark firing positions, routes, and sectors of fire. Reconnaissance can be done by leaders before battle or by TCs and loaders just prior to occupation. Success in overwatch generally requires an overwhelmingly superior volume of fire relative to the enemy force being engaged. Overwatch positions should not be static. Leaders must continuously adjust positions based on friendly and enemy actions.
Modern night vision goggles, along with thermal and passive night sights, represent a great advance over our previous capability to see at night, but do not turn night into day. Simple plans, rehearsals, restrictive control measures, and marked routes remain fundamental to the success of a night attack. Said another way, a good daylight plan will probably not be successful at night.
When conducting a movement to contact, put only the scouts and a relatively small armor heavy element forward until you have developed the situation. The intent is to preclude inadvertent enemy contact from tying down a large portion of the force and limiting maneuver.
Table
of Contents
Attack
Helicopters/Joint Air Attack Teams (JAAT)
Tank
Positioning
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