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The mission of the scout platoon is to find and maintain contact with the enemy and to destroy the enemy's reconnaissance. Experience, however, demonstrates that when the scout platoon tries to destroy the enemy's reconnaissance by direct fire, the scout platoon, in turn, is eventually discovered and destroyed by the enemy. One obvious alternative to a direct fire confrontation is for the scout platoon to use indirect fire. Since the scout platoon is not authorized a forward observer (FO), fire support officer (FSO), or a fire support team (FIST), the scout platoon leader or sergeant must call for his own fires. This divides his attention between making accurate and timely spot reports to the task force and calling for fire to destroy the enemy.

Some units have assigned a FO to the scouts to relieve the platoon leader/sergeant from having to call for fire at the same time he is supposed to report to the task force. Generally, this has resulted in quicker response, better accuracy, and increased volume of indirect fire. In order to maximize the results of this system, the scouts should have priority of artillery fires (as opposed to 4.2 mortars because of the artillery's greater range and lethality).

The question is where to find a spare FO on the battlefield. One option is to take an FO from an infantry platoon from the reserve or trailing company team. He will certainly achieve more kills forward with the scout platoon than at the rear of the task force.

"Time and time again, a few skilled infantrymen are the difference between winning and losing a battalion/brigade level battle . . . They conduct the night attack which causes enemy armor to reposition, thereby facilitating its destruction by friendly tank and AT fire at first light."

"If the enemy has AT weapons in a prepared defense, your chance of success is almost always better if you plan to assault (at night) with dismounted infantry supported by tanks and TOWs in overwatch."

Of all the missions a mechanized infantry leader is expected to accomplish, perhaps the most difficult is the dismounted attack against prepared, enemy position. This task is extraordinarily difficult for many reasons. Among them, success depends on the enemy being caught completely off guard. It depends on detailed, accurate, and timely reconnaissance. The unit must also transition from mounted to dismounted movement, navigate at night over rugged terrain, and carry all the equipment needed to kill or rout the enemy. In the assault, dismounted leaders must control all fires on the objective -- indirect, direct supporting, and the dismounted force. Finally, dismounted infantry are extremely vulnerable to Soviet artillery fires. The following techniques on conducting dismounted night attacks have proven successful.

• Plan to guard the plan. The enemy must not know that the assault is coming until dismounted infantrymen are on top of him. Plan to confuse and deceive him. Plan for stealth in reconnaissance and movement. Plan for contingencies.

• Reconnaissance. The reconnaissance party should include an engineer to provide route and obstacle evaluation and leaders from the assault unit. Priority Intelligence Requirement (PIR) for the assault unit must include mobility and concealment along the proposed axes/directions of attack (primary and alternate), location of a secure dismount point (primary and alternate), and the location and orientation of enemy obstacles, OPs, dismounts, and every vehicle on and near the objective. Based on his disposition and orientation, the direction of assault can be decided and the assault position, probable line of deployment, and limit of advance selected. Stay-behind guides from the assault unit can also be included in the reconnaissance to operate as a quartering party. They must have commo with the TOC, binoculars, night observation devices (NOD), and specific instructions for every contingency: e.g., what to look for; what, when, and how to report; how to guide the unit into position; and where to go if they are discovered. Guides can be left along the route at the dismount point and near or in the assault position. Finally, reconnaissance starts as soon as possible after the task force receives its warning order.

• Be prepared to modify the plan based on changes in the enemy situation, as reported by your stay-behind guides.

• Equip the unit. Because the dismount point will probably be several kilometers from the objective, the assault force must travel as light as possible. Consider every piece of equipment to be carried. For example, if LAWs will cause enemy vehicles to move so that they can be destroyed by tank and TOW fire, then leave the Dragons on the carriers.

• Rehearsal. If the plan is not rehearsed in the assembly area, name the first phase line CHAOS. Ideally, every action from departing the assembly area to consolidating on the objective should be rehearsed. Battle drills which have been engrained into the unit will facilitate the effectiveness of rehearsals. Realistically, the rehearsal must be prioritized. An example of prioritization for the assault unit, with some notes, follows:

  • 1st Priority: Actions on the objective. Using information from the reconnaissance, find the most similar piece of terrain possible and position carriers on it to replicate enemy vehicles on the objective. Use vehicle crews to replicate enemy OPs and dismounts. Use engineer tape to replicate enemy obstacles.

  • 2nd Priority: Actions in the assault position. Rehearse movement into the assault position exactly as the stay-behind guides were briefed. Once the assault line is formed, make sure that everyone understands the sequence of preparatory fires.

  • 3rd Priority: Movement from the dismount point to the assault position. Practice stealth and make sure that the lead squad understands the rate of march. Also, rehearse contingencies; e.g., rally points, indirect fire, near and far direct fire, and breaks in contact.

  • 4th Priority: Actions at the dismount point. Again, don't surprise the stay-behind guides. Practice moving the carriers in to facilitate the dismounted movement. Also, make sure that the carrier teams know what they are to do.

  • 5th Priority: Movement from the assembly area to the dismount point. Again, make sure that the lead squad understands the rate of march and rehearse the previously mentioned contingencies while mounted.

  Again, make sure that the lead squad understands the rate of march and rehearse the previously mentioned contingencies while mounted.

  Rehearse in daylight and then at night until everyone understands his role in the operation.

• External Fire Control. There should be at least three contingencies for initiating, shifting, and stopping both indirect and direct supporting fires. Some examples are: (1) by clock time, (2) by FM radio, and (3) by pyrotechnic signal which must be fired from outside the assault position. Plan for the assault unit to hug these fires -- to always move at or within danger close ranges. Plan for smoke on the enemy's flanks and rear to isolate the objective.

• Internal Fire Control. For the assault unit on the objective, the following principles apply:

  • Keep everyone oriented in the same direction.

  • Command and control is paramount.

  • Divide the objective using terrain features that are easily identifiable at night, such as ridges, wadis, and trails.

  • Begin the assault with two platoons on line and the third platoon following in a file in reserve. Once firing begins, fire and maneuver in short rushes is a must. Within the two forward platoons, every third man can be a designated vehicle killer, the others should kill anything that is not a vehicle, and everyone fires to the front.

  • Plan and rehearse in detail.

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Memorandum

Section II: Command & Control