Fire and Movement

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Fire and movement is the basic military tactic used by small unit commanders on the modern battlefield. It uses the power of suppressive fire, or threat thereof, to decrease the enemy's ability to return fire, its organization and unit cohesion, its intelligence through suppression, and morale. The "Movement" part of the action, consists of a separate organizational unit moving forward in greater safety afforded by the suppressive fire laid down on the enemy.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Suppression 1.2 Advance 1.3 Assault

[edit] Overview

Fire and movement works on the basis of a section of, or entire military unit suppressing the enemy with an appropriate level of fire, while at the same time, another section of, or entire military unit advancing. This will take the form of two units of whatever size appropriate, be it two soldiers or larger. Enemy suppression can also be achieved with direct and/or indirect fire from combat support units. Artillery, mortars and armor are a few examples of combat support units often used in fire and movement tactics.

In the United States Military, a basic fire and movement tactic is called overwatch. There also exists several variations of overwatch, generally adding further description to more accurately describe the specific maneuver (I.E. Bounding Overwatch).

In general, a unit fires upon an enemy to distract or suppress them allowing a movement of another unit to assault, flank or encircle the enemy. The enemy will be pinned down and can not react, and will be forced to take cover until the flanking unit catches them in the open and finishes them. This is an easy and effective tactic, and is the most commonly used move in war.

There are ways to counter a suppress and flank movement. While your unit behind cover due to enemy fire, when the enemy tries to flank on one side, if possible move your unit down the other side and flank the enemy that was just suppressing you. You will then avoid the enemy movement against you and you have also just switched places with the enemy on the battlefield.

[edit] Suppression

Heavy and continuous fire keeps an opponent suppressed and therefore limits the overall firepower of a unit (if a platoon has 30 soldiers, but only 15 are shooting back because the other 15 are being suppressed, you have tactically limited that unit's firepower by 50%). It also builds up confusion and sometimes panic for undisciplined forces. The fire cuts down on an enemy's intelligence in that they are not able to assess the situation as clearly. Finally the suppressive fire hurts an enemy's morale by scaring them, by the fire being continuous, it scares more when it kills. An enemy that hesitates even the tiniest bit is at a great disadvantage.

[edit] Advance

Whilst a base of fire is set up, the second unit will advance to cover in front, in the process setting up a new base of fire at this point.

After a new base of fire has been set up the first unit will advance, under cover of the new fire base, to a new position and set up another base of fire.

[edit] Assault

This is repeated until the units have closed upon the enemy position. At this point a unit will close in on the enemy and destroy them. Often throwing grenades, close-quarters combat techniques, and much more rarely in modern warfare, hand-to-hand combat.

US ARMY FIELD MANUAL 7-8 INFANTRY RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD TACTICS Infantry units use two techniques for conducting a movement to contact— search and attack or approach march. The platoon leader selects the technique based on the expected enemy situation. Search and attack is used when the enemy is dispersed, when the enemy is expected to avoid contact or quickly disengage and withdraw, or to deny him movement in an area. The approach march maybe used when the enemy is expected to deploy using relatively fixed offensive or defensive formations. a. Search and Attack Technique. The search and attack technique involves the use of multiple squads and fire teams coordinating their actions to make contact with the enemy. Platoons attempt to find the enemy, and then fix and finish him. They combine patrolling techniques with the requirement to conduct hasty or deliberate attacks once the enemy has been found. Planning considerations include— The factors of METT-T. The requirement for decentralized execution. (The platoon leader coordinates the actions of squads.) The requirement for mutual support. (The platoon leader must be able to respond to contact with his other squads not in contact.) The length of operations. (The plan may need to address continuous operations.) The soldier’s load. (Search and attack requires stealth.) Resupply and MEDEVAC. The positioning of key leaders and personnel. The employment of key weapons. The requirement for patrol bases. The concept for entering the zone of action. The concept for linkups. (All leaders must know how they will linkup once contact is made.) Approach March Technique. The concept behind the approach march is to make contact with the smallest element, allowing the commander the flexibility of maneuvering or bypassing the enemy force. As part of a larger unit using the approach march technique, platoons may act as the advance, flank, or rear guard. They may also receive on-order missions as part of the main body.

(1) Advance guard. As the advance guard, the platoon finds the enemy and locates gaps, flanks, and weaknesses in his defense. The advance guard attempts to make contact on ground of its own choosing, to gain the advantage of surprise, and to develop the situation (either fight through or support the assault of all or part of the main body). The advance guard operates within the range of the main body’s indirect fire support weapons. (a) One rifle squad leads the advance guard. (b) The platoon uses appropriate formations and movement techniques. (See Figure 2-33.) (c) The leader rotates the lead squad as necessary to keep soldier fresh.

(2) Flank or rear guard. The entire platoon may act as the flank or rear guard for a battalion conducting a movement to contact using this technique. The platoon— Moves using the appropriate formation and movement technique. It must maintain the same momentum as the main body. Provides early warning. Destroys enemy reconnaissance units. Prevents direct fires or observation of the main body.

(3) Main body. When moving as part of the main body, platoons may be tasked to assault, bypass, or fix an enemy force; or seize, secure, or clear an assigned area. The platoon may also be detailed to provide squads as flank guards, stay-behind ambushes, rear security, or additional security (o the front. These squads may come under the direct control of the company commander. Platoons and squads use appropriate formations and movement techniques, assault techniques, and ambush techniques. 2-13. DELIBERATE ATTACK Platoons and squads conduct deliberate attacks as part of a larger force. a. Planning Considerations. The leader uses the troop-leading procedure and the estimate of the situation to develop his plan (see Section I). (1) The platoon can expect to be a base-of-fire clement or an assault element. If the platoon receives the mission to conduct a supporting attack for the company, or to attack a separate objective, the platoon leader should constitute a base-of-fire element and an assault clement. The platoon leader’s decision to employ his squads depends on the ability to achieve suppressive fires against the objective, the need for firepower in the assault, and the requirement for a reserve to retain the freedom to maneuver. If the platoon is the company main effort, the platoon leader can retain less of his platoon as a reserve. If the platoon is the supporting effort, the platoon leader may require up to a squad as a reserve. The platoon leader may employ his squads in one of the following ways: (a) Two squads and one or both machine guns as the base-of-fire element and one squad (with the remaining machine gun) as the assault element. (b) One squad and one or both machine guns as the base-of-fire element and two squads (with the remaining machine gun) as the assault clement. (c) One squad and one or both machine guns as the base-of-fire element, one squad as the assault element, and one squad (with the remaining machine gun) to follow and support the assault element. This method generally supports the organization of the platoon for breaching obstacles during the assault. (2) Additionally, if the company commander’s concept calls for decentralized execution, the platoon leader must consider his objective, a vulnerable flank or exploitable weakness, routes, movement and fire control measures, and formations and movement techniques. The platoon leader considers these along with the factors of METT-T and the commander’s intent to develop a scheme of maneuver and a fire support plan. b. Movement to the Objective. Platoons and squads use the appropriate formations and movement techniques to avoid contact and achieve

surprise (see Section III). The platoon must remain undetected. If detected early, the platoon concentrates direct and indirect fires, establishes a base of tire, and maneuvers to regain the initiative. (1) Movement from the assembly area to the line of departure. The platoon moves forward from the assembly area under company control. When the platoon leader is already forward with the company commander, the platoon sergeant moves the platoon forward. Machine guns and antiarmor weapons can precede the rest of the platoon by moving to an overwatch position on or near the LD. Leaders time the move from the assembly area during reconnaissance or rehearsals to ensure that the lead squad crosses the LD on time and at the right place. The platoon attempts to cross the LD without halting in an attack position. If the platoon must halt in the attack position, it deploys into the initial attack formation, posts security, and takes care of last-minute coordination. Whether or not the platoon halts in the attack position, it must deploy into the attack formation and fix bayonets before crossing the LD. (2) Movement from the line of departure to the assault position or support position. The platoon moves using the appropriate technique. If it has its own support and assault elements, it may move them together for security, or along separate routes to their respective positions, for speed. The base-of-fire element must be in place and ready before the assault element continues beyond the assault position. (a) The platoon leader’s plan must address actions on chance contact. The lead squad cxecutes the battle drill to react to contact (see Chapter 4, Battle Drill 2). The platoon leader makes an assessment and reports. The company commander may direct the platoon to fight through, fix, and bypass the enemy, or establish a hasty defense. (b) If the platoon encounters an obstacle that it cannot bypass, it attempts a breach (see Section X and Chapter 4, Battle Drill 8). (c) If the company concept calls for decentralized execution, the platoon leader must consider when to initiate his supporting fires.

Surprise. If the attack is not detected, the base-of-fire element may hold fires until the assault element approaches the assault position. This will enhance surprise. The base-of-fire element may initiate fires early to keep the enemy’s attention off the assault element as it moves to a flanking or rear position. Suppression. The leader must consider the length of time needed to suppress the enemy position and destroy as many of his weapons and bunkers as possible before the assault. (3) Movement from the assault position to the objective. The assault position is normally the last covered and concealed position before reaching the objective. (a) As it passes through the assault position, the platoon deploys into its assault formation; that is, its squads and fire teams deploy to place the bulk of their firepower to the front as they assault the objective. A platoon sometimes must halt to complete its deployment and to ensure synchronization so that all squads assault at the designated time. NOTE: Platoons should avoid halting in the assault position, because it is dangerous and may cause the loss of momentum. (b) The assaulting squads move from the assault position and onto the objective. The platoon must be prepared to breach the enemy’s protective obstacles. (c) As the platoon moves beyond the obstacle, supporting fires should begin lifting and shifting away from the objective. Both direct and indirect fires shift to suppress areas adjacent to the objective, to destroy enemy forces retreating, or to prevent enemy reinforcement oft he objective. c. Assaulting the Objective. As the platoon or its assault element moves onto the objective, it must increase the volume and accuracy of fires. Squad leaders assign specific targets or objectives for their fire teams. Only when these discreet fires keep the enemy suppressed can the rest of the unit maneuver. As the assault element gets closer to the enemy, there is more emphasis on suppression and lesson maneuver. Ultimately, all but one fire team may be suppressing to allow that one fire team to break in to the enemy position. Throughout the assault, soldiers use proper individual movement techniques, and fire teams retain their basic shallow wedge formation. The platoon does not get “on-line” to sweep across the objective. d. Consolidation and Reorganization. Once enemy resistance on the objective has ceased, the platoon must quickly take steps to consolidate and prepare to defend against a counterattack. (1) Consolidation techniques. Platoons use either the clock technique or the terrain feature technique in consolidating on the objective. NOTE: All-round security is critical. The enemy might counterattack from any direction. The platoon leader must evaluate the terrain thoroughly. (a) Clock technique. In using this method, the platoon leader designates either a compass direction or the direction of attack as 12 o’clock. He then uses clock positions to identify the left and right boundaries for squads. The platoon leader positions key weapons along the most likely avenue of approach based on his assessment of the terrain. (b) Terrain feature technique. In a similar manner, the platoon leader identifies obvious terrain features as the left and right limits for squads. In both techniques, he ensures that squad sectors of fire overlap each other and provide mutual support for adjacent units. (2) Reorganization. Once platoons have consolidated on the objective, they begin to reorganize. Platoons reorganize to continue the attack. Reorganization involves— Reestablishing command and control. Remanning key weapons, redistributing ammunition and equipment. Clearing the objective of casualties and EPWs Assessing and reporting the platoon status of personnel, ammunition, supplies, and essential equipment. <Source: FM 7-8 INFANTRY RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD Chapter 2 Operations Section 4 Offense (2-12 Movement to Contact & 2-13 Deliberate Attack), HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY>