Offensive Combat Operations Fundamentals

Offensive Combat Fundamentals

• Gain and maintain contact with the enemy.
• Disrupt enemy operations.
• Fix the enemy in place.
• Employ decisive action and maneuver.
• Follow through with the attack.

Offensive Operations Fundamentals

• Orient on the enemy.
• Gain and maintain contact.
• Assess the situation.
• Concentrate superior firepower at the critical time and location.
• Achieve surprise.
• Exploit enemy weaknesses.
• Seize or control key terrain.
• Maintain the initiative.
• Neutralize enemy reaction capabilities.
• Advance through fire and maneuver.
• Maintain momentum.
• Act swiftly.
• Exploit successes.
• Remain flexible.
• Maintain aggression.
• Ensure force security.

Types of Offensive Operations

• Movement to contact.
• Attack.
• Exploitation.
• Pursuit.

Special Purpose Attacks

• Spoiling attack.
• Counterattack.
• Feint.
• Demonstration.
• Reconnaissance in force.
• Raid.
• Ambush.

Forms of Maneuver

• Frontal attack.
• Flanking attack.
• Envelopment.
• Turning movement.
• Infiltration.
• Penetration.

Movement to Contact Elements and Purpose

• Advanced force.
• Main body.
• Flanking security.
• Rear security.
• Creates favorable conditions to force the enemy's position.

Characteristics of Offense

• Surprise.
• Mass and concentration.
• Controlling tempo.
• Audacity.

Movement Techniques

• Traveling.
• Traveling overwatch.
• Bounding overwatch.

Defensive Operation Purpose

• Defeat enemy attacks.
• Gain time.
• Economize forces.
• Protect the force.
• Develop favorable conditions for offense or stability operations.
• Deny enemy access to key terrain.
• Increase enemy vulnerability.
• Attrite or fix the enemy.
• Prepare to resume offense.
• Support other operations.
• Preoccupy the enemy.

Types of Defensive Operations

• Area defense.
• Mobile defense.
• Retrograde defense.

Methods of Defense

• Sector defense.
• Battle positions.
• Strong points.
• Linear defense.
• Perimeter defense.
• Reverse slope defense.

Characteristics of Defensive Operations

• Flexibility.
• Maneuver.
• Preparation.
• Mass and concentration.
• Terrain utilization.
• Mutual support.
• Depth.
• Surprise.
• Enemy knowledge.
• Local security.

Organization of Defense

• Security area (beyond FEBA).
• Main battle area (MBA).
• Rear area.

Engagement Area Development (EADEV) Steps

• Identify enemy avenues of approach.
• Determine likely enemy methods of assault.
• Identify points to engage and destroy enemy.
• Plan and integrate obstacles.
• Position weapons systems.
• Plan and integrate indirect fires.
• Rehearse the operation.

Obstacle Plan Considerations

• Covered by fires.
• Covered by observation.
• Concealment.
• Depth.
• Protection.
• Integration.
• Non-geometric.

Obstacle Effects

• Disrupt.
• Turn.
• Fix.
• Block.

Reserve Mission in Defense

• Take decisive action.
• Exploit unexpected opportunities.
• Reinforce and exploit main efforts' success.

Sequence of Defense

• Gain and maintain enemy contact.
• Disrupt enemy actions.
• Fix the enemy.
• Maneuver.
• Follow through and counterattack.

Types of Patrols

• Combat: contact, ambush, raid, security.
• Reconnaissance: route, area, zone.

Patrol Organization

• Headquarters.
• Assault element.
• Support element.
• Security element.

Patrol Base Purpose

• Avoid detection.
• Conceal patrol.
• Conduct planning and issue orders.
• Respond to unexpected situations.
• Rest and maintain equipment.
• Reorganize.
• Establish a base for operations.
• Establish communication with other units.

Organic Elements

• Crew-served weapons.
• Organic SUAS.
• Forward air controllers (FACs), joint tactical air controllers (JTACs), joint fire observers (JFOs).
• Scouts.

Non-Organic Elements

• External support (EOD techs, combat engineers).
• Interpreters.
• Intelligence/human intelligence (CI/HUMINT).
• Reactionary forces (RRT).
• Civil affairs.
• Host-nation security forces.

Rally Point Purpose

• Reassemble and reorganize.
• Respond to unexpected obstacles.
• Initial, en route, objective, near, far-side.

Cordon and Search Task Organization

• Assault.
• Support (supportive fires).
• Security (flanks and rear).

Urban Attack Phases

• Recon the objective.
• Isolate the objective.
• Gain a foothold.
• Seize the objective.
• Consolidate.

MOUT Key Insights

• Infantry-intensive.
• Tactical battle impacts other operations.
• Media considerations.
• Maneuver warfare doctrine.
• Intelligence is pivotal.
• Surprise multiplies combat strength.
• Armor/artillery/aviation effective at outer perimeter.
• Armor, protected by infantry, in urban areas.
• Artillery providing direct fire.
• Higher force ratios decrease combat duration.
• Isolation results in defender defeat.
• Urban attacks are costly.