Battle Procedure – Including Warning Order Maj SK Ellen

Range Question policy – I will nominate Ask questions – raise hand Notes – recommended Lesson content – CAKE, WOs, Receiving orders, Time appreciation

Aims and objectives State the aim of battle procedure Recall and understand CAKE Produce a Warning Order Understand and apply the 1/3, 2/3 rule

Aim of Battle Procedure To ensure that the soldier is launched into battle without waste of time and with minimum fuss, knowing exactly what he has to do, how he is going to do it and what fire support he is going to be given.

Principles of Battle Procedure Concurrent activity Anticipation at all levels Thorough knowledge of the grouping system Efficient drills for recce and orders

Concurrent Activity - WO Situation Probable mission – own and sub units Own Main effort Timings O group CSS Aknowledge

6 Platoon Warning Order Ex Urban Cadet Warning Order: Situation – Ex Urban Cadet 11 – 13 DEC, location - SPTA Probable Mission – Introduction and familiarisation to Operations in Build Up Areas Own Main Effort – Maximum attendance; all 6 Platoon cadets to attend Timings – 1800hrs in the B Company drill hall O Group – Orders from OC delivered on drill night 8 DEC Combat Service Support – Full CEMO (field kit) required, those who still need TAMs see QMSI Stalley – get waterproof TAM paper. You might want to acquire a knee pad – although not essential. Acknowledge – Those not attending must provide a letter to the CUO no later than 8 DEC

7 Platoon Warning Order Warning Order   Situation Ex Urban Cadet 11-13th December 2009 – A delightful weekend of pyrotechnics and combat orientated chaos all in the name of progressing your command ability     Probable Mission Fighting In Someone’s’ House and Causing Havoc In People’s Streets – FISH and CHIPS...Oh yeeeaaaah! Own Main Effort   Establish an environment in which structured Pandemonium can flourish.       Timings H hour* - 1830 (TBC) – Muster in the B Coy drill hall NMB (no move before) – 1900   O Grp 1900, Tues 08/12/09 – B Company drill hall   CSS Additional enthusiasm, entertaining anecdotes hilarious jokes. Bring Cameras too!   Acknowledge Arnold schwarzenegger - 1 sect Chuck Norris – 2 sect Bruce lee – 3 sect Hulk Hogan – plt sgt   Sketch Overleaf  

WO should get.... Soldiers to O Group with: All personal admin done All equipment prepared, e.g. comms, sight Stage 4 - The issue of your own Warning Order. Following his mission analysis the commander can issue his own warning order. It should be as detailed as possible and may include a sketch. If an initial Warning Order is issued in Stage 1, the Stage 4 warning order will give further details and confirm or amend as necessary. Veterans may remember the POOHNA Order format. At PCD, in line with the TAM, we use SPOTOCA, an example of which you will see after this lecture. SPOTOCA includes the Main Effort, Situation and an acknowledgement. It may be complemented by a schematic diagram of the operation. There are certain pieces of information that your Warning Order must include. They are as follows: Situation - Including the commanders’ intents one and two up, ground and enemy. Probable Missions - Both your own probable mission and the probable mission of your subordinates. Own Main Effort - if you know it or it is applicable. Timings - particularly earliest H Hour and Notice to move or No Move Before Time. O Group - Time and RV CSS - Essential matters only. Acknowledgement to ensure that your orders have been received.

Receive orders Turn up early Mark up map Take a runner to send key info. to troops Write down 2Up intent, 1Up Msn & CONOPS Ask any Q’s in order to clarify Msn analysis If possible, release as much information as early as possible, as this will generate effective concurrent activity and save time in your orders. Ask questions if in any doubt - particularly of your company commander before leaving his location. This may be difficult if you have not conducted your confirmatory mission analysis before leaving the CP! Do not be afraid to seek assistance from other members of the platoon with your orders - whether it be the building and description of the model by a section commander, or simply the frequency from the signaller. Finally, if the tactical situation allows, consider increasing the size of your O Group to include more of the platoon. Whilst they will still need the detail from their section commanders, it may cut down on the time that they require for their battle procedure.

Backbriefs Where time permits To higher comd. Give outline of your plan for his info and approval

Delivery of orders Can be given to whole platoon if time is short Normally given to section commanders (plus other key personnel), allowing them to give specific orders to their section If possible, release as much information as early as possible, as this will generate effective concurrent activity and save time in your orders. Ask questions if in any doubt - particularly of your company commander before leaving his location. This may be difficult if you have not conducted your confirmatory mission analysis before leaving the CP! Do not be afraid to seek assistance from other members of the platoon with your orders - whether it be the building and description of the model by a section commander, or simply the frequency from the signaller. Finally, if the tactical situation allows, consider increasing the size of your O Group to include more of the platoon. Whilst they will still need the detail from their section commanders, it may cut down on the time that they require for their battle procedure.

Time Appreciation – 1/3, 2/3 1. Coy Comd (9 Hrs to H-Hr uses no more than 3 hours) a. Combat Estimate 1 Hr b. Preparation of Orders 1 Hr c. Deliver Orders 1 Hr 2. Pl Comd (6 Hrs to H-Hr uses no more than 2 hours) a. Combat Estimate 40 mins b. Preparation of Orders 40 mins c. Deliver Orders 40 mins 3. Sect Comd (4 Hrs to H-Hr uses no more than 1hr 20) a. Combat Estimate 25 mins b. Preparation of Orders 25 mins c. Deliver orders 25 mins 4. Buffer Time 2 Hrs 40 mins

Time Appreciation Work forwards Work backwards Examples

Summary CAKE is vital in order to launch a soldier into battle without waste of time and with minimum fuss, knowing exactly what he has to do, how he is going to do it and what fire support he is going to be given Warning orders make this possible Time appreciation is also fundamental to achieving this

Aims and objectives State the aim of battle procedure Recall and understand CAKE Produce a Warning Order Understand and apply the 1/3, 2/3 rule

Aims and objectives – Achieved? State the aim of battle procedure What is CAKE? What is the pneumonic for WO, and what does it stand for?

Warning Order Situation Ground Enemy En Intent Friendly Forces     Probable 1 Sect 2 Sect 3 Sect Pl Sgt 51mm Own Main Effort      Timings H Hr NMB O Grp Location Time CSS For Pl Sgt Essential matters / changes to SOPs only. Acknowledge 1 Sect Comd / 2 Sect Comd / 3 Sec Comd / Pl Sgt Sketch Overleaf

From OC’s Orders, Ex BA 4. Situation.   a. En Forces. En Bn in Bordon Village establishing a defensive position. In order to create more time for this position to be completed the en has deployed sects fwd. The intention of these sections is to delay our advance. BG recce reports that the en position at Obj ROCKET GR 7861 2995 and LOCOS GR 7877 3001 consists of 2 section positions of 2 trenches each. The enemy have been pushed back from the area by 2 (SE) Bde ops over the last few days and morale has suffered. Whilst well trained, equipped and led, these defeats are assessed to have drained their fighting spirit, but they are still likely to put up some resistance. 6b. Mission and Tasks. 6 Platoon:  You are the Initial Asslt Platoon you are to Destroy en posn on Obj LOCOS then provide Fire sp onto Obj ROCKET In order to complete destr of the en outposts and allow C Coy to advance to secure the Bde LD 10. Time now 0730 HRS. You would receive an accurate time check from the FOO. 7. Coord Instrs.   Timings. H hr for 6 Pl: 0930 hrs. 7 Pl attack: On my orders. 9. Ammo. Redistribution/replen taking place now in Assy Area under CSM and Pl Sgts.  Med. CAP GR 7880 3040 RAP GR 7850 3050

References Tactical Aide Memoires Platoon commanders Infantry Tactical Doctrine Vol 1 Pamphlet 3 – Infantry Platoon Tactics, AC 71641)

Any Final Questions?

Look forward to your next opportunity to consider this when you produce a WO and timeline as part of the 7 question combat estimate in the near future