Battle Hard! The Red Zone Fight Centurion OPD

Battle Hard! AGENDA References Pretest Review Definitions Introduction NTC Trends Success in the Red Zone Conclusion

Battle Hard! REFERENCES Centurion OPD Read Ahead Packet – “The Red Zone Fight” FM FM 71-1-MTP FM FM Centurion TACSOP The National Training Center’s Battle Instruction Book, 1992

Battle Hard! PRETEST REVIEW

Battle Hard! DEFINITIONS The Red Zone is the enemy’s direct fire battle space. It is a dynamic, physical area that expands or contracts in relation to the enemy’s ability acquire and engage with direct fire weapons. Kill Zone – The area within the Red Zone where the enemy creates a fire sack where he ideally wants to kill the BLUFOR. It is within the Red Zone. NTC Rule #50 – Kill sacks are called kill sacks for a reason.

Battle Hard! INTRODUCTION Company Teams must close with and destroy the enemy to accomplish their doctrinal missions. This is their fundamental purpose. The problem in the Red Zone is how to kill without being killed. The simple answer to this problem is maneuver – the combination of fire and movement. NTC Rule #77 – You win by killing (crews win battles).

Battle Hard! NTC TRENDS CO/TMs execute maneuver poorly CO/TMs move too slowly when out of contact and too quickly when in contact. Casualty rates increase in direct proportion to the amount of time spent in the Red Zone. CO/TMs are not lethal CO/TMs are not survivable CO/TMs are not able to successfully set and change the conditions of the battle by action (initiative) CO/TMs, as a result, are not able to achieve assigned tasks and purposes

Battle Hard! NTC TRENDS Company Teams do not effectively: –Reconnoiter –Gain visual contact with the enemy before the enemy initiates physical contact –Use cover and concealment –Kill or suppress with fires –Aggressively move to exploit the effects of fires –Choose the best formation, movement technique, and rate of movement for the situation –Control “set-move” drills –Secure their flanks and rear

Battle Hard! SUCCESS IN THE RED ZONE To be successful in the Red Zone, Companies must be able to: –See the Enemy –Act on contact –Kill the enemy with direct fires –Maneuver –Force the enemy to fight in multiple directions –Use terrain to acquire, kill, move, and survive –Maintain contact with the enemy –Secure themselves –Execute combined arms combat

Battle Hard! SEE THE ENEMY IPB RECONNAISSANCE TARGET ACQUISITION & ACTIONS ON CONTACT (EXECUTE DIRECT FIRE) “VISUALIZE THE ENEMY” “SEEK VISUAL CONTACT” “SEE THE ENEMY” “KILL THE EMEMY” ACTIONS ON THE OBJECTIVE (EXECUTE DIRECT FIRE)

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! SEE THE ENEMY Seeing the enemy is the key to effective lethal direct fire. Steps to seeing the enemy: –IPB Refine the higher SITTEMP Estimate the enemy’s battlespace –Reconnaissance Leader Reconnaissance Confirm or deny key elements of the SITTEMP Should be simple and executable at the CO/TM level Continuous function Not just for the scouts Be suspicious

Battle Hard! SEE THE ENEMY –Surveillance Focuses on suspected or known enemy locations Choose key terrain to observe enemy locations for key leaders –Target Acquisition A crew level collective task! Search techniques Identification clues and indicators Target Detection and Identification –Lethal Direct Fires NTC Rule #10 – METT-TC rules.

Battle Hard! ACT ON CONTACT Contact occurs when: –Any member of the unit makes contact (ODOICARE) –Upon receipt of a report from an adjacent unit or from headquarters –It may be ordered by a higher headquarters Battle Drills are imperative for success Success depends on the company’s ability to achieve visual contact before the enemy initiates direct fire contact. Understand the enemy’s task and purpose

Battle Hard! ACT ON CONTACT Deploy and report IDENTIFY TYPE OF CONTACT –VISUAL –DIRECT FIRE –INDIRECT FIRE / CAS –E W –MINES / OBSTACLES DEPLOY TO COVERED TERRAIN WITH GOOD OBSERVATION / FIELDS OF FIRE SPOT REPORT SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR FORCE

Battle Hard! ACT ON CONTACT Evaluate / Develop the situation –Define contact by reconnaissance (mounted, dismounted, and fire) –Identify size, composition, activity, and orientation of enemy forces –Identify obstacles and kill sacks –Identify flanks –Use fire (direct / indirect) to support recon –Spot report NTC Rule #21 – An obstacle not covered by direct fire is not an obstacle.

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! ACT ON CONTACT Recommend a course of action –COA must be within higher intent / purpose –COA must be within capabilities of unit in contact –Spot reports NTC Rule #20 – Don’t put obstacles where you want them to come.

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! ACT ON CONTACT Execute the course of action –Break contact and bypass –Maintain contact and bypass –Maintain contact to support hasty attack –Conduct a hasty attack –Establish a hasty defense NTC Rule #86 – If the strength is north, why go north?

Battle Hard! KILL THE ENEMY WITH LETHAL DIRECT FIRES Lethal Direct Fire is the means by which company teams accomplish their mission Lethal Direct Fire Supports: –Destruction of enemy –Maneuver to envelop –Maneuver to penetrate –Mission (task/ purpose) success! NTC Rule #91. Have a target acquired before getting on the platform, fire, then back down into the hide. Never stay on the platform for more than one shot.

Battle Hard! KILL THE ENEMY WITH LETHAL DIRECT FIRES CO/TM SITUATIONAL TEMPLATE CO/TM RECONNAISSANCE CO/TM SURVEILLANCE/DIRECT FIRE PLT SURVEILLANCE/DIRECT FIRE SECTION SURVEILLANCE PLAN/ DIRECT FIRE PLAN CREW/SQUAD TGT ACQUISITION KILL OR SUPPRESS OR CONTINUE TO OBSERVE

Battle Hard! MANEUVER Maneuver begins when the company makes contact with the enemy. Use Fire and Movement to gain the position of advantage. This is the essence of combat decision making. Effective maneuver is the only way to successfully close with the enemy in the Red Zone. Maneuver must be planned, but must remain applicable to battlefield conditions. Bounding is most effective when executed at the section and vehicle level.

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! MANEUVER All movement must be covered by an overwatch element Bounding is most effective when executed at the section and vehicle level. Limit bounds to 2/3 of the overwatching element’s max effective range. Use indirect fire to support movement. Good, disciplined communication is critical to maneuver success. Fires are the best way to prevent the enemy from placing fires on you.

Battle Hard! MAKE THE ENEMY FIGHT IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS Force the enemy to fight in 2 directions Use maneuver to maintain constant pressure on the enemy 1/3 of your force provides base of fire, 2/3 maneuvers to a flank or position of advantage Be aware that the enemy is attempting to make you fight the same way. NTC Rule #34. Focus all combat multipliers at the fight. NTC Rule #35. Patience, Mass and Security

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE, KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE Good IPB is critical. Most company teams do not do adequate IPB Expect to fight for the best terrain. “Go Where the Water Goes” Use terrain effectively to mask and conceal movement. Effective use of terrain supersedes use of a specific formation. NTC Rule #97 – Never sky line.

Battle Hard! USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE, KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE Consider terrain from the enemy’s perspective as well as your own. Use terrain to achieve intent – do not limit yourself by doggedly adhering to graphic control measures. NTC Rule #64. Terrain is neutral. It becomes an advantage on how you use it.

Battle Hard! USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE, KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE How is the enemy using the terrain? Where can I move: –To deploy? –To close? –To infiltrate? –To envelop or penetrate? From where can I fire? From where can I observe? Where can I find cover and concealment? How can I use the ground to position my force so that the enemy fights in two directions? How does the weather and light condition affect the above? Is there key or decisive terrain? NTC Rule #23 – Life be hard in the desert.

Battle Hard! MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY Once contact is made maintain it: “lock-on” “Battle hand over” Redundancy: –Overlapping sectors of observation in CO/PLT/section surveillance plans –Overlapping sectors of fire in CO/PLT/section –Direct fire plans –“Wingman” concept at section level Maintain freedom of maneuver Rehearse action and contact drills Be wary of a vehicle that you can observe but not engage effectively. He will tie up assets and take guns out of the fight. NTC Rule #94. Work with your wingman, teamwork is how you will live on the battlefield.

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY Reports contact! Gunner “locks on” to kill: –Maintains reticle on target or target area. –Halts ground or air search techniques (“scanning”). –Prepares to kill (ie. Establish range to target, choose correct optics, etc.) and reports. Wingman secures the killer who is “locked on”: –Continues rapid or slow scan to identify other possible targets. –Ensures local security. –Secures flanks & rear. –Reports. Redundancy; Platoons “lock-on” individual enemy tanks or AT weapons.

Battle Hard! SECURITY Maintain 360 degree security at all times, particularly when moving Secure your flanks – consider moving flank security out to the max effective range of the weapon system your are most likely to encounter. Be Suspicious.

Battle Hard! SECURITY Be looking for bypassed vehicles or enemy positions Remember that security is a supporting effort and not the primary mission for the company / team. NTC Rule #89 – You must secure your sector continuously – from occupation to COM. It is better to be secure and fight above ground than to fight from holes known by your enemy.

Battle Hard! CONTACT!

Battle Hard! EXECUTING COMBINED ARMS COMBAT Give the enemy 2 to 3 ways to die Develop the ability to “step back” when in contact and consider additional options Combined Arms is not simply Artillery. Consider the additional effects of dismounted infantry, Javelins, and counter mobility assets on the enemy. Infantry is very effective in overwatching during mounted assaults NTC Rule #72 – Never fight a fair fight.

Battle Hard! CONCLUSION To be successful in the Red Zone, Companies must be able to: –See the Enemy –Act on contact –Kill the enemy with direct fires –Maneuver –Force the enemy to fight in multiple directions –Use terrain to acquire, kill, move, and survive –Maintain contact with the enemy –Secure themselves –Execute combined arms combat

Battle Hard! CONCLUSION NTC Rule #40 – Men can go anywhere despite anything, except when opposed by better men willing to go anywhere, despite anything. Terrain, hostile weather, firepower, etc., can punish and delay men determined to pass, but will never stop them.