Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC DCSINT

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Opposing Force Operations FM OPFOR FM Opposing Force: Operations Chapter 3 Offensive Operations

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Strategic Context Regional operations –Seek strategic political or military decision –Primarily offensive actions –Seek rapid decision Transition operations –Continue regional goals –Access-control against extraregional force –Primary aim to defeat/prevent outside intervention –Conduct limited-objective attacks Adaptive operations –Seek battle on the State’s terms –Conduct limited-objective offensive actions

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Purpose of the Offense Attack to destroy –Eliminates target as a fighting force –Focuses on key combat formations/capabilities Attack to seize –Gains control of key terrain feature/facility Attack to expel –Forces defender to vacate area –Focuses on key enemy capability/vulnerability

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Planning Offensive Operations Planning Offensive Operations Level of Planning Planned offense –Sufficient time to prepare and rehearse –Enemy in known, prepared defensive positions Situational offense –Insufficient time for full planning process –Fleeting target

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organizing the Battlefield Area of responsibility –Three basic zones –Preserves flexibility –Control lines Disruption zone –Uses direct and indirect fires –Disrupt defensive work –Delay or fix enemy forces –Attack key targets

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organizing the Battlefield Organizing the Battlefield (Continued) Battle zone –Fix and destroy enemy forces –All components of combat power used –Control forces in proximity to enemy –Engage enemy in close combat Support zone –Provide logistics and administrative support Attack zone –Assigned zone of action for attacking force Kill zone –Designated area to destroy key enemy target

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organizing the Battlefield Organizing the Battlefield Linear Offensive Operations

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organizing the Battlefield Organizing the Battlefield Nonlinear Offensive Operations

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organizing Forces Disruption force –Conducts operations in disruption zone Fixing force –Fixes enemy forces so they cannot maneuver Assault force –Creates condition for exploitation force to operate Exploitation force –Achieves the mission objective

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Organizing Forces Organizing Forces (Continued) Security force –Prevents/mitigates enemy effects against overall command Deception force –Executes deception plan Reserves –Used for unforeseen events

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Types of Offensive Action Types of Offensive Action Attack Integrated attack –Forces a military decision –Focus on ground combat forces, C 2, and logistics structure –Fixes and isolates enemy combat power Dispersed attack –Used on superior enemy or when cannot mass –Relies on IW and dispersion –Directed at key portion of enemy force

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Integrated Attack Subsequent Support Line OSC Initial Support Line Initial Battle Line Initial LOR Subsequent Battle Line Assault Force Enemy Main Line of Resistance Subsequent LOR Exploitation Force Fixing Force Enemy Tactical Airfield Enemy Support Area X X X XX

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Dispersed Attack

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Types of Offensive Action Types of Offensive Action Limited-Objective Attack Sophisticated ambush –Links in time & task RISTA, attacking forces, and window of opportunity –Target that affects enemy center of gravity –Normally planned & resourced at operational level Spoiling attack –Disrupts timing of enemy operations to control tempo –Occurs during planning & preparation of enemy offensive operations –Executed using other types of offensive action

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Spoiling Attack Example

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Types of Offensive Action Types of Offensive Action Limited-Objective Attack (Cont) Counterattack –Forces enemy offense to culminate –Returns OPFOR to offensive operations –Designed to control tempo of operations by returning initiative to OPFOR

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Counterattack Example

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Types of Offensive Action Types of Offensive Action Strike Rapidly destroys key enemy organizations Uses synergy of massed precision fires & maneuver Key is devastation in small span of time

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Strike Example Kill Zone OSC DTG Battle Zone DTG Battle Zone DTG Battle Zone Disruption Zone Disruption Zone Enemy X X X Support Zone LEGEND Complex Battle Position Axis Attack Zone X

Previous Slide TRADOC DCSINT Offensive Operations Offensive Operations Summary Strategic context Purpose of the offense Planning offensive operations Organizing the battlefield Organizing forces Types of offensive action