2. Convoy Defense: Techniques and Strategies

3. Reference:
FM 55-30

4. Terminal Learning Objectives
Describe convoy defense operations.

5. Enabling Learning Objectives:
A. Identify possible threats to convoys.
B. Explain how to maintain operational security.
C. Describe the implementation of four operational security measures.

6. Enabling Learning Objectives:
D. Discuss terrain considerations affecting convoy defense.
E. Discuss active and passive measures to defend against air attack, indirect fires, snipers, ambushes, and NBC attacks.

7. THREATS

8. Threats to Convoys Include:
ELO A
Airborne or airmobile forces
Long-range artillery and rockets
Irregular or guerilla forces
Terrorists
Civilians on battlefield
Disruption activities
may include:
ambushes
snipers
raids
sabotage
FM pg 3-1

9. SECURITY

10. Operational Security (OPSEC)
Leaders must make OPSEC an integral part of planning for operations, unit training, and day-to-day operations.
Leaders must develop OPSEC protective measures.
security measures
throughout
planning,
preparation,
and
execution
phases.
Maintain
FM pg 3-1

11. OPSEC Planning Sequence
Determine enemy capabilities for obtaining information about the convoy.
Determine what information obtained by the enemy can compromise the operation.
Determine which actions taken by your unit before an operation, if understood by the enemy, would give the enemy an advantage.
Determine what protective measures are warranted and where they must be implemented.
FM pg 3-2

12. OPSEC Measures Include:
Countersurveillance
Signal security
Physical security
Information security
Think
active and passive
measures.
FM pg 3-2

13. Camouflage and tone down vehicles. Use terrain as concealment.
Countersurveillance
Includes all active and passive measures taken to prevent threat forces from seeing your area, equipment, and movements
Train on this:
Camouflage and tone down vehicles.
Move at night.
Use terrain as concealment.
Enforce noise, litter,
and light discipline.
Techniques
FM pg 3-2

14. Signal Security Try this: Techniques
Use communication and electronics security techniques to prevent disclosure of information.
Try this:
Keep radio transmissions short.
Maintain signal silence whenever possible.
Use wire communications.
Use low power radios.
Techniques
FM pg 3-2

15. Physical Security Techniques
Use security forces, barriers, dispersal, concealment, and camouflage to deny enemy access to areas of operations (AO)
Use LP/Ops in AO.
Use front, rear, and flank placement of security.
Identify OCOKA.
Use obstacles.
Use challenge and passwords.
Use early warning devices. Be
Proactive
Techniques
FM pg 3-2

16. Information Security Techniques
Information security is the control of written, verbal, and graphic information to prevent the disclosure of operational information.
Post information out in the open.
Let civilians without clearances into work areas.
Handle classified/sensitive papers improperly.
Do Not
Techniques
FM pg 3-3

17. DEFENSE MEASURES

18. Terrain Considerations
Terrain creates the most common natural obstacles affecting convoy movements.
How can you prepare for natural obstacles?
How do you plan for movements through hilly or mountainous terrain?
How do you need to change your plans for movement through swampy ground?
FM pg 3-3

19. Convoy Defensive Measures
Include both active and passive actions.
Convoys must defend against air attack, indirect fires, snipers, ambushes and NBC attacks.
FM Chapter 6

20. AIR ATTACKS

21. Reaction to Air Attacks
Convoys are most vulnerable while moving along open roads/during halts with no overhead cover.
How do you prepare your convoy?
FM pg 6-1

22. Reaction to Air Attacks
The convoy commander must:
Prescribe alarm signals (unit SOP)
Direct actions on contact (guidance)
Prescribe actions to take in absence of orders (battle drills)
Ensure actions on contact are rehearsed
Review the procedures with convoy personnel before the convoy moves out
FM pg 6-1/6-2

23. Aircraft Engagement Techniques
ELO E

24. Passive Defensive Measures against Air Attacks
Passive measures are more effective for logistics units. Why?
The key is convoy dispersion.
Commanders must decide whether to use an open or closed column .
Distance between vehicles must not be fixed.
Factors influencing vehicle distance include:
Mission
Cover and concealment
Length of road march
Type of road
Type of vehicle
Nature of cargo
Enemy threat
Available defense support
FM pg 6-2

25. Defend Against Air Attack with Passive Reactions
If aircraft are spotted or early warning is received, the convoy commander has three options:
- Stop in place
- Continue to march
- Disperse quickly to concealed positions
If the convoy commander chooses to halt the
convoy, the vehicles simply pull of the road in a herringbone pattern.
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the herringbone pattern?
FM pg 6-4

26. INDIRECT FIRE

27. Reaction to Indirect Fire Active Defensive Measures
Active defensive measures are limited but should not be overlooked, they include:
- Directing counterbattery fire
- Directing small arms fire or artillery against the enemy forward observer (FO) if located
- Coordinating air strikes against enemy artillery
Train on this
Preplanning target reference points (TRPs) and identifying critical
friendly zones
(CFZs)
FM pg 6-7

28. Reaction to Indirect Fire Passive Defensive Measures
Similar to reaction to enemy air, to march, or disperse into concealed positions
The company movement formation either (open or closed) can be a type of passive defense.
Regardless of the action taken, it should be SOP and performed as a battle drill.
FM pg 6-7

29. SNIPER

30. Reaction to Sniper Fire Defensive Measures
The best actions are passive.
All vehicles should move through the area without stopping.
Be careful of fratricide and civilians on the battlefield when returning fire.
Remember to send a contact report up to higher HQ.
FM pg 6-7

31. AMBUSHES

32. Attempt to avoid ambushes
Reaction to Ambushes
How can you avoid ambushes?
If an ambush can’t be avoided, what can do to minimize the effects?
Think battle drills
Attempt to avoid ambushes
or reduce
their effectiveness
Actions to reduce the effectiveness of ambushes:
Harden vehicles.
Cover loads.
Space prime targets throughout the convoy.
Wear protective clothing.
Use assistant drivers.
Carry troops and supplies.
Use prearranged signals to warn the convoy of an ambush.
Use escort vehicles (military police, tanks, armored vehicles) or gun trucks.
Thoroughly brief all convoy personnel on immediate action drills.
Practice immediate action drills.
Maintain the interval between vehicles.
Move through the kill zone, if possible.
Stop short of the ambush.
Do not block the road.
Rapidly respond to orders.
Aggressively return fire.
Counterattack with escort vehicles.
Call for artillery support.
Call in TACAIR support.
Call for the reserve force.
FM pg 6-8

33. Reaction to Ambushes
If the road is not blocked, only a portion of the convoy will likely be in contact.
The part of the convoy in the kill zone must get out rapidly.
Disabled vehicles may be pushed out of the road by follow-on vehicles.
Escort armored vehicles will return fire.
Other vehicles not in the kill zone will stop.
Soldiers will dismount and take up defensive positions
and wait for further instructions .
FM pg 6-8

34. Reaction to Ambushes
If the road is blocked, an element is halted in the kill zone and is unable to move because of disabled vehicles or some type of obstacle.
Personnel must dismount, take cover, and return fire.
Reaction forces should fire and maneuver up to conduct a hasty breach of the obstacle.
Detailed rehearsals of actions at the breach are critical.
FM pg 6-9

35. Defend NBC Attacks
Chemical agents can be delivered by artillery, mortars, rockets, missiles, aircraft, spray bombs, grenades, and land mines.
Always be alert because agents may already be on the ground or in the air.
Chemical agents are substances in either gas, liquid, or solid form.
Protect against an NBC attack, you need to know how those agents affect your body if used against you.
Plan to sustainment training on NBC periodically. .
FM pg 6-10

36. Convoy Defense: Techniques and Strategies Summary
Name the possible threats to convoys
How do you maintain operational security?
What are the four operational security measures and how do you implement them?

37. Convoy Defense: Techniques and Strategies Summary
Name the terrain considerations affecting convoy defense.
What are the active and passive measures used to defend against air attack, indirect fires, snipers, ambushes, and NBC attacks?