TACTICAL OPERATIONS

Marshall A. McKay
Captain, Armor
Purpose…

To introduce SOBC students to

the Army’s basic operational
concept of offensive and
defensive operations.
Quote...

“The primary reason it is so

difficult to conduct combat
operations against the
Americans is that they feel no
obligation to follow their own
doctrine…”
Unknown German General,
W.W.II
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS

• Purpose of the Offense:

• PRIMARY: DESTROY/ “KILL” the
enemy.
• SECONDARY:
• To secure key or decisive terrain
• To deprive the enemy of key resources
• To gain information/time
• To deceive or divert the enemy
• To fix (hold) the enemy in position.
Characteristics of the Offense

• SURPRISE
• CONCENTRATIO
N
• TEMPO
• AUDACITY
CONSIDERATIONS OF THE OFFENSE

• See the battlefield

• Concentrate overwhelming combat
power
• Suppress enemy defensive fires
• Shock, overwhelm and destroy the
enemy
• Attack deep into enemy zone to
destroy his system of defense and
reinforcements
• Provide continuous mobile support
4 FORMS OF TACTICAL OFFENSE

 Movement to contact

 Attack

 Exploitation

 Pursuit
MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
• Approach March:
• Enemy location is relatively certain
• Enemy Forces at a great distance
• Rapid Movement (“traveling”)

• Meeting Engagement
• Both friendly and enemy forces are
moving, contact expected/location
uncertain.
TYPES OF ATTACK!
“TORA! TORA! TORA!”
• Hasty Attack (as a result of a mvt to
contact/mtg engagement)
• Deliberate Attack (fully sync. with all
combat mult; TIME)
• Spoiling Attack (from def. Posture;
“Offensive Spirit in Def Op’s)
• Raid(specific purpose other than terrain;
commando operation)
• Feint/Demonstration (Diversion
operations)
• Counter Attack (usually the reserve,
force enemy to reveal his main effort.)
EXPLOITATION

• The attacker extends the

destruction of the defending
force by maintaining offensive
pressure.
• Compound disorganization,
erode will to resist.

• If not… Enemy
regroups/reorganize
PURSUIT

• Part of the exploitation phase

• Follows a successful attack; you

are “force” oriented not
“terrain” oriented.
• Direct, Parallel, Envelop/Dbl Envel.
FORMS OF MANEUVER

Frontal Attack
Envelopment
Penetration
Infiltration
Turning Movement
Frontal Att ack
Envelopment
Penetrati on
Infi ltrati on
Turni ng Movement
TAS K OR GANI ZATION

 Temporary grouping based on a

situational need/Mission

Includes Combat Support and Service

Support (Signal)
Attached, Assigned/Organic, OPCON,
etc...
Task Org. Cont...

 ARMOR HEAVY
• +Wide Ranging, Rapid Maneuver
• +Abundance of enemy automatic
weapons and massed indirect fires.
• +Strong enemy armor opposition
• +Great observation and fields of fire
• Question: What is a good OPORD for
Tankers?
 Task Org. Cont...

 INFANTRY HEAVY
• Close/detailed terrain (Urban, Mountain,
Jungle, Swamp)
• Strong Enemy Anti-Tank
Defenses/Obstacles
• Mech Heavy, Heavy-Light...
Task Org. C ont. ..

 BALANCED
• Enemy Situation Vague
• Movement to Contact
• Equal requirements for Tanks and
Infantry

• Or… When in doubt...

DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

 Purpose: The primary purpose of

defensive operations is to cause the
enemy attack to fail.

• Less decisive form of war…

• May be stronger than offense
• Only used until strong enough to
attack
• Offensive Spirit
PURPOSE OF THE DEFENSE

 Cause the enemy attack to

FAIL!!!
 Gain time
 Concentrate forces elsewhere
 Wear down enemy forces prior
to friendly offensive operations
 Retain Tactical, Strategic or
Political Objectives.
AREAS OF THE DEFENSE

• DEEP BATTLE AREA

• MAIN BATTLE AREA
• REAR AREA

• or… CLOSE-DEEP-REAR
OPERATIONS
DEEP BATTLE AREA

 Disrupt enemy movement in

depth/C3
 Destroy “High Value” targets…
• Command and Control
• ADA
• Artillery
• Logistic’s
• Other (tanks? Cdr sets target
priority)
MAIN BATTLE AREA

 Fights the decisive battle to defeat

enemy
 Security Fight to include recon assets
 Defend in Depth
 Reserves in the MBA…
• Block/Destroy Penetrations
• Re-establish the the def. Position
• Regain the initiative
REAR AREA

• Forward limit is the BDE rear

Boundary
• Area which supply and
maintenance is projected
forward
• Location of admin and
communication centers
• Oh by the way…PRIMARY
TARGET for ENEMY SOF FORCES!
CHARACTERISTICS
DEFENSIVE PATTERNS

 Two types of Defenses

• MOBILE Defense: Force

Oriented

• AREA Defense: Terrain

Oriented
Defensive Patterns Cont...

 Mobile Defense
• Orients on enemy forces
• Mobility > to enemy forces!
• Defend with minimum force
• Fire and Maneuver
(hammer/anvil)
• Max. Cbt. Power with striking
force
Defensive Patterns Cont...

 Area Defense
• Traditional defense, fixed
• Deny enemy access to designated
terrain for a specified time
• Mutual supporting positions in
depth, max force with interlocking
fires
• Smaller reserves
• Defender has the advantage…
(why?)
Considerations of the Defense

 Understand the enemy

 See the battlefield
 Exploit the advantages of the
Defender
 Concentrate Cbt. Power at
Critical Time and Place!
 Fight at Combined Arms Team
Characteristics of the Defense

 Preparation
 Disruption
 Concentration
 Flexibility
 Security
01 Battle Position 02

XO CO
PL/FEBA Sector
PL PL PL

EA

EA

EA
Strongpoint 02 03

01

06

04

05
Advantages of the Defender

 Review…
• Knows ground (Realistic?)
• Occupies it first
• Gains strength as time passes
(interior lines)
• Massed on best terrain
Retrograde Operations

 Planned move away from enemy

forces
 Delay: Time for Space (cav) Gain
time for friendly forces to re-
establish the defense.
 Withdrawal: to assume new
mission
 Retirement: Admin Move (no
contact)
METT-T “C”

 Mission
 Enemy Forces
 Terrain and Weather
 Troop Available
 Time
 Civilians on the
battlefield
 COMMAND
RELATIONSHIPS
ASSIGNED

Placement is relatively permanent and

organization controls and administers
the units or personnel actions.
ATTACHED

A unit is bound temporarily to a

command other that its own.
Attached implies full responsibility
for logistics, administration, training
and operations. Matters relating to
the transfer and promotion of
personnel will normally be retained
by the command the unit is assigned
to.
OPERATIONAL CONTROL
(OPCON)

Places a unit under a commander

or staff officer for assignment of
tasks and designation of
objectives. It does not imply
responsibility for administration,
combat service support, discipline,
internal organization or training.
SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS

 DIRECT SUPPORT
 GENERAL SUPPORT
 REINFORCING
 GENERAL SUPPORT-
REINFORCING
DIRECT SUPPORT (DS)

A UNIT WHICH SUPPORTS A

SPECIFIC ELEMENT OF THE FORCE.

ex. Signal BN opcon SEN Tm to BDE

HQ
GENERAL SUPPORT

A unit with a mission provides

support for the force as a whole. It
supports the entire force and is not
committed to any specific element of
the force.

ex. FA BN prepared to support DIV

REINFORCING (R)

A unit with a reinforcing mission

augments the coverage of
another unit. Both units are
committed to a specific element
of the force.

ex. 1x FA BN reinforces another

FA BN
moved and ordered by Div HQ
GENERAL SUPPORT-
REINFORCING

A unit with a GS-R mission

primarily provides support for the
forces as a whole. Secondarily, it
also augments the coverage of
another supporting unit. GS-R
units are not committed to any
specific element of the force. \

Ex. FA BN GS-R to a Division

QUESTIONS?
CONCLUSION

It is important you understand

the concepts of offensive and
defensive operations so that you
have the basic knowledge to
plan, prepare and execute the
Signal Support to the Maneuver
gods!