Post by mnlboom on Feb 7, 2008 14:52:04 GMT -5
Fire and movement is the basic military tactic used by small unit commanders on the modern battlefield. It uses the power of suppressive fire, or threat thereof, to decrease the enemy's ability to return fire, its organization and unit cohesion, its intelligence through suppression, and morale. The "Movement" part of the action, consists of a separate organizational unit moving forward in greater safety afforded by the suppressive fire laid down on the enemy.
OVERVIEW
Fire and movement works on the basis of a section of, or entire military unit suppressing the enemy with an appropriate level of fire, while at the same time, another section of, or entire military unit advancing. This will take the form of two units of whatever size appropriate, be it two soldiers or larger. Enemy suppression can also be achieved with direct and/or indirect fire from combat support units. Artillery, mortars and armor are a few examples of combat support units often used in fire and movement tactics.
In the United States Military, a basic fire and movement tactic is called overwatch. There also exists several variations of overwatch, generally adding further description to more accurately describe the specific maneuver.
A unit fires upon an enemy to distract or suppress them allowing another unit to assault, flank or encircle the enemy. The enemy will be pinned down and can not react, and will be forced to take cover until the flanking unit engages them.
Suppression
Heavy and continuous fire keeps an opponent suppressed and therefore limits the overall firepower of a unit (if a platoon has 30 soldiers, but only 15 are shooting back because the other 15 are being suppressed, that unit's firepower has been reduced by 50%). The fire cuts down on an enemy's intelligence in that they are not able to assess the situation clearly.
Advance
While a base of fire is set up, the second unit will advance to cover in front, in the process setting up a new base of fire at this point.
After a new base of fire has been set up the first unit will advance, under cover of the new fire base, to a new position and set up another base of fire.
Assault
This is repeated until the units have closed upon the enemy position. At this point a unit will close in on the enemy and destroy them. Often throwing grenades, close-quarters combat techniques, and hand-to-hand combat.
TYPES
BOUNDING OVERWATCH, also known as leapfrogging or simply bounding, is the military tactic of alternating movement of coordinated units to allow, if necessary, suppressive fire in support of offensive forward movement or defensive disengagement. As members of a unit (element to platoon level) take an overwatch posture, other members advance to cover; these two groups continually switch roles as they close with the enemy. This process may be done by "leapfrogging" by fireteams, but is usually done within fireteams along a squad/platoon battle line to simulate an overwhelming movement towards the enemy and make it more difficult for the enemy to distinguish specific targets.
This military tactic takes continuous training and focused coordination to be effectively practiced on the modern battlefield. It was first developed in World War II, when suppressing fire became possible - in other words, when man-portable automatic weapons began to come into general issue.
Today, well-trained military forces practice the use of Bounding Overwatch, due to its effectiveness.
Example: A four-man fireteam in an urban combat zone must advance to a building 100 feet away, crossing an intersection they know is in many enemy rifle sights from elevated buildings. If the team simply made a run-for-it, they would be wiped out by the enemy's superior elevation, and concealment.
This is where bounding overwatch comes into play.
One or two soldiers will begin suppressing areas believed to house enemies. The firing doesn't have to kill the enemy soldiers (that's a bonus), it just has to keep their heads down. As this occurs, the other soldiers of the four-man fireteam rush to a secure spot and begin suppressing the enemy soldiers. The first one/two troop(s) reload and rush(es) to the others. Once the soldier or soldiers reach the other two, they begin firing while the other soldiers advance further. Once they reach the intended destination, they suppress as the last soldier rushed to the destination.
By using Bounding Overwatch, this Fireteam was able to effectively move through a hostile urban street and intersection, sustain little or no damage, and possibly neutralize some enemy soldiers.
Although Bounding overwatch is used in every military situation, it is very important in urban combat because cities provide enemy forces with elevated positions, tight corners, and ideal cover.
CENTER PEEL, or simply "Peel" for short is a type of retreat practiced by modern-day infantry. This particular tactic is more specifically designed for situations where smaller groups of infantry withdraw from an engagement of a much larger force. In general terms, it is a sloped or diagonal retreat from the enemy.
This tactic was designed with human psychology in mind. It begins with an infantry unit facing off with a larger force of enemies. Once the command is called, the soldiers implement a battle line formation facing into the enemy's midst. The soldiers then begin, or continue, to use suppressing fire to delay the enemy's attack and advance. Depending on the direction of the retreat, the second to last soldier on the farmost end, opposite the retreating direction, calls out, "Peel 1". Now, the infantryman next to him, on the end of the line, ceases fire, works his way behind the line towards the other side, takes a position one meter diagonally back from the farmost soldier on this side, and resumes suppressing fire. Then, the process repeats with the commands being simplified to "Peel", the 1 only there to signify the actual start of the tactic, and continues until the party has safely disengaged the target.
The slanting motion of the tactic gives the impression of increasing numbers of infantry joining the battle, a psychological move designed to demoralize the opposition. The slanting motion also has the benefit of keeping open one's field of fire. Retreating directly backwards would put the soldier too closely behind his own men, severely limiting his/her field of fire.
In the Canadian Army, this technique is referred to as an "Aussie Peelback".
In the Australian Army this tactic is known as "The Tunnel of Love" and is often used as the first part of "Break Contact" drills for small reconnaissance and special forces patrols when encountering larger enemy forces.
The Center Peel tactic was demonstrated in the final gunfight of the 2003 movie, Tears of the Sun, where Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis) directs his men away from a significantly larger group of aggressive Nigerian troops.
The "FOUR F's" is a military term used in the United States military, especially during World War II.
Designed to be easy to remember, the "Four Fs" are as follows:
This simple phrase was used mostly in WWII combat, but has been replaced with more effective maneuvers in the modern army.
In modern warfare, OVERWATCH is the state of one small unit or military vehicle supporting another unit, while they are executing fire and movement tactics. An overwatching, or supporting unit has taken a position where it can observe the terrain ahead, especially likely enemy positions. This allows it to provide effective covering fire for advancing friendly units. The term overwatch originates in U.S. military doctrine.
An ideal overwatch position provides cover for the unit, and unobstructed lines of fire. It may be on a height of ground or at the top of a ridge, where a vehicle may be able to adopt a hull-down position. If the overwatching unit is in a position to fire over advancing friendly units, great care must be taken not to let fire fall short. The friendly units should be within tracer burnout (the range at which tracer rounds are visible).
Overwatch can be performed by platoons during company fire and movement, by individual armoured fighting vehicles (esp. tanks) or infantry sections, in platoon fire and movement, or even by fireteams or individual soldiers, in the final stages of an assault.
Overwatch tactics and firing at the short halt were especially important in armoured warfare before modern tank gun stabilizers were developed, since moving tanks were unlikely to hit any target. Even in the most modern tanks, however, crews can locate and hit targets better when at a halt.
OVERVIEW
Fire and movement works on the basis of a section of, or entire military unit suppressing the enemy with an appropriate level of fire, while at the same time, another section of, or entire military unit advancing. This will take the form of two units of whatever size appropriate, be it two soldiers or larger. Enemy suppression can also be achieved with direct and/or indirect fire from combat support units. Artillery, mortars and armor are a few examples of combat support units often used in fire and movement tactics.
In the United States Military, a basic fire and movement tactic is called overwatch. There also exists several variations of overwatch, generally adding further description to more accurately describe the specific maneuver.
A unit fires upon an enemy to distract or suppress them allowing another unit to assault, flank or encircle the enemy. The enemy will be pinned down and can not react, and will be forced to take cover until the flanking unit engages them.
Suppression
Heavy and continuous fire keeps an opponent suppressed and therefore limits the overall firepower of a unit (if a platoon has 30 soldiers, but only 15 are shooting back because the other 15 are being suppressed, that unit's firepower has been reduced by 50%). The fire cuts down on an enemy's intelligence in that they are not able to assess the situation clearly.
Advance
While a base of fire is set up, the second unit will advance to cover in front, in the process setting up a new base of fire at this point.
After a new base of fire has been set up the first unit will advance, under cover of the new fire base, to a new position and set up another base of fire.
Assault
This is repeated until the units have closed upon the enemy position. At this point a unit will close in on the enemy and destroy them. Often throwing grenades, close-quarters combat techniques, and hand-to-hand combat.
TYPES
BOUNDING OVERWATCH, also known as leapfrogging or simply bounding, is the military tactic of alternating movement of coordinated units to allow, if necessary, suppressive fire in support of offensive forward movement or defensive disengagement. As members of a unit (element to platoon level) take an overwatch posture, other members advance to cover; these two groups continually switch roles as they close with the enemy. This process may be done by "leapfrogging" by fireteams, but is usually done within fireteams along a squad/platoon battle line to simulate an overwhelming movement towards the enemy and make it more difficult for the enemy to distinguish specific targets.
This military tactic takes continuous training and focused coordination to be effectively practiced on the modern battlefield. It was first developed in World War II, when suppressing fire became possible - in other words, when man-portable automatic weapons began to come into general issue.
Today, well-trained military forces practice the use of Bounding Overwatch, due to its effectiveness.
Example: A four-man fireteam in an urban combat zone must advance to a building 100 feet away, crossing an intersection they know is in many enemy rifle sights from elevated buildings. If the team simply made a run-for-it, they would be wiped out by the enemy's superior elevation, and concealment.
This is where bounding overwatch comes into play.
One or two soldiers will begin suppressing areas believed to house enemies. The firing doesn't have to kill the enemy soldiers (that's a bonus), it just has to keep their heads down. As this occurs, the other soldiers of the four-man fireteam rush to a secure spot and begin suppressing the enemy soldiers. The first one/two troop(s) reload and rush(es) to the others. Once the soldier or soldiers reach the other two, they begin firing while the other soldiers advance further. Once they reach the intended destination, they suppress as the last soldier rushed to the destination.
By using Bounding Overwatch, this Fireteam was able to effectively move through a hostile urban street and intersection, sustain little or no damage, and possibly neutralize some enemy soldiers.
Although Bounding overwatch is used in every military situation, it is very important in urban combat because cities provide enemy forces with elevated positions, tight corners, and ideal cover.
CENTER PEEL, or simply "Peel" for short is a type of retreat practiced by modern-day infantry. This particular tactic is more specifically designed for situations where smaller groups of infantry withdraw from an engagement of a much larger force. In general terms, it is a sloped or diagonal retreat from the enemy.
This tactic was designed with human psychology in mind. It begins with an infantry unit facing off with a larger force of enemies. Once the command is called, the soldiers implement a battle line formation facing into the enemy's midst. The soldiers then begin, or continue, to use suppressing fire to delay the enemy's attack and advance. Depending on the direction of the retreat, the second to last soldier on the farmost end, opposite the retreating direction, calls out, "Peel 1". Now, the infantryman next to him, on the end of the line, ceases fire, works his way behind the line towards the other side, takes a position one meter diagonally back from the farmost soldier on this side, and resumes suppressing fire. Then, the process repeats with the commands being simplified to "Peel", the 1 only there to signify the actual start of the tactic, and continues until the party has safely disengaged the target.
The slanting motion of the tactic gives the impression of increasing numbers of infantry joining the battle, a psychological move designed to demoralize the opposition. The slanting motion also has the benefit of keeping open one's field of fire. Retreating directly backwards would put the soldier too closely behind his own men, severely limiting his/her field of fire.
In the Canadian Army, this technique is referred to as an "Aussie Peelback".
In the Australian Army this tactic is known as "The Tunnel of Love" and is often used as the first part of "Break Contact" drills for small reconnaissance and special forces patrols when encountering larger enemy forces.
The Center Peel tactic was demonstrated in the final gunfight of the 2003 movie, Tears of the Sun, where Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis) directs his men away from a significantly larger group of aggressive Nigerian troops.
The "FOUR F's" is a military term used in the United States military, especially during World War II.
Designed to be easy to remember, the "Four Fs" are as follows:
- Find - Locate the enemy
- Fix - Pin them down with suppressing fire
- Flank - Send soldiers to the enemy's sides (not the rear, as your troops will then fire upon each other)
- Finish - Eliminate all enemy combatants
This simple phrase was used mostly in WWII combat, but has been replaced with more effective maneuvers in the modern army.
In modern warfare, OVERWATCH is the state of one small unit or military vehicle supporting another unit, while they are executing fire and movement tactics. An overwatching, or supporting unit has taken a position where it can observe the terrain ahead, especially likely enemy positions. This allows it to provide effective covering fire for advancing friendly units. The term overwatch originates in U.S. military doctrine.
An ideal overwatch position provides cover for the unit, and unobstructed lines of fire. It may be on a height of ground or at the top of a ridge, where a vehicle may be able to adopt a hull-down position. If the overwatching unit is in a position to fire over advancing friendly units, great care must be taken not to let fire fall short. The friendly units should be within tracer burnout (the range at which tracer rounds are visible).
Overwatch can be performed by platoons during company fire and movement, by individual armoured fighting vehicles (esp. tanks) or infantry sections, in platoon fire and movement, or even by fireteams or individual soldiers, in the final stages of an assault.
Overwatch tactics and firing at the short halt were especially important in armoured warfare before modern tank gun stabilizers were developed, since moving tanks were unlikely to hit any target. Even in the most modern tanks, however, crews can locate and hit targets better when at a halt.
