Battle Drill #3: Break Contact (platoon/squad) (7-3/4-D104)
 

Posted Thursday, October 6, 2005

TASK. Break Contact (platoon/squad) (7-3/4-D104)..

CONDITIONS. The platoon/squad is moving or stationary. The enemy fires on the platoon/squad. The platoon/squad leader orders the platoon/squad to break contact.

STANDARDS.
The unit moves to where the enemy cannot observe or place direct fire on it.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
1. The platoon/squad leader directs one squad/fire team in contact to support the disengagement of the remainder of the unit. The squad leader in contact uses his hand-held laser pointer to designate enemy positions. Team leaders employ ir flares to illuminate the engagement area and the AN/PAQ-4 to mark targets. The flank elements throw ir grenades or ir chemlight bundles to mark the flanks.

2. The platoon/squad leader orders a distance and direction, or a terrain feature, or last objective rally point for the movement of the first squad. The platoon/squad leader uses his hand-held laser pointer to control the movement of the first squad/fire team.

3. The base of fire squad/team continues to suppress the enemy with a high volume of fire using the AN/PAQ-4 and AN/PVS-7B to engage. The squad leader uses his laser pointer to control fires and designate the left and right limits.

4. The moving squad/fire team assumes the overwatch position. The squad uses fragmentation, concussion, and ir smoke grenades (MTETT) to mask its movement.

5. The moving squad/fire team takes up the designated position. The squad/team leader, through his AN/PVS-7B, identifies the engagement area and the enemy positions marked by the base of fire squad leader's hand-held laser pointer and the soldiers' and team leader's AN/PAQ-4 laser. He also identifies the friendly squad/team in contact and confirms the location of its flank elements. The squad leader uses his own hand-held laser pointer to designate the left and right limits of the engagement area and the enemy positions already identified by the squad/team in contact. The squad leader orders the squad to engage. Team leaders issue fire commands and control their teams' fires through the use of AN/PAQ-4 and AN/PVS-7B.

6. The platoon/squad leader directs the base-of-fire element to move to its next location. The squad leader uses his hand-held laser pointer to direct the movement of his squad. Through his AN/PVS-7B, he guides in on the platoon leader's hand-held laser pointer to his squad's designated position. Based on the terrain and the volume and accuracy of the enemy's fire, the moving squad may need to use fire and movement techniques.

7. The platoon/squad continues to bound away from the enemy until:a. It breaks contact (the platoon/squad must continue to suppress the enemy as it breaks contact). b. It passes through a higher level support-by-fire position. c. Its squads/fire teams are in the assigned position to conduct the next mission.

8. The leader should consider changing his unit's direction of movement once contact is broken. This will reduce the enemy's ability to place effective indirect fire on the unit.

9. If the platoon or squad becomes disrupted, soldiers stay together and move to the next designated rally point.

10. The platoon/squad leaders account for soldiers, report, reorganize as necessary, and continue the mission.