Battle Drill #4: React to Ambush (platoon/squad) (7-3/4-D105)
 

Posted Thursday, October 6, 2005

TASK. React to Ambush (platoon/squad) (7-3/4-D105).

CONDITIONS. The platoon/squad is moving. The platoon/squad is in a prepared kill zone. The enemy initiates the ambush with a casualty-producing device, and a high volume of fire.

STANDARDS.
1. Near ambush.
a. Soldiers in the kill zone immediately return fire, take up covered positions, and throw fragmentation grenades or concussion and smoke grenades. Immediately after the grenades detonate, soldiers in the kill zone assault through the ambush using fire and movement.
b. Soldiers not in the kill zone locate and place suppressive fire on the enemy, take up covered positions and shift fire as the assault begins.

2. Far ambush:
a. Soldiers in the kill zone immediately return fire and take up covered positions. The leader identifies the enemy's location and soldiers place accurate suppressive fire on the enemy's position.
b. Soldiers not in the kill zone begin fire and movement to destroy the enemy.
c. The unit moves out of the kill zone, forces the enemy to withdraw, or destroys the ambush.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
1. In a near ambush (within hand grenade range):
a. Depending on terrain, soldiers in the kill zone carry out one of the following two actions:
(1) SEE the enemy with AN/PVS-7B and return fire immediately using the AN/PAQ-4. If cover is not available, immediately, without order or signal, assume the prone position, and throw fragmentation, concussion, and smoke grenades.
(2) SEE the enemy with AN/PVS-7B and return fire immediately using the AN/PAQ-4. If cover is available, without order or signal, seek the nearest covered position, and throw concussion or fragmentation and smoke grenades.

b. Immediately after the grenades detonate, soldiers in the kill zone return fire and assault through the ambush position using fire and movement.

c. Soldiers not in the kill zone immediately:
(1) Identify enemy positions by looking through their AN/PVS-7B for muzzle flashes.
(2) Initiate accurate suppressive fires against the enemy. Leaders use AN/PAQ-4 and hand-held laser pointers to control fires and assign targets.
(3) Under the control of the squad leader, soldiers shift fires as the soldiers in the kill zone begin to assault through the ambush.

d. Soldiers in the kill zone continue the assault to eliminate the ambush or until contact is broken.

e. The platoon/squad conducts consolidation and reorganization.

2. In a far ambush (beyond hand grenade range):
a. Soldiers receiving fire immediately return fire, take up a covered position and suppress the enemy by:
(1) Destroying or suppressing enemy crew-served weapons. Squad lead use their hand-held laser pointer to designate the enemy's crew-served positions.
(2) Sustaining suppressive fires.

b. Soldiers/squads not receiving fires move by a covered and concealed route to a vulnerable flank of the enemy position and assault using fire and movement techniques.

c. Soldiers in the kill zone continue suppressive fires. Leaders continue to identify the engagement area by using hand-held laser pointers, and ground illumination flares. The team or squad leader in the kill zone identifies the flank elements and leaders of the assaulting force get within the minimum safe distance of the surface danger area. The squad leader orders his squad to shift fires as the assaulting squad fights through the enemy position.