Battle Drill #5: Knock Out Bunkers (Platoon) (7-3-D106)
 

Posted Thursday, October 6, 2005

TASK. Knock Out Bunkers (Platoon) (7-3-D106).

CONDITIONS. The platoon receives fire from the enemy in bunkers, while moving as a part of a larger force.

STANDARDS.
1. The platoon destroys the designated bunker by killing, capturing, or forcing the withdrawal of enemy personnel in the bunker.
2. The platoon maintains a sufficient fighting force to defeat the enemy's counterattack and continue operations.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
1. The platoon reacts to contact IAW the standards for Battle Drill No. 2.

2. The squad in contact establishes a base of fire. The squad leader identifies the bunkers through his AN/PVS-7B and uses the hand-held laser pointer to designate targets and limits of fires. Team leaders use tracers and AN/PAQ-4 to identify targets for soldiers. Soldiers use AN/PVS-7B and AN/PAQ-4 to place accurate, suppressive fires on the enemy bunkers.

3. The platoon leader, his RTO, platoon FO, and one machine gun team move forward to link up with the squad leader of the squad in contact.

4. The platoon sergeant moves forward with the weapons squad leader and the second machine gun team and assumes control of the base-of-fire squad.

5. The base-of-fire squad:
a. Destroys or suppresses enemy crew-served weapons identified by the squad leader.
b. Sustains suppressive fires at the lowest possible level.

6. The platoon FO calls for and adjusts indirect fires as directed by the platoon leader.

7. The platoon leader determines that he can maneuver by identifying:
a. The enemy bunkers with the aid of his AN/PVS-7B and the laser of the squad leader in contact, other supporting position(s), and any obstacles.
b. The size of the enemy force engaging the platoon. (The number of enemy automatic weapons, the presence of any vehicles, and the employment for indirect fires are indicators of enemy strength.)
c. A vulnerable flank of at least one bunker.
d. A covered and concealed flanking route to the flank of the bunker.

8. The platoon leader determines which bunker is to be assaulted first and directs one squad (not in contact) to knock it out.

9. If necessary, the platoon sergeant repositions a squad, fire team, or machine gun team to isolate the bunker as well as to continue suppressive fire.

10. The assaulting squad, with platoon leader and his RTO, move along with covered and concealed route and take action to knock out the bunker (See Battle Drill No. 5A, Knock Out a Bunker).
a. On the platoon leader's signal, the support squad lifts or shifts fires to the opposite side of the bunker from which the squad is assaulting. The squad leader continues to control fires with his hand-held laser pointer. He ensures that suppressive fires stay 15 degrees from the lead element.
b. At the same time, the platoon FO shifts indirect fires to isolate enemy positions.

11. The assaulting squad leader reports to the platoon leader and reorganizes his squad.

12. The platoon leader:
a. Directs the supporting squad to continue and knock out the next bunker.

orb. Directs the assaulting squad to knock out the next bunker.

NOTE: The Platoon leader must consider the condition of his assaulting squad (ammunition and exhaustion) and rotate squads as necessary.

13. The platoon leader reports, reorganizes as necessary, and continues the mission. The company follows up the success of the platoon attack and continues to assault enemy positions.