Conditions
The platoon is conducting operations in a live training environment independently or as part of a company or larger force.
The platoon is part of a movement to contact or an attack.
The enemy initiates direct fire contact on the lead squad.
Some iterations of this task should be performed in MOPP 4 and at night.
Standards
The platoon conducts an assault according to ATP 3-21.8.
The platoon locates and suppresses the enemy, establishes supporting fire, and assaults the enemy position using fire and maneuver.
The platoon destroys or causes the enemy to withdraw and conducts consolidation and reorganization.
Cue
The drill begins when the enemy initiates direct fire contact.
TASK STEPS
(Asterisks indicate a leader performance step.)
- The platoon conducts action on enemy contact, as follows:
a. The squad or section in contact reacts to contact by immediately returning well-aimed fire on known enemy positions.
b. The squad or section leader, in contact, notifies the platoon leader of the action.
c. The squad or section, in contact, attempts to achieve suppressive fires.
d. Dismounted Soldiers assume the nearest covered positions.
e. Vehicles ([Bradley Fighting Vehicles], Strykers, and [high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles]), if applicable, move out of the beaten zone and the engagement area.
* 2. The platoon leader gives the command to dismount the vehicles, if mounted.
- The platoon sergeant takes control of the vehicles, if applicable.
* 4. The platoon leader, [radio-telephone] operator, [forward observer (FO)], squad leader of the next squad, and one machine gun team move forward to [link up] with the squad leader of the squad or section in contact.
* 5. The squad leader of the trail squad moves to the front of the trail squad’s lead fire team.
* 6. The weapons squad leader and second machine gun team move forward and [link up] with the platoon leader.
If directed, the weapons squad leader assumes control of [the] base-of-fire element and positions the machine guns to add suppressive fires against the enemy.
- The platoon sergeant repositions vehicles, as necessary, to provide observation and supporting fire against the enemy.
* 8. The platoon leader assesses the situation.
- The squad or section in contact cannot achieve suppressive fire.
The squad or section in contact takes the following actions:
a. Reports limited capabilities to effectively suppress enemy forces to the platoon leader.
b. Establishes a base of fire:
(1) The squad leader deploys the squad to provide effective, sustained fires on the enemy position.
(2) The squad leader reports the final position to the platoon leader.
- The remaining squads, not in contact, take up covered and concealed positions in place[ and] observe to the flanks and rear of the platoon.
* 11. The platoon leader determines if the squad in contact can gain suppressive fire against the enemy based on the volume and accuracy of the enemy’s return fire[:]
a. The platoon leader directs the squad, with one or both machine guns, and vehicle element in contact to continue suppressing the enemy:
(1) The squad in contact destroys or suppresses enemy weapons that are firing most effectively against it.
(2) The vehicle section in contact destroys or suppresses enemy weapons that were firing most effectively against them, including vehicles and crew-served weapons.
(3) The squad in contact places screening smoke (M203 and M320) to prevent the enemy from seeing the maneuver element.
b. The platoon leader determines additional actions required and deploys another squad, [a] second vehicle section, and the second machine gun team to suppress the enemy position.
Note. The platoon leader may direct the trail leader to position this squad and vehicle section[ and the] weapons squad leader to position one or both machine gun teams in a better support-by-fire position.
* 12. The platoon leader, again, determines if the platoon can gain suppressive fires against the enemy:
a. The platoon leader continues to suppress the enemy with the two squads, two machine guns, and vehicle-mounted weapons.
(1) The trail squad leader assumes control of the base-of-fire element (squad in contact, machine gun teams, and any other squads designated by the platoon leader).
(2) The platoon sergeant assumes control of the vehicle section and base-of-fire element (squad in contact and machine gun teams designated by the platoon leader).
(3) The platoon FO calls for and adjusts indirect fire based on the platoon leader’s directions.
Note. The platoon leader does not wait for indirect fires before continuing [with actions].
b. The platoon leader determines additional [actions required] and deploys the last squad to provide flank and rear security and reports the situation to the company commander.
c. The platoon continues to suppress or fix the enemy with direct and indirect fire[ and] responds to orders from the company commander.
- The platoon assaults the enemy position.
If the squads in contact together with the machine guns and vehicle element can suppress the enemy, the platoon leader determines if the remaining squads that are not in contact can maneuver:
a. The platoon leader makes the following assessment:
(1) Location of enemy positions and obstacles.
(2) Size of [the] enemy force.
(The number of enemy automatic weapons, the presence of any vehicles, and the employment of indirect fires are indicators of enemy strength.)
(3) Vulnerable flank.
(4) Covered and concealed flanking route to the enemy position.
b. The platoon leader maneuvers the squads into the assault:
(1) Once the platoon leader has ensured that the base-of-fire element is in position and providing suppressive fires, [the platoon leader leads] the assaulting squads to the assault position.
(2) If the vehicle section can effectively suppress the enemy element, the platoon leader may reposition the weapons squad or machine gun to an intermediate or local support-by-fire position to provide additional suppression during the assault.
(3) Once in position, the platoon leader gives the prearranged signal for the base-of-fire element to lift or shift direct fires to the opposite flank of the enemy position.
(The assault element MUST pick up and maintain effective fires throughout the assault. Handover of responsibility for direct fires from the base-of-fire element to the assault element is critical.)
(4) The platoon FO shifts indirect fires to isolate the enemy position.
(5) The assaulting squad(s) fight through enemy positions using fire and maneuver.
The platoon leader controls the movement of the squads, assigns specific objectives for each squad, and designates the main effort or base maneuver element.
The base-of-fire element must be able to identify the near flank of the assaulting squad(s).
(6) In the assault, the squad leader determines the way in which to move the elements of the squad based on the volume and accuracy of enemy fire against the squad and the amount of cover afforded by the terrain.
In all cases, each Soldier uses individual movement techniques, as appropriate.
(a) The squad leader designates one fire team to support the movement of the other team by fires.
(b) The squad leader designates a distance or direction for the team to move and accompanies one of the fire teams.
(c) Soldiers must maintain contact with team members and leaders.
(d) Soldiers time their firing and reloading in order to sustain their rate of fire.
(e) The moving fire team proceeds to the next covered position.
Teams use the wedge formation when assaulting.
Soldiers move in rushes or by crawling.
(f) The squad leader directs the next team to move.
(g) If necessary, the team leader directs Soldiers to bound forward as individuals within buddy teams.
Soldiers coordinate their movement and fires with each other within the buddy team[ and] maintain contact with their team leader.
(h) Soldiers fire from covered positions.
They select the next covered position before moving and rush forward (no more than five seconds), or [they] use high or low crawl techniques based on terrain and enemy fires.
c. [When the] platoon leader determines the assaulting squad(s) cannot continue to move, the platoon leader deploys the squad(s) to suppress the enemy and reports to the company commander.
The platoon continues suppressing enemy positions and responds to the orders of the company commander.
- The platoon consolidates on the objective once the assaulting squads have seized the enemy positions by:
a. Establishing local security.
b. The platoon leader signals for the base-of-fire element to move up into designated positions.
c. The platoon leader assigns sectors of fire for each squad and vehicle.
d. The platoon leader positions key weapons and vehicles to cover the most dangerous avenue(s) of approach.
e. The platoon sergeant begins coordination for ammunition resupply.
f. Soldiers take hasty defensive positions.
g. The platoon leader and FO develop a quick fire plan.
h. Placing out observation posts to warn of enemy counterattacks.
- The platoon reorganizes by:
a. Reestablishing the chain of command.
b. Redistributing and resupplying ammunition.
c. [Staffing] crew-served weapons first.
d. Redistributing critical equipment such as radios; [night-vision devices; and protection from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exposure].
e. Treating casualties and evacuating wounded.
f. Filling vacancies in key positions.
g. Searching, silencing, segregating, safeguarding, and speeding [enemy prisoners of war] to collection points.
h. Collecting and reporting enemy information and materiel.
* 16. The platoon leader sends a [situation report] to the company commander.
Related Pages
- Battle Drill 1: React to Direct Fire Contact While Dismounted – Platoon
- Battle Drill 1A: React to Direct Fire Contact While Dismounted – Squad
- Battle Drill 2A: Conduct a Squad Assault
- Battle Drill 3: Break Contact – Platoon
- Battle Drill 4: React to Ambush (Dismounted) – Platoon
- Battle Drill 8: Breach of a Mined Wire Obstacle – Platoon
- US Army Battle Drills