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Battle Drill 7: Enter a Trench to Secure a Foothold – Platoon (07-PLT-D9510)

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CONDITIONS (CUE)

The platoon is moving tactically and receives effective fire from an enemy trench.

The platoon is ordered to secure a foothold in the trench.

The platoon has only organic weapons support available.

The unit leader initiates drill by giving the order for the assault element to secure a foothold in the trench.

STANDARDS

The platoon leader/squad leader quickly identifies the entry point.

Platoon/squad secures the entry point, enters the trench and secures an area large enough for the follow-on unit.

The platoon maintains a sufficient fighting force to repel enemy counterattack and continue the mission.

TASK STEPS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES

  1. A platoon’s section/squad executes actions on contact to eliminate or suppress fires from the trench.
  2. The section/squad in contact–

a. Deploys —

(1) Returns fire.

(2) Seeks cover.

(3) Establishes fire superiority.

(4) Establishes local security.

(5) Platoon sergeant repositions other squads to focus supporting fires and increase observation.

b. Reports —

(1) Squad leader reports location of hostile fire to platoon leader from base-of-fire position using the SALUTE format.

(2) Platoon leader sends contact report followed by a size, activity, location, unit, time, and equipment (SALUTE) report to commander.

  1. Evaluate and develop the situation.

a. The platoon leader evaluates the situation using the SITREPs from the squad in contact and his personal observations.

At the minimum his evaluation should include–

(1) Number of enemy weapons or volume of fire.

(2) Presence of vehicles.

(3) Employment of indirect fires.

b. The platoon leader quickly develops the situation by–

(1) Conducts a quick reconnaissance to determine enemy flanks.

(2) Locates mutually supporting positions.

(3) Locates any obstacles that impede the assault or provide some type of cover or concealment.

(4) Determines whether the force is inferior or superior.

(5) Analyzes reports from squad leaders, teams in contact, or adjacent units.

  1. Choose a COA.

a. The platoon leader decides to enter the trench and selects his entry point.

b. The platoon leader selects a covered and concealed route to his entry point.

c. The platoon leader directs his maneuver element to secure the near side of the entry point and reduce the obstacle to gain a foothold.

d. The platoon sergeant repositions the remaining squad to provide additional observation and supporting fires.

  1. Executes COA (uses suppress, obscure, secure, reduce, assault [SOSRA] to set conditions for the assault).
    (See Figure D9410-1)

a. Suppress and obscure.

(1) Platoon leader or FO calls for and adjusts indirect fire in support of assault.

(2) Platoon sergeant directs base-of-fire squad to cover maneuvering squad.

(3) Obscures maneuver element’s movement with smoke, if available.

b. Secures the near side and reduces the obstacle.

Maneuver squad clears entry point.

(1) Squad leader moves the assaulting squad to last covered and concealed position short of the entry point.

(2) Squad leader designates entry point.

(3) Base-of-fire squad shifts fires from entry point and continues to suppress adjacent enemy positions.

(4) Squad leader uses one team to suppress the entry point and positions the assaulting team at the entry point.

c. The platoon leader directs FO to shift indirect fires to isolate the OBJ and the base of fire squads to shifts fire as assault squad advances.

d. Secures the far side and establishes a foothold.
(See Figure D9410-2)

(1) The next two Soldiers position themselves against the edge of the trench to roll right and left of the entry point to clear far side of obstacle and establish foothold.

(2) Engage all identified or likely enemy positions with rapid, short bursts of automatic fire and scanned the trench for concealed enemy positions.

The rest of the squad provides immediate security outside the trench.

(3) Team clears enough room for the squad or to the first trench junction and announces, “CLEAR.”

(4) Squad leader marks entry point in accordance with platoon SOP, then sends next team in to increase the size of the foothold by announcing, “NEXT TEAM IN.”

(5) Team moves into trench and secures assigned area.
(See Figure D9410-3)

(6) Squad leader reports to platoon leader that the foothold is secure.

(7) Platoon leader moves to the maneuver squad leader to assess the situation.

(8) Platoon sergeant moves forward to control supporting squads outside the trench.

(9) The platoon leader sends necessary teams to clear an area large enough for the platoon, and then reports to the commander that the foothold is secure and if additional support is needed to continue clearing the trench.

  1. The platoon/squad leaders accounts for Soldiers, provides a situation report (SITREP) to higher headquarters, reorganizes as necessary, and continues the mission.

Individual Tasks

Task IdTask Title
071-004-0005Correct Malfunctions of an M9 Pistol
071-004-0006Engage Targets with an M9 Pistol
071-010-0006Engage Targets with an M249 Machine Gun
071-025-0005Correct Malfunctions of an M240B Machine Gun
071-025-0007Engage Targets with an M240B Machine Gun
071-054-0003Perform Misfire Procedures on an M136 Launcher
071-054-0004Engage Targets with an M136 Launcher
071-100-0003Engage Targets with an M4 or M4A1 Carbine
071-311-2129Correct Malfunctions of an M203 Grenade Launcher
071-311-2130Engage Targets with an M203 Grenade Launcher
071-312-4029Correct Malfunctions of an M249 Machine Gun
071-325-4407Employ Hand Grenades
071-326-0501Move as a Member of a Fire Team
071-326-0502Move Under Direct Fire
071-326-0503Move Over, Through, or Around Obstacles (Except Minefields)
071-326-0513Select Temporary Fighting Positions
071-326-5605Control Movement of a Fire Team
071-410-0019Control Organic Fires

Supporting Products

  • The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad (FM 3-21.8)

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