The Red Zone Fight Centurion OPD
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Transcript of The Red Zone Fight Centurion OPD
Battle Hard!
The Red Zone Fight
Centurion OPD
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AGENDA
• References
• Pretest Review
• Definitions
• Introduction
• NTC Trends
• Success in the Red Zone
• Conclusion
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REFERENCES
• Centurion OPD Read Ahead Packet – “The Red Zone Fight”
• FM 3-90.1• FM 71-1-MTP• FM 3-20.15• FM 71-123• Centurion TACSOP• The National Training Center’s Battle
Instruction Book, 1992
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PRETEST REVIEW
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DEFINITIONS• The Red Zone is the enemy’s direct fire battle
space. It is a dynamic, physical area that expands or contracts in relation to the enemy’s ability acquire and engage with direct fire weapons.
• Kill Zone – The area within the Red Zone where the enemy creates a fire sack where he ideally wants to kill the BLUFOR. It is within the Red Zone.
NTC Rule #50 – Kill sacks are called kill sacks for a reason.
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INTRODUCTION
• Company Teams must close with and destroy the enemy to accomplish their doctrinal missions. This is their fundamental purpose.
• The problem in the Red Zone is how to kill without being killed.
• The simple answer to this problem is maneuver – the combination of fire and movement.
NTC Rule #77 – You win by killing (crews win battles).
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NTC TRENDS• CO/TMs execute maneuver poorly• CO/TMs move too slowly when out of contact and too
quickly when in contact.• Casualty rates increase in direct proportion to the
amount of time spent in the Red Zone.• CO/TMs are not lethal• CO/TMs are not survivable• CO/TMs are not able to successfully set and change
the conditions of the battle by action (initiative)• CO/TMs, as a result, are not able to achieve assigned
tasks and purposes
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NTC TRENDS
• Company Teams do not effectively:– Reconnoiter– Gain visual contact with the enemy before the
enemy initiates physical contact– Use cover and concealment– Kill or suppress with fires– Aggressively move to exploit the effects of fires– Choose the best formation, movement technique,
and rate of movement for the situation – Control “set-move” drills – Secure their flanks and rear
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SUCCESS IN THE RED ZONE
• To be successful in the Red Zone, Companies must be able to:– See the Enemy– Act on contact– Kill the enemy with direct fires– Maneuver– Force the enemy to fight in multiple directions– Use terrain to acquire, kill, move, and survive– Maintain contact with the enemy– Secure themselves– Execute combined arms combat
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SEE THE ENEMY
• IPB
RECONNAISSANCE
TARGET ACQUISITION&
ACTIONS ON CONTACT(EXECUTE DIRECT FIRE)
“VISUALIZE THE ENEMY”
“SEEK VISUAL CONTACT”
“SEE THE ENEMY”
“KILL THE EMEMY”
ACTIONS ON THEOBJECTIVE
(EXECUTE DIRECT FIRE)
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CONTACT!
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SEE THE ENEMY
• Seeing the enemy is the key to effective lethal direct fire.
• Steps to seeing the enemy:– IPB
Refine the higher SITTEMPEstimate the enemy’s battlespace
– ReconnaissanceLeader ReconnaissanceConfirm or deny key elements of the SITTEMPShould be simple and executable at the CO/TM levelContinuous functionNot just for the scoutsBe suspicious
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SEE THE ENEMY
– SurveillanceFocuses on suspected or known enemy locationsChoose key terrain to observe enemy locations
for key leaders
– Target Acquisition A crew level collective task!Search techniquesIdentification clues and indicatorsTarget Detection and Identification
– Lethal Direct Fires
NTC Rule #10 – METT-TC rules.
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ACT ON CONTACT• Contact occurs when:
– Any member of the unit makes contact (ODOICARE)– Upon receipt of a report from an adjacent unit or
from headquarters– It may be ordered by a higher headquarters
• Battle Drills are imperative for success• Success depends on the company’s ability to
achieve visual contact before the enemy initiates direct fire contact.
• Understand the enemy’s task and purpose
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ACT ON CONTACT
Deploy and report• IDENTIFY TYPE OF CONTACT
– VISUAL– DIRECT FIRE– INDIRECT FIRE / CAS– E W– MINES / OBSTACLES
• DEPLOY TO COVERED TERRAIN WITH GOOD OBSERVATION / FIELDS OF FIRE
• SPOT REPORT
SUPERIORORINFERIORFORCE
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ACT ON CONTACT
Evaluate / Develop the situation– Define contact by reconnaissance
(mounted, dismounted, and fire)– Identify size, composition, activity, and
orientation of enemy forces– Identify obstacles and kill sacks– Identify flanks– Use fire (direct / indirect) to support recon– Spot report
NTC Rule #21 – An obstacle not covered by direct fire is not an obstacle.
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CONTACT!
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ACT ON CONTACT
Recommend a course of action– COA must be within higher intent / purpose – COA must be within capabilities of unit in
contact– Spot reports
NTC Rule #20 – Don’t put obstacles where you want them to come.
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CONTACT!
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ACT ON CONTACT
Execute the course of action– Break contact and bypass– Maintain contact and bypass– Maintain contact to support hasty attack– Conduct a hasty attack– Establish a hasty defense
NTC Rule #86 – If the strength is north, why go north?
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KILL THE ENEMY WITH LETHAL DIRECT FIRES
• Lethal Direct Fire is the means by which company teams accomplish their mission
• Lethal Direct Fire Supports:– Destruction of enemy– Maneuver to envelop– Maneuver to penetrate– Mission (task/ purpose) success!
NTC Rule #91. Have a target acquired before getting on the platform, fire, then back down into the hide. Never stay on the platform for more than one shot.
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KILL THE ENEMY WITH LETHAL DIRECT FIRES
CO/TM SITUATIONAL TEMPLATE
CO/TM RECONNAISSANCE
CO/TM SURVEILLANCE/DIRECT FIRE
PLT SURVEILLANCE/DIRECT FIRE
SECTION SURVEILLANCE PLAN/ DIRECT FIRE PLAN
CREW/SQUAD TGT ACQUISITION
KILL OR
SUPPRESS OR
CONTINUE TO OBSERVE
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MANEUVER• Maneuver begins when the company makes
contact with the enemy.• Use Fire and Movement to gain the position of
advantage. This is the essence of combat decision making.
• Effective maneuver is the only way to successfully close with the enemy in the Red Zone.
• Maneuver must be planned, but must remain applicable to battlefield conditions.
• Bounding is most effective when executed at the section and vehicle level.
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CONTACT!
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CONTACT!
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MANEUVER• All movement must be covered by an overwatch
element• Bounding is most effective when executed at the
section and vehicle level.• Limit bounds to 2/3 of the overwatching element’s
max effective range.• Use indirect fire to support movement.• Good, disciplined communication is critical to
maneuver success.• Fires are the best way to prevent the enemy from
placing fires on you.
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MAKE THE ENEMY FIGHT IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS
• Force the enemy to fight in 2 directions• Use maneuver to maintain constant
pressure on the enemy• 1/3 of your force provides base of fire,
2/3 maneuvers to a flank or position of advantage
• Be aware that the enemy is attempting to make you fight the same way.
NTC Rule #34. Focus all combat multipliers at the fight.NTC Rule #35. Patience, Mass and Security
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CONTACT!
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USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE, KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE
• Good IPB is critical. Most company teams do not do adequate IPB
• Expect to fight for the best terrain.• “Go Where the Water Goes”• Use terrain effectively to mask and
conceal movement.• Effective use of terrain supersedes use
of a specific formation.
NTC Rule #97 – Never sky line.
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USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE, KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE
• Consider terrain from the enemy’s perspective as well as your own.
• Use terrain to achieve intent – do not limit yourself by doggedly adhering to graphic control measures.
NTC Rule #64. Terrain is neutral. It becomes an advantage on how you use it.
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USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE, KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE
• How is the enemy using the terrain?• Where can I move:
– To deploy?– To close?– To infiltrate?– To envelop or penetrate?
• From where can I fire?• From where can I observe?• Where can I find cover and concealment?• How can I use the ground to position my force so that the enemy
fights in two directions? • How does the weather and light condition affect the above? • Is there key or decisive terrain?
NTC Rule #23 – Life be hard in the desert.
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MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY
• Once contact is made maintain it: “lock-on”• “Battle hand over”• Redundancy:
– Overlapping sectors of observation in CO/PLT/section surveillance plans
– Overlapping sectors of fire in CO/PLT/section– Direct fire plans– “Wingman” concept at section level
• Maintain freedom of maneuver• Rehearse action and contact drills• Be wary of a vehicle that you can observe but not engage
effectively. He will tie up assets and take guns out of the fight.
NTC Rule #94. Work with your wingman, teamwork is how you will live on the battlefield.
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CONTACT!
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MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY
• Reports contact!• Gunner “locks on” to kill:
– Maintains reticle on target or target area.– Halts ground or air search techniques (“scanning”).– Prepares to kill (ie. Establish range to target, choose
correct optics, etc.) and reports.• Wingman secures the killer who is “locked on”:
– Continues rapid or slow scan to identify other possible targets.
– Ensures local security.– Secures flanks & rear.– Reports.
• Redundancy; Platoons “lock-on” individual enemy tanks or AT weapons.
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SECURITY
• Maintain 360 degree security at all times, particularly when moving
• Secure your flanks – consider moving flank security out to the max effective range of the weapon system your are most likely to encounter.
• Be Suspicious.
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SECURITY
• Be looking for bypassed vehicles or enemy positions
• Remember that security is a supporting effort and not the primary mission for the company / team.
NTC Rule #89 – You must secure your sector continuously – from occupation to COM. It is better to be secure and fight above ground than to fight from holes known by your enemy.
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CONTACT!
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EXECUTING COMBINED ARMS COMBAT
• Give the enemy 2 to 3 ways to die• Develop the ability to “step back” when in
contact and consider additional options• Combined Arms is not simply Artillery. • Consider the additional effects of dismounted
infantry, Javelins, and counter mobility assets on the enemy.
• Infantry is very effective in overwatching during mounted assaults
NTC Rule #72 – Never fight a fair fight.
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CONCLUSION
• To be successful in the Red Zone, Companies must be able to:– See the Enemy– Act on contact– Kill the enemy with direct fires– Maneuver– Force the enemy to fight in multiple directions– Use terrain to acquire, kill, move, and survive– Maintain contact with the enemy– Secure themselves– Execute combined arms combat
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CONCLUSION
• NTC Rule #40 – Men can go anywhere despite anything, except when opposed by better men willing to go anywhere, despite anything. Terrain, hostile weather, firepower, etc., can punish and delay men determined to pass, but will never stop them.