6 Forms of Maneuver

The 6 forms of maneuver are:
Envelopment, Frontal assault, Infiltration, Penetration, Turning movement and Flank attack
This guide will help you to plan better unit maneuvers on the Battlefield

Intro

"Forms of maneuver are distinct tactical combinations of fire and movement with a unique set of doctrinal characteristics that differ primarily in the relationship between the maneuvering force and the enemy"


FOM (Forms Of Maneuver) are usually only used for offensive and counter-attack operations. They are typically not used for defensive ops

There are 6 forms of maneuver:

• Envelopment

• Turning movement

• Frontal attack

• Penetration

• Infiltration

• Flank attack

FOMs are the 6 basic forms where friendly battlefield movement under fire and the ENY projected COA intersect. FOMs are used as a means-to-an-end to achieve battlefield success through the use of combined arms and fire and maneuver

As a unit LDR, you must decide what form of maneuver to use against the ENY

Many times, an operation will use several FOMs at different critical phases

Combined Arms

"Combined arms is the synchronized and simultaneous application of arms to achieve an effect greater than if each arm was used separately or sequentially"

Combined arms is the coordination of all available combat arms to synchronize their individual capabilities to achieve a common military goal

Examples include: preparing the battlefield with preparatory in-direct fires like targeting known/suspected ENY positions and obscuring the battlefield/ENY positions in order to close in and destroy the ENY, having pre-planned and on-call in-direct fires/CAS targets, utilizing combat support such as ENGs to mobility operations (lane clearing/breaching etc.).

Envelopment

"Avoid the principal enemy defensive positions by seizing objectives behind those defenses and using them to destroy the enemy in their current position"

There are 2 basic forms of envelopment:
Single

Double

Double envelopment operations can achieve Encirclement

"Encirclement operations are operations where one force loses its freedom of maneuver
because an opposing force is able to isolate it by controlling all ground lines of communication and reinforcement"

Envelopments (single/double/encirclement) can also be vertical

Vertical envelopments are when airborne/air assault/air mobile Soldiers are dropped in the flank and/or rear of an ENY force in order to isolate/cut off/encircle their force/escape routes etc.

Frontal Assault

"Destroy a weaker enemy force or fix a larger enemy force in place over a broad front"

Infiltration

"Force conducts undetected movement in area occupied by enemy forces to occupy an advantageous position behind those enemy positions while exposing only small elements to defensive fires"



***Infiltration is particularly useful for A3 since most scenarios are PLT sized or smaller***

Penetration

"Rupture enemy forces along a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system"

Turning Movement

"When an attacking force avoids the enemy's principal defensive positions by seizing objectives behind the enemy's current position, thereby causing the enemy to move out of his current positions or divert major forces to meet the enemy"

Flank Attack

"A flank attack is a form of offensive maneuver directed at the flank of an enemy."

A flank maneuver is to the right or left side of a military formation/target and is not oriented directly toward the enemy (like a frontal attack)

A flank attack (vertical attack) can occur by utilizing ABN/AA (Airborne/Air Assault) forces

* Multi MOF Scenario *

Offensive operations are a fundamental to combat operations in general. As a LDR you will need to be issued a clear mission, an AO (Area of Operations) in which to conduct the operation, and the necessary combat/combat surrpot/logistics needed to accomplish the mission.

As a LDR you must understand your mission and: mentally visualize, verbalize and direct your Soldiers/combat support to achieve mission success

Use your TLPs (Troop Leading Procedures) to better plan your vision of how the battle with occur. You must have several contingency plans (FRAGOs) ready to be used based on what COAs the ENY chooses throughout the engagement.

A major advantage of the offense (versus the defense), is the choice of: when, where, how and how they will attack

However, as part of defensive operations, FOMs are very important for counter-attacks

#1 Scenario example for A3 where you have a PLT+:
- 3 INF SQDs (1 SQD as a reserve); a WPN SQD; HHC section and combat support (ENGs/in-direct fires/CAS etc.)

Phase 1 - Prep the battlefield with in-direct fires and obscure your movements with smoke rounds

Phase 2 - Utilize the Frontal Assault to fix the ENY and commit their forces to you (use WPN SQD as your SBF (Support By Fire) and 1 INF SQD

Phase 3 - After committing and fixing ENY forces, perform a single envelopment with 1 INF SQD and breach any obstacles with your ENG assets

Phase 4 - Utilize your CAS to target TRPs and destroy the ENY in-place. Use your reserve SQD to replace combat losses as they occur

Phase 5 - Consolidate and reorganize as needed and prepare for follow-on missions

#2 Scenario example for A3 where you have a PLT+:
- 3 INF SQDs (1 SQD as a reserve); a WPN SQD; HHC section and combat support (IFVs X2; in-direct fires/CAS etc.)

Phase 1 - Prep the battlefield with in-direct fires and obscure your movements with smoke rounds

Phase 2 - Utilize 2X IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) as your SBF to fix the ENY

Phase 3 - Perform a vertical envelopment with 2 INF SQDs to isolate ENY forces

Phase 4 - Reposition the 2X IFV and 1 SQD to perform a turning movement to force the ENY to abandon their original BPs (Battle Positions)

Phase 5 - Perform a penetrating movement with the remaining forces to close-in/destroy the ENY

Phase 6 - Consolidate and reorganize as needed and prepare for follow-on missions

Conclusion

There are six FOMs:

• Envelopment

• Frontal assault

• Infiltration

• Penetration

• Turning movement

• Flank attack

These FOMs are used for offensive/counter-attacks operations. Usually, more than 1 FOM is used during an operation. As a LDR, you will need to be given a clear mission/OBJ, an AO and assets in order to accomplish the mission.

[Apyr20015]

Is there a game mode in arma 3 where it has like huge ass pvp 60v60 & and have designated fronts to kill each other, sorry if its not clear i suck at english

[Greybeard]

BlueHavoc911...good point ! Very true ! Thanks and take care !

[BlueHavoc911]

Oh yeah, I know about the IRL military. My comment was more directed at Arma units. Played in an event once where the enemy IDF and suicide drones was on point. Everyone started complaining about, but failed to realize they had zero spacing and big snndbox type FOB. People just want to play operator out in the desert and not actually want a challenge it seems. Sorry for the late reply.

[Greybeard]

BlueHavoc911...thanks ! Now that NATO countries are no longer conducting COIN ops, there is a strategic change (towards near-peer adversaries) towards your more 'typical' Infantry tasks (like company/BTN maneuvers and combined-arms ops).

[BlueHavoc911]

Well done, would be cool if units actually did this stuff lol

[Greybeard]

Thanx BlAdE^RuNNeR !

[BlAdE^RuNNeR]

Cool!!!