Special Purpose Attacks

Learn how to conduct the 6 Special Purpose attacks...

Intro

6 Special Purpose Attacks exist:

• Raid

• Ambush

• Spoiling Attack

• Counterattack

• Feint

• Demonstration

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1214511937
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2853787144
All 6 SPAs are forms of attack but some are specifically launched during defensive ops
(ex. Spoiling & Counter Attack)

The commander decides which (if any) SPA to use, based on the units readiness and supplies

SPA Planning

Units should be already proficient in all SPAs with SOPs and regular rehearsals

The '7 step' plan that covers the planning aspect of mission development
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1212458750

'8 step' plan that covers more of the execution phase at the tactical level
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1213123291

The 3 operational formats (WARNO/OPORD/FRAGO) that are used for mission briefing
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1217995942

Covers annexes that explain very specific planning aspects (ABN ops/river crossing etc.)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1221180757

The military map symbols that are need to visualize an OPORD
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1286024568
Make sure to perform:

• back-brief of mission by Soldiers/key LDRs

• rehearsals (crawl/walk/run)

Supplies

Most 'offensive' tasks require much of the same supplies items
Guide:+:++; +++ = the amount of extra supplies needed from least to most

However, slight variations exist:

• Raid: ++hand grenades (4); ++MG ammo (400); ++explosive (3); +AP mines(5)

Grenades to clear the OBJ; MG ammo to lay suppressing fire; explosives to destroy ENY equipment; AP mines to protect the R/L flanks and in case of ENY pursuit

• Ambush: ++hand grenades (4); +++MG ammo (600); +explosive (2); ++AP mines (6)

Extra MG ammo; explosives to destroy captured ENY equipment; extra AP mines for kill zone

• Spoiling Attack: +++explosives (4)

Extra explosives to destroy ENY equipment/supplies

• Counterattack: +++hand grenades (5); ++MG ammo

Extra grenades to attack ENY defensive fortifications

• Feint: ++small/large caliber ammunition (400/400)

More small/large caliber ammo to allow contact with the ENY (recon-by-fire)

• Demonstration: N/A

No extra supplies needed

Raid

"a limited-objective form of attack entailing swift penetration of hostile terrain. A raid
operation always ends with a planned withdrawal to a friendly location upon the completion of the assigned mission. A raid is not intended to hold territory."

"The patrol initiates the raid NLT the time specified in the order, surprises the enemy, assaults the objective, and accomplishes its assigned mission within the commander’s intent. The patrol does not become decisively engaged en route to the objective. The patrol obtains all available PIR from the raid objective and continues follow-on operations."

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2458683777
2 types of patrols exist:

• Reconnaissance

• Combat

Combat Patrols can be further categorized as:

• Raids

• Ambushes

• Security Patrols

A raid has 2 major considerations:

• planning the raid

• AOO (Action On the OBJ)

A raid is comprised of:

• Assault element

• SBF (Support By Fire)

• Security element

Ambush

"a surprise attack, from concealed positions, on a moving or temporarily halted
enemy. It may take the form of an assault to close with and destroy the enemy, or it may be an attack-by fire only, executed from concealed positions. An ambush does not require that ground be seized or held."
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2169476789
"An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target. Ambushes are categorized as hasty or deliberate, divided into two types—point or area, and the formation is linear or L-shaped."

Ambushes are divide into 3 main parts:

• Categories
  - Hasty: conducted when ENY contact is made
  - Deliberate: when a planned time/location of choosing

• Types
  - Point: single 'Kill Zone'
  - Area: two or more point ambushes
  - Anti-armor: ENY armored vehicles/formation

• Formations
  - Linear: ASSLT & SBF are parallel to each other
  - 'L' Shaped: when the ASSLT & SBF are at a right angle to each other
  (allows for enfilade fire by the MG on the short portion of the 'L'

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2173906648

Spoiling Attack

"a limited-objective attack to delay, disrupt, or destroy the enemy's capability to attack. Units mount spoiling attacks from defensive postures to disrupt expected enemy attacks. A spoiling attack attempts to strike the enemy while he is most vulnerable--during his preparations for attack in assembly areas and attack positions or while he is on the move prior to crossing his line of departure. In most respects, units conduct spoiling attacks like any other attack. They may be hasty (when planning time is short) or deliberate (when the unit has obtained adequate forewarning)."



ENY supplies gathered together and prepared for destruction

BLUFOR attacks OPFOR from the rear to destroy ENY/equipment/supplies

Counterattack

"an attack by defensive forces to regain the initiative or to deny the enemy success with his
attack. Commanders conduct counterattacks either with a reserve or with lightly committed forward elements. They counterattack after the enemy launches his attack, reveals his main effort, or creates an assailable flank."

CATK 1/1A/2 into Engagement Area CAROL

NATO PLT counterattacks (CATTK) to destroy ENY mortar and attack ENY infantry to their rear

Feint

"The feint is in many ways identical to other forms of the attack. Its purpose is to cause the enemy to react in a particular way, such as by repositioning forces, committing its reserve, or shifting fires. The key difference between the feint and other attack forms is that it is much more limited in scope, with an extremely specific objective. The scale of the operation, however, usually is apparent only to the controlling headquarters. For the element actually conducting the feint, such as a weapons company, platoon, or section, execution is just as rapid and as violent as in a full-scale attack."






OG Feint

Demonstration

"The demonstration is an attack whose purpose is to deceive the enemy about the location of the decisive operation. The purpose of a demonstration is similar to that of a feint, but the friendly force does not make contact with the enemy."

Conclusion

6 SPAs exists and they all serve a specific purpose

The commander decides which, if any SPAs to employ

The SPA decision matrix is based depending on your:

• composition

• disposition

• strength

All 6 SPAs can be execute as:

• hasty (unplanned)

• deliberate (planned)

Each SPA requires some variations in ammunition/supplies

SPAs are offensive tasks that can also be execute from a defensive posture