Defensive Operations

There are three (3) basic defensive operations — Area; Mobile; and Retrograde

Intro

"There are three basic defensive tasks: area defense, mobile, and retrograde. Each contains elements of the others, and usually contains both static and dynamic aspects. Infantry platoons serve as the primary maneuver element, or terrain-controlling units for the Infantry company. They can defend area of operation, positions; serve as a security force or reserve as part of the Infantry company’s coordinated defense."

Defensive operations allow forces to:

• defend

• delay

• withdraw

• counterattack

• security tasks

The workhorse for defensive operations is at the platoon/company level

Defense ops are used to:

• Gain time

• Retain essential terrain

• Support other operations

• Preoccupy the enemy in one area while friendly forces attack in another

• Wear down enemy forces at a rapid rate while reinforcing friendly operations

Force Organization

A defensive force must be able to:

• intel/information collection

• perform surveillance/reconnaissance

• execute security missions

• Main Battle Area (MBA)

• have a reserve force

• conduct sustainment ops

Defensive ops can be forward; on-line; and in-depth

Forward defense is more proactive and engages the ENY at or before the MBA. It is better suited for counter-attacks

On-line defense works by 'holding the line' in the MBA

In-depth preserves the defense force by retiring to other defensive positions as the battle continues. It also allows forward scouts to identify ENY forces for better defensive operations.

Defensive Control Measures

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1286024568
"Fire control measures are the means by which the platoon leader or subordinate leaders control fires." The 2 main categories of FCMs are: terrain-based & threat-based

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2117566858
"There are five kinds of battle positions—primary, alternate, supplementary, subsequent, and strong point."

Common Defensive Graphic Control Measures

*Question for the comments: what type of defense is this a diagram of ?!?*

3 Forms of Defense

Subordinate forms of the defense have special purposes and have their own unique planning
considerations.

3 forms of the defense exist:

• Defense of a linear obstacle

• Perimeter defense/Strongpoint defense

• Reverse slope defense

These 3 forms of defense are specific defensive tactics (usually only 1 form is used at a time) used while employing of the 3 basic defensive tasks (Area; Mobile; and Retrograde defense).

The 3 basic defensive tasks (Area; Mobile; and Retrograde defense) can be seen as an operational tactic; while the 3 specific defensive tactics (Linear; Perimeter; and Reverse Slope defense) are at the tactical level.

Mobility/Counter-Mobility

Mobility - "During the defense, mobility tasks include maintaining routes, coordinating gaps in existing obstacles, and supporting counterattacks."

C-Mobility - "Counter-mobility operations help isolate the battlefield and protect friendly forces from enemy attacks."

Terms to Know

Defense In-Depth - Defense in-depth reduces the risk of the attacking enemy quickly penetrating the defense. The enemy is unable to exploit a penetration because of additional defensive positions employed in-depth. The in-depth defense provides more space and time to defeat the enemy attack.

Delays - Delays allow units to trade space for time, avoiding decisive engagement and safeguard its forces. Ability of a force to trade space for time requires depth within the area of operation assigned to the delaying force.

Forward Defense - The intent of a forward defense is to prevent enemy penetration of the defense. Due to lack of depth, a forward defense is least preferred. The Infantry platoon deploys the majority of its combat power into forward defensive positions near the forward edge of the battle area. While the Infantry company may lack depth, the platoon and squads must build depth into the defense at their levels. The leader fights to retain the forward position, and may conduct counterattacks against enemy penetrations, or to destroy enemy forces in forward engagement area. Often, counterattacks are planned forward of the forward edge of the battle area to defeat the enemy.

Alternate or Successive Positions - Leaders normally assign subordinate units contiguous area of operation that are deeper than they are wide. Leaders use obstacles, fires, and movement throughout the depth of assigned area of operation. If the leader plans the delay to only last a short time or the area of operation’s depth is limited, delaying units may be forced to fight from a single set of positions. If the leader expects the delay to last for longer periods, or sufficient depth is available, delaying units may delay from either alternate or successive positions.

Main Battle Area - The leader builds the decisive operation around identified decisive points, such as key terrain or high-payoff targets. The leader positions the echelon main body within the main battle area where the leader wants to conduct the decisive operation. The leader organizes the main body to halt, defeat, and ultimately destroy attacking enemy forces. The majority of the main body deploys into prepared defensive positions within the main battle area.

Parameters of the delay - Parameters of the delay are specified in the order for a delay mission. First, leaders direct one of two alternatives: delay within the area of operation or delay forward of a specified line or terrain feature for a specified time. The second parameter in the order must specify acceptable risk. Acceptable risk ranges from accepting decisive engagement in an attempt to hold terrain for a given time maintaining integrity of the delaying force. The order must specify whether the delaying force may use the entire area of operation or must delay from specific battle positions. A delay using the entire area of operation is preferable, but a delay from specific positions may be required to coordinate two or more units.

Reserve - The reserve is not a committed force. The leader can assign it a wide variety of tasks on its commitment, and it must be prepared to perform other missions. In certain situations, it may become necessary to commit the reserve to restore the integrity of the defense by blocking an enemy penetration or reinforcing fires into an engagement area.

Retirement - Retirement is a task employing to move a force not in contact to the rear. Retirement is a form of retrograde, which a force not in contact with the enemy moves away from the enemy. A retiring unit organizes for combat but does not anticipate interference by enemy ground forces. Typically, another unit’s security force covers the movement of one formation as the unit conducts a retirement. However, mobile enemy forces, unconventional forces, air strikes, air assaults, or long-range fires may attempt to interdict the retiring unit. The leader plans for enemy actions and organizes the unit to fight in self-defense. The leader usually conducts retirement to reposition his forces for future operations or to accommodate the current concept of the operation. Units conduct retirements such as tactical road marches where security and speed are the most important considerations.

Security - The leader balances the need to create a strong security force to shape the battle with the resulting diversion of combat power from the main body’s decisive operation. The leader usually allocates security forces to provide early warning and protect those forces, systems, and locations necessary to conduct the decisive operation from unexpected enemy contact.

Sustainment - The sustainment mission in an area defense requires a careful balance between establishing forward supply stocks of petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL); barrier materiel; and ammunition in adequate amounts to support defending units and having too many supplies located in forward locations that they cannot be rapidly moved in reacting to enemy advances. All suitable POL, barrier materiel, construction equipment, and laborers can be lawfully obtained from the civil infrastructure reducing the defending unit’s transportation requirements. Likewise, maintenance and medical support with their associated repair parts and medical supplies also must be forward deployed.

Withdrawal - Withdrawal is a planned retrograde operation, which a force in contact disengages from an enemy force, and moves in a direction away from the enemy. Although the leader avoids withdrawing from action under enemy pressure, it is not always possible. Withdrawal is used to preserve the force or release it for a new mission.

1) Area Defense

"An area defense concentrates on denying enemy forces access to designated terrain for a specific time rather than destroying the enemy outright. The focus is on retaining terrain where the bulk of the defending force positions itself in mutually supporting positions and controls the terrain between positions. The defeat mechanism is fires into engagement area, which reserve units can supplement. The leader uses the reserve force to reinforce fires, add depth, block penetrations, restore positions, counterattack to destroy enemy forces, and seize the initiative."

2) Mobile Defense

"Mobile defense is a defensive task that concentrates on destruction or defeat of the enemy through a decisive attack by a striking force. Mobile defenses focus on defeating or destroying the enemy by allowing enemy forces to advance to a point where they are exposed to a decisive counterattack by the striking force. The leader uses the fixing force to hold attacking enemy in position, to help channel attacking enemy forces into ambush areas, to retain areas from which to launch the striking force. Mobile defenses require an area of operation of considerable depth. The leader must able to shape the battlefield, causing an enemy to overextend its lines of communication, expose its flanks, and dissipate its combat power. Likewise, the leader must be able to move friendly forces around and behind the enemy force targeted to cut off and destroyed. Divisions or larger formations normally execute mobile defenses. However, the platoon may participate as part of the fixing force or the striking force."

3) Retrograde

"Retrograde is a defensive task involving organized movement away from the enemy. The enemy may force a retrograde or the leader may execute it voluntarily. In either case, the higher commander of the force executing the operation must approve retrograding. Retrogrades are conducted to improve a tactical situation or preventing a worse situation from developing. Platoons usually conduct retrogrades as part of a larger force but may conduct independent retrogrades (withdrawal) as required."

The three forms of retrograde are

• Delay - "An operation in which a force under pressure trades space for time by slowing down the enemy’s momentum and inflicting maximum damage on the enemy without, in principle, becoming decisively engaged."

• Withdrawal - "A planned retrograde operation in which a force in contact disengages from an enemy force and moves in a direction away from the enemy."

• Retirement - "A form of retrograde in which a force out of contact with the enemy moves away from the enemy."

2 extra options available for retrograde operations:

• Denial ops - "Denial operations are actions to hinder or deny the enemy the use of space, personnel, supplies, or facilities."

• Stay-behind ops - "A stay-behind operation is an operation in which the commander leaves a unit in position to conduct a specified mission while the remainder of his forces withdraw or retire from an area."

Stay-behind ops from Battle Position 8; as they move to the rear of the ENY force

Conclusion

3 types of defensive operations exists:

• Area defense

• Mobile defense

• Retrograde defense*

*3 forms of retrograde are:
+ Delay - "An operation in which a force under pressure trades space for time by slowing down the enemy’s momentum and inflicting maximum damage on the enemy without, in principle, becoming decisively engaged."

+ Withdrawal - "A planned retrograde operation in which a force in contact disengages from an enemy force and moves in a direction away from the enemy."

+ Retirement - "A form of retrograde in which a force out of contact with the enemy moves away from the enemy."

*2 extra options available for retrograde operations:
+ Denial ops - "Denial operations are actions to hinder or deny the enemy the use of space, personnel, supplies, or facilities."

+ Stay-behind ops - "A stay-behind operation is an operation in which the commander leaves a unit in position to conduct a specified mission while the remainder of his forces withdraw or retire from an area."

In addition, there is also 3 forms of defense:

• Linear defense

• Perimeter defense

• Reverse Slope defense

Use Common Graphic Control Measures to better control your forces

Use ENGs to improve your battle position(s) and create counter-mobility obstacles for the ENY

There are some key and specific defense terminology to know

[Greybeard]

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[Blaz3]

Thank you very much friend, I am from a Hispanic community and although they are in English your guides are very useful to me in my community.

[Greybeard]

CarlOfWar...thanks for the support!