EXECUTION OF A SEARCH AND ATTACK32

l Destruction of the enemy: render enemy units in the AO combat-ineffective.

4

l Area denial : prevent the enemy from operating unhindered in a given area;

5

for example, in any area he is using for a base camp or for logistics support.

6

l Protect the force: prevent the enemy from disrupting and destroying friendly 7

military or civilian operations, equipment, property, and key facilities.

8

l Information collection: gain information about the enemy and the terrain to 9

confirm or deny the products of the intelligence preparation of the battlefield 10

(IPB) process.

11 12

5-58. The products of the IPB process are critical to the conduct of a search and attack.

13

They focus the force's reconnaissance efforts on likely enemy locations. It may take a 14

great deal of time to pattern enemy operations; however, a search and attack is only e f-15

fective after the force identifies the enemy's pattern of operations.

16

5-59. The search and attack plan directs the finishing force, as the decisive operation, 17

to likely locations of enemy base camps, command and control sites, air defense artillery 18

sites, and mortars. The commander weights this decisive operation by use of priority of 19

fires and other available combat multipliers, such as engineer elements and helicopter 20

lift support. The commander establishes control measures as necessary to consolidate 21

units and concentrate the force's combat power before the attack. Once the reconnai s-22

sance force locates the enemy, the fixing and finishing forces can fix and destroy him 23

quickly. The commander also develops a contingency plan in the event that the reco n-24

naissance force is compromised.

25

5-60. Fire support plans must provide for flexible, rapid fires throughout the AO. The 26

commander positions his fire support assets so they can support subordinate elements 27

throughout the AO. The commander must establish procedures for the rapid clearance 28

of fires. To clear fires rapidly, command posts and small-unit commanders must track 29

and report the locations of all subordinate elements. Because of the uncertain enemy 30

situation, the commander is careful to assign clear fire-support relationships.

31

EXECUTION OF A SEARCH AND ATTACK 32

5-61. Each subordinate element operating in its own AO is tasked to destroy the enemy 33

within its capability. The commander should have in place previously established co n-34

trol measures and communications means between any closing elements to prevent 35

fratricide. The reconnaissance force conducts a zone reconnaissance to reconnoiter 36

identified named areas of interest (NAIs).

37

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — FM 100-40

5-62. Once the reconnaissance force finds the enemy force, the fixing force develops the 1

situation, then executes one of two options based on the commander's guidance and the 2

factors of METT-TC. The first option is to block identified routes that the detected en-3

emy can use to escape or rush reinforcement over. The fixing force maintains contact 4

with the enemy and positions its forces to isolate and fix him before the finishing force 5

attacks. The second option is to conduct an attack to fix the enemy in his current pos i-6

tions until the finishing force arrives. The fixing force attacks if that action meets the 7

commander's intent and it can generate sufficient combat power against the detected e n-8

emy. Depending on the enemy's mobility and the likelihood of the reconnaissance force 9

being compromised, the commander may need to position his fixing force before his r e-10

connaissance force enters the AO.

11

5-63. Brigades and possibly battalions may establish fire support bases as part of the 12

operations of their fixing force to provide fire support coverage throughout the area of 13

operations during search and attack operations conducted in restricted terrain. These 14

positions should be mutually supporting and prepared for all-around defense. They are 15

located in positions that facilitate aerial resu pply.

16

5-64. If conditions are not right to use the finishing force to attack the detected enemy, 17

the reconnaissance or the fixing force can continue to conduct reconnaissance and su r-18

veillance activities to continue to develop the situation. Whenever this occurs, the force 19

maintaining surveillance must be careful to avoid detection and possible enemy a m-20

bushes.

21

5-65. The finishing force may move behind the reconnaissance and fixing forces, or it 22

may locate at a pickup zone and air-assault into a landing zone near the enemy once he 23

is located. The finishing force must be responsive enough to engage the enemy before 24

he can break contact with the reconnaissance force or the fixing force. The echelon i n-25

telligence officer provides the commander with an estimate of the time it will take the 26

enemy to displace from his detected location. The commander provides additional m o-27

bility a ssets so the finishing force can respond within that time frame.

28

5-66. The commander uses his finishing force to destroy the detected and fixed enemy 29

during a search and attack by conducting hasty or deliberate attacks, maneuvering to 30

block enemy escape routes while another unit conducts the attack, or employing indirect 31

fire or close air support to destroy the enemy. The commander may have his finishing 32

force establish an area ambush and use his reconnaissance and fixing forces to drive the 33

enemy into the ambushes.

34

"To advance is to conquer."

Frederick the Great

CHAPTER 6

ATTACK

An attack is a type of offensive action that defeats an enemy force, seizes and secures terrain, or both. When the commander decides to attack or the opportunity to attack occurs during combat operations, the execution of that attack must mass the effects of overwhelming combat power against selected portions of the enemy force with a tempo and intensity that cannot be matched by the enemy. The resulting combat should not be a contest between near equals.

The attacker must be determined to seek decision on the ground of his choosing through the deliberate orchestration and employment of his combined arms team.

6-2. Attacks take place along a continuum defined at one end by fragmentary orders (FRAGOs) that direct the execution of rapidly executed battle drills by forces immediately available. Published, detailed orders with multiple branches and sequels; detailed

knowledge of all aspects of enemy dispositions; a force that has been task-organized specifically for the operation; and the conduct of extensive rehearsals define the other end of the continuum. Most attacks fall between the ends of the continuum as opposed to either extreme. Chapter 1 discusses this continuum between hasty and deliberate operations,

ORGANIZATION OF FORCES

6-3. Once a commander determines his scheme of maneuver, he task-organizes or retask-organizes his force to give each unit enough combat power to accomplish its

CONTENTS Unique Considerations of Each Form

of Attack 6-34

mission. He should complete any changes in task organization in time to allow units to conduct rehearsals with their attached or supported unit. The best place and time for an attacking force to task-organize is when it is in an assembly area.