SEARCH AND ATTACK
HASTY ATTACK AND DELIBERATE ATTACK
5-120. There is no clear distinction between the hasty attack and the deliberate attack. The primary difference between them is the extent of planning and preparation conducted by the attacking force. Attacks range along a continuum defined at one end by FRAGOs that direct rapid execution of battle drills by forces immediately available. At this end of the continuum, the company team discovers the general enemy situation as part of a task force movement to contact and launches hasty attacks as a continuation of the meeting engagement to exploit a temporary advantage in relative combat power and to preempt enemy actions. At the other end of the continuum, the company team moves into a deliberate attack from a reserve position or assembly area with detailed knowledge of the enemy, a task organization designed specifically for the attack, and a fully rehearsed plan.
Most attacks fall somewhere between the two ends of the continuum.
Hasty Attack
5-121. The commander may conduct a hasty attack during movement to contact, as part of a defense, or whenever he determines that the enemy is in a vulnerable position and can be quickly defeated by immediate offensive action. Because its primary purpose is to maintain momentum or take advantage of the enemy situation, the hasty attack is normally conducted only with the resources that are immediately available. With its emphasis on agility and surprise, however, this type of attack may cause the attacking force to lose a degree of synchronization. To minimize this risk, the commander should maximize use of standard formations and well-rehearsed, thoroughly understood battle drills and SOPs.
5-122. The hasty attack is often the preferred option during continuous operations. It allows the commander to maintain the momentum of friendly operations while denying the enemy the time needed to prepare his defenses and to recover from losses suffered during previous action.
5-123. Task Organization. The hasty attack is conducted using the principles of fire and movement. The controlling headquarters normally designates a base of fire element and a maneuver force.
5-124. Conduct of the Hasty Attack. The company team first must conduct actions on contact, allowing the commander to gather the information he needs to make an informed decision. The term “hasty” refers to limits on planning and preparation time, not to any acceleration in the conduct of actions on contact. Because the intelligence picture is vague, the commander will normally need more time, not less, during this process to gain adequate information about the enemy force.
5-125. Execution begins with establishment of a base of fire, which then suppresses the enemy force. The maneuver element uses a combination of techniques to maintain its security as it advances in contact to a position of advantage. These techniques include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Use of internal base of fire and bounding elements.•
Use of covered and concealed routes.•
Use of indirect fires to suppress or obscure the enemy or to screen friendly movement.•
Execution of bold maneuver that initially takes the maneuver force out of enemy direct fire range.5-126. Once the maneuver element has gained the positional advantage, it can execute a tactical task (such as an attack by fire or assault) to destroy the remaining enemy. Figure 5-19 and Figure 5-20 illustrate a company team and task force conducting hasty attacks following movement to contact.
Figure 5-19. Example of Movement to Contact with the AGC and Enemy Security Element both Conducting Maneuver to Facilitate Maneuver
of the Task Force Main Body and Enemy Assault Force
Figure 5-20. Example of Movement to Contact with the Task Force Main Body and Enemy Assault Force both Conducting Hasty Attacks
Deliberate Attack
5-127. The deliberate attack is a fully synchronized operation that employs every available asset against the enemy defense. It is characterized by a high volume of planned fires, use of major supporting attacks, forward positioning of resources needed to maintain momentum, and operations throughout the depth of enemy positions. Deliberate attacks follow a preparatory period that includes planning, reconnaissance, coordination, positioning of follow-on forces and reserves, preparation of troops and equipment, rehearsals, and operational refinement. The factors of METT-TC will dictate how thoroughly these activities are accomplished.
5-128. The commander normally conducts a deliberate attack when enemy positions are too strong to be overcome by a hasty attack. In weighing his decision to take the time required to prepare for and conduct the deliberate attack, he must consider the advantages that may be gained by both friendly and enemy forces. Thorough preparation will allow the attacking force to stage a fully integrated attack. Likewise, however, the enemy will have more time to prepare his defensive positions and integrate fires and obstacles.
5-129. Task Organization. The task force commander will normally task organize the unit into support and assault forces for conduct of a deliberate attack. He will also designate a breach force if the task force must conduct a breach as part of the attack. Figure 5-14 on page 5-32 and Figure 5-15 on page 5-33 illustrate an example of a task force deliberate attack, with company teams serving as the support, breach, and assault forces. Specific duties of these elements are covered in the discussion of company team operations and tactical tasks as follows:
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For support force duties, refer to the discussion of support by fire operations later in this chapter.•
For breach force duties, refer to the discussion of breaching operations in Chapter 11.•
For assault force duties, refer to the discussions of assault operations and clearance in restricted terrain later in this chapter.5-130. Conduct of the deliberate attack. The task force deliberate attack is normally broken into the phases outlined in the following discussion.
5-131. Attack along an axis. The attacking task force advances to within range of friendly direct fire weapons of the enemy position under supporting fires and using a combination of traveling, traveling overwatch, and/or bounding overwatch movement techniques. Company teams advance to successive positions using available cover and concealment. The task force commander may designate support by fire positions to protect friendly forces with suppressive direct fires. As the task force closes with the enemy, it employs lethal and nonlethal fires to suppress, neutralize, and obscure the
5-132. Actions at the PLD. The PLD is normally a PL or checkpoint where elements of the attacking task force transition to secure movement techniques in preparation for contact with the enemy. Traditionally, the PLD is determined by the commander through personal IPB and S2 analysis of SPOTREPs from task force scouts and BCT ISR assets. In Force XXI units, the company commander has the ability to "see the battlefield"
with increased clarity. FBCB2 allows the company team commander to pass reports and positional data to ABCS located in the task force TOC and to adjacent units. In turn, MCS, FBCB2 from adjacent units and ASAS provide the company team commander with friendly and enemy known locations throughout the plan, preparation and execution phase of a mission.
Armed with a COP, the company team commander has the ability to more effectively determine his PLD. Company teams may maneuver from the PLD to designated support by fire positions, assault positions, or breach or bypass sites. The PLD may be collocated with the assault position.
5-133. Obstacle breaching. In selecting the scheme of maneuver, the task force commander normally tries to avoid COAs that will require breaching of enemy obstacles. Because all forces construct defensive obstacles around their positions, however, the attacking unit must be prepared to conduct a breach. In a task force deliberate attack, the company team may be tasked as the breach force; it may conduct breaches with its organic countermine equipment or with attached engineer assets. As an alternative, the company team may be designated as the support force, with responsibility for conducting support by fire to protect the breach force. In its other role, as the assault force, the company team gains access to the objective area by maneuvering through the breach; it then conducts its assault against the enemy.
5-134. Actions on the objective. The final assault is characterized by the combined effects of overwhelming and simultaneous application of fire, movement and shock action. Suppressive fires from support forces and from supporting indirect fire assets isolate the objective area and suppress the enemy. These fires protect the assault force as it closes with enemy elements. Other measures the task force may use to set favorable conditions for the final assault include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Use of task force and higher ISR assets to maneuver out of physical contact to an assault position.•
Employment of artillery, mortar, and/or direct fires from support by fire positions to destroy enemy forces on the objective and create favorable force ratios.•
Use of feints or demonstrations. (See paragraphs 5-142 and 5-144 for the discussion of these special purpose attacks.) These measures can achieve the following purposes:n Fix the enemy reserve or force its commitment to another area of the battlefield.
n Prevent the repositioning of adjacent enemy units that could influence the outcome of the battle.
n Use of obscuring smoke to isolate enemy forces on the objective.
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Once the conditions are set (suppression on the objective, obstacles are breached and the assault force is in position), the assault forces maneuver to close with and destroy the enemy.Other task force elements continue to provide support as necessary throughout the assault.