Occupation of Positions

7-132. The BCT commander and staff monitor and deconflict any positioning problems with BCT or higher headquarters’ reconnaissance and security efforts as units move into their assigned areas of operation and occupy positions. The BCT may have to make minor adjustments to areas of operation, engagement areas, battle positions, and other defensive control measures based on unanticipated conditions the occupying units encountered as they begin preparing the defense.

7-133. The assistant brigade engineer monitors units assigned to close gaps or to execute directed obstacles such as demolition of bridges or dams to assure the units are ready to execute their mission. The assistant brigade engineer also ensures the units site and complete all obstacle emplacements within the BCT according to the obstacle plan.

Rehearsals

7-134. The BCT conducts defensive rehearsals as time permits. The commander uses any, or combinations of, the four types of rehearsals: backbrief, combined arms rehearsal, support rehearsal, and battle drill or SOP rehearsal. Each rehearsal type achieves a different result and has a specific place in the preparation timeline. The commander’s imagination and available resources are the only limits restricting methods of conducting rehearsals. The BCT commander ensures the integration of attached enabling forces into the defensive scheme of maneuver through rehearsals. (Refer to Chapter 3, Section II of this manual and FM 6-0 for additional information.)

E

A

D

7-135. In an area defense, the BCT concentrates combat power effects against attempted enemy breakthroughs and flanking movements from prepared and protected positions. The commander uses his reserve to cover gaps between defensive positions, to reinforce those positions as necessary, and to counterattack to seal penetrations or block enemy attempts at flanking movements. (Refer to FM 3-90-1 for additional information.) For discussion purposes, the following paragraphs divide execution of an area defense into a five step sequence:

Step 1, Gain and Maintain Enemy Contact

7-136. Gaining and maintaining contact with the enemy is vital to the success of the defense. As the enemy’s attack begins, the BCT’s initial goals are to identify committed enemy units’ positions and capabilities, determine the enemy’s intent and direction of attack, and gain time to react. Initially, the commander accomplishes these goals in the security area. The sources of this type of information include reconnaissance and security forces, surveillance assets, and supporting echelons above the BCT. The commander ensures the distribution of a common operational picture throughout the BCT during the battle to form a shared basis for subordinate commanders’ actions. The commander uses available information, in conjunction with his judgment, to determine the point at which the enemy is committed to a course of action.

Step 2, Disrupt the Enemy

7-137. The commander executes shaping operations to disrupt the enemy. After making contact with the enemy, the commander seeks to disrupt the enemy’s plan and his ability to control his forces. Ideally, the commander’s shaping operations result in a disorganized enemy force conducting a movement to contact against a prepared defense. Once the process of disrupting the enemy begins, it continues throughout the defense. The BCT uses indirect fires, close air support, close combat attack, and other available fires and nonlethal effects during this phase of the battle to—

z Support the security force.

z Disrupt or limit the momentum of the enemy’s attack. z Destroy high-payoff targets.

z Divert the enemy’s attack.

z Reduce the enemy’s combat power.

z Separate enemy formations.

Step 3, Fix the Enemy

7-138. The commander has several options to help him fix an attacking force. The commander can design his shaping operations, such as securing the flanks and point of penetration, to fix the enemy and allow friendly forces to execute decisive maneuver elsewhere. Combat outposts and strong points can also deny enemy movement to or through a given location. A properly executed deception operation can constrain the enemy to a given course of action.

Step 4, Maneuver

7-139. The decisive operation occurs in the main battle area. This is where the effects of shaping operations, coupled with sustaining operations, combine with the decisive operation of the main battle area force defeat the enemy. The commander’s goal is to prevent the enemy’s further advance using a combination of fires from prepared positions, obstacles and reserve forces. To accomplish this, the commander masses effects by maneuvering his forces to focus direct and indirect fires at a critical point to counter the enemy’s attack. 7-140. In an area defense, the need for flexibility through movement and maneuver requires the use of graphic control measures to assist mission command during the repositioning forces and counterattacks. Specified routes, phase lines, attack- and support-by-fire positions, battle positions, engagement areas, target reference points, and other fire control measures are required to synchronize movement and maneuver.

7-141. During the defense, the BCT commander must prepare to quickly take advantage of fleeting opportunities, seize the initiative, and assume the offense. Although the BCT commander plans for the counterattack, the plan may not correspond exactly with the existing situation when the commander launches the counterattack. As the situation develops, the commander reassesses the plan based on a revised situational understanding that results from an updated common operational picture.

7-142. Ideally, the commander has a counterattack plan appropriate to the existing situation. When this is not the case, the commander must rapidly reorganize and refit selected units, move them to attack positions, and attack or the commander must conduct an attack using those units already in contact with the enemy, which is normally the least favorable course of action.

Step 5, Follow Through

7-143. Three conditions may result from the initial enemy attack: friendly forces achieve their objectives, friendly forces do not achieve their objectives, or both forces are in a stalemate with neither side gaining a decisive advantage over the other. A successful area defense allows the commander to transition to an attack. An area defense resulting in the defender being overcome by the enemy attack and needing to transition to a retrograde operation must take into account the current situation in adjacent defensive areas. Only the commander who ordered the defense can designate a new forward edge of the battle area or authorize a retrograde operation.

7-144. As the purpose of a defensive action is to retain terrain and create conditions for a counteroffensive that regains the initiative. A successful area defense causes the enemy to sustain unacceptable losses short of any decisive objectives. During follow-through, time is critical. Unless the commander has a large, uncommitted reserve prepared to quickly exploit or reverse the situation, the commander must reset his defense as well as maintain contact with the enemy. Time is also critical to the enemy, because he can use it to reorganize, establish a security area, and fortify his positions.

7-145. The BCT commander plans and conducts a counterattack to attack the enemy when and where the enemy is most vulnerable. There is a difference between local counterattacks designed to restore the defense and a decisive operation designed to wrest the initiative from the enemy force and then defeat it. To conduct a decisive counterattack, the defending force must bring the enemy attack to or past its culminating point before it results in an unacceptable level of degradation to the defending force. To do this, the defending force must disrupt the enemy’s ability to mass, causing the enemy to disperse its combat power into small groups or attrit enemy forces to gain a favorable combat power ratio. The defending force must continue to disrupt the enemy’s ability to introduce follow-on forces and attack the defender’s sustainment system. (See figure 7-12, page 7-36.) As the objective of the counterattack is reached, the BCT consolidates and continues reorganization that is more extensive and begins preparation to resume the offense.

Figure 7-12. Counterattack

7-146. In a successful defense, the enemy’s attack is defeated and the defensive plan must address missions following successful operations. The division’s follow-on missions for the BCT govern this plan. The staff must begin planning for future offensive operations as they develop defensive plans. The commander and staff must develop maneuver plans, control measures, obstacle restrictions, and sustainment plans that enable the BCT to quickly transition to follow-on offensive missions or to pass follow-on forces.