PLATOON BATTLE DRILL ONE - REACTION TO SECTION COMING UNDER EFFECTIVE ENEMY FIRE

2. Aim. To prepare the platoon to either support the section under fire or to take over the attack.

3. Execution. There are three stages to this drill, depending on the platoon commander's estimate of the situation. It begins when a section comes under effective fire.

4. Stage One - The platoon commander assesses the situation.

a. The platoon commander moves forward to observe and evaluate the situation and sends a contact report to the company commander.

b. The platoon 21C moves the rest of the platoon as far forward as possible while keeping them out of the fire fight.

c. When the disengaged sections have taken cover, the platoon 21C will summon the section commanders in anticipation for orders. If the section commanders are already forward with the platoon commander, the platoon 21C controls the sections, paying particular attention to flank security.

d. The platoon commander decides whether:

(1) the section in contact can handle the problem; or (2) the section needs support in order to carry out its task; or (3) if he should take over the operation.

e. If the platoon commander decides that it is a section operation, he must order the section commander to attack and destroy the enemy, and inform him of what support he will give.

5. Stage Two - Section Attack. If the platoon commander orders a section attack, he may elect to support it by:

a. forming a fire base with the weapons detachment, thus freeing most or all of the engaged section to assault the objective;

b. firing smoke to cover the move of the section; and/or c. requesting an indirect fire mission.

6. Stage Three - Platoon Attack. The platoon commander may decide to take control if he considers that the position is too strong for a section. He gives orders to his travelling OGp (two rear section commanders, platoon 21C and runner from point section). Then he reports the situation to the company commander giving his outline plan and stating any request for support.

PLATOON BATTLE DRILL TWO - THE HASTY ATTACK 7. Aim. To capture or destroy an enemy position.

8. Stage One - The Approach.

a. If the platoon is to move to a flank, the section on the flank chosen for the assault always leads to the assault position, followed by platoon HQ and then the remainder of the platoon.

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b. If no task is given to the light mortar, it should go with platoon HQ on the flanking move.

c. If the fire base consists only of the weapons detachment, then the platoon 21C should take up the rear of the platoon, possibly with the mortar.

d. If the platoon comes under fire during the approach, the leading section commander automatically details an LMG fire team to drop off and neutralize the enemy. If the enemy fire is severe, the assaulting sections will have to halt while the light mortar screens off the line of advance.

e. If the platoon comes across a new enemy position blocking its approach, this will have to be dealt with before carrying on. Battle Drill One is repeated. The platoon commander must be careful not to over commit himself, or to fall into a trap.

f. In the assault position, the leading section automatically forms up on the open flank, the platoon commander in the middle, the second section on the inner flank, and the third section, if on the assault, takes up the depth position.

g. Sections complete battle drill five.

9. Stage Two - The Assault.

a. As soon as the platoon is formed pup in the assault position, the platoon commander ensures that everyone knows the enemy location by pointing out the axis of advance.

b. If section tasks have not been given during the order and the objective can be seen from the assault position, the platoon commander assigns objectives to his section commanders, who in turn will sub-divide their objectives to their groups. If the objective cannot be seen then this will have to be done on the move.

c. On order, the platoon advances together until the leading sections make contact with the enemy. The platoon commander orders section fire and movement, and then lets his section commanders get on with assaulting their objectives (battle drill six).

d. As the assault goes in, the fire base increases its rate of fire for as long as possible, and then switches across the position in front of the assaulting troops.

e. As the sections fight through the objective, the platoon commander monitors their progress, ensuring that they do not become separated, or bogged down. If he has retained a reserve section, he will use it to assault positions missed by the forward sections, or to pass through or around them to assault a depth position and to maintain the momentum of the attack.

f. When, as part of a company or combat team attack, the platoon assaults with two sections up, the reserve section stays one tactical bound behind the platoon commander - far enough back so as not to become committed, but close enough to intervene quickly when ordered. It should automatically mop up behind the forward sections, searching trenches and dugouts to ensure that they are clear, and taking over prisoners of war (PW) and the wounded from the assaulting troops. The section commander must remain constantly alert for orders from the platoon commander.

g. The platoon 21C, if on the assault, takes up the rear. He will usually control the platoon weapons detachment if it is deployed, paying particular attention to guarding the platoon's open flank. He takes charge quickly of any PWs and wounded from the forward sections. He is prepared to take command if the platoon commander becomes a casualty.

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10. Variations. The platoon commander may consider variations for his attack. Some variations are:

a. assaulting a part of the objective with one section, supported by the other and the fire base. Once secure, the first section supports the assault of the second section. This is useful when there are only two sections on the assault, and leaves the platoon commander with a reserve; and b. using the platoon Zulu vehicles and their weapons systems as a mobile

fire support base under the platoon 2IC's command.

Figure 5-3-1 Example of a Platoon Assault From a Flank

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