MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

4-4 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ MCWP 3-16.1
advantage of surprise. Properly site weapons to
allow clear fields of fire. Ensure fire and observation
covers all likely avenues of approach.
Cover and Concealment
Maximize use of available cover and concealment
when positioning the unit and establishing
defensive positions. All vehicles, howitzers, and
equipment should be properly camouflaged with
netting or indigenous vegetation. Use protection
afforded by defilade. Deny use of cover and
concealment to the threat. Identify dead spaces
and cover these areas with observation and fire.
Obstacles
Identify all obstacles in the area, both natural and
man-made, which could impede movement. If
possible, utilize these obstacles in support of
unit’s defense plan.
Avenues of Approach
Identify all avenues of approach the threat may use.
Determine if each is suitable for mechanized or
dismounted infantry attacks. Based on this determination,
emplace appropriate defensive mechanisms.
Provide Early Warning
Early warning increases a unit’s survivability and its
capability to respond to an attack. Emphasis on this
aspect of artillery defense must be continuous. Early
warning is obtained from all available sources
organic (sentinel and LPs, OPs, patrols) and other
measures (adjacent units, monitoring communication
nets and higher headquarters).
Sentinel Posts and Listening Posts
These posts are situated on terrain that provides
coverage of all routes of approach into the unit’s
position. The number of sentinel and LPs
depends on the terrain, visibility, and communi-
cations capability. Sentinel and LPs coverage
should interlock with each other, with obstacles,
and with nearby units to prevent gaps. They
should be far enough from the unit’s defensive
perimeter that the warning of attack allows time
for implementing the defensive plan; i.e., the
reaction force. This distance will vary with
terrain, visibility, likely threats, and unit reaction
time. At night, these posts should consist of at
least two-man teams with small arms and
antitank weapons, dug in, have good cover and
concealment, protected by obstacles (i.e., barbed
wire), have good fields of fire, and covered by
fire from within the position.
Sentinel and LPs should be augmented with night
observation and intrusion devices. A continuous
wire circuit (hot loop) should be established
between all posts and the unit. Alternate
methods—such as sound devices, pyrotechnics,
and runners—should be ready. These posts are
withdrawn on attack using planned withdrawal
routes.
Patrols
Avenues of approach and areas that may provide
cover and concealment for threat forces should be
patrolled or kept under surveillance. Patrolling
should be irregular but, at a minimum, conducted
at dusk and dawn. The patrol route should intersect
areas covered by sentinel/LPs and should be
coordinated with adjacent units. The patrol
composition will vary. See MCWP 3-11.3, Scouting
and Patrolling, for more information.
The patrol leader (PL) will coordinate with the
commanding officer (CO)/XO and the local
security chief. The CO/XO or security chief will
coordinate with friendly units immediately
affected by the patrol’s actions; e.g., movement
within friendly areas, departure/reentry of friendly
lines, and fire support.
The PL will ensure that all Marines in the patrol
know the patrol’s chain of command and responsibilities
of each member. If the patrol locates a