FM 17-98 SCOUT PLATOON

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Relief in place is difficult to plan and conduct because of the nature of the operation and the command, control, communications, and coordination required. It is important that the operation not be disclosed to the enemy; security, secrecy, and speed are critical. Though the scout platoon cannot always wait for optimum conditions, relief in place is best conducted during periods of limited visibility and during lulls in battle. Limited visibility may be achieved by using smoke to obscure the enemy’s vision. Using smoke over a large area can confuse the enemy as to the platoon’s actual location. The relief must be conducted as quickly and as secretly as possible. The relieving scouts must avoid sustaining casualties, hampering the operation of the scouts being relieved, or allowing the enemy to detect the operation. To reduce confusion and maintain security, the incoming platoon leader must attempt to obtain the following information: • The time that responsibility for the sector or zone is to pass. • Operations security (OPSEC) considerations. • Deception plans. • The time, method, and sequence of relief. • Routes and critical control measures. • Graphics for alternate and successive fighting positions. • Contingency plans for changes of mission. • Actions on enemy contact, if required before completion of the relief. • Handoff procedures for artillery and ADA. • Obstacle locations and procedures covering the transfer of responsibility. • Procedures for transfer of ammunition, wire lines, POL, and other items between outgoing and incoming units, if necessary. Radio traffic must be kept to a minimum; light and noise discipline must be strictly enforced. If possible, the relieving scout platoon leader conducts a reconnaissance of the new positions. This is usually accomplished with the relieved platoon leader. Once the reconnaissance is complete and orders are finalized, the platoon executes its mission. If it is participating in the relief, one of several methods may be used: • One vehicle at a time. This is the slowest, but most secure, method. • All vehicles simultaneously. This is the quickest, but least secure, method. • Occupying adjacent or in-depth positions that cover the same area of responsibility. • Exchange of vehicles and equipment. This is done when secrecy is the overriding factor. This is the most difficult and time-consuming method. The actual relief in place can be conducted from a hide position behind the relieved element, with individual relieving vehicles moving forward. The relieving platoon can also occupy alternate positions within the relieved element’s sector or zone. In some cases, the platoon may move into the primary positions as soon as the relieved vehicles back out. The relieved element may provide guides to ensure that relieving vehicles can locate those they are replacing. The most important transmission during the relief process is the completion call to the incoming platoon’s commander. This is made when the incoming platoon is fully set in position and is prepared to conduct its next operation.
CHAPTER 6 Combat Support The scout platoon must take full advantage of available CS assets to accomplish its mission and to reduce its vulnerability on the battlefield. It may receive CS from mortars, field artillery (FA), ADA, combat engineers, GSR, and aviation assets. None of these assets are organic to the scout platoon, but they may be available through its parent battalion or cavalry troop. Scouts must understand the capabilities and limitations of the CS assets. Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 CONTENTS Indirect Fire Support Army Aviation Combat Engineers Air Defense Air Support Ground Surveillance Radar SECTION 1 — INDIRECT FIRE SUPPORT Mortars and FA are the primary means of indirect fire support available to scout platoons. In addition to understanding the capabilities and limitations of these assets, scouts must know what fire request channels to use to request fires. The platoon leader must be prepared to work with the FIST at company team/troop level and the FSO at battalion/squadron level to plan and coordinate indirect fires. <strong>FM</strong> 6-30 explains how to call for and adjust fires. MORTAR SUPPORT A mortar platoon of six tubes is organic to armor and mechanized infantry battalions. A mortar section is organic to the armored cavalry troop. Currently, mortar platoons are equipped with either 4.2-inch or 120-mm mortars. The 4.2- inch mortar has a maximum effective range of 6,840 meters. The 120-mm mortar has a maximum effective range of 7,200 meters. Mortars can provide indirect fire support that is immediately responsive to the scouts’ needs. They can provide a heavy volume of accurate, sustained fires. They are ideal weapons for attacking targets on reverse slopes, in narrow ravines or trenches, and in forests, towns, and other areas that are difficult to strike with low-angle fires. Types of mortar support Mortars can be highly effective in providing the following types of support: • Suppression. High-explosive (HE) rounds can be used to force the enemy to button up or move to less advantageous positions. Unless a direct hit is achieved, however, HE mortar rounds will not destroy armored vehicles. • Smoke. White phosphorus (WP) rounds are used for obscuration and screening. Mortar smoke builds up more rapidly than artillery smoke. Obscuration is achieved by placing smoke on or just in front of enemy positions to obscure their vision. Screening is achieved by placing smoke between the enemy and the scout platoon position to conceal movement. Mortar smoke can also be used to mark enemy positions to enhance friendly maneuver and orient direct fires. Scouts must be careful, however, not to allow smoke to work against them by marking their own positions for enemy gunners. • Illumination. Illumination rounds are used to light an area or enemy position during periods of limited visibility. Scouts can increase the effectiveness of their image intensification devices by using illumination. This helps them in gathering information, adjusting artillery, or engaging enemy targets. Ground-burst illumination can also be used to mark enemy positions and to provide a thermal target reference point (TRP) for control of fires. As with smoke, illumination is a double-edged sword; care must be taken not to illuminate friendly positions. Also, because US night vision devices are superior to those of most potential adversaries, illuminating the battlefield may be unnecessary or even counterproductive.
Page 1 and 2:
FIELD MANUAL No. 17-98 *FM 17-98 He
Page 3 and 4:
Preface On the ever-changing landsc
Page 5 and 6:
Figure 1-2. HMMWV scout platoon. VE
Page 7 and 8:
Figure 1-4. CFV scout platoon two-s
Page 9 and 10:
Eight-squad organization Figure 1-8
Page 11 and 12:
general have capabilities and limit
Page 13 and 14:
Figure 1-11. HMMWV characteristics.
Page 15 and 16:
tactical and operational considerat
Page 17 and 18:
• Models that depict the enemy’
Page 19 and 20:
Figure 2-4. Example decision suppor
Page 21 and 22:
Figure 2-6. Example R&S tasking mat
Page 23 and 24:
The military decision-making proces
Page 25 and 26:
Step 1 - Receive and analyze the mi
Page 27 and 28:
• Where is the key terrain • Ho
Page 29 and 30:
After the platoon leader has analyz
Page 31 and 32:
leaders have issued their orders, t
Page 33 and 34:
different colors for friendly and e
Page 35 and 36:
Figure 2-11A. Optimizing battle spa
Page 37 and 38:
Figure 2-12. Route chart for compas
Page 39 and 40:
these means of communication must b
Page 41 and 42:
Administrative/logistics. The scout
Page 43 and 44:
• Use a brevity code that reduces
Page 45 and 46:
The scout platoon’s scheme of man
Page 47 and 48:
Figure 3-1. Area reconnaissance usi
Page 49 and 50:
Converging routes method. The patro
Page 51 and 52:
signatures of the vehicle and the l
Page 53 and 54:
In each type of organization, the g
Page 55 and 56:
EXAMPLE OF A ROUTE RECONNAISSANCE F
Page 57 and 58:
Figure 3-8D. Route reconnaissance (
Page 59 and 60:
Figure 3-8H. Route reconnaissance (
Page 61 and 62:
oundaries, an LD, and an LOA or obj
Page 63 and 64:
Figure 3-9D. Zone reconnaissance (c
Page 65 and 66:
Figure 3-9H. Zone reconnaissance (c
Page 67 and 68:
leader feels there may be enemy for
Page 69 and 70:
Figure 3-10D. Area reconnaissance (
Page 71 and 72:
Figure 3-10H. Area reconnaissance (
Page 73 and 74:
troop-leading process (normally a m
Page 75 and 76:
Recommending/executing a course of
Page 77 and 78: Figure 3-11D. Reconnaissance of a r
Page 79 and 80: Figure 3-12B. Reconnaissance of an
Page 81 and 82: Figure 3-12F. Reconnaissance of an
Page 83 and 84: Figure 3-13A. Infiltration scheme o
Page 85 and 86: Planning and coordination Figure 3-
Page 87 and 88: defensive operations, forcing it to
Page 89 and 90: CHAPTER 4 Security Operations In se
Page 91 and 92: Scouts maintain surveillance from a
Page 93 and 94: Redundancy. The platoon leader may
Page 95 and 96: most appropriate role for the scout
Page 97 and 98: ecause the scouts must move to the
Page 99 and 100: Figure 4-9b. Repositioning OPs in d
Page 101 and 102: Figure 4-10. Scout and tank team co
Page 103 and 104: With his troop commander’s guidan
Page 105 and 106: eposition to BP A5. The tank platoo
Page 107 and 108: A. OP J maintains contact with the
Page 109 and 110: Figure 4-21. Cavalry scout platoon
Page 111 and 112: Figure 4-24A. Convoy escort actioni
Page 113 and 114: Figure 4-25C. Escort breaking conta
Page 115 and 116: The following actions should be tak
Page 117 and 118: CHAPTER 5 Other Tactical Operations
Page 119 and 120: ACTIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA As soo
Page 121 and 122: Checkpoints on a route are used for
Page 123 and 124: SECTION 3 — BATTLE HANDOVER AND P
Page 125 and 126: movement, movement formation, and e
Page 127: stationary unit is responsible for
Page 131 and 132: • Scatterable mines. These includ
Page 133 and 134: Figure 6-2. Scouts requesting fire
Page 135 and 136: The scout platoon leader must be pr
Page 137 and 138: Figure 6-8. Attack helicopter batta
Page 139 and 140: movement. In addition, the air cava
Page 141 and 142: The first action in the handoff pro
Page 143 and 144: SECTION 3 — COMBAT ENGINEERS Brig
Page 145 and 146: Although passive measures are the f
Page 147 and 148: Figure 6-17. Stinger air defense sy
Page 149 and 150: sight range of 10,000 meters agains
Page 151 and 152: Whatever support the scout platoon
Page 153 and 154: should conduct resupply during miss
Page 155 and 156: of inspecting, testing, servicing,
Page 157 and 158: When a vehicle must be evacuated, t
Page 159 and 160: SECTION 5 — PRISONERS EPWs are ex
Page 161 and 162: CHAPTER 8 Basic Scout Skills Scouts
Page 163 and 164: This type of local security task is
Page 165 and 166: • Unobstructed observation of the
Page 167 and 168: is located with his vehicle in the
Page 169 and 170: Figure 8-7. Sample format and infor
Page 171 and 172: In this position, the vehicle comma
Page 173 and 174: Figure 8-13. Platoon column formati
Page 175 and 176: Figure 8-17. Section vee and wedge
Page 177 and 178: BOUNDING OVERWATCH Bounding overwat
Page 179 and 180:
Figure 8-23. Mounted crest drill. D
Page 181 and 182:
most vulnerable in wooded areas whe
Page 183 and 184:
The scouts that are not in contact
Page 185 and 186:
Maintain contact to support a hasty
Page 187 and 188:
section/squad leader simply informs
Page 189 and 190:
Deviation spotting As applied to de
Page 191 and 192:
Figure 8-27. Bracketing Bracketing
Page 193 and 194:
CHAPTER 9 Miscellaneous Field Data
Page 195 and 196:
Figure 9-1. Reconnaissance overlay
Page 197 and 198:
Figure 9-1. Reconnaissance overlay
Page 199 and 200:
Figure 9-2. Example of overlay grap
Page 201 and 202:
• Stretching a string or measurin
Page 203 and 204:
7 inches = 17.78 centimeters 8 inch
Page 205 and 206:
the antenna connector on the radio.
Page 207 and 208:
FOOD AND WATER Water collection Wit
Page 209 and 210:
Figure 9-7. Enemy weapons, vehicles
Page 211 and 212:
Page 213 and 214:
Page 215 and 216:
Page 217 and 218:
Page 219 and 220:
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
higher commander’s intent. The sc
Page 225 and 226:
• Linkup time and location. • P
Page 227 and 228:
APPENDIX B Nuclear, Biological, and
Page 229 and 230:
Equipment MOPP level MOPP READY MOP
Page 231 and 232:
Give the alarm. Have all unmasked s
Page 233 and 234:
Figure B-1. NBC marking devices. UN
Page 235 and 236:
contamination remains, so periodic
Page 237 and 238:
movement in the direction of the co
Page 239 and 240:
• Once the wing vehicles reach th
Page 241 and 242:
APPENDIX C Stability and Support Op
Page 243 and 244:
activities. Examples of these are l
Page 245 and 246:
Because of the unique requirements
Page 247 and 248:
US military forces may be tasked fo
Page 249 and 250:
excellent hasty roadblocks because
Page 251 and 252:
Figure C-5. Deliberate checkpoint o
Page 253 and 254:
approaching traffic until it is too
Page 255 and 256:
Photographic filter Instant cameras
Page 257 and 258:
• Contact your checkpoint command
Page 259 and 260:
Figure C-14. Ankle-to-ankle positio
Page 261 and 262:
CORDON AND SEARCH OPERATIONS When i
Page 263 and 264:
the armored unit’s mobility, prot
Page 265 and 266:
APPENDIX D Military Operations on U
Page 267 and 268:
The friendly commander should try t
Page 269 and 270:
• It is vulnerable to enemy infan
Page 271 and 272:
Figure D-3. Gaining a foothold in M
Page 273 and 274:
Figure D-5. CFV provides support as
Page 275 and 276:
Figure E-1. Figure E-1. Environment
Page 277 and 278:
APPENDIX F Risk Management Risk is
Page 279 and 280:
Moderate (M) Low (L) Expected degra
Page 281 and 282:
• Thoroughly brief all aspects of
Page 283 and 284:
APPENDIX G Fratricide Prevention Fr
Page 285 and 286:
Lapses in individual discipline can
Page 287 and 288:
target identification before they i
Page 289 and 290:
Glossary A AA AAR ABF ACE ACR ADA A
Page 291 and 292:
div DP DPICM DS DST DTD division de
Page 293 and 294:
I J k ICM ID IEDK IFF IFSAS IPB IR
Page 295 and 296:
NCO NCOIC NCS NEO NGO NLT NOD nonco
Page 297 and 298:
RISTA ROE ROI ROUTEREP RP RSI rte R
Page 299 and 300:
TTP tactics, techniques, and proced
Page 301 and 302:
ARTEP 17-237-10-MTP Mission Trainin
show all

FM 17-98 SCOUT PLATOON

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?