FM 17-98 SCOUT PLATOON

Figure 4-6B. Changing the screen priority (priority changed to main avenue of approach) (continued).
Maintain contact
After locating the main body of the enemy, the scout platoon must maintain contact with it until authorized to hand
over contact to another friendly element. This is one of the most difficult tasks for the individual scout section or
squad to accomplish and therefore is best accomplished through a platoon effort.
The preferred method of maintaining contact with a moving enemy main body is to position echeloned OPs in depth
along the avenue of approach. This allows contact to be handed off from one OP to another without the requirement
for the OPs to physically displace. This technique requires that the scout platoon have enough assets to pre-position
the OPs in depth. See Figure 4-7.
Figure 4-7. Positioning OPs in depth.
Another technique used to maintain contact is to displace in front of a moving enemy. This technique is very difficult