Patrol Base Operations.pdf - UNC Charlotte Army ROTC

168 n SECTION 410 o’clock1st Squad2 o’clockPatrol BaseHQsPatrol Base• Size dictated by METT-TC• Occupied same as ORP• OP initially positioned alongroute from security hall• R&S teams clearto occupation.3rd Squad6 o’clock2nd Squad• Machine guns positionedat 2, 6, and 10 o’clockto cover the front of thesquad to their left• Slit trench and urine holesdesignated• Hasty fighting positions(18” deep) dug• PL establishes prioritiesof work IAW METT-TC.Figure 4.1Patrol Baselistening post (LP)a position occupied bytwo or more Soldiers tolisten for enemy activityLocal Security PlanOnce your patrol has established the hasty perimeter of the patrol base, you must thensecure the local area before the patrol begins further steps. You identify the number ofR&S teams and the squad that will provide them, as well as where the R&S teams will exitand reenter the patrol base and how long they will stay out on their recon. Sending outthe R&S teams to secure the local area is important because if the R&S team discoversenemy or civilians near the patrol base, you must move the patrol to one of the alternatepatrol base locations.Once the R&S patrols return, you must plan for the number, location, and rotationfor listening posts and observation posts (LP/OPs) and determine which elements areresponsible for follow-on R&S patrols. Once the LP/OPs are established, you will need toplan for periodic R&S patrols to maintain security of your patrol base’s local area, so theenemy or civilians traveling near the patrol base do not surprise you.To complete your patrol base security plan, you plan for the level of perimeter security.You then record your security plan in your patrol OPORD under the coordinatinginstructionssubparagraph and the task-to-maneuver-units subparagraph.

Patrol Base Operations n 169Communications PlanYou must consider a commo plan for all phases of your patrol base operation. Theseinstructions will go in your Paragraph 5. You should plan for primary and alternatecommunication methods for the patrol base perimeter, the R&S teams, the LP/OPs, andthe leader’s reconnaissance party. At the platoon level, one of the most difficult limitationsto the mission is having enough radios. In most cases, the number of squad radios yourplatoon possesses dictates how you will run your patrol base security plan. Experiencedpatrol leaders will always request additional radios and justify the request with the patrol’srequirement for commo with R&S teams, LP/OPs, and elements based on the leader’srecon of the objective.For minimum planning considerations, you must presume that at any given timeyou will have one radio in the patrol base for the assistant patrol leader (APL—usuallythe platoon sergeant), one radio for the LP/OP, one radio for one R&S team, and one radiofor you on the leader’s recon. This means that your patrol can operate with a minimumof four radios, which means that if you are lucky, your platoon patrol will have at least fiveradios—one for the PL (you), one for the APL, and one for each squad leader. You mustplan and coordinate for additional radios, however, if you are conducting a combat patrolthat requires separate left, right, and rear security teams—especially if you are leaving asecurity team back in the ORP to guard the patrol’s gear or if you are conducting a reconusing multiple recon or R&S teams.Consider your standard point ambush. You will need a radio for the two-Soldiersecurity team in the ORP, a radio for the left and right flank security teams, a radio forthe APL in the support-by-fire position, and a radio for you, the PL. That’s five radios withno backup radio, without even considering a rear security element. An excellent techniqueto keep everyone straight on who will have a radio during each task or phase of the missionis to publish a commo matrix plan by phases of the operation (Table 4.1).TABLE 4.1Example of Commo Matrix for Phases of a Point AmbushCommo Plan for Combat Patrol—Point AmbushRadio PP to RP to Occupy Leader’s PB to ORP to RP to# RP PB PB Security Recon ORP RP Ambush ORP1 PL PL PL PL PL PL PL-ASSLT PL-ASSLT PL-ASSLT2 APL APL APL APL APL APL APL-SPT APL-SPT APL-SPTL Flank3 1SL 1SL 1SL LP/OP LP/OP 1SL SEC Sec SECR Flank4 2SL 2SL 2SL R&S 1 SRV Tm 2SL SEC Sec SEC5 3SL 3SL 90 OP R&S 2 R&S 2 3SL ORP ORP ORPSec Sec Sec

170 n SECTION 4Primary sectorwith FPLPrimary sectorwith PDFFigure 4.2aCompleted Range Card, DA Form 5517-R (front)Defense PlanThe steps to planning the patrol base defense are very similar to establishing a deliberatedefense, as you have learned in your previous readings and lessons on defense. You planto place your crew-served weapons at the apex of the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positionsof your triangle and assign them their sectors of fire. Once in the patrol base, you will assignthem a principal direction of fire (PDF) and their final protective line (FPL). The crewservedweapons will complete and turn in a range card (Figures 4.2a and 4.2b). From thatpoint forward, your APL will supervise the crew-served weapons.You plan to assign each squad a sector of fire, which is much easier in the patrol basebecause the left and right limits will be the apexes of the three clock positions. You simplyneed to plan which squad will occupy which leg of the triangle.As part of your defense plan, you will also need to have a plan to withdraw underenemy contact. Your plan should address, at a minimum, three withdrawal routes in caseany of the three sides of your patrol base makes contact with the enemy. Your withdrawalplan should identify the order of withdrawal from the patrol base, the azimuth and distanceto the ORP where you will attempt to reorganize, and the alternate patrol base you wantyour patrol to link up at if the platoon is scattered by the enemy contact and cannotconsolidate and reorganize in the ORP.Resupply and MEDEVACIt is easy to argue that resupply in the patrol base is more complicated and more difficult—and requires much more detailed planning and coordination—than other offense anddefense missions because although you want to remain undetected in the patrol base,you may still need to be resupplied. You must use your map to plan tentative primaryand alternate resupply and MEDEVAC points. The points must be far enough away from

Patrol Base Operations n 171Maximumengagement linefor DragonFigure 4.2bCompleted Range Card, DA Form 5517-R (back)your patrol base that the resupply activity will not draw attention to or near your patrolbase. You must use the same considerations when planning primary and alternate routesto and from your resupply points and patrol base.You must also consider the method of resupply. If it is by wheeled vehicle, you mustplan for the most covered, concealed, and secure route, not only for your dismountedapproach, but also for the wheeled vehicle that will make the drop. For this reason, it isalmost always best to resupply by air, preferably by helicopter—although you may alsoconsider a cargo-plane resupply. Patrols are normally resupplied via helicopter. Both havepros and cons you must consider. A helicopter can resupply you in the most restrictiveterrain but must hover to make an accurate delivery. The risk in hovering is that the enemycould pinpoint the location of your resupply drop. This is one reason you should neveruse the same resupply point more than once. A cargo plane will not drop your resupplywith precision and will require an open area to make the drop safely. Although you decreasethe chance of the enemy pinpointing the drop’s exact location, you increase your resupplyteam’s chance of detection by sending it into the open area to retrieve the resupply drop.You must also plan for water resupply. During your initial selection of primary andalternate patrol bases, you looked for terrain that is near a water source. You will need toplan primary and alternate routes to and from your water source. Your water resupplyshould not be near a location that the enemy or the civilian population would use. Anotherconsideration is what is upstream of your water source. You want to avoid natural andman-made sources of bacteria, viruses, and chemicals upstream of your water point, suchas livestock areas, chemical plants, medical facilities, and wastewater discharge points.When planning your water points, it is always a good idea to remember to address resupplyand inspection of each squad’s water filters in your OPORD. You must also decide whichsquads will provide the resupply, aid, and litter, and assign the water teams.

172 n SECTION 4Priorities of WorkYou set the priorities of work and publish them in the OPORD under the coordinatinginstructionssubparagraph. As with the deliberate defense, priorities of work can varydepending on many factors—such as the nature of the mission and how much downtime since the previous mission the patrol has had for rest, mess, personal hygiene, andweapons maintenance.The two main differences between priorities of work in the deliberate defense andpriorities of work in the patrol base are time and stealth. In the patrol base, you will normallyhave less than 24 hours to conduct priorities of work, whereas in the deliberate defenseyou will normally occupy the same defensive position longer—thus affording your unitmore time to conduct priorities of work as well as more time to rotate more of your Soldiersthrough the priorities of work.The nature of the patrol base demands stealth, even more than a deliberate defense.In the deliberate defense, the enemy is probably aware of your general location anddisposition of your defenses. In the patrol base, however, the enemy should not even knowyou are in the area. Thus if you wish to remain undetected in the patrol base, it wouldnot be wise to conduct some of the priorities of work that you would normally conductin the deliberate defense. Generally, the priorities of work in the patrol base are thosethat prepare the Soldier, the weapons, and the equipment for the upcoming mission. Inmost cases, sleep will not be one of those priorities.Priorities in the patrol base normally include security, range cards and sector sketches,weapons maintenance, equipment maintenance, pre-combat checks (PCCs) andinspections (PCIs), sanitation, personal hygiene (including foot inspections by a medic),eating, and rest. The APL and squad leaders must enforce active security measures suchas noise, light, litter, and latrine discipline in order to prevent the enemy from detectingthe patrol base.As with most tacticaltasks or missions,there are many tactics,techniques, andprocedures (TTPs) andvarying unit standingoperating procedures(SOPs) on how tooccupy a patrol base.This text explains someof the techniquessmall units use, butthe techniques describedare not all-inclusive.Occupying the Patrol BaseYou must consider all of your primary and alternate patrol bases as tentative until youphysically confirm their suitability and security with a leader’s recon. You do this byestablishing a security halt just short of your tentative patrol base.Just before making your security halt, your patrol must make a 90-degree turn towardyour tentative patrol base. You do this so that if the enemy is tracking the patrol, the enemywill not approach the patrol base directly and surprise the patrol while it is in the earlystages of occupying the base. Obviously, if there is nothing to gain by this, such as whenyou are operating in flat desert terrain, then you omit this step.At the 90-degree turn, you signal for the trail squad to drop a two-Soldier OP at the 90-degree turn. You also task the trail squad to cover any tracks at the 90-degree turn. Thesquad drops the OP far enough from the tentative patrol base to provide the patrol earlywarning of the approaching enemy, but close enough that the patrol can provide fire tocover the OP team’s movement back to the patrol base if the OP is compromised.

Patrol Base Operations n 173From your security halt, you conduct a leader’s recon to confirm exactly where youwant your patrol base. You issue a five-point contingency plan (GOTWA) to the APLprior to departing the security halt location.You take your RTO and a Soldier from each of the three squads to recon and securethe patrol base and to act as guides when the rest of the patrol occupies the patrol base.You should also take a compass man, whose sole job is to focus on remaining on azimuth,but some units may have the PL or the RTO perform the compass task. Some units prefertaking the squad leaders and some may prefer taking the Alpha or Bravo team leaders.There are pros and cons to both. If you take the squad leaders, you are leaving one leader(the APL) with the majority of the patrol at the security halt, and you have a concentrationof leadership vulnerable while on the leader’s recon of the tentative patrol base. This textwill assume that you use the Alpha team leaders from each squad to participate in theleader’s recon. At least one of the A team leaders must have a radio before departing thesecurity halt.The leader’s recon moves to the grid coordinates of the tentative patrol base. You makemental note of suitable terrain along the route in the event you must adjust the locationof the patrol base because of unsuitable conditions at the tentative site. The compassman records the back azimuth to the security halt to prevent the leader’s recon partyfrom getting lost when returning to the patrol.US and Iraqi Soldiers clearing a patrol base

174 n SECTION 4Once at the tentative patrol base location, the Alpha team leaders make a quick sweepof the tentative patrol base using the inverted heart technique or the zigzag technique toclear the patrol base. Concurrently, you confirm that the location is well covered andconcealed and can be easily defended for a short period, and you ensure that the patrolbase has no signs of recent enemy or civilian occupation or activity.As patrol leader, you select the location of the triangle’s three apexes. A unit’s standingoperating procedures (SOP) will dictate this, but most have the 12 o’clock position facethe objective, or may prefer to have the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock apexes face the most likelyenemy avenue of approach. You also ensure that the length of the legs of the triangles canaccommodate each squad without spreading the Soldiers too far apart or bunching themup too closely. The patrol base must also be large enough to allow space in the center ofthe patrol base to accommodate you, the RTO, the APL, and any attachments such as themedic, forward observer (FO), or sappers.You identify the three apexes of the triangle to the three Alpha team leaders, issue aGOTWA, and give the team leaders the grid coordinates to the patrol base and the patrolat the security halt. Referring to Figure 4.1, you would set the 3rd Squad A team leader atthe 6 o’clock apex, the 2nd Squad A team leader at the 10 o’clock apex, and the 1st SquadA team leader at the 2 o’clock apex before you and the RTO return to the patrol at thesecurity halt.You then radio back to the APL, giving the patrol base coordinates and ordering theAPL to prepare the patrol to move.You return to the security halt with your RTO and compass man (if you took onealong). By the time you reach the security halt, the APL has readied the remainder of thepatrol to follow the PL to the patrol base. Just prior to moving out, you issue a GOTWAto the 90-degree OP team with the intent to recall the OP as soon as the patrol occupiesthe patrol base.As the patrol approaches the patrol base, the 3rd Squad A team leader at the 6 o’clockposition assists in guiding the patrol into that position. As the patrol approaches the 6 o’clockposition, you signal for the patrol to assume the file formation and for the squad leadersto move to the front of their squads.There are many techniques for occupying a patrol base. Some units will have all squadsfile in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation around the apexes with each squad stoppingto occupy one of the three legs of the triangle. This section will explain the occupationtechnique illustrated by Figure 4.1. In that figure, you see that the 1st and 2nd squads filearound counterclockwise, stopping at their respective team leaders, who act as guides atthe 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions. Likewise, you see that the 3rd squad moves clockwisefrom the 6 o’clock position and the 3rd squad leader stops when reaching the guide atthe 10 o’clock apex. Because occupation techniques may vary between units, you may seesquad leaders of either Alpha or Bravo team leaders acting as the apex guides during apatrol base operation.The headquarters section (including the weapons squad) moves through the 6 o’clockposition and establishes the command post (CP) in the middle of the patrol base. You, yourRTO, the APL, and any attachments such as the medic and FO occupy the center of thepatrol base. The machine gun teams will temporarily halt at the CP only long enough forthe APL to collect them and place the machine guns at the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock apexes.

176 n SECTION 4Generally, you wait until your R&S teams come back to consolidate their sketches beforesending out LPs or OPs. You wait because your R&S teams may have discovered somethingduring their recon that makes the patrol base location unsuitable, which would require youto move to one of your alternate patrol bases. Waiting for the R&S teams to return beforesending out your OPs will also prevent the two from bumping into each other and mistakingeach other for the enemy. But more important, in most cases, your R&S team will provideyou the best intelligence on where you should place your LPs or OPs.Whichever technique you use, you must ensure that everyone remaining in the perimeterknows who will be moving to the front of their sector and when. The OPs need to knowwhen R&S teams will be moving through their area, and R&S teams need to know wheretheir OPs are located.When your squad leaders have given you their sector sketches, you prepare a patrolbase fire plan.Soldier defending his patrol base

Patrol Base Operations n 177Patrol Base ActivitiesOnce your R&S teams return, you can consider your patrol base secure and begin yourpriorities of work. One of the first priorities will probably be establishing an LP or OP tocover the most likely enemy avenues of approach to your patrol base. Remember that yourLP or OP must have commo back to the patrol base. If you are short on squad radios,you may need to run commo wire out to the LP or OP.After your OPs are out, you publish the following plans, which the APL will superviseand enforce:• Security plan—when and how often you will rotate OPs and R&S teams• Alert plan—state the alert posture (33 percent, 50 percent, 100 percent security)and stand-to time. Set up the plan to ensure that all positions are checked periodically,OPs are relieved periodically, and at least one leader is always alert. The patrol typicallyconducts stand-to at a time specified by unit SOP—for example, 50 percent securityexcept at stand-to, when security will be 100 percent.• Withdrawal plan—azimuth and distance to nearest ORP and alternate patrol baseif you must withdraw due to enemy contact• Maintenance plan—weapons, commo, night-vision goggles, load-bearing equipment,and so forth. Soldiers should not break down all these items at the same time formaintenance (no more than 25 percent at one time), and should not disassembleweapons at night. If one machine gun is down, then raise security for all remainingweapons.• Sanitation and personal hygiene plan—where to dig slit trenches and where andwhen to conduct personal hygiene. The APL and medic ensure that a slit trench isprepared and marked and that squads designate urine areas. All Soldiers will shave;brush teeth; wash face, hands, armpits, groin, and feet; and brush or clean bootsdaily. The patrol will not leave trash behind.stand-toprocedures conductedprior to first light toenhance unit securityNote:Trash is a huge source of intelligence for both you and the enemy. Trash cantell the size of a unit, how well the unit is supplied, how long the unit wasthere, and when the unit departed. It can also help predict the unit’s morale.• Your mess plan—where and when Soldiers can eat and what to do with the trash.No more than half of the platoon typically eats at one time, and Soldiers will typicallyeat one to three meters behind their fighting positions in a place where they arenot silhouetted, to avoid being spotted by enemy or civilians.• Water resupply plan—if water sources are not confirmed during R&S recon, youmust send out a team to confirm water sources you identified during the planningphase and identified in the OPORD. The APL organizes watering parties as necessary.The watering party should carry canteens in an empty rucksack or duffel bag,should carry each squad’s filtration system, and must have communication and acontingency plan prior to departure.

178 n SECTION 4Leader’s Recon of the ObjectiveIf you are able to conduct your leader’s recon of the objective from your patrol base, thenyou inform your squad leaders to provide you the personnel to attend the leader’s recon(as tasked in your OPORD). You issue the APL a GOTWA and you proceed directly to theobjective, move to an ORP and conduct your leader’s recon, or move your entire patrolto an ORP.Once your leader’s recon is complete, you can either return to the patrol base to completethe plan and issue the OPORD, or if pressed for time, you can radio your APL to bring theremainder of the patrol forward to the leader’s recon ORP. If you will not be returning tothe patrol base, your APL must ensure that the patrol brings everything with them to theORP (including the rucksacks and equipment of those who went on the leader’s recon). Ifyou decide, depending on your METT-TC analysis, that the patrol will return to the patrolbase after the mission is complete, you may choose to leave your nonessential rucks andequipment in the patrol base with a two-Soldier security team to guard it while the rest ofthe patrol conducts the mission. When the mission is complete, the patrol can return to thepatrol base just long enough to retrieve your gear and move to another patrol base.If you radio the APL to bring the patrol forward to the ORP, you can complete yourplan in the ORP while the APL moves the patrol to the ORP. This can give you someextra time to yourself to compose your OPORD.When the APL brings the patrol to the ORP, you issue the completed plan to the patrol,conduct PCCs and PCIs, and rehearse actions on the objective. If you returned to the patrolbase after the leader’s recon, you can conduct these tasks in the patrol base.What you do upon completing the mission depends on whether you left anything oranyone back in the patrol base. If you are not returning to the patrol base, you willdisseminate PIR and CCIR at the ORP, account for personnel and sensitive items, anddepart the ORP en route to your next patrol base—radioing in to higher headquarters asyou move. Then the cycle starts all over again.If you must return to the patrol base to retrieve personnel or equipment, you stilldisseminate PIR and CCIR at the ORP and radio higher headquarters as you move to thepatrol base. Once at the patrol base, you remain only long enough to pick up your rucks,gain accountability (i.e., make sure everyone is accounted for), report to higherheadquarters, and then move out to your next patrol base.Forward Operating Bases (FOB)As you learned in Section 1, in the COE—especially in an urban environment—many unitsare shifting toward establishing forward operating bases (FOBs). These FOBs have manysimilarities to patrol bases but are usually occupied for longer periods and by largerelements—most FOBs are company, battalion, or task force in size. The FOB is a securelocation where units prepare missions and refit to fight. They generally have several classesof supplies on location with a routine plan for resupply by higher in place.

180 n SECTION 4eCONCLUSIONIn most combat or recon patrols, the commander’s intent will always be to avoiddetection at all cost in order to maintain the element of surprise and ensuremission success. Choosing a good site for a patrol base, ensuring the right securitymeasures, occupying and establishing the patrol base appropriately—these are allcritical factors in accomplishing your mission and meeting the commander’s intentof avoiding detection. Once you have established the patrol base, focus on thepriorities of work that range from the most important—security—to the alert andwithdrawal plans, communications, sanitation, and other elements. When leadingyour Soldiers, as in all aspects of an officer’s work, you delegate appropriate tasksto your APL (platoon sergeant) and other NCOs, but leave nothing to chance—supervise and spot check their work. Your job as platoon leader is to make sureyour Soldiers perform the tasks well.Key Wordspatrol baselines of driftobservation post (OP)reconnaissance and security (R&S) teamlistening post (LP)stand-toLearning Assessment1. Describe the planning considerations when selecting tentativepatrol base locations.2. Explain the link between planning patrol base operationsand writing your OPORD.3. Explain the additional step you must take when occupying a patrol basethat is not required when occupying an objective rally point (ORP).4. Describe the steps you must take to occupy a platoon patrol base.5. Explain the purpose and functionality of the triangle-shaped patrol base.6. Describe the priorities of work in a platoon patrol base.7. Describe the two methods of security that you can employ whensending teams outside the patrol base perimeter.

Patrol Base Operations n 181ReferencesField Manual 3-21.8, The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad. 28 March 2007.Ott, D. E. (1975). Field Artillery, 1954–1973. Washington, DC: Department of the Army.Retrieved 17 October 2005 from http://www.army.mil/cmh/books/Vietnam/FA54-73/ch4.htmSH 21-76, Ranger Handbook. July 2006.