FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMFM 100-5pauses. Sometimes units go slow at one point in orderto go fast later. Commanders seek a tempo that maintainsrelentless pressure on the enemy to prevent himfrom recovering from the shock and effects of the attack.A quick tempo demands an ability to make tacticaldecisions quickly, to execute operations that denythe enemy a pause, and to exploit opportunities accordingto the commander’s intent. An attack tempo thatputs sufficient pressure on the defender is essential tosuccess; it promotes surprise, keeps the enemy off balance,contributes to the security of the attacking force,and denies the defender freedom of action. Properlyexploited, tempo can confuse and immobilize the defenderuntil the attack becomes unstoppable.Tempo can be either fast or slow. While speed isoften preferred, commanders adjust tempo to ensuresynchronization. At times, tempo may be slowed toensure conditions are set before accelerating again togain the advantages that come with speed. The attackermay adjust his tempo prior to the final decisive actionto ensure the location of key enemy targets, to arrangeforces for a simultaneous attack in depth, or to completeresupply and repositioning to sustain the immediatetransition to exploitation and pursuit. Once combatbegins, attacking forces move fast to follow reconnaissanceunits or successful probes through gaps inenemy defenses before the enemy recovers. Attackersshift their strength quickly to widen penetrations, rollup exposed flanks, and reinforce successes. The attackertries to carry the battle deep into the enemy rear tobreak down the enemy’s defenses before it can react.The attacker does not permit the enemy to recover fromthe shock of the initial assault, never gives him the timeto identify the main effort, and, above all, never affordshim the opportunity to concentrate his forces ormass his effects against the main effort.Tempo provides the necessary momentum for attacksto achieve their objectives. Tempo is a combinationof speed and mass that creates pressure on the enemy.Speed, moreover, is not a substitute for the massproduced by sound tactics. Commanders who overextendtheir ability to mass effects or otherwise act hastilymay give the advantage to the enemy. To gain thegreatest advantage, commanders combine their controlof tempo with sound tactics to create pressure; thisconfuses and shocks the enemy and robs him of hiscombat power.Commanders build tempo into operations throughcareful planning. They identify the best avenues forattack, plan the battle in depth, provide for quick transitionto other phases of offense, and concentrate andcombine forces effectively.AUDACITYAudacity is a key component of any successfuloffensive action. A simple plan, boldly executed, requiresaudacious leaders to negate the dis-advantagesof numerical inferiority. A good example from OperationDesert Storm is the audacity demonstrated lateon 27 February 1991. The two ground troops of the 1-4th Cavalry reached Highway 8, which connected KuwaitCity and Basrah. The squadron commander, operatingon the extreme northern flank of the division,attempted to contact the 1st Infantry Division tacticaloperations center to report his situation. He realizedthe inherent risk to his force in continuing the attackwhile separated from the rest of the division by 25kilometers and without support by artillery or reinforcementsdue to the loss of radio communications.Knowing the intent of the corps and division commanders,he blocked the Iraqi escape route. Subsequently,1-4th Cavalry captured more than 1,000 prisoners.Commanders should understand when and wherethey are taking risks but must not become tentative inthe execution of their plan. A difficult situation handledboldly often leads to dramatic success. The offensiveis inherently a bold action and must be pursued withaudacity.FORMS OF THE TACTICALOFFENSEThe four general forms of the tactical offense aremovement to contact, attack, exploitation, and pursuit.While it is convenient to talk of them as differentforms, in reality they flow readily from one to another.Operations are increasingly fluid. Different forms ofattack—occurring throughout the depth of the battlefieldsimultaneously and in closely aligned phases thatshift back and forth—take new forms and offer increasingoptions for development. An attack may lead toexploitation, which can lead to pursuit. But there arealso occasions when pursuit can be followed by deliberateattack, or deliberate attack can lead directly topursuit. The ebb and flow of battle opens up manyavenues for attack; victory goes to the bold.In force-projection operations, the transition fromoffense to defense is another critical ebb and flow. Entryforces have to survive their initial battles to buildforces. Initial-entry forces have to secure a lodgment7-3