Marine Rifle Squad

9.16
(g) Barbed wire and other obstacles are used extensively in order to
restrict the attacker's movement and to channel him into the sectors
of fire of automatic weapons.
(h) Mines and boobytraps are normally employed in fortified positions.
(i) Communication wire is laid deep underground, thus, providing a
relatively secure means of communication.
(2) Weaknesses
(a) Placing automatic weapons in fixed emplacements restricts the gunner's
observation and, generally, prevents the weapon from being
moved to an alternate or supplementary position.
(b) Emplacements depend upon mutually supporting positions for
all-around observation and fields of fire. When one emplacement is
destroyed, observation and mutually supporting fires are reduced
proportionately.
(c) Generally, the emplacements can withstand the effects of artillery
and mortar fire. Artillery and mortar fire are effective against the field
fortifications around the emplacements. If the field fortifications have
overhead cover, point detonating and delay fuzed rounds can destroy
or collapse the fortifications. If the field fortifications do not have overhead
cover, proximity fuzed rounds can be employed. In either case,
the enemy infantry in the field fortifications will be forced to seek more
protected locations, thus, weakening the enemy defensive position.
(d) The weakest points of emplacements are embrasures, air vents, and
doorways. They provide the attacker with an opening to employ
grenades, rocket launchers, demolition charges, and small arms fire.
b. Tasks. Infantry units attacking a fortified position are organized into
a base of fire and an assault unit. The base of fire provides covering fire for
the assault unit which goes forward, attacks, and seizes an assigned objective
within the enemy fortified position. Both the base of fire and assault unit
are reinforced or supported by appropriate combat power. The cumulative
effect of several small units simultaneously conducting coordinated attacks
against a fortified position will result in the penetration and destruction of
that position. The following tasks must be accomplished in order to successfully
attack and destroy assigned objectives within a fortified position.