FM 3-34.22 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

Appendix C
characterized by using stealth to reduce obstacles, with support and assault forces executing
their mission only if reduction is detected. Covert breaches are usually conducted during periods
of limited visibility.
C-3. The breach area is the area where a breaching operation occurs. It is established and fully defined
by the higher headquarters of the unit conducting breaching operations. (FM 3-34.2) The area must be
large enough to allow the attacking unit to deploy its support force and extend far enough on the obstacle
farside to allow follow-on forces to deploy before leaving the breach area. One technique is to establish the
breach area using phase lines (PLs) or unit boundaries. The PL defining the breach area farside may be
established as a battle handover line (BHL).
C-4. The reduction area is a number of adjacent points of breach that are under the control of the
breaching commander (see FM 3-34.2). The commander conducting the attack determines the size and
location of the reduction area that supports the seizure of a POP. (See figure C-1.)
Figure C-1. Reduction area, breach area, and point of breach
C-5. A breaching operation includes the reduction of minefields and other EHs and obstacles. Reduction
is the creation of lanes through or over the obstacle to allow the attacking force to pass. The number and
width of lanes varies with the enemy situation, size and composition of the assault force, and scheme of
maneuver. The lanes must allow the assault force to rapidly pass through the obstacle. Breaching is a
mobility operation planned for within the overall framework of assured mobility. Heavily reliant on
reconnaissance, it generally requires significant engineering support to accomplish.
C-6. Most combined arms breaching operations are conducted by a BCT or its subordinate battalion TF
elements as a tactical operation, but higher headquarters may also conduct operational-level combined arms
breaching. As previously mentioned in chapter 6, significant engineer augmentation from EAB is required
to enable a BCT breach or a battalion TF hasty or deliberate breach. Depending on the size of the
assaulting force, number of lanes required, and addition of the appropriate redundancy in reduction assets
the necessary engineer augmentation may include additional Sapper companies, a MAC, or a combat
engineer battalion.
PLANNING
C-7. Successful breaching operations are characterized by applying breaching tenets (see table C-1).
These tenets should be applied when an obstacle is encountered in the AO during an attack or route
clearance operation (see table C-1). The tenets are—
C-2 FM 3-34.22 11 February 2009