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

Combined Arms Breaching Operations
� The lane requirements and type of obstacle drive the amount and type of mobility assets task
organized to the breach force.
� The SITEMP depicting enemy direct-and-indirect fire coverage of predicted enemy obstacles
determines the size and composition of the breach force security element and the support force.
Table C-2. Relationship between breaching organization and breaching fundamentals
Breaching
Organization
Support force
Breach force
Assault force
Support Force
Suppress
Obscure
Breaching
Fundamentals
Suppress (provides additional
suppression)
Obscure (provides additional
obscuration in the reduction area)
Secure (provides local security)
Reduce
Assault
Suppress (if necessary)
Responsibilities
� Suppress enemy direct-fire systems covering the
reduction area.
� Control obscuring smoke.
� Prevent enemy forces from repositioning or
counterattacking to place direct fires on the breach
force.
� Create and mark the necessary lanes in an
obstacle.
� Secure the obstacle nearside and farside.
� Defeat forces that can place immediate direct fires
on the reduction area.
� Report the lane status and location.
� Destroy the enemy on the obstacle farside that is
capable of placing direct fires on the reduction
area.
� Assist the support force with suppression if the
enemy is not effectively suppressed.
� Be prepared to breach follow-on and/or protective
obstacles after passing through the reduction
area.
C-12. The primary responsibility of the support force is to eliminate the enemy’s ability to interfere with a
breaching operation. The commander must allocate enough direct- and indirect-fire systems to the support
force to allow it to accomplish its missions. The support force must—
� Isolate the reduction area with fires.
� Mass and control direct and indirect fires to suppress the enemy and neutralize any weapons that
are able to bring fires on the breach force.
� Control obscuring smoke to prevent enemy-observed direct and indirect fires.
C-13. The support force must seize a support by fire (SBF) position, seeking maximum protection from the
terrain. To increase the survivability of the support force, the commander may establish CFZs for the
support force once it has occupied its SBF positions. If possible, the support force should follow a covered
or concealed route to the SBF position, take up its assigned sectors of fire and observation, and begin to
engage the enemy. It may have to make some adjustments to its direct-fire plan if the situation dictates.
Observation is particularly critical. Artillery observers with the support force may initially bring indirect
fires on enemy positions to fix and suppress the enemy. The support force adjusts the artillery-delivered
obscuring smoke, if necessary, to protect the breach and assault forces as they approach the reduction area.
Breach Force
C-14. The primary mission of the breach force is to reduce the obstacle. The breach force assists in the
passage of the assault force by creating, proofing, and marking lanes. It is a combined arms force and
includes engineers, reduction assets, and enough maneuver forces to provide additional suppression and
local security. The breach force must be allocated enough maneuver forces to provide additional
suppression against various threats, including—
11 February 2009 FM 3-34.22 C-5