Cpl's Course Fire Team Operations Exam Questions and Answers - Latest Update Graded A+ ()

The main battle area is the portion of battlefield where the decisive battle is fought to defeat the enemy. The main battle area: Extends rearward from the FEBA to the rear boundary of subordinate units Is organized into sectors that are assigned to subordinate units 70. REAR AREA The rear area extends forward from the command's rear boundary to the rear of the area assigned to the command's subordinate units. Rear area operations: Include those functions of security and sustainment required to maintain continuity of operations by the entire force. Protect the sustainment effort as well as deny use of the rear area to the enemy. 17 / 56 The rear area may not always be contiguous with the main battle area. 71. FUNDAMENTALS OF DEFENSE The ten fundamentals described here should neither be used as a checklist nor should they be thought of as hard and fast rules. Rather, these concepts should help guide unit leaders' thinking and tactical planning process prior to engagement with the enemy. The fundamentals of defense are applicable to all tactical levels (fire team, squad, platoon, company, etc.). The application of these fundamentals by all unit leaders increases the chance for a successful defense 72. Maneuver Maneuver is as important in the defense as it is in the offense. While steadfastness and the tenacious holding of key terrain is essential in the defense, the defender must not become immobile. The defender must maintain freedom of maneuver. Maneuver is essential in generating the offensive power fundamental to a successful defense. Units of all sizes maneuver in depth to take advantage of terrain and tactical developments, to concentrate, disperse, and occupy positions from which they can bring more effective fire to bear on the enemy. 73. Preparation The defender organizes the defense on the terrain of their choosing. While the attacker can choose the specific time and point of attack. The defender, through the proper selection of terrain and reinforcing obstacles can direct the energy of the enemy's attack into terrain which is advantageous to the defender. Preparations should begin as early as possible and continue throughout the battle. It must be understood that these preparations may be under constant observation by the attacker. To inhibit the enemy's intelligence effort, the commander 18 / 56 establishes security forces to conduct counter-reconnaissance and deceives the enemy as to the exact location of the main defenses. 74. Mass and Concentration Leaders cannot defend everywhere in strength. They must concentrate forces and fires at the decisive place while exercising economy of force in less critical areas. Some portions of a sector may be unoccupied but held effectively by a combination of fire and obstacles. Additionally, security forces, sensors, and surveillance can be employed along less likely avenues of approach to help reduce risks. The commander designates the main effort based on anticipation of the enemy's main attack. The defensive scheme of maneuver takes advantage of terrain essential to the integrity of the defense. Reserves are positioned so that they can intervene quickly to support the main effort. The defender masses fires and concentrates combat power repeatedly to wrest the initiative from the attacker. The commander may have to surrender some ground to gain the time necessary to concentrate forces. 75. Flexibility While the commander makes every effort to determine the enemy's intentions in advance, the plan must be flexible enough to deal with different enemy courses of action. Flexibility is created by: Detailed planning for contingencies Designating supplementary and alternate positions Properly locating, task organizing, and planning use of the reserve Designing counterattack plans Preparing to assume the offense Planning on-call fire support 19 / 56 76. Offensive Action Since the offense is the decisive form of combat, the commander seeks every opportunity to take offensive action. The defender takes offensive action by: Launching spoiling attacks while the enemy is preparing for or assembling an attack Attacking with security forces to harass, distract, deceive, and damage the enemy before they reach the main battle area Counterattacking to destroy or repulse enemy penetrations Counterattacks range from immediately executed actions for reestablishing the integrity of the defense to commitment of the reserve at the decisive moment of the battle. The commander prepares to change to the offense at the earliest feasible opportunity. 77. Use of Terrain The defender must exploit every aspect of terrain and weather to its advantage. In the defense, as in the attack, terrain is valuable only if a force gains advantage from its possession or control. In making the estimate of the situation, the defending commander takes account of key terrain and visualizes all possible enemy avenues of approach into the sector. The defender seeks to defend on terrain that maximizes effective fire, cover, concealment, movement, and surprise. A position combining all these defensive advantages will seldom be available. While capitalizing on the strong points of the terrain, the defender strengthens the weak points. Natural obstacles are exploited and reinforced by the defender. Obstacle integration multiplies the effects and capabilities of firepower. The combination of firepower and obstacles 20 / 56 causes the enemy to conform to our scheme of maneuver. Obstacles magnify the effects of firepower by increasing target acquisition time and by creating exploitable vulnerabilities. 78. Mutual Support Mutual support strengthens any defense. Mutual support is the support that units provide to each other. It is achieved when defensive positions are located in such a way that the enemy cannot attack one position without coming under fire from at least one other. The degree of mutual support obtained depends on the terrain, range of weapons, and visibility. Ideally, the front that a force must defend is directly related to its ability to provide mutual support between its units. To neutralize mutually supporting positions, an attacker must disperse fire away from their main objective. Mutual support is essential at all levels. 79. Defense in Depth Defense in depth involves establishing mutually supporting defensive positions throughout the main battle area to absorb and progressively weaken the attack. It provides maneuver space within the defensive sector for the maneuver of subordinate units against the enemy's main effort. Defense in depth is necessary to: Disrupt the momentum of the attack and prevent a breakthrough. Force the enemy into engagement areas. Allow the defender time to determine the enemy's main effort and then counter it. Force the enemy to commit his reserves at a non-decisive 21 / 56 point. Disperse the effects of enemy fire. 80. Surprise The defense should attempt to achieve surprise. The organization of a defense should not betray the commander's intent and positioning of units. To preserve combat power, especially against a strong enemy, the defender must employ every means to mislead the enemy as to the true location of its positions and the strength and disposition of forces. Toward this end, the commander considers the use of security forces and reverse slopes, maximizing available cover, concealment, camouflage, and dummy positions. The best defensive terrain will also be apparent to the attacking enemy, who will maneuver against it with caution and will mass fires on it. When possible, the commander selects terrain that has good defensive qualities but is not conspicuous. 81. Knowledge of the Enemy The defense is largely reactive by nature. A defender's options are dictated in large part by what the attacker does. Therefore, thorough knowledge of the enemy's capabilities, operational concepts, and habits is essential to a successful defense. The defending commander must look at the defense through the enemy's eyes to identify probable enemy objectives and courses of action. A thorough intelligence preparation of the battlespace (IPB) will provide valuable indications of enemy assembly areas, attack positions, routes, firing positions for supporting arms units, and axis of advance. When the defender can accurately anticipate the enemy's actions, the defender can trap the attacker within the defense and establish conditions for resumption of offensive operations. 82. 22 / 56 FIGHTING POSITION A fighting position is a location on the ground from which fire is delivered by an individual, a fire unit (squad or fire team), or a crew-served weapon. Before selecting a firing position, the assigned sector of fire must be carefully examined from various locations using the prone position to ensure effective coverage of the sector of fire. The exact fighting position is then designated on the ground prior to digging in. The position must: Allow good fields of fire. Make maximum use of available cover and concealment. Facilitate exercise of fire control by the unit leader 83. TYPES OF FIGHTING POSITION The primary position is the best available position from which the assigned sector of fire can be covered. Individuals, fire teams, squads, and crew-served weapons are assigned primary positions. Alternate positions are not normally assigned to individuals or units within the platoon. They are used primarily by crew-served weapons. This position is located so that a crew-served weapon can continue to accomplish its original mission when the primary position becomes untenable or unsuited for carrying out that mission. Supplementary positions are prepared to guard against attack from directions other than those from which the main attack is expected. A supplementary position is a secondary position and does not cover the same sector of fire as the primary position. 23 / 56 These positions provide security. When occupied, they ensure protection against attack from directions other than those covered by primary positions. Movement to supplementary positions should be made by covered and concealed routes when available. 84. INDIVIDUAL FIGHTING POSITION The fire team leader designates fighting positions that will enable the fire team to cover the assigned sector by fire. Each fighting position must provide—and receive—mutual support from adjacent positions. Positions may be prepared as single or double fighting positions. If double fighting holes are prepared, the automatic rifleman and assistant automatic rifleman will pair off. Each position should be continuously improved from hasty position to deliberate position to overhead covered position. 85. SECTOR OF FIRE A sector of fire is an area that is required to be covered by fire by an individual, a fire unit (squad or fire team), or a crew-served weapon. The sector of fire is used to: Clearly indicate the area to be covered by fire. Provide for the best distribution of available firepower and complete coverage of the area to covered by fire. Ensure mutual support by the overlapping of adjacent sectors of fire. It is a pie-shaped area enclosed by lateral limits to the left and right and a forward limit defines its depth. Squad leaders are not normally assigned individual sectors of fire since their primary duty during the conduct of the defense is directing and controlling the fires of their units.