Small Unit Tactics
Small Unit Tactics
TASK ORGANIZATION
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FORMATIONS AND HALTS
LEADERS RECON
ACTIONS IN ORP
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE, AMBUSH PATROL
OCCUPATION AND ACTIONS ON THE OBJECTIVE, AMBUSH
SQUAD PATROL BASE
RECONNAISSANCE PATROL
PLATOON RAID
ATL
A203 A
SAW
ALR
AT4 ARR
SL
MG
AG
BTL
B B
SAW 203
BRR
BLR
AT4
BRR
TASK
ORGANIZATION
ALPHA TEAM
AP
APT:
Front Security
Leaders Recon / S&O
for ORP, OBJ & PB
ATL A
A203
SAW
ALR
ARR
AT4
SL
SQUAD LDR:
Responsible for command and control of
squad
Controls navigation and pace
Moves with the bounding element on all
contacts
Conducts Leaders Recon of ORP, OBJ and
PB
Support Element on OBJ
Calls in all Sit-Reps, Code Words when
applicable
MG
Support Element on OBJ
Machine Gunner:
Fire Support for Squad
Support Element on OBJ
AG
Assistant Gunner:
Assists Machine Gunner as needed
Feeds ammunition to the machine gun
Assumes control of the Machine Gun
in absence of the gunner
Support Element on OBJ
Primary recorder
TASK ORGANIZATION
BRAVO TEAM
BTL
B Team Leader:
Alt. Compass / Land Nav
Responsible for accountability
Responsible for security
Controls CCP / Release
Point
Controls Flank Security
B elements at LDAs B
SAW 203
B SAW: B 203:
Left Flank Security on LDA s Alt. Pace man
Assault Element on OBJ Right Flank Security at
LDAs
Flank Security on OBJ
BLR BRR
AT4
BRR
BRR:
Rear Security
Early warning for patrol
Assault Element
TRAVELLING / TRAVELLING OVERWATCH
FORMATION
(ALL DISTANCES ARE METT-TC DEPENDENT)
AP
ATL
A
A203
SAW
ALR
ARR
AT4
TRAVELLING TRAVELLING
10M
20M OVERWATCH
50M
SL
PROVIDES
SPEED AND PROVIDES SECURITY
CONTROL MG
USED WHEN CONTACT IS
POSSIBLE
AG
BTL
B B
SAW 203
BRR
BLR AT4
BRR
WEDGE
TRAVELING (20m Separation)
TRAVELING OVERWATCH (50 Separation)
SHORT HALT
AP
ATL A
A203
SAW
ALR
ARR
AT4
5-10m
20M METT-TC
50M
Traveling SL
AG AB 17 th MAN
20M
BTL
B B
SAW 203
BLR BRR
AT4
BLR 18 th MAN
BRR
MODIFIED SQUAD
WEDGE FILE
AP
AP
10 METERS
ATL OR METT-
TC
ATL
ASAW
10 METERS A
A OR METT- SAW
203 TC
A
ARR 203
ALR ALR
AT4
AT4
SL ARR
MG SL
AG
MG
B
203 AG
B
SAW BLR
BRR
AT4
B203
BLR
BSAW
BLR
BLR
BTL
BRR
Used when AT4
Used during hours of
speed is
limited visibility and in
essential. BTL
restrictive terrain.
SHORT HALT
ATL
A203 A
SAW
ALR
AT4 ARR
SL
MG
AG
BTL
B B
SAW 203
BRR
BLR
AT4
BRR
SHORT HALT
APT
A203 A
SAW
ALR
AT4 ARR
ATL
MG B
SL
203
AG BTL
BRR
BLR AT4
B BRR
SAW
AG MG
AP
A ARR
203
ALR A
AT4 SAW
ATL
MG SL AG
AG BTL MG
B
B AT4
SAW B
BLR 203
BRR
MG AG
NVGS
ATL
SL
NVGS
RADIO
50 Meters or to a 50 Meters or to a
vantage point to see vantage point to see
beyond 50 meters beyond 50 meters
9 AP
A
SAW
3
SL
ATL
6
SL PLACES APT & ASAW IN PRONE
SL ISSUES A MODIFIED GOTWA AND A DESCRIPTION OF
LAST ERRP.
CONDUCTS RECON
SL CALLS BTL ON S&OS RADIO BEFORE DEPARTING.
CLEARING THE ORP 100 meters from
(6-9-12 METHOD) the center in the
direction of
movement or an
vantage point to
SL
ATL
9 A
Point
SAW
3
50 Meters from 50 Meters from
the center or to the center or to
an Vantage point an vantage point
to see beyond 50 to see beyond 50
meters meters
6
UPON REACHING TENTATIVE LOCATION, ALL CONDUCT SLLS
SL PLACES APT & ASAW IN PRONE
SL ISSUES A MODIFIED GOTWA AND A DESCRIPTION OF
LAST ERRP.
SL CALLS BTL ON S&OS RADIO BEFORE DEPARTING.
OOM FROM SECURITY HALT TO ORP
(MODIFIED WEDGE)
AP
SAW
ORP
ATL
ARR 3-5m
ALR METT-TC
AT4
BRR
A
203
SL
MG
Direction of Movement
AG
BLR
BRR
AT4
B
SAW
B
203
BTL
AG MG
A ARR
203
ALR BRR
AT4 SL ATL
A
AP
SAW
BTL BRR
B
SAW AT4
B
BLR
203
1. SLLS
2. TLs ESTABLISH PERIMETER AT 2,4,8,10 OCLOCK
3. SECURITY IS ESTABLISHED
4. SL PLACES M240 ON TRIPOD, PREPS MG AT THE 12 AND CONDUCTS PCI
5. AFTER OCCUPATION, BTL SECURES CLAYMORES / DEMO PREPS PCI STATION IN
CENTER (2 PONCHOS)
6. INSPECT LEADERS RECON OF THE OBJ
7. BTL IS INSPECTED BY SL
8. RADIO MONITORED AT ALL TIMES
OCCUPATION OF ORP
IN ORDER OF MOVEMENT / EMPLACEMENT
(SECURITY, SUPPORT, ASSAULT)
BTL CAN USE A PIVOT MAN
(COMMO MUST BE MAINTAINED)
INDIVIDUAL & EQUIPMENT
ATL
WEAPON SYSTEM
A
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AP
SAW
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
SL
AG MG
A ARR
203
ALR BRR
AT4
KILL ZONE
35 50m
LSS RSS
secondary 35M secondary
SL CLAYMORE ATL CLAYMORE
LSS RSS
primary primary
ASSAULT
100 M 100 M
MINIMUM MINIMUM
DISTANCE SL ATL DISTANCE
OBJ
ATL
A TENTATIVE A
SAW RP Point
SL
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
IDENTIFY KILL ZONE
LOA
35 M
KILL ZONE
35 50 METERS
CLAYMORE POSITIONS
SL ATL 5-10 METERS FROM
ROAD
INTERLOCKING IN
OBJ / KILLZONE CRITERIA CENTER
A A
Point SAW
S&O
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
(SUPPORT POSITION)
LOA
SL ATL
35 METERS
TENTATIVE
SUPPORT FROM NEAR THE KILL ZONE, THE SL LOOKS BACK AND
POSITION
IDENTIFIES A TENTATIVE SUPPORT POSITION
THAT PROVIDES COVER AND CONCEALMENT
EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON SUSPECTED
ENEMY DIRECTION OF TRAVEL (METT-TC)
SL/ATL PACE 35 METERS BACK AND MOVE TO
TENTATIVE SUPPORT POSITION
A A
Point SAW
S&O
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
(SUPPORT POSITION)
LOA
A A
Point SAW
S&O
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
(ASSAULT LINE)
LOA
KILL ZONE
35 50 METERS
35 METERS
A B
AP ALR ATL BRR
SAW SAW
SL ATL
A A
Point SAW
S&O
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
(ASSAULT LINE)
LOA
KILL ZONE
35 50 METERS
A B
AP ALR ATL BRR
SAW SAW
SL ATL
A
APT
SAW
S&O POSITION
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
(RIGHT SIDE SECURITY)
SUSPECTED ENEMY
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL
SL / ATL RETURN TO RP
SL/ATL REPEATS THE SAME PROCEDURE FOR THE
OPPOSITE SECURITY POSITION
RELEASE
100 METERS FROM RP
POINT
LEADERS RECON OF OBJECTIVE
LOA
KILL ZONE
AG
MG
SL A B
AP ARR ATL BLR BRR
SAW SAW
SL/ATL RETURN TO RP
SL/ATL MOVE UP TO S&O AND
MODIFY GOTWA
A
APT
SAW SL/ATL CONDUCT RADIO CHECK
WITH ORP USING S&OS RADIO
SL ATL
SL AND ATL MOVE BACK TO ORP
RP
BTL
OOM FROM ORP TO RP
(FILE)
RP
ATL
BRR
AT4
B RIGHT SIDE SECURITY
SECURITY ELEMENT 203
ALR
AT4
A LEFT SIDE SECURITY
203
SL
SUPPORT ELEMENT MG
AG
ARR
BLR
ASSAULT ELEMENT
BRR
B
SAW
ATL SL BTL
H
A Q B
S
T T
E E E
A L A
M E M
M
E EXAMPLE:
N
T Rucksack Plan (Center of RP)
BRR
1. ATL HALTS PATROL AT RP AT4
2. BTL MOVES FORWARD AND
TAKES CONTROL OF RP
ALR B
AT4 203
3. SQUAD FORMS CIGAR SHAPED
PERIMETER BTL STARTS RUCK
PLAN AT THE RP
A203 AG
ATL SL BTL
4. SL GETS AN UPDATE FROM S&O
ON THE CURRENT SITUATION
OR ANY CHANGES ON THE OBJ ARR MG
5. BTL GIVES HIS RADIO TO THE
STRONG SIDE SECURITY ELEMENT
6. PL ISSUES ENGAGEMENT AND
BRR BLR
ABORT CRITEREA PLAN TO
BOTH SECURITY ELEMENTS AT B
RP SAW
7. SL ENSURES THEY KNOW BACK
AZIMUTH TO THE RELEASE
POINT
8. BTL COUNTS THE SL, ATL AND THE
STRONG SIDE SECURITY ELEMENT
OUT OF RP
SECURITY EMPLACEMENT
SUSPECTED ENEMY
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL
B203 BRR
SL AND ATL EMPLACE SECURITY POSITION. AT4
PRIMARY
SL EMPLACES SECURITY ELEMENT IN ITS POSITION
PRIMARY AND ENSURES THEY KNOW
SECONDARY POSITION. SL ATL
RELEASE
100 METERS FROM RP
POINT
EMPLACEMENT OF ELEMENTS
(Support and Assault)
LOA
KILL ZONE
ASSAULT
RP/CCP
ACTIONS ON THE OBJ
LOA
KILL ZONE
35M
secondary secondary
SL CLAYMORE ATL CLAYMORE
35M
AG
A203 B203 BRR
ALR MG
AT4
AT4 SL A B
AP ALR ATL BLR BRR SAW
SAW RS
LS
SECURITY
SECURITY ASSAULT
RP / CCP
BTL
secondary
AMBUSH FORMATIONS:
L SHAPED AMBUSH BRR
AT4
B203
RS
SECURITY
70 M
min
SL
MG
KILL ZONE
AG
secondary SUPPORT
35M
35M
SL CLAYMORE ATL CLAYMORE
A203 B A
ALR BRR BLR ATL ALR AP
AT4
SAW SAW
70M ASSAULT
LS min
SECURITY
DISTRIBUTION OF
FIRES
KILLZONE KILLZONE
AG
MG
CLAYMORE SUPPORT
51% EACH 100% GRAZING FIRE
(METAL-TO-METAL TROOP
SIDE)
KILLZONE KILLZONE
A B
APT ALR ATL BR BRR
SAW SAW
SAW ASSAULT
51% EACH 10-2 INTERLOCKING
METHOD OF CLEARING VEHICLES
ALR
ATL
ATL
ALR
Vehicles will be approached at a 45 degree angle from the front, or portion of vehicle closest to
the assault element.
Assault will clear through windshield or back window at they approach, then will clear under the
vehicle.
The cab of the vehicle will be cleared. One man will provide security while the other man opens
the door, gaining access to the cab of the vehicle. Rear doors will be cleared in the same
manner.
The vehicle will be shut off if running. This will reduce the risk of explosion on the objective.
Headlights will remain on, unless they are a hindrance.
Once the cab of the vehicle is secure, the clearing team will move to the rear of the vehicle and
pie off or dynamically clear the rear of the vehicle until the rear of the vehicle has been
cleared of enemy personnel.
Once the rear of the vehicle has been cleared, the vehicle clearing team will break the far side of
the vehicle clearing it of enemy personnel. They will maintain their position at the rear of the
vehicle. The Vehicle Clearing team will call the Vehicle Clear.
The vehicle clearing team will not pass beyond the far side of the vehicle until the remainder
37 of
the assault bounds up online with them.
CONSOLIDATION AND
REORGANIZATION
AG MG
BRR
A AT4
SAW B
ARR 203
BRR
100 300
MG ATL meters
AG
AG SL BTL
MG LP/OP
METT-TC
AP
A
BLR 100 300
203 ALR B meters
AT4 SAW
MG AG
100 meters
E B BRR
N BRR 203 BLR
E AT4
M B
200 -400 BTL
meters
Y SAW
MG
K SL
I
L AG ATL
L ALR
AT4
A
Z ARR 203
O A AP
N SAW
E
1. BTL PERFORMS ABREVIATED PCIs WITH LDRS RECON (COMMO,
OPTICS, WEAPONS, TIE-DOWN POLICY)
2. BTL FORMS CHOKE POINT AT THE 10 OCLOCK. SL ISSUES 5 PT
CONTINGENCY PLAN (GOTWA) AND DESCRIPTION OF LAST ACTIVE
ERRP TO BTL.
3. SL/ATL SET BEZEL RING FOR BACK AZIMUTH.
4. BTL GIVES BRIEFBACK AND COUNTS LDRS RECON OUT OF
PERIMETER.
5. BTL DISSEMINATES 5 PT TO PATROL AND MAINTAINS SECURITY.
RADIO IS MONITORED AT ALL TIMES.
6. ESTABLISH SECURITY PLAN, ALERT PLAN AND EVACUATION PLAN
7. CONDUCT PRIORITIES OF WORK.
Clandestine Patrol Base
1. SL determines placement of MG
using METT-TC. SL establishes the
center of the patrol base
A
2. ATL moves in the direct of 12 SAW
AP
oclock (radio is turned off).
A ATL
3. BTL moves in the direct of the 6 203
oclock (radio is turned off) ALR ARR
BRR MG
Truck Load Plan
SL
ARR
BRR
ALR
BRR AT4
AT4
A203
BLR
B203 APT
AG ATL
BTL
B A
MG SAW
SAW
TRUCK OFFLOAD PLAN
MG LOCATION IS METT-TC
MG DEPENDENT.
AG
SL
ATL
B
SAW
B BTL
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL
203 A
A 203
SAW
RALLY POINTS
B BLR AP BRR B
SAW 203
BTL AT4
ATL
BRR A
SAW
A203
ALR
AT4
ARR
SL
MG
AG
BTL
B B
SAW 203
BRR
BLR AT4
BRR
AP
DELIBERATE DANGER AREA
CROSSING ATL
A
A203
SAW
ALR
ARR
AT4
SL
MG
AG
BTL B
B
SAW BRR 203
BRR AT4
BLR
7. HQ ELEMENT CROSSES
LDA AND MOVES ACROSS
TO THE FAR SIDE
10. BTL GET
MAINTAINING WEDGE. ACCOUNTABILITY OF ALL
PERSONNEL AND SENDS
UP A HEAD COUNT.
FIRE TEAM BLAST AP
ATL
A
A203
SAW
ALR ARR
AT4
ALR A
A203 AP ATL ARR
AT4 SAW
Left Flank Security Right Flank Security
3. When HQ element
crosses the 240B
SL
moves to the center
with SL and AG
covering flank security. MG
BRR
FSRP
NSRP
FSRP
NSRP
BOUNDING OVERWATCH
(ALTERNATING)
ENEMY CONTACT LIKELY
2nd Bound
1st Bound
BOUNDING OVERWATCH
(SUCCESSIVE)
ENEMY CONTACT LIKELY
AP
A
A203
SAW
ATL
ALR
ARR
AT4
MG
2. SL DECIDES TO MOVE
FORWARD OR BACKWARD
AG
3. TEAM MEMBERS NEAREST
CASUALTY PROBE TO HIM
BTL AND MOVE HIM TO AND
EVAC LOCATION
B B
SAW 203
BRR
BLR
AT4
BRR
REACT TO CONTACT
AP
A
A203
SAW
ATL
ALR
ARR
AT4
BRR
RECON
CLOVERLEAF TECHNIQUE
LOA
OBJ
SURVEILLANCE
POSITION
RADIO
NVG
AT4
RADIO RADIO
NVG ORP NVG
AREA RECON
VANTAGE POINTS
SURVEILLANCE
TEAM #1
RADIO SURVEILLANCE
NVG
TEAM #2
RADIO
NVG
OBJ
SURVEILLANCE
TEAM #3
RADIO
NVG
AT-4
NVG
ORP
PLATOON RAID
PLATOON RAID
OCCUPY ORP
PLATOON ORP
PLATOON RAID
PINPOINT OBJ.
RIGHT
LEFT FLANK
FLANK
SECURITY
SECURITY
RELEASE POINT
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
RELEASE POINT
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
RELEASE POINT
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
RELEASE
POINT
70
PLATOON RAID
OCCUPATION ASSAULT
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
RP
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
PSG MED /
RIFLEMAN
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
PL RTO
SQUAD LEADER
SQUAD LEADER
MED /
PSG
RIFLEMAN
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
PSG MED /
RIFLEMAN
LEFT
FLANK
SECURITY RIGHT
FLANK
SECURITY
SQUAD LEADER
PL RTO
SQUAD LEADER
PSG MED /
RIFLEMAN
SL
PL RTO SL
PSG
CCP
PSG AND
MED OR
RIFLEMAN
SL PL
RTO SL
PSG
CCP
PSG AND
MED OR
RIFLEMAN
SL
SL PL
RTO
PSG CCP
PSG AND
MED OR
RIFLEMAN
SL
PL
RTO
SL
CCP
PSG AND
PSG MED OR
RIFLEMAN
PL
RTO
SL
CCP
PSG AND
PSG MED OR
RIFLEMAN
ORP