by Max Velocity
Figure 25 - Vehicle Mounted TCP
In a TCP you need a road guy for each side of the road, with cover persons. There needs to be a security group and then there will be the cut offs pushed out sufficiently far to provide security. There are two easy methods to do this, which you can amend to fit your needs:
Mounted: Leave the vehicles in the center of the TCP to form a chicane to slow traffic. Have the TCP conducted in the center where the vehicles are, stopping traffic both ways. Have two separate cut-off groups each side of the TCP.
Figure 26 – Dismounted Satellite Patrol TCP
Dismounted: if you are conducting a satellite type patrol than a simple way of doing it is to leave one team in over-watch, preferably on high ground dominating the area of the TCP. The other two teams for their own separate TCPO teams: effectively there is no ‘middle’ to the TCP, one team checks traffic coming from its side; the other team checks it from the other side. Each team works as a cut off for the other team from vehicles speeding through. This is a weaker method in terms of stopping approaching vehicles if they spot the TCP and try and evade, but you can push the cut offs a little further out than the stopping group.
Platoon Defensive Positions
The following is a description of a basic platoon defensive position as it would be laid out for a general war scenario. This is to illustrate the principles and provide a basis upon which to amend such a template, for instance if you find yourself with a platoon size team defending a remote location. Under those circumstances, it is likely that your position would look more like a Fob or COP (Combat Outpost) with two or three sentry/gun positions, protected living accommodation, and some form of hardened perimeter.
The following platoon position would usually for part of a larger company position, with other platoons on the flanks. These other flanking forces are absent in the diagram, below, but one of the key points about the platoon position is that it illustrates the principles of defense in that it is roughly triangular in outline and provides depth, mutual support and all round defense.
Like the patrol bases described under the patrolling chapter, the platoon base is not simply a series of fire trenches in which the platoon sits until attacked, but rather look upon it almost like a hardened defensive patrol base, but one that is rather not about concealment but rather about defense.
From this defensive position patrols and Observation Posts (OPs) will be deployed forward and out towards the FEEP (Forward edge of enemy positions). OPs will provide early warning of enemy approach, identify routes and axes, and allow any mobile forces to be deployed while those in static defensive positions will “stand to” and prepare for enemy action.
The digging of a fire trench is a complex and arduous process that can take up to thirty six hours unless you have plant to dig the hole for you. In a conventional infantry environment you will be issued defensive stores which will consist of items such as wire, pickets and also the parts to construct a fire team fire trench (four man) with overhead protection. This comes in the form of interlocking sections of corrugated iron that when placed inside a dug trench form an arch over which the soil can be backfilled.
A fire team fire trench is dug chest deep and has open firing bays at both ends, for two men each, with the center consisting of a shelter with overhead protection, into which all four infantrymen have to fit. If you are using local materials to construct fighting positions you may decide to build the overhead cover directly over the top of the fire trench, more in a bunker configuration, or you may decide to use materials such as rocks, sandbags and bastions to build upwards, rather than digging down.
With the conventional fire trench, it is actually almost flush with the ground and if you are in a grassed area then you will first de-turf a large area, dig the trench, put in the arch, backfill to create overhead cover, and then replace the turf to camouflage the digging. You will need at least two sandbags depth to stop enemy fire and for overhead cover you need at least two feet of soil to protect adequately from indirect fire.
With the platoon model, the platoon consists of three squads, each of two four man fire teams. There is a HQ element consisting of the platoon leader (PL) and his radio man, and the platoon sergeant (PS) and usually a light mortar crew. This will result in two fire trenches for each squad and two fire trenches for platoon headquarters (HQ), a total of eight trenches to be laid out as shown below: “two up, one back”.
In front of the position and to the flanks as necessary you will place concertina wire and any mines or booby traps, and well as trip flares as appropriate. Concertina wire is strung between 6-foot pickets that are hammered into the ground; it is coiled and placed between the pickets, where two coils can be placed, one on top of the other. In fact triple-concertina wire (three rows) is rated to stop tanks and armored vehicles.
Figure 27 - Platoon Conventional Defensive Position
Range Cards
A range card is a tool used in a defensive position in order to allocate sectors of fire and improve the ability to give target indications and fire control orders.
It is a diagram that has at its bottom center the position that it is drawn for, with concentric range rings moving out from that position. These range rings usually cover the 180 degree portion of the circle forwards of the position. On the card, where the range rings are, the various features that are out in front of the position will be drawn on in the form of a plan diagram.
The sectors, or arcs, of fire from that position will be drawn as solid lines going out from the position. Sectors will usually relate to actual identifiable features on the ground and on the range card, so they can be identified. Failing that, an azimuth will be given foe left and right sectors offire.
The range card will allow features to be named and referred to in order to pass on target identification and fire control orders. It also gives the actual ranges and azimuths to objects to aid in estimation of range to set rifle sights.
There are official range cards for various countries, for example the US uses DA Form 5517-R which is searchable and available on the internet.
A range card should show:
Sectors of fire
Target reference points
Dead ground
Maximum engagement line
Weapons or gunners reference points
Weapons symbol, left and right limits, and north seeking arrow.
Key Point Defense Orders
The following is an example of key point defense orders that will be useful to you in organizing a defense force around a retreat location:
PRELIMINARIES Admin: any relevant points
Security of the Orders Group
Task Organization: Appointments, positions, equipment etc.
Ground Orientation: use map/model
1. SITUATION
ENEMY FORCES
FRIENDLY FORCES
ATTACHMENTS/
DETACHMENTS
Likely Threat
Numbers
locations
Weapons
Equipment
Morale
Gangs
Influence of drugs/alcohol
Refugees
Subversive Civilian Orgs
Air Threat
NBC
Future Intentions
Mission and Concept of Operations (incl. Intent and Main Effort) of Commander
Civilian Police
Paramilitaries
Military
Militia/Defense Groups
Neighborhood watch
Locations and future actions of neighboring forces which may affect the operation.
Only if not covered under Task Org
2. MISSION: Task(s) plus unifying purpose. Always repeat twice when giving orders.
3. EXECUTION
a. Concept of the Operation: Commanders Intent. Scheme of Maneuver: how the group will achieve its mission. Main Effort e.g. prevent enemy force breaching defensive perimeter etc. Key timings.<
br />
b. Missions/Tasks: Given to individual team members or group leaders and their groups in turn. The Reserve will be given planning options, not tasks (i.e. “Be prepared to ….A, B, C.”)
1) Squad/Groups/Individuals
2) QRF/Reserve
3) Gun Group(s)
4) Sniper(s)
5) Reactive OPs/Over-watch positions
6) Recce Team
7) Dog Handlers
8) Armored Vehicles
9) Non-Combatants
10) Medical Personnel/CASEVAC Teams
11) Fire-Fighters
c. Coordinating Instructions
Timings
Defensive works complete in Key Point (KP)
Ground Domination Activity Patrols
Civilian Police/Military
Tasks
Locations
Roadblocks
TCPs
Control Measures
Boundaries
Sectors of Fire
Legal Powers
Use of Force
Access list to KP
Lethal Force Notices
Rules of Engagement
Profile
Weapons Carriage
Opening Fire
Deception/Security
Patrols
STAP (Surveillance Target Acquisition Plan)
Specialist Equipment
Stand To Positions
Sentries/Watch System
Weapon Security
Movement inside KP
Counter Surveillance Measures
Camouflage/Concealment
Field Defenses
Mines/IEDs
Trenches
Bunkers/fighting positions
Reactive OP/Over-watch
Wiring:
Concertina Wire
Low Wire Entanglement
Priority of Work
Defensive Stores
Action On
IED
Intruders
Mob
Dismounted Attack
Armored Vehicles
Indirect Fire
Sniper
Air Attack
NBC Warning
POW
Civilians/Refugees
NBC
States
Detection Plans
Alarms
Reporting
Protective Measures
Contamination Control
Public Info/Media
d. SUMMARY OF EXECUTION
4. SERVICE SUPPORT
SOP Variations
Dress
Equipment
Weapons
Logistic Support
Replenishment
Ammo
Rations
POL
Water
IPE
Batteries
Medical
Locations
CASEVAC
Stretchers
Med Packs
IFAK
CAT Tourniquet
Pain Meds
Transport
Location of Echelon
Fire Equipment
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
HQs
Chain of Command
Locations
Alternate Command
Communications
Comms Plan Changes
Telephone Numbers
Orders if Comms Fail
Liaison
CivPol/Military
Other KPs
Other Defense Groups
Codes
Codewords
Nicknames
Nick Nos
Phase Lines
Password
Synchronize
Questions
Blog Post
The Ingredients of your Victory – Tactics & Gear:
There was a very good response to my recent post 'Realistic Rucking' some of which I want to extract and use to make some points in this post. As I progress with this blog and the training site, things are starting to coalesce. The method in the madness is becoming more apparent to me.
What do I mean by that? Well, as I evolve on my journey with this, and I meet more people, train more people, blog more, and see comments, my ideas are evolving. How I want to train people, and how they should best plan to operate, is also evolving.
On a personal/family level, I started off on this journey with a lot to learn about being a prepper, in terms of the things to know and to acquire from a food and shelter perspective in order to be able to survive SHTF. I brought my tactical experience to try and help people survive the physical threats that such an SHTF situation will bring. Then, I became more aware of the challenges on the political side, brought by statist authoritarianism and the ongoing attacks on Liberty.
The conclusion of this is that however 'SHTF' specifically pans out there will most definitely be a tactical threat of some sort, which means people that you will need to fight. This will run the potential spectrum from starving marauders through to actual militarized enemy forces (enemies foreign or domestic).
Some preppers want to hunker down and emerge at the end when it is all OK. They are often a little delusional. They think they will be left alone. A lot of them miss the need for a tactical approach to defend their AO, and they also situate themselves too much around their stores - their 'list of lists' - so that when an upheaval comes, a dislocation of expectations, they will be left fumbling. "What about my stock of Mountain House!" you hear them exclaim as they run naked out the back of their retreat. They also tick the box for defense and think they will be OK by purchasing a few firearms and a stock of ammo. Meanwhile, they are often physically incapable and need an ATV to move about. Granted, I am not saying you don't need a supply of food and prepper items; clearly you do need to have something to eat, but it can't be all about that.
There was some collectivist who recently made a comment about 'preppers' being selfish. Although I disagree with the sentiment behind it, and the REASON for why that was said (i.e. come back to the hive, the State will look after you), I don't entirely disagree. The point is that you have to take action to dominate your AO, whether that is with a close-in offensive form of defense at your rural retreat, or a more active engagement in a resistance campaign against enemies foreign or domestic etc.
The point is that, for many of us, it is not about simply holing up and surviving, it is about going out and fighting to WIN. To defeat the bad guys. Granted, if you engage in combat there is a chance you will be wounded or killed. Most of us are willing to put it on the line because we believe in Liberty, we believe in Freedom, and we will not be oppressed; we will not kneel to tyranny. That is why we train, plan and apply tactics in order to increase our chances of success and mitigate the dangers as much as we can, while having an effect on the enemy
The purpose of this article is to give you some pointers as to how you can win. I will state here that I am not talking about 'leaderless resistance' (LR). Even if you are a small group, you will have a leader, and even though when the hammer falls circumstances may mean that you may find yourself operating without connections to other groups; if you can establish a network, then clearly you will be better off by doing so. Run with what you have, but aspire to alliances and a network.
Firstly, if you are the type of guy referred to in the comment below, then you either need to stop, listen, learn and re-think drastically what you are about, or you are dead already and you should just close this webpage and move on. If your idea of exceptionalism is this:
"As I was watching a "training video" over at "Free North Carolina"; I realized something. Your average 325 lb. donut eater has no intention of EVER moving his "ruck" any further than the back of his SUV. They PLAN to conduct "ops" by driving around conducting 50 meter or less "firefights" -jumping back in the car and speeding away-and yes they DO plan on having theme music-and beer-and donuts. OMG It’s the Homer Simpson militia!"
....then you need to get a grip.
OK, now onto the t
actics. There are some clear pointers that I will put together here, in no particular order:
1) Tactical Team: you are going to need a trained, equipped and functional tactical team, anything from four guys and upwards, preferably a squad of twelve, in order to conduct tactical operations in your AO. Your guys must be well trained in light infantry 'old school' basics. Fieldcraft, shooting, small unit tactics, raid, ambush etc.
2) PT: your guys need to be fit enough to conduct dismounted operations carrying a fighting load for at least three days at a time out in the boonies. This means fit enough to remain alert and not let standards of fieldcraft lapse just because they got tired.
3) Retreat/Base: you need to move the families of the group to a safe location at a suitable time. Do not be dispersed and living at home when the HIT teams start going house to house. You need to think about being at a secluded rural or semi-rural location.
4) Base protection. You need to have a defense force for the base where the group's families are located. If the tactical team is there, they can do this, but the vital thing is that if they are to move out and operate, there needs to be a group that will defend the base in their absence. That could be a mixture of training and arming the women and leaving those who are not physically up to dismounted operations behind in a defensive role.