OFFENSIVE
OPERATIONS
AS OF 10 OCT 04
CDC
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
MY CENTER IS GIVING WAY, MY RIGHT IS IN
RETREAT; IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER;
SITUATION EXCELLENT. I AM ATTACKING.
MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH
BATTLE OF THE MARNE
SEPTEMBER 1914.
TERMINAL LEARNING
OBJECTIVE

Action:

Condition: Given FMs, reading assignments,
and an instructor in a classroom
with training materials.

Standards: Conduct offensive operations IAW
FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM 3-21.8, FM 321.10, and achieve a 70% pass in

Conduct offensive operations.
overall testing.
ADMINISTRATION

SAFETY:
NONE

RISK ASSESSMENT:
LOW

ENVIRONMENTAL:
NONE
REFERENCES
Doctrinal: FM 3-0
Tactics:
FM 3-90
Company: FM 3-21.10
Platoon:
FM 3-21.8
ENABLING LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
Action:
Determine the purpose of the offense.
Condition: Given FMs and reading assignments in a
classroom with an instructor and training
materials.
Standards: Determine the purpose of the offense IAW
FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM 3-21.8, FM 3-21.10, and
achieve a 70% pass in overall testing.
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
What is the purpose of Offensive
Operations?
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS SEEK, RETAIN,
AND EXPLOIT THE INITIATIVE TO DEFEAT
THE ENEMY DECISIVELY.
FM 3-0 pg 7-2
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
Additional Tasks:
Disruption of the enemy
Denying the enemy resources
Fixing the enemy
Securing terrain
Gaining information
Achieved by “Aggressive Patrolling”
FM 3-0 pg 7-2
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
THE OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL
LEVELS OF WAR
Army operational units conduct offensive campaigns
and major operations to achieve theater-level effects
based on tactical actions.

Operational Offense: At the operational level, offensive
operations directly or indirectly attack the enemy “center
of gravity”.

Tactical Offense: At the operational level, tactical units
exploit the effects that joint and multinational forces
contribute to the offense.
FM 3-0 pg 7-2
ENABLING LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
Action:
Determine the Characteristics of the
Offense.
Condition: Given FMs, reading assignments, and an
instructor in a classroom with training
materials.
Standards: Determine the Characteristics of the
Offense IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM 3-21.8,
FM 3-21.10, and achieve a 70% pass in
overall testing.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE
OFFENSE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
OFFENSE
Surprise
Concentration
Tempo
Audacity
FM 3-0 pg 7-4
SURPRISE
STRIKING THE ENEMY AT A TIME OR PLACE OR IN
A MANNER FOR WHICH HE IS UNPREPARED.
Unpredictability and boldness help gain surprise.
Delay enemy reactions, as it overloads and confuses
enemy Command & Control (C2).
Surprise may also come from an unexpected change
in tempo.
FM 3-0 pg 7-5
CONCENTRATION
CONCENTRATION IS THE MASSING OF
OVERWHELMING EFFECTS OF COMBAT
POWER TO ACHIEVE A SINGLE PURPOSE.
Attacking commanders manipulate their own and the
enemy’s concentration by combining dispersion,
concentration, military deception, and attacks.
FM 3-0 pg 7-5
TEMPO
TEMPO IS THE RATE OF SPEED OF MILITARY
ACTION.
Faster tempo allows attackers to disrupt enemy defensive
plans.
Rapid tempo demands quick decisions.
Tempo allows commanders to maintain momentum and
never permits the enemy to recover from the shock of the
initial assault.
FM 3-0 pg 7-6
AUDACITY
A SIMPLE PLAN OF ACTION, BOLDLY EXECUTED.
Understand when and where to take risks.
Audacity inspires soldiers to overcome adversity and
danger.
FM 3-0 pg 7-6
Operational Framework
DECISIVE OPERATIONS
IN THE OFFENSE
What are Decisive Operations?
Decisive offensive operations are attacks that
conclusively determine the outcome of major
operations, battles, and engagements. At the
operational level, decisive operations achieve
the goals of each phase of a campaign.
FM 3-0 pg 7-7
Operational Framework
SHAPING OPERATIONS
Shaping operations in the offense include attacks
designed to achieve one or more of the following:
Deceive the enemy.
Destroy or fix enemy forces that could interfere with the
decisive operation.
Control terrain whose occupation by the enemy would
hinder the decisive operation.
Force the enemy to commit reserves prematurely or into an
indecisive area.
FM 3-0 pg 7-8
Operational Framework
SHAPING OPERATIONS
Advance, flank, and rear security forces conduct
security operations.
These elements:
Provide early warning.
Find gaps in defenses.
Provide time to react and space to
maneuver.
FM 3-0 pg 7-9
Operational Framework
SUSTAINING OPERATIONS
Sustaining operations in the offense ensure
freedom of action and maintain momentum.
CSS unit locations need not be contiguous
with those of their supported forces.
FM 3-0 pg 7-10
AREA OF OPERATIONS
Security Operations
Shaping Operations
Supporting
attack
Decisive Operations
Main attack
FORMS OF MANEUVER
While normally combined, each form
of maneuver attacks the enemy
differently. Each form poses different
challenges for attackers and different
dangers for defenders. You can
determine what form of maneuver to
use by analyzing the factors of
METT-TC.
FM 3-0 pg 7-10
FORMS OF MANEUVER
Envelopment
Turning Movement
Infiltration
Penetration
Frontal Attack
FM 3-0 pg 7-10
ENVELOPMENT
...is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force seeks to avoid the principal
enemy defenses by seizing objectives to the
enemy rear to destroy the enemy in his
current position.
FM 3-0 pg 7-11
ENVELOPMENT
ENY
Decisive
Operation
ENY
Shaping
Operations
TURNING MOVEMENT
…is a form of maneuver in which the attacking
force seeks to avoid the enemy’s principal
defensive positions by seizing objectives to
the enemy rear and causing the enemy to
move out of his current positions or divert
major forces to meet the threat.
FM 3-0 pg 7-12
TURNING MOVEMENT
OBJ
INFILTRATION
…a form of maneuver in which an attacking
forces conducts undetected movement
through or into an area occupied by enemy
forces to occupy a position of advantage in
the enemy rear while exposing only small
elements to enemy defensive fires.
FM 3-0 pg 7-13
INFILTRATION
Decisive
Operation
OBJ
ENY
ENY
PENETRATION
…a form of maneuver in which an attacking
force seeks to rupture the enemy defenses on
a narrow front to disrupt their defensive
system.
FM 3-0 pg 7-13
PENETRATION
OBJ
Decisive
Operation
OBJ
OBJ
Shaping
Shaping
Operation
Operation
ENY
ENY
FRONTAL ATTACK
…a form of maneuver in which an attacking
force seeks to destroy a weaker enemy
force or fix a larger enemy force in
place over a broad front.
A frontal attack is rarely the preferred
technique!! An assailable flank is
always a commander’s first choice!
FM 3-0 pg 7-15
FRONTAL ATTACK
OBJ
OBJ
ENY
ENY
ENABLING LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
Action:
Determine the types of offensive
operations.
Condition: Given FMs and an instructor in a
classroom with training materials.
Standards: Determine the types of offensive
operations IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90,
FM 3-21.8, FM 3-21.10, and achieve
a 70% pass in overall testing.
TYPES
OF
OFFENSIVE
OPERATIONS
FM 3-0 pg 7-16
TYPES OF OFFENSIVE
OPERATIONS
Movement to Contact
Attack
Exploitation
Pursuit
FM 3-0 pg 7-16
MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
…offensive operations designed to develop
the situation and to establish or regain
contact with the enemy.
Variants:
– Search and Attack
– Approach March
– Meeting Engagement
FM 3-0 pg 7-17
MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
(Search and Attack)
...is a technique for conducting a movement
to contact that shares many of the
characteristics of an area security mission.
FM 3-0 pg 7-18
MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
(Approach March)
...is a technique for conducting a movement
to contact in which a commander intends to
make contact with the smallest element
possible. Units follow a general direction and
may act as the advance, flank, or rear guard.
FM 3-0 pg 7-17
MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
(Meeting Engagement)
...is a combat action that occurs when a
moving force engages an enemy at an
unexpected time and place.
FM 3-0 pg 7-18
ATTACK
…is an offensive operation that destroys or defeats enemy
forces, seizes and secures terrain, or both.
Hasty attack
Deliberate attack
Special purpose attacks:
Spoiling attack
Counterattack
Raid
Ambush
Feint
Demonstration
FM 3-0 pg 7-18
HASTY ATTACK
…usually occurs during movements to
contact and defensive operations.
… it intentionally trades the advantages of
thorough preparation and full
synchronization for those of immediate
execution.
FM 3-0 pg 7-19
DELIBERATE ATTACK
…are highly synchronized operations
characterized by detailed planning and
preparation.
...use simultaneous operations throughout the
AO, planned fires, shaping operations, and
forward positioning of resources to sustain
momentum.
FM 3-0 pg 7-19
SPECIAL PURPOSE
ATTACKS
Certain forms of attack employ distinctive
methods and require special planning. They
are:
Spoiling attack
Counterattack
Raid
Ambush
Feint
Demonstration
FM 3-0 pg 7-20
SPOILING ATTACK
Commanders mount spoiling attacks from
a defensive posture to disrupt an expected
enemy attack. A spoiling attack attempts to
strike the enemy while he is most vulnerable
during his preparations for attack.
FM 3-0 pg 7-20
COUNTERATTACK
Commanders conduct counterattacks with
lightly committed forward elements.
They counterattack after the enemy launches
his attack, reveals his main effort, or creates
an assailable flank.
FM 3-0 pg 7-20
RAID
A form of attack, usually small scale,
involving a swift entry into hostile territory to
secure information, confuse the enemy, or
destroy installations.
It usually ends with a planned withdrawal
from the objective area upon mission
completion.
FM 3-0 pg 7-20
AMBUSH
…a form of attack by fire or other
destructive means from concealed
positions on a moving or temporarily
halted enemy.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21
FEINT
A form of attack used to deceive the enemy as
to the location or time of the actual decisive
operation (or main effort).
Forces conducting a feint seek direct fire
contact with the enemy but avoid decisive
engagement.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21
DEMONSTRATION

A form of attack designed to deceive the
enemy as to the location or time of the
decisive operation by a display of force.

Forces conducting a demonstration do not
seek contact with the enemy.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21
EXPLOITATION
…usually follows a successful attack and is
designed to disorganize the enemy in depth.
…seeks to disintegrate enemy forces to the
point where they have no alternative but
surrender or flight.
FM 3-0 pg 7-21
PURSUIT
…designed to catch or cut off a hostile
force attempting to escape with the aim of
destroying it.
…are decisive operations that follow
successful attacks or exploitations.
…occur when the enemy fails to organize a
defense and attempts to disengage.
FM 3-0 pg 7-22
ENABLING LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
Action:
Identify the Phases of Offensive
Operations.
Condition: Given FMs, reading assignments
and an instructor in a classroom
with training materials.
Standards: Identify the phases of the offense
IAW FM 3-0, FM 3-90, FM 3-21.8,
FM 3-21.10, and achieve a 70%
pass on overall testing.
PHASES OF OFFENSIVE
OPERATIONS


PLANNING
PREPARATION

EXECUTION
FM 3-0 pg 7-23
PLANNING
Tailor the concept of operations to the situation during
offensive planning:

Allows the rapid concentration and dispersal of units

Introduce fresh forces to exploit success while
resting other forces

Protect the force

Facilitate transition to future operations

Sustain forces throughout the operation
Staffs analyze the situation in terms of METT-TC
FM 3-0 pg 7-23
PREPARING
Begin shaping and sustaining operations:
Recon
Maintenance
Position resources
Conduct rehearsals
Follow the Troop Leading Procedures
FM 3-0 pg 7-26
EXECUTING
Offensive operations require rapid shifts in
the focus of combat power to take
advantage of opportunities. Sustaining a
tempo the enemy cannot match is vital to
success.
FM 3-0 pg 7-26
OPERATIONS
IN
DEPTH
OPERATIONS IN DEPTH
These are high tempo operations that
present the enemy with one continuous
operation:
Deep
Close
Rear
DEEP OPERATIONS
...directed against enemy forces and functions
which are not in contact at the forward line of
own troops (FLOT). These operations employ
long range fires, denying the enemy freedom of
action and disrupting his preparation for battle.
CLOSE OPERATIONS
…where forces are in immediate contact with
the enemy and the fighting between
committed forces and readily available
tactical reserves of both combatants occurs.
REAR OPERATIONS
…including area damage control, taken by all
units, singly or in a combined effort, to secure
the force, neutralize or defeat enemy operations
in the rear area, and ensure freedom of action
in the deep & close fights.
ORGANIZATION
FOR THE
“ATTACK”
ORGANIZATION FOR
THE ATTACK
When attacking an objective, the attacking force must be
organized into three main elements. These are:
Support element
Breach element
Assault element
SUPPORT ELEMENT
Provides close continuous overwatch.
Weapons are tailored to the mission.
Maintains positive control of fires.
OBJ
DOG
BREACH ELEMENT
Breaches obstacles.
Marks lanes.
Ruptures enemy defenses.
Provides security.
Facilitates passage of the assault element.
OBJ
DOG
ASSAULT ELEMENT
Attacks through the breach or rupture.
Destroys enemy on objective.
Done with rapid, violent execution.
Note: The assault force must always be prepared to
conduct the breach if the breaching force fails or is
rendered combat ineffective.
OBJ
DOG
RALLY POINT

Is an easily identifiable point on the
ground at which units can reassemble
or re-organize if they become
disbursed
RLY 8
ENABLING LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
Action:
Discuss the employment of weapon systems
in the offense.
Condition: Given FMs and reading assignments in a
classroom with an instructor and training
materials.
Standards: Present information on the employment of
weapon systems in the offense IAW FM 321.8 and FM 3-21.10
WEAPONS

M60 / M240B

M249 (SAW)

M203

M16A2

DRAGON / JAVELIN

AT-4

GRENADES

MORTARS
DIRECT & INDIRECT
FIRE CONTROL
MEASURES
DIRECT FIRES

Types of Direct fire
available:
Machine guns
M203
AT-4
Close Air Support

Aids to control:
Engagement Areas
Sectors of Fire for SBF
Target Reference
Points (TRP)
Engagement Priorities
INDIRECT FIRES

Types of indirect fire
available:

Aids to control:
M203
Group Targets
Mortars
Series Targets
Artillery
Naval gun fire
Priority targets
INDIRECT FIRES
Neutralize, suppress, or destroy enemy forces.
Deprive the enemy of resources or the use of decisive
terrain.
Fix the enemy in position.
Deceive or divert the enemy.
Provide screening or obscuration.
Provide battlefield illumination.
INDIRECT FIRE PLANNING
Targets in the offense should be planned enroute to the objective, on the objective, and
beyond the objective.
Mortars accomplish this by positioning near the
LD using the one-half two-thirds maximum
range rule as a guide and then moving forward.
TARGETS
AB0006
AB0005
AB0004
AB0003
OBJ
DOG
A2
AB0002
AB0001
LD
LD
REAR
AREA