The Red Zone Fight
Centurion OPD
AGENDA
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References
Pretest Review
Definitions
Introduction
NTC Trends
Success in the Red Zone
Conclusion
REFERENCES
• Centurion OPD Read Ahead Packet – “The
Red Zone Fight”
• FM 3-90.1
• FM 71-1-MTP
• FM 3-20.15
• FM 71-123
• Centurion TACSOP
• The National Training Center’s Battle
Instruction Book, 1992
PRETEST REVIEW
DEFINITIONS
• The Red Zone is the enemy’s direct fire battle
space. It is a dynamic, physical area that
expands or contracts in relation to the
enemy’s ability acquire and engage with
direct fire weapons.
• Kill Zone – The area within the Red Zone
where the enemy creates a fire sack where
he ideally wants to kill the BLUFOR. It is
within the Red Zone.
NTC Rule #50 – Kill sacks are called kill sacks for a reason.
INTRODUCTION
• Company Teams must close with and destroy
the enemy to accomplish their doctrinal
missions. This is their fundamental purpose.
• The problem in the Red Zone is how to kill
without being killed.
• The simple answer to this problem is
maneuver – the combination of fire and
movement.
NTC Rule #77 – You win by killing (crews win battles).
NTC TRENDS
• CO/TMs execute maneuver poorly
• CO/TMs move too slowly when out of contact
and too quickly when in contact.
• Casualty rates increase in direct proportion to
the amount of time spent in the Red Zone.
• CO/TMs are not lethal
• CO/TMs are not survivable
• CO/TMs are not able to successfully set and
change the conditions of the battle by action
(initiative)
• CO/TMs, as a result, are not able to achieve
assigned tasks and purposes
NTC TRENDS
• Company Teams do not effectively:
– Reconnoiter
– Gain visual contact with the enemy before the
enemy initiates physical contact
– Use cover and concealment
– Kill or suppress with fires
– Aggressively move to exploit the effects of fires
– Choose the best formation, movement technique,
and rate of movement for the situation
– Control “set-move” drills
– Secure their flanks and rear
SUCCESS IN THE RED
ZONE
• To be successful in the Red Zone, Companies
must be able to:
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See the Enemy
Act on contact
Kill the enemy with direct fires
Maneuver
Force the enemy to fight in multiple directions
Use terrain to acquire, kill, move, and survive
Maintain contact with the enemy
Secure themselves
Execute combined arms combat
SEE THE ENEMY
“VISUALIZE THE ENEMY”
•
IPB
“SEEK VISUAL CONTACT”
RECONNAISSANCE
“SEE THE ENEMY”
TARGET ACQUISITION
&
ACTIONS ON CONTACT
(EXECUTE DIRECT FIRE)
“KILL
THE
EMEMY”
ACTIONS ON THE
OBJECTIVE
(EXECUTE DIRECT
FIRE)
CONTACT!
SEE THE ENEMY
• Seeing the enemy is the key to effective lethal
direct fire.
• Steps to seeing the enemy:
– IPB
Refine the higher SITTEMP
Estimate the enemy’s battlespace
– Reconnaissance
Leader Reconnaissance
Confirm or deny key elements of the SITTEMP
Should be simple and executable at the CO/TM level
Continuous function
Not just for the scouts
Be suspicious
SEE THE ENEMY
– Surveillance
Focuses on suspected or known enemy locations
Choose key terrain to observe enemy locations
for key leaders
– Target Acquisition
A crew level collective task!
Search techniques
Identification clues and indicators
Target Detection and Identification
– Lethal Direct Fires
NTC Rule #10 – METT-TC rules.
ACT ON CONTACT
• Contact occurs when:
– Any member of the unit makes contact
(ODOICARE)
– Upon receipt of a report from an adjacent unit or
from headquarters
– It may be ordered by a higher headquarters
• Battle Drills are imperative for success
• Success depends on the company’s ability to
achieve visual contact before the enemy
initiates direct fire contact.
• Understand the enemy’s task and purpose
ACT ON CONTACT
Deploy and report
• IDENTIFY TYPE OF CONTACT
– VISUAL
– DIRECT FIRE
– INDIRECT FIRE / CAS
– EW
– MINES / OBSTACLES
• DEPLOY TO COVERED TERRAIN
WITH GOOD OBSERVATION / FIELDS
OF FIRE
• SPOT REPORT
SUPERIOR
OR
INFERIOR
FORCE
ACT ON CONTACT
Evaluate / Develop the situation
– Define contact by reconnaissance
(mounted, dismounted, and fire)
– Identify size, composition, activity, and
orientation of enemy forces
– Identify obstacles and kill sacks
– Identify flanks
– Use fire (direct / indirect) to support recon
– Spot report
NTC Rule #21 – An obstacle not covered by direct fire is
not an obstacle.
CONTACT!
ACT ON CONTACT
Recommend a course of action
– COA must be within higher intent / purpose
– COA must be within capabilities of unit in
contact
– Spot reports
NTC Rule #20 – Don’t put obstacles where you want them
to come.
CONTACT!
ACT ON CONTACT
Execute the course of action
– Break contact and bypass
– Maintain contact and bypass
– Maintain contact to support hasty attack
– Conduct a hasty attack
– Establish a hasty defense
NTC Rule #86 – If the strength is north, why go north?
KILL THE ENEMY WITH
LETHAL DIRECT FIRES
• Lethal Direct Fire is the means by which
company teams accomplish their mission
• Lethal Direct Fire Supports:
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Destruction of enemy
Maneuver to envelop
Maneuver to penetrate
Mission (task/ purpose) success!
NTC Rule #91. Have a target acquired before getting on the
platform, fire, then back down into the hide. Never stay on the
platform for more than one shot.
KILL THE ENEMY WITH
LETHAL DIRECT FIRES
CO/TM SITUATIONAL TEMPLATE
CO/TM RECONNAISSANCE
CO/TM SURVEILLANCE/DIRECT FIRE
PLT SURVEILLANCE/DIRECT FIRE
KILL
OR
SUPPRESS
OR
CONTINUE TO OBSERVE
SECTION SURVEILLANCE PLAN/
DIRECT FIRE PLAN
CREW/SQUAD TGT ACQUISITION
MANEUVER
• Maneuver begins when the company makes
contact with the enemy.
• Use Fire and Movement to gain the position
of advantage. This is the essence of combat
decision making.
• Effective maneuver is the only way to
successfully close with the enemy in the Red
Zone.
• Maneuver must be planned, but must remain
applicable to battlefield conditions.
• Bounding is most effective when executed at
the section and vehicle level.
CONTACT!
CONTACT!
MANEUVER
• All movement must be covered by an
overwatch element
• Bounding is most effective when executed at
the section and vehicle level.
• Limit bounds to 2/3 of the overwatching
element’s max effective range.
• Use indirect fire to support movement.
• Good, disciplined communication is critical to
maneuver success.
• Fires are the best way to prevent the enemy
from placing fires on you.
MAKE THE ENEMY FIGHT
IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS
• Force the enemy to fight in 2 directions
• Use maneuver to maintain constant
pressure on the enemy
• 1/3 of your force provides base of fire,
2/3 maneuvers to a flank or position of
advantage
• Be aware that the enemy is attempting
to make you fight the same way.
NTC Rule #34. Focus all combat multipliers at the fight.
NTC Rule #35. Patience, Mass and Security
CONTACT!
USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE,
KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE
• Good IPB is critical. Most company
teams do not do adequate IPB
• Expect to fight for the best terrain.
• “Go Where the Water Goes”
• Use terrain effectively to mask and
conceal movement.
• Effective use of terrain supersedes use
of a specific formation.
NTC Rule #97 – Never sky line.
USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE,
KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE
• Consider terrain from the enemy’s
perspective as well as your own.
• Use terrain to achieve intent – do not
limit yourself by doggedly adhering to
graphic control measures.
NTC Rule #64. Terrain is neutral. It becomes an advantage on
how you use it.
USE TERRAIN TO ACQUIRE,
KILL, MOVE, AND SURVIVE
• How is the enemy using the terrain?
• Where can I move:
– To deploy?
– To close?
– To infiltrate?
– To envelop or penetrate?
• From where can I fire?
• From where can I observe?
• Where can I find cover and concealment?
• How can I use the ground to position my force so that the enemy
fights in two directions?
• How does the weather and light condition affect the above?
• Is there key or decisive terrain?
NTC Rule #23 – Life be hard in the desert.
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH
THE ENEMY
• Once contact is made maintain it: “lock-on”
• “Battle hand over”
• Redundancy:
– Overlapping sectors of observation in CO/PLT/section
surveillance plans
– Overlapping sectors of fire in CO/PLT/section
– Direct fire plans
– “Wingman” concept at section level
• Maintain freedom of maneuver
• Rehearse action and contact drills
• Be wary of a vehicle that you can observe but not engage
effectively. He will tie up assets and take guns out of the fight.
NTC Rule #94. Work with your wingman, teamwork is how
you will live on the battlefield.
CONTACT!
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH
THE ENEMY
• Reports contact!
• Gunner “locks on” to kill:
– Maintains reticle on target or target area.
– Halts ground or air search techniques (“scanning”).
– Prepares to kill (ie. Establish range to target,
choose correct optics, etc.) and reports.
• Wingman secures the killer who is “locked on”:
– Continues rapid or slow scan to identify other
possible targets.
– Ensures local security.
– Secures flanks & rear.
– Reports.
• Redundancy; Platoons “lock-on” individual enemy
tanks or AT weapons.
SECURITY
• Maintain 360 degree security at all
times, particularly when moving
• Secure your flanks – consider moving
flank security out to the max effective
range of the weapon system your are
most likely to encounter.
• Be Suspicious.
SECURITY
• Be looking for bypassed vehicles or
enemy positions
• Remember that security is a supporting
effort and not the primary mission for
the company / team.
NTC Rule #89 – You must secure your sector continuously – from
occupation to COM. It is better to be secure and fight above ground
than to fight from holes known by your enemy.
CONTACT!
EXECUTING COMBINED
ARMS COMBAT
• Give the enemy 2 to 3 ways to die
• Develop the ability to “step back” when in
contact and consider additional options
• Combined Arms is not simply Artillery.
• Consider the additional effects of dismounted
infantry, Javelins, and counter mobility assets
on the enemy.
• Infantry is very effective in overwatching
during mounted assaults
NTC Rule #72 – Never fight a fair fight.
CONCLUSION
• To be successful in the Red Zone, Companies
must be able to:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
See the Enemy
Act on contact
Kill the enemy with direct fires
Maneuver
Force the enemy to fight in multiple directions
Use terrain to acquire, kill, move, and survive
Maintain contact with the enemy
Secure themselves
Execute combined arms combat
CONCLUSION
• NTC Rule #40 – Men can go anywhere
despite anything, except when opposed
by better men willing to go anywhere,
despite anything. Terrain, hostile
weather, firepower, etc., can punish and
delay men determined to pass, but will
never stop them.