WELCOME TO CAMP HORNFELT. CONDUCT AN OVERWATCH/SUPPORT BY FIRE.

In this exercise, Company Team ANVIL's mission is to conduct a hasty attack on a company sized force that has recently occupied a small built-up area. Your platoon, the first or RED platoon, is tasked with providing support-by-fire or overwatch for the assaulting platoons.

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Reliable HUMINT sources (HUMan INTelligence sources, such as local residents, as opposed to mechanical, or electronic surveillance sources) indicate that late last night an OPFOR unit of approximate company strength began to occupy Blauheim. This unit is not yet dug-in.

Company Team ANVIL is the QRF (Quick Reaction Force) for Task Force BLACKSMITH which is conducting security operations in the area. ANVIL consists of three platoons and a command element. The RED, or first, and the WHITE, or second, platoons are M1A1 tank platoons, the BLUE or third platoon is a mechanized infantry platoon with M2A2's, and the BLACK, or command element, consists of the commander's and the executive officer's tanks.
You are the First Platoon Leader.

ANVIL will assualt, clear, and secure Blauheim.

ANVIL will, by using surprise and coordinated action, overwhelm and destroy the opposing forces before they can fortify their position in Blauheim.

ANVIL will execute the line of departure at first light, proceeding on two routes. RED and BLACK will travel along ROUTE POUND, WHITE and BLUE will travel along ROUTE DOLLAR, contact is not expected.
All subunits will occupy Objective Rally Points short of OBJECTIVE YEN. When all subunits are set, BLACK will fire TRP AB0028. BLACK and RED will move to and occupy their respective Support-by-Fire (SBF) positions overwatching WHITE and BLUE.
WHITE will begin its move along AXIS WHITE sweeping west of OBJECTIVE YEN and then set in position at the far side of the OBJ. BLUE will follow along AXIS BLUE, clearing the center of YEN.
Once BLUE has swept through the OBJ, RED will move and set on the far west side of YEN.

Graphic control measures will be reported. RED ONE will report crossing PHASELINES LIRA and PESO, and occupying its objective rally point with the appropriate triggers.

Use keystrokes:
(SHIFT + 1) for crossing PL LIRA
(SHIFT + 2) for crossing PL PESO
(SHIFT + 3) for occupying the RED Objective Rally Point

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OVERWATCH/SUPPORT BY FIRE. (FM 17-15 Tank Platoon (1996) Chapter 3 Section VI Execution - Platoon Tactical Tasks)

Either as specified in his original plan or on recommendation of the platoon leader, the commander may order the platoon to provide overwatch or support by fire during the movement of a friendly force.

The purpose is to suppress the enemy using long-range direct and indirect fires from a dominating piece of terrain or using the standoff of the main gun.

This support sets the conditions that allow moving (supported) friendly elements to engage and destroy the enemy.

The techniques involved in occupying an overwatch or support by fire position and in focusing and controlling fires are similar to those for an attack by fire.

Some specific considerations exist, however.

As noted, the overwatch/support by fire task is always tied directly to the movement and/or tactical execution of other friendly forces.

In executing overwatch or support by fire, the platoon must maintain a high level of situational awareness relative to the supported force so it can lift and shift direct and indirect fires as required to prevent fratricide.

Throughout this type of operation, the supporting platoon maintains cross-talk with the moving force on the company net.

In addition to reducing fratricide risk, cross-talk allows the platoon to provide early warning of enemy positions it has identified and to report battle damage inflicted on the enemy force.

A successful overwatch/support by fire operation suppresses the enemy, permitting the moving (supported) force to conduct tactical movement, breaching operations, or an assault.

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REFERENCES

http://www.1stusvcav.com/Procedures/Tasks/Conduct%20overwatch.html (ARTEP 17-237-10-MTP (1996))
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/17-15/chp3.htm#sec6 (FM 17-15 Tank Platoon (1996) Chapter 3, Section VI, Execution -- Platoon Tactical Tasks)

I have to try this one out ASAP, thanks!

WELCOME TO CAMP HORNFELT. CONDUCT A PLATOON DEFENSE and DISPLACE.

In this exercise, Company Team ANVIL's mission is to conduct a defense in its sector of responsibility. Two movement corridors transverse ANVIL's sector east to west. Obstacles are emplaced to canalize OPFOR movement to the northern movement corridor where ANVIL is set, dug-in, watching an engagement area. Your platoon, the first or RED platoon, is tasked with overwatching the turning obstacles and providing OPFOR additional 'persuasion' to transit the sector using the northern rather than the southern corridor. Your platoon will then displace and assume position in the company team defense at the engagement area.

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SITUATION
A reinforced OPFOR tank battalion consisting of three tank companies (10 T-80's each) and a motorized rifle company (10 BMP-2's) will be moving east-to-west through ANVIL's sector. It is expected to be moving in march formation, the main body preceeded by a platoon sized combat reconnaissance patrol and a company (minus) forward security element. It is expected to deploy from the march only once in contact.

Company Team ANVIL is tasked with defending its sector with a desired end state of the OPFOR tank battalion being combat ineffective, not having penetrated through the sector, and with ANVIL in sufficient condition to continue combat operations. ANVIL consists of four platoons and a command element. The RED, or first, the WHITE, or second, and the BLUE, or third, platoons are M1A1 tank platoons, the GREEN or fourth platoon is a mechanized infantry platoon with M2A2's, and the BLACK, or command element, consists of the commander's and the executive officer's tanks. You are RED ONE, the First Platoon Leader.

MISSION
ANVIL will defend against any penetration through its sector.

EXECUTION
Intent
By shaping the battlefield through the use of obstacles, ANVIL will direct the OPFOR into a killing field where it will violently unleash massed firepower destroying the OPFOR before it can penetrate.

Concept
Engagement Area ANDREW is at the west end of the northern movement corridor; ANVIL is set with dug-in platoon positions prepared to mass fire on ANDREW.

RED will deploy east, in the southern movement corridor, overwatching the decision point, Named Area of Interest HARDPLACE. RED will select a battleposition from which it can observe NAI HARDPLACE, cover the minefield vicinity grid 094 143 with fire, and from which it can quickly and safely displace west under fire. RED will provide warning to ANVIL as the OPFOR forward elements transit NAI HARDPLACE. RED will destroy such elements as it can without becoming decisively engaged. RED will prevent the forward elements from breaching the minefield vicinity grid 094 143.

RED will then disengage and displace on the occurence of any of the following: 1) RED becomes engaged and suffers loss of combat strength; 2) RED is engaged with indirect fire; 3) any OPFOR elements transit west of NAI HARDPLACE. RED has priority of fire for one HE/SMK mission at TRP001 - TRP004, to be fired at RED's discretion while executing displacement.
(In order to fire the suppression mission, use the trigger that corresponds with the TRP, e.g., SHIFT + 1 will fire TRP001, SHIFT + 2 will fire TRP002, et cetera. Time of flight for the suppression missions is 29 seconds.)

RED will move to assume its position on the south edge of EA ANDREW.

All ANVIL units will immediately engage any OPFOR elements as they appear in ANDREW.

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In order to receive a GO for this exercise you must:
Timely report contact at NAI HARDPLACE;
Timely report displacing once the the displacement criteria are met;
Timely occupy your position overwatching EA ANDREW;
Maintain a platoon strength of at least 3 vehicles.

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