Training - Battle Drill 1 (Squad Attack)

Battle Drill 1: Squad Attack (Adapted for a Fire Team)

Battle Drill 1, as outlined in U.S. Army doctrine (specifically in ATP 3-21.8, Infantry Platoon and Squad), is designed for a squad-sized element to react to enemy contact, gain fire superiority, and either destroy the enemy or break contact.

A squad typically consists of two fire teams (approximately 8-12 soldiers), but adapting this drill for a single fire team (typically 4-5 team members) requires adjustments due to reduced manpower and firepower while maintaining the core principles of speed, surprise, and violence of action.

Below is an in-depth description of Battle Drill 1 and how to execute it with a fire team, focusing on key steps, considerations, and adaptations.

Overview of Battle Drill 1

Battle Drill 1 is initiated when a unit makes contact with the enemy, typically through direct fire (e.g., small arms, machine guns) or indirect fire (e.g., mortars, artillery, unlikely to apply to us). The drill involves three primary phases:

1. React to Contact: The unit immediately returns fire, seeks cover, and assesses the situation.
2. Locate and Suppress the Enemy: The unit establishes fire superiority to fix the enemy in place.
3. Attack or Maneuver: The unit either assaults the enemy position to destroy it or maneuvers to break contact, depending on the situation.

For a fire team, the reduced personnel mean less firepower and fewer team members to maneuver, so the execution must prioritize efficiency, coordination, and leveraging available assets.

Key Roles in a Fire Team

A standard U.S. Army fire team consists of:

• Team Leader (TL): Directs the team, makes decisions, and communicates with higher command.
• Automatic Rifleman (AR): Provides suppressive fire with a light machine gun (e.g., M249 SAW).
• Grenadier (GR): Engages with rifle and grenade launcher (e.g., M203 or M320).
• Rifleman (R): Supports fire and movement, often carrying additional ammunition or equipment.
• (Optional) Designated Marksman (DM) or additional rifleman, depending on the team’s composition.

Given our Team SOPs that we have already defined, we likely won't have any of this but instead train as a more simple Team Leader, with Riflemen.

Step-by-Step Execution of Battle Drill 1 with a Fire Team

React to Contact

Situation

The fire team encounters enemy fire (e.g., small arms from a small enemy position, such as 2-4 enemy fighters at 50-200 meters).

Actions

• Immediate Response: Team members shout “Contact!” (e.g., “Contact front!”) to alert the team, immediately return fire, and take cover (e.g., behind rocks, trees, or terrain). Unlike a squad, where one fire team might suppress while the other maneuvers, the fire team must act as a single unit initially.
• Team Leader’s Role: The TL quickly assesses the enemy’s location, size, and type (e.g., small arms, super safety/frt gun nest) while directing team members to cover. The TL reports to higher command (e.g., squad leader or platoon leader) via radio, e.g., “Alpha Team, contact, enemy squad, 100 meters north, small arms, over” if working within a larger unit, otherwise there is nobody to radio.
• Fire Team Actions: All members engage the enemy with controlled, aimed fire to avoid depleting ammunition. If the fire team has a rifleman with a FRT/Super Safety, this AR prioritizes high-volume suppressive fire to keep the enemy’s heads down.

Adaptation for Fire Team

With only 4-5 team members, the team cannot split into separate base-of-fire and maneuver elements as a squad would. Instead, the entire team acts as the initial base of fire, focusing on achieving fire superiority. The TL may designate the AR and grenadier to focus fire on the enemy’s most dangerous position (e.g., a machine gun).

Locate and Suppress the Enemy

Objective

Gain fire superiority to fix the enemy in place, preventing them from maneuvering or effectively returning fire.

Actions

• Locate the Enemy: The TL and team members identify the enemy’s position through observation (e.g., muzzle flashes, movement) or reports from other units. The TL may use hand signals or verbal commands (e.g., “Enemy at 2 o’clock, 150 meters, behind the berm!”).
• Suppress the Enemy: The AR lays down continuous suppressive fire (e.g., 5-10 round bursts from the M249). The grenadier may employ 40mm grenades (e.g., high-explosive rounds) if within range (typically 150-350 meters for M203/M320). The rifleman and TL add aimed shots to disrupt enemy actions.
• Communication: The TL maintains contact with higher command, updating the situation and requesting support if available (e.g., squad-level machine guns, mortars, or additional fire teams).

Adaptation for Fire Team

The fire team’s limited manpower means suppression is critical but ammunition discipline is paramount. The AR must conserve rounds (e.g., 200-600 rounds carried) while maintaining pressure. The TL may direct the grenadier to use smoke grenades to obscure the enemy’s view, compensating for the lack of a second team to maneuver. Most likely the team will just have a bunch of riflemen and have to make do.

Attack or Maneuver

Decision Point

The TL decides whether to assault the enemy position or break contact, based on the enemy’s strength, friendly capabilities, and mission objectives. For a fire team, assaulting is riskier due to limited personnel, so breaking contact is often preferred unless the enemy is weak or the team has support.

Option A: Assault

Conditions: The enemy is small (e.g., 2-3 fighters), suppressed, and within close range (50-100 meters). The team has sufficient ammunition and no significant casualties.

Actions

• Base of Fire: The AR and grenadier (or rifleman) maintain suppressive fire from cover. The TL designates a fixed position (e.g., a rock or tree line) for this element.
• Maneuver: The TL and rifleman (or just the TL if only four soldiers) move to a flank using bounding overwatch (one soldier moves while the other covers). The maneuver element uses cover and concealment (e.g., low-crawling through a ditch) to close with the enemy.
• Assault Through: Once within grenade range (20-30 meters), the maneuver element throws fragmentation grenades (e.g., M67) and assaults through the position, firing controlled bursts to eliminate the enemy. The base-of-fire element shifts or ceases fire as the assault element closes to avoid friendly fire.
• Consolidate and Reorganize: After neutralizing the enemy, the team establishes a hasty 360-degree security perimeter, treats casualties, redistributes ammunition, and reports to higher command.

Adaptation for Fire Team

With only 4-5 team members, the TL may have to lead the assault personally, leaving the AR and another rifleman as the base of fire. The maneuver element (1-2 soldiers) must move quickly to avoid prolonged exposure. If the enemy is too strong, the TL may abort the assault and opt to break contact.

Option B: Break Contact

Conditions: The enemy is too large, well-entrenched, or reinforced, or the fire team is low on ammunition or has casualties.

Actions

• Suppressive Fire: The team maintains fire to keep the enemy suppressed. The grenadier may use smoke grenades to obscure the enemy’s view.
• Peel Back: The team withdraws using a “peel” technique, where one soldier fires while others move rearward, repeating in sequence (e.g., AR fires, TL moves, then TL fires, rifleman moves). The team moves to a covered position (e.g., behind a hill).
• Report and Regroup: The TL reports the situation and requests support or extraction. The team establishes security and prepares for follow-on actions.

Adaptation for Fire Team

Peeling requires tight coordination, as the team has fewer soldiers to maintain continuous fire. The TL may direct the AR to fire longer bursts to cover movement, while the grenadier uses smoke to mask the withdrawal.

Key Considerations for a Fire Team

• Limited Firepower: A fire team has less suppressive capability than a squad (e.g., MAYBE one FRT/Super Safety rifle vs. two M249 in a squad). The AR must be positioned to maximize effect, and ammunition conservation is critical.
• Maneuver Constraints: With only 4-5 team members, splitting into base-of-fire and maneuver elements is challenging. The TL may need to rely on terrain or smoke for concealment rather than a separate maneuver element.
• Communication: The TL must maintain constant communication with higher command, as a fire team is unlikely to operate independently. Support from the squad or platoon (e.g., machine guns, mortars) can compensate for the team’s limitations.
• Terrain and Enemy: The TL must quickly assess whether the terrain favors an assault (e.g., cover for flanking) or breaking contact (e.g., open ground requiring smoke). A larger or entrenched enemy may necessitate immediate withdrawal.
• Casualties: A single casualty significantly reduces a fire team’s combat power. The TL must prioritize casualty evacuation while maintaining security.

Example Scenario

Situation

A fire team (TL, AR, GR, R) patrolling a wooded area takes fire from three enemy riflemen 100 meters ahead behind a low wall.

Execution

• React: The team dives behind trees, returns fire, and shouts “Contact front!” The TL reports to the squad leader.
• Suppress: The AR lays down 5-10 round bursts, the GR fires a 40mm HE round at the wall, and the TL and R add aimed shots. The enemy is pinned.
• Decision: The TL assesses the enemy as small and decides to assault. The AR and a rifleman stay behind trees, suppressing the enemy. The TL and Riflemen bound to the right flank using a ditch for cover.
• Assault: The TL throws a grenade, followed by the R. They assault through, firing bursts, and neutralize the enemy.
• Consolidate: The team sets up security, checks for additional threats, and reports to the squad leader.

Training and Rehearsals

To execute Battle Drill 1 effectively, a fire team must rehearse:

• Immediate Action Drills: Practice reacting to contact (e.g., “Contact front!”) and taking cover.
• Fire and Movement: Train on bounding overwatch and peeling techniques.
• Communication: Ensure all members understand hand signals, verbal commands, and radio procedures.
• Ammunition Discipline: Simulate limited ammo scenarios to prepare for real-world constraints.

Conclusion

Adapting Battle Drill 1 for a fire team requires the TL to make rapid decisions with limited resources, prioritizing fire superiority and terrain use.

While a squad can split into two elements, a fire team must often act as a single unit, relying on the AR’s suppressive fire and the grenadier’s versatility. The TL’s ability to assess the enemy and coordinate under pressure is critical to success, whether assaulting or breaking contact.