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Post by panzer0170 on May 12, 2016 15:13:56 GMT -5
It's taken me a while but I'm finally getting round to doing some good old fashioned military training.
Core skills doing section (potentially platoon) level infantry tactics. It's been a while, but we'll be practising advance to contact. I am rusty, so lets see what I've forgotten, what I never knew, and what I need to get better at.
I'll be away over the weekend but hopefully I'll have something helpful to report back to the world in terms of lessons learned/reminded!
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Post by panzer0170 on May 15, 2016 11:10:44 GMT -5
Well. I made it back, and after some much needed sleep I will write something coherent. For now, sleep.
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Post by panzer0170 on May 16, 2016 16:18:56 GMT -5
A quick outline of 'stuff what I done this weekend'
Friday:
Due to other commitments we only managed to put together 3 6 man sections with a Pl Sgt and Pl Comd.
Deployed last thing at night (0100) into linear harbour with roving stag, because next days training was more important than going over harbour drills.
Saturday:
Up at 5. Orders given. Platoon advance to contact rehearsed. Lots of people who hadn't worked together, but were used to similar SOPs. SOPs and rehearsal are VITAL.
Slowtime walkthrough of 1x platoon attack, with DS talking each section through their role. What is the comd doing now? what is the 2IC doing now? What will you be doing next? Tactical AND administrative considerations.
After this 1 slowtime walkthrough dry, we went to 12 hours solid (0800-2000) rolling through 3 sections through platoon attacks. One section suppressing (forward section) second section assaulting, third section in reserve (bombing up mags, used as runners/casevac etc. basically under tac com/con of the Pl Sgt) Food/water grabbed when you could (whilst in the reserve). Went from this into hard standing/FOB style location and got some kip/prepped for the next day which was a deliberate attack.
(For those that aren't aware, Advance to Contact is basically wandering round waiting to get shot at. A deliberate attack you will have physically identified enemy positions with some form of recce prior to the attack. The difference being in an advance to contact you aren't likely to be able to supress the enemy with mortars etc, whereas a deliberate attack you are. Adv to Contact is much more of a scenario I see as viable training for an AC because of the lack of fire support available that you could use in a deliberate attack..)
Sunday: Platoon Deliberate attack, debrief, off the area.
Stuff what I learned to follow!
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Post by whitebear620 on May 17, 2016 0:12:52 GMT -5
Forgive me Panzer, but what are habour drills?
Glad to see you able to get there, especially with as big a group as you had.
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Post by panzer0170 on May 17, 2016 4:21:16 GMT -5
Harbour drills:
3 sections in a triangle, or lines (triangular or linear harbour). It's basically a method of doing routine admin (food, sleep etc) that provides protection.
Triangular harbours are the better ones, but often linear harbours are used for short stops/hasty type stuff.
There is a process for occupying a harbour: Map Recce, snap ambush, physical recce & comms check, place sentrys (points of triangle) fill in the rest of the triangles 'sides' looking out. From there you put out clearance patrols, set up trip flares/claymores etc as necessary, clear a 'track plan' (to get around the harbour without stepping on dry twigs and shit in the night causing noise) and then settle in to do routine. This harbour is then often worked from for section level stuff like recces. The two 'spare' sections fill in the empty side whilst another works, allowing 1 section to be out, one to be resting, and one to be doing sentry work.
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Post by panzer0170 on May 17, 2016 4:27:12 GMT -5
Harbour drills PDF
Please be aware this was written for Army Cadets (Similar to JROTC, from what I gather) so it's not in as full detail as the 'real' version might be. Basic principles are all in there though.
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Post by panzer0170 on May 18, 2016 7:10:49 GMT -5
So, things I learned/was reminded of that are pertinent to AC:
3's are a good number. 'Supress. Assault. Reserve.' Your rate of fire can be NIIICE and slow. With a section of 6 blokes me and the section commander fired probably a magazine between us in the supress phase; If you only need 1 man to supress at a slow ROF, just use one man.
If you're going to get blokes moving (2IC to be breifed by IC, or IC by Pl Comd etc) then the order "5 seconds rapid in 5 seconds...5,4,3,2,1.." is a fantastic way of making sure YOU are covered by sheer volume of fire.
Water. Take on water. I'm still not 100% on camelbaks. I found the US Issue 1 pint survival bottle fits nicely in a 3 mag pouch. This is what I used to swig and keep myself wet.
Condor moments. "Swift, violent and sure" is all very well and good. But there is no reason NOT to pause, leave one bloke providing cover, and take a moment to actually plan, rather than just reacting.
Rather than staggering magazines (1 with 30, another with 15 etc) EVERYONE carry 30. Make it an SOP for your lead man to dump 15 rounds on the RTR phase. You have acheived two things; heavy weight of fire from the off AND given yourself a staggered magazine change.
Pre-empt as much stuff as you can. If there are two of you, only have 1 firing. Soon as he calls magazine you take over. This gives the best opportunity for magazine changes and TIME. Time is your friend, use it.
Radios are good. Comp/Ammo/Cas cards are better (if you have enough blokes to worry about that sort of thing).
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Post by whitebear620 on May 18, 2016 17:30:01 GMT -5
Why are you not completely in favor of Camelbaks Panzer? Maybe it's just because I got in when they were already using camelbaks, but I prefer them over a canteen on my belt just for ease of access; 1 pint of water would also not last very long in my AO because of the heat.
Why would you ever stagger magazines? You can load them to 30, so why wouldn't full load them if you had the ammunition?
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Post by panzer0170 on May 18, 2016 18:09:10 GMT -5
With good logistics (which I should have) 3 litres is too much. I am considering one of the little 1L kangaroo bladders for in a webbing pouch, though.
I don't like, as well, that they're bulk. I can split 3 litres in 1L bottles up nicely.
The pint bottle isn't the only one I carry, but it's the one that I use whilst engaged because it's very handy.
Staggering magazines (1 or two in an 8 man group) is a good PHYSICAL control measure that you can do beforehand that lets everyone maintain the same rate of fire and it staggers reloads.
It works, it's simple, and it requires no training. With SOME training, the above method, I think, is superior (though, realistically, those first 15 rounds aren't going to be super accurate in an RTR scenario across 100m or so...)
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Post by panzer0170 on May 18, 2016 18:15:05 GMT -5
I'd also REALLY like to get a steel '58 pattern waterbottle, that I could heat directly over flame, if I needed. Would be extra usefulness in general.
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Post by Erick on May 19, 2016 18:37:59 GMT -5
very nice!!
Are you in the Brit National Guard equivalent or some such??
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Post by panzer0170 on May 20, 2016 5:25:45 GMT -5
Indeed I am. Stopped being a regular 18 months or so ago, got bored of being a boring civvy, and this pays reasonably well and I get to go do cool shit still.
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Post by eddiewouldclearhot on May 21, 2016 19:29:59 GMT -5
in america, we call those patrol bases. silly.
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Post by panzer0170 on May 22, 2016 0:06:44 GMT -5
in america, we call those patrol bases. silly. Ah, now a patrol base is a physical thing. A harbour could, if necessary, be a dip in the ground with sentries (desert, most likely). An actual patrol base is going to have all sorts of fun fortifications and shit. |
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Post by whitebear620 on May 22, 2016 11:25:28 GMT -5
A patrol base is what you make of it  |
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