3 October 1995

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is

unlimited.
 FM 44-43

PREFACE
The mission of air defense artillery is to protect the force and selected geopolitical assets
from aerial attack, missile attack, and surveillance.
FM 44-43 describes how the Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle (BSFV) platoon and squad
operate. The manual details tactics, techniques, and procedurcs used by the BSFV platoon to
exploit its capabilities, provide protection for the supported force, and survive on the battlefield.
Most importantly, this manual describes the integration of the BSFV platoon with its supported
unit, normally a heavy combined arms task force, in conducting combined arms operations on
tomorrow’s battlefield. The manual is required reading for commanders, platoon leaders, platoon
sergeants, and squad leaders who will direct and supervise the employment of BSFV platoons and
squads. Other recommended essential reading includcs–
FM 44-100 US Army Air Defense Operations (TBP)
FM 44-64 FAAD Battalion and Battery Operations (TBP)
FM 71-123 Tactics and Techniques for Combined Arms Heavy Forces:
Armored Brigade, Battalion/Task Force, and Company/Team
FM 71-1 The Tank and Mechanized Infantry Company Team
FM 71-2 The Tank and Mechanized Infantry Battalion Task Force
FM 71-3 The Armored and Mechanized Infantry Brigade
This publication is unclassified; therefore, threat information contained in the publication
is general in nature. Where detailed and current information is required, consult authoritative
sources. Classified information pertaining to BSFV capabilities, limitations, and AD planning is
found in (S) FM 44-100A (U) (TBP).
This publication implements the following international standardization agreements
(STANAGs):
STANAG TITLE EDITION
2014 Operation Orders, Warning Orders and
Administrative/Logistics Orders 7
2019 Military Symbols for Land Based Systems
(APP-6) 3
2868 Land Force Tactical Doctrine (ATP-35 (A)) 4
3880 Counter Air Operations (ATP-42(B)) 2
The proponent of this publication is USAADASCH. Users of this manual are encouraged
to submit recommended changes or comments to improve this publication. Key comments to the
specific page and line of the text in which the change is recommended. Provide rationale for each
comment to ensure understanding and complete evaluation.
Prepare comments on DA Form 2028 and forward them to—
Commandant
US Army Air Defense Artillery School
ATTN: ATSA-TAC-D
Fort Bliss, TX 79916-3802
Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns or pronouns do not refer
exclusively to men.

ii
 CHAPTER 1
THE BSFV PLATOON
The Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle platoon plays an integral role
as part of the combined arms team on the modern day battlefield. This
chapter discusses BSFV platoon organization, personnel roles and re-
sponsibilities, and system capabilities.
The mission of air defense artillery is to protect the force and se-
lected geopolitical assets from aerial and missile attack and surveil-
lance. The FAAD mission is to provide low-altitude air defense
protection to the force and its critical assets. FAAD contributes to force
protection operations by countering threat reconnaissance, intelli-
gence, surveillance and target acquisition (RISTA) and lethal aerial
platforms. FAAD weapon systems ensure the force has the freedom to
maneuver during combat operations.

BSFV PLATOON IN ARMY OPERATIONS

FM 100-5 describes how the Army organizes and by the swift concentration of air defense fires against
applies combat power. It describes synchronization of enemy aerial platforms.
the combat functions to achieve victory. Within its
framework, there are five tenets which describe the DEPTH
characteristics of successful operations. Depth is the extension of operations in time,
While these tenets apply to the training and lead- space, resources, and purpose. It is the ability to gain
ership doctrine of all combat, combat support, and information and influence operations throughout the
combat service support organizations, an understand- battlefield. The BSFV platoon achieves depth by inte-
ing of them by the BSFV platoon will aid in success on grating fires with other air defense systems, for exam-
the battlefield. ple, a reinforced Stinger section.
INITIATIVE SYNCHRONIZATION
Initiative sets or changes the terms of battle by ac- Synchronization is arranging activities in time and
tion. It implies an offensive spirit in the conduct of all op- space to mass at the decisive point. It requires a clear
erations. Initiative requires that leaders anticipate events understanding of the supported unit commander’s in-
on the battlefield. This allows them and their units to act tent. The BSFV platoon achieves synchronization by
and react faster than the enemy. Applied to individual massing fires at the critical point on the battlefield. An
soldiers and leaders, initiative requires a willingness and example of synchronization by the BSFV platoon is the
ability to act independently within the framework of the proper positioning of sections on the battlefield to mass
commander’s intent. The BSFV platoon must be able to fires at a specific air target area of interest to destroy
anticipate enemy actions and organize its assets to defeat or defeat any enemy air threat.
or destroy the enemy air threat.
AGILITY CONTENTS
Agility is the ability of friendly forces to react fast-
er than the enemy. It is a prerequisite for seizing and Page
holding the initiative. It is as much a mental as a physi- BSFV Platoon in Army Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
cal quality. For the BSFV platoon, agility is the ability BSFV Platoon Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
to adjust platoon capabilities to meet varying air BSFV Platoon Personnel Roles
threats. The decision support matrix and the execution and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
matrix are examples of tools that may be used by the BSFV Characteristics and Capabilities . . . . . . . . . 1-3
BSFV platoon to achieve agility. This is accomplished

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FM 44-43

VERSATILITY
Versatility is the ability to meet diverse mission re- versatility in a BSFV platoon is the ability to move lat-
quirements. The BSFV platoon must be flexible to erally on the battlefield transitioning from a defensive
meet diverse mission requirements. An example of to an offensive posture in a reinforcing role.

BSFV PLATOON ORGANIZATION

The BSFV platoon is organized into a headquar-
ters section and two maneuver sections. See the BSFV
Platoon illustration. The headquarters section consists
of the platoon leader’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV)
and the platoon sergeant’s armored personnel carrier
(APC) and 5-ton ammo truck. The maneuver sections
each contain two BSFV squads. This configuration
gives the platoon the capability to fight as an entire pla-
toon or to task-organize and fight as sections. Air de-
fense commanders may modify platoon organizations
to fit specific mission requirements.

BSFV PLATOON PERSONNEL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and responsibilities of personnel assigned to positions. He determines weapon to be fired, fire com-
the BSFV platoon are varied. This section outlines the mand, and decides when to dismount the Stinger team.
general roles and responsibilities of platoon personnel. He also maintains communications and carries out the
platoon leader’s or platoon sergeant’s directives. The
PLATOON LEADER squad leader has primary responsibility for the mainte-
The BSFV platoon leader has several responsibili- nance of the BSFV and the training of his squad.
ties. He commands the BSFV platoon and his BFV GUNNER
track. In this capacity, he is responsible for tactical em- The gunner, as second-in-command of the squad,
ployment, track commander tasks, and logistics. He is assists the squad leader in the detection and identifica-
also the special staff officer for air defense for the sup- tion of targets. He is the primary operator of the BSFV
ported unit commander. turret weapon systems. He is responsible for operator
maintenance of the turret and its weapons.
PLATOON SERGEANT
The platoon sergeant (PSG) is second-in-com- DRIVER (ASSISTANT GUNNER)
mand of the platoon and takes charge of the platoon The driver operates the vehicle under the squad
in the absence of the platoon leader. He is responsible leader’s control. He aids in target identification and en-
to the platoon leader for maintenance and supply, and gagement. The driver is primarily responsible for oper-
may assist in employment of the platoon and in dis- ator maintenance on vehicle automotive and
semination of early warning. He may also act as an liai- communications systems. When required, the driver
son officer (LNO) for the platoon. Depending on will perform duties of an assistant gunner by aiding the
platoon task organization, he may direct the tactical gunner in the preparation and loading of ammunition.
employment of one section.
STINGER TEAM
SQUAD LEADER The two-man Stinger team consists of a team
The squad leader is the BSFV commander and has chief and a gunner. The team chief is responsible for
overall responsibility for the squad. He identifies and Stinger employment, target identification and engage-
designates targets, routes of movement, and vehicle ment, and Stinger maintenance.

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 FM 44-43

The gunner is responsible for assisting the team may assist the Bradley crew in uploading 25-mm am-
chief in the operation and maintenance of the Sting- munition.
er. He must be prepared to assume all the duties and
responsibilities of the team chief. The Stinger team

BSFV CHARACTERISTICS AND CAPABILITIES

The BSFV tremendously enhances air defense
protection in the forward area of the battlefield. This
section addresses the weapon system features which BSFV STINGER STORAGE
are responsible for the increased firepower, mobility,
and survivability of air defense artillery fire units. Tar-
get engagement and weapon characteristics and capa- SIX STINGER MISSILES
bilities are addressed in Appendix L of this manual. (2 weapon-rounds and
4 missile-rounds)

FIREPOWER
Although the primary weapon system on the
BSFV is the Stinger missile, other firepower systems
provide target engagement alternatives. The weapons Hinged racks with automatic
are characteristized as dismounted and mounted sys- up-lock, quick-release straps.
tems.
Dismounted Weapons
The Stinger is the primary air defense weapon in
the BSFV The Stinger team maintains a basic load of BSFV 25-MM CHAIN GUN BASIC LOAD
two weapon-rounds and four missile-rounds. See
Stinger Technical Data and BSFV Stinger Storage il- TOTAL
lustrations. SYSTEM QUANTITY APDS-T HEI-T**
M2A2 900 70 ready* 230 reedy*
STINGER TECHNICAL DATA M3A0 450 140 stowed 460 stowed
30 stowed 120 stowed
Maximum effective range . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 meters * Ready canister capacity, regardless of vehicle
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.9 pounds model.
Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 inches ** The APDS-T has a higher probability of hit than
Backblast clearance HEI-T. However, HEI-T has a higher probability of kill at
Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 meters ranges beyond 1,700 meters. Even though APDS-T is
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 meters more accurate, HEI-T will reduce the likelihood of
fratricide if target is missed.
Mounted Weapons
The BSFV has three mounted weapon systems Tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided
that support the surface-to-surface and surface–to-air (TOW missile system. The TOW is a command-guided
mission. The following paragraphs explain each sys- surface attack weapon that can destroy stationary and
tem's capabilities. slow-moving aerial targets as well as armored vehicles.
25-mm automatic gun. The BSFV has a 25-mm It may also be used against fortified bunkers, gun em-
fully automatic gun. The dual-feed weapon system al- placements, and other protected positions.
lows the crew to select two types of ammunition: Ar- M240C 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun (coax). The
mor-piercing discarding sabot-tracer (APDS-T) and coaxial machine gun is a belt-fed, gas-operated, fully
high-explosive incendiary tracer (HEI-T). See the automatic weapon which can be used against
BSFV 25-mm chain gun basic load illustration. unmanned aerodynamic vehicles (UAVs), fixed- and

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FM 44-43

rotary-wing aircraft, dismounted infantry, crew- Smoke Capability

served weapons, and unarmored vehicles. The BSFV has two onboard smoke systems. The
first, a smokescreen generator, creates a dense smoke
MOBILITY cloud by introducing diesel fuel into the engine exhaust
The BSFV has acceleration and speed far superior system. It is not effective if the vehicle is fueled with
to the APC. Its mobility, survivability, and maneuver- JP3 or JP8. The BSFV also has two smoke-grenade
ability is commensurate with that of the supported launchers (eight tubes) mounted on the front of the
force. Its cross-country speed is 48 kilometers per turret, four per side. They are fired simultaneously and
hour, and its cruising range is 480 kilometers. Fuel ca- produce a dense cloud of smoke. The launchers must
pacity is 175 gallons. The BSFV is powered by a 600- be reloaded from the outside of the vehicle.
horsepower (M2A2) turbocharged diesel engine. Pow- Under certain circumstances, smoke obscurants
er train efficiency is derived from a hydromechanical may be effective as a defense against attacking rotary-
transmission. The suspension system has 14 inches of and fixed-wing aircraft. They can be used for obscuring
vertical wheel travel and high-performance shock ab- the vehicle from air or ground-launched optical-
sorbers. The following illustration contains additional guided missiles. The use of onboard smoke may give
details. away the user’s vehicle position as well as obstruct aeri-
al target acquisition.
BSFV CHARACTERISTICS Water-Crossing Capability
The BSFV can ford up to 3.5 feet of water. With
Combat weight 23.5 tons its water barrier erected, the BSFV can swim water ob-
Height 116 inches stacles with currents up to 6.4 kilometers or 4 miles per
Width 128 inches hour. Maximum speed is 7.25 miles per hour while
Ground clearance 18 inches swimming. Erection of the swim barrier takes about 25
Acceleration (0 to 20 MPH) 7.7 seconds minutes for the M2A2. The BSFV requires an exit
Road speed 40 MPH (66 KPH) bank slope not greater than 17 percent and can fire
Cross-county speed 30 MPH (48 KPH) both its 25-mm automatic gun and 7.62-mm systems
Cruising speed 480 kilometers while swimming, though care must be taken not to hit
Vertical obstacle 36 inches the trim vane or water barrier. The 25-mm automatic
Trench 100 inches gun may be fired in any direction while swimming how-
Fording depth 3.5 feet ever, traversing the turret may upset the balance of the
vehicle.
Operations During Limited Visibility
The BSFV is capable of operating in limited visi-
bility. Operation of the weapons and the vehicle are
ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES AND aided by special sights and viewers.
CHARACTERISTICS Integrated sight unit. The ISU is the primary sight-
The BSFV has additional capabilities and charac- ing system for mounted weapon systems on the BSFV.
teristics common to the Bradley family of vehicles. Using the integrated sight unit in the thermal mode,
Some of the more important capabilities and charac- the BSFV commander and gunner can detect and en-
teristics are discussed in the following paragraphs. gage targets during limited visibility, day or night. The
day sight has normal optics. The night sight uses ther-
Armor Protection mal imagery which enables the gunner to “see”
Through the use of special armor plate materials, through most limited-visibility conditions, including
surface slope, and a unique laminate armor system, the darkness, smoke, light foliage, camouflage, light fog,
BSFV has maximum armor protection for its weight. snow, and mist. Thermal sights normally remain on
The BSFV can withstand projectiles up to and includ- during combat operations.
ing 14.5-mm on all sides on the M3A0 and 30-mm on Driver’s night sight. The driver uses the driver’s
the M2A2. The BSFV cannot withstand fire from anti- night viewer during periods of darkness. This viewer is
armor weapons, but skillful application of the vehicle’s an image intensification device that allows the driver
mobility and suppressive firepower can decrease its to see to his front. The driver can also use the viewer
vulnerability. to assist the BSFV commander and gunner in sensing

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 FM 44-43

rounds fired to the front from the turret weapons. The

viewer is prone to “white out” (fade out) if bright light
shines directly at the vehicle. When installed, the view-
er obscures the speedometer or odometer. It may be
battery powered or run directly off the vehicle.
Night vision goggles. The BSFV commander can as-
sist in the control of the vehicle’s night movement
while wearing the AN/PVS-7 night vision goggles.
Communications
The BSFV’s communications system provides for con-
trol of mounted and dismounted operations. All five
Bradleys in the platoon, objectively, will have digital
and FM communications capability. Digital communi-
cations is the primary means for communications, with
FM as the alternate. The BSFV platoon must also be
proficient in the use of visual communications. Howev-
er, the effectiveness of visual communications may be
reduced by battlefield obscurant and limited visibility.

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 CHAPTER 2
COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS
This chapter discusses command and control techniques and com-
munications requirements for the successful integration of the BSFV
platoon with its supported force.
Command is the authority vested in an individual of the armed
forces for the direction, coordination, and control of military forces.
Control is the authority, which may be less than full command, exercised
by a commander over part of the activities of subordinate or other orga-
nizations. The platoon leader commands the BSFV platoon, aided by
the platoon sergeant. Effective platoon command and control is mainly
dependent on leadership, training, standing operating procedures
(SOPs), drills, and the effective use of control procedures and communi-
cations techniques.

COMMAND
For forces to properly task-organize to accomplish limitations specified in the attachment order. The
varying missions, command and support relationships attachment order should state clearly the
have been established to define relationships between administrative and support responsibility of the gaining
supporting and supported forces on the battlefield. unit to the attached unit and any limitations. The
This section describes the relationships between sup- commander of the formation, unit, or organization
ported and supporting units. receiving the attachment will exercise the same degree
of command and control as he dots over units organic
COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS to his command. When a unit is attached, the
Command relationships define the specifics of supported force normally provides administrative and
command and control and support between supported logistical support to the attached unit. However, the
and supporting forces. Command responsibility and responsibility for transfer and promotion of personnel
authority vary depending on the type of command rela- will normally be retained by the parent formation, unit,
tionships between units and elements. The four types or organization. For example, a BSFV platoon from
of command relationships that will be used by the one battery in the air defense battalion may become
BSFV platoon are organic, assigned, attached, and op- attached to another battery in the same battalion.
erational control (OPCON).
Operational Control
Organic OPCON is a relationship in which a unit is
A unit is organic when it forms an essential part provided to the commander of another unit to
of a larger unit and is listcd in the larger unit’s TOE. accomplish specific missions or tasks which are usually
For example, a BSFV platoon is organic to a BSFV bat- limited by function, time, or location. OPCON is
tery. normally assigned when the parent unit cannot
Assigned exercise effective command and control. Units placed
Assigned units are those units placed in an organi- in an OPCON relationship do not normally receive
zation on a permanent basis. Assigned units are con-
trolled and administered by the organization to which CONTENTS
they are assigned. For example, an air defense artillery
battalion is assigned to a division. Page
Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...2-1
Attached Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
Attachment places a unit in an organization on a Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...2-16
temporary basis. Attached units are subject to

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FM 44-43

administrative or logistical support, unless specified in responsibility to provide support to units or assets
the operation order directing their OPCON status. An within a specific area, but must coordinate with the
example of OPCON is a BSFV platoon placed supported ADA unit to reinforce the coverage of assets
OPCON to a mechanized task force for an offensive in the area of operations. BSFV platoons are not
mission. normally assigned a GS-R mission.
SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS SUPPORT RELATIONSHIP SELECTING
Support relationships define specific arrange- The ADA Support Relationships illustration, on
ments and responsibilities between supporting and page 2-3, shows responsibilities associated with each
supported units. The four support relationships are di- ADA relationship. To determine the most appropriate
rect support, general support, reinforcing, and general support relationship for accomplishing the ADA mis-
support-reinforcing. sion, the following questions need to be answered:
Direct Support (DS) Who establishes ADA priorities?
In direct support, the supporting unit provides Who positions ADA fire units?
dedicated support to a specific unit. A DS ADA unit
provides dedicated air defense for a specific element of Who coordinates terrain on which ADA will
the force which has no organic air defense. The sup- position fire units?
porting ADA unit coordinates its movement and posi- With whom should liaison be established?
tioning with the supported unit. A BSFV platoon, for With whom should communications be estab-
example, may provide direct support to a mechanized
task force. The platoon will provide dedicated support lished?
to the task force and the platoon leader will position STAFF COORDINATION
the platoon in conjunction with the task force com- It is imperative that the platoon leader maintain
mander’s concept of the operation. coordination with the supported unit’s staff through-
out the planning process. Examples of information
General Support (GS) coordinated with the supported task force are listed be-
An ADA unit in general support provides support low and in the Supported Force/ADA Platoon Leader
for the force as a whole. It is not committed to any spe- Responsibilities illustration on page 2-4.
cific clement of the supported force. It dots not sup-
port a specific unit within the larger unit’s area of S1 Section
operations. An ADA unit in general support remains The platoon leader will give the S1 a battle roster of
under the control of its higher ADA commander and authorized and on-hand personnel by military occupa-
is positioned by its ADA commander. GS is commonly tional specialty (MOS) and grade. He must also coordi-
used to protect corps or division level assets and is not nate to integrate platoon casualty evacuation into the task
normally a support relationship used by BSFV pla- force (TF) plan. Routine personnel reports required by
toons. the supported unit, such as personnel status reports, must
Reinforcing (R) be submitted as specified in the supported unit’s tactical
A reinforcing ADA unit augments the support of SOP (TACSOP).
another ADA unit or strengthens the air defense of the S2 Section
force. A reinforcing ADA unit is positioned to protect The platoon leader assists the task force S2 in the
one or more of the reinforced unit’s priorities as speci- development of the air intelligence preparation of the
fied by the supported ADA unit commander. For ex- battlefield (IPB). The platoon leader must pay particular
ample, a BSFV platoon could reinforce the ADA attention to enemy air avenues that can influence the
battery which is in direct support of a maneuver brigade supported force’s area of operations. Enemy air avenues
conducting the division main attack. This support rela- and corresponding air named areas of interest (NAIs)
tionship is not normally used by BSFV platoons. must be depicted on the task force intelligence overlay.
Time permitting, the battery commander should provide
General Support-Reinforcing (GS-R) this information to the platoon leader.
An ADA unit with a general support-reinforcing
mission provides support for the force as a whole and S3 Section
augments the support provided by another ADA unit. The platoon leader recommends ADA priorities
ADA units with a GS-R mission still have a to the supported commander and helps the S3

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 FM 44-43

ADA SUPPORT RELATIONSHIPS

GENERAL
DIRECT GENERAL SUPPORT-
QUESTION SUPPORT SUPPORT REINFORCING REINFORCING
Who establishes The supported The ADA commander The supported (1) The ADA commander
ADA priorities? commander. assigning relationship, commander assigning relationship,
based on the sup- through the based on the supported
ported commander’s reinforced ADA commander’s priorities.
priorities. commander. (2) The supported
commander through the
reinforced ADA commander.
Who positions ADA fire unit ADA fire unit com- ADA fire unit with The ADA fire unit
ADA fire units? commanders manders in coordination! approval of the commanders in coordina-
with approval with local ground reinforced ADA tion with the local ground
of the ground commander. commander commander and reinforced
commander. and local ground ADA commander.

Who coordinates The DS ADA The commander The reinforced The commander
terrain on commander assigning the support ADA commander assigning the mission
which ADA units (approved by relationship. with the with the supported
will position fire the supported supported commander and
units? commander). commander. reinforced ADA
commander.

With whom Supported unit. As required. As required, but As required, but including
should liaison be including the the reinforced ADA
established? reinforced ADA commander.
commander.
With whom Supported unit. As required. As required, but As required, but
should including the including the reinforced
communications reinforced ADA commander.
be established? ADA commander.

Notes:
1. The term “positions” specifies the selection of the exact placement of individual
fire units within the operating area.
2. A unit supporting another unit is responsible for establishing communications
with the supported unit.

integrate air defense into the task force scheme of (OPORD).These graphics must be disseminated to the
maneuver. During the planning process, the platoon platoon sergeant and squad leaders.
leader or designated LNO (PSG or section sergeant)
will assist in development of any graphics dealing with S4 Section
his platoon’s scheme of maneuver. The platoon leader While the platoon sergeant executes logistics for
will receive a copy of the supported force’s final the platoon, the platoon leader must conduct initial
operational graphics with the operation order coordination with the supported force. The PSG will

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FM 44-43

SUPPORTED FORCE/ADA PLATOON LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES

STAFF SUPPORTED FORCE ADA PLATOON LEADER ASSISTS

AGENCY DETERMINES... AND COORDINATES WITH...
S2 Ground Operations Input to Air IPB
Enemy Regiments Main Objective Input on Enemy Air
Enemy Follow-On Forces Capabilities, Operations,
Enemy Artillery Locations and Objectives
Avenues of Approach

S3 Intent ID Priorities Over Time

Scheme of Maneuver A2C2 Plan
Terrain Management Coord With Other ADA
Army Aviation Plan Redundant EW Plan
TOC/TAC LOC/Operations ADA Execution Matrix
Mission Changes Command/Support Relationship
Dissemination of EW ADA Force Allocation
TF/TM Graphics ADA Movement Plan
Combined Arms AD Operations Synch of ADA With Supported
ADA Priorities Approval Force Scheme of Maneuver
Passive Air Defense Advice to Commander on Passive AD

FSO Fire Support Plan/FASCAM Attack on Enemy FAAS/FACS

FA Call for Fire/TRPs
Input to Fire Support Plan

S1 Casualty Evacuation Plan Provide Battle Roster

Integrate Into Evacuation Plan

S4 Combat/Field Train LOC ADA Logistical Plan

MSRs/Movement Priorities Recovery
LOGPAC/Plan ADA Peculiar Items
Availability of Resources

ENGR Obstacle Plan Survivability

Routes Mobility
Survivability Priorities Obstacle Plan

NBCO MOPP Level

Decontamination Sites
Contaminated Areas
Downwind Messages

Frequencies/Call Signs
CESO Radio Maintenance Plan
Sensor Connection

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 FM 44-43

conduct additional coordination with the supported time and location for issue of the operation order. The
force S4 or support platoon leader, as well as the ADA warning order should be brief. It may be disseminated
battery first sergeant. The platoon sergeant may con- via radio or messenger. A sample warning order is in
tact the supported force on its administrative/logistics Appendix A.
(ADMIN/LOG) radio net to conduct routine functions
and submit reports required by the supported force Operation Order
SOPs. More information on logistics is contained in An OPORD is a complete order issued to units
Chapter 7. prior to a specific mission or a series of missions. It fol-
lows the format topics listed below
Engineer
Once the supported unit obstacle plan and engi- Situation.
neer priorities for support have been specified, the Mission.
BSFV platoon leader will coordinate with the sup- Execution.
ported force engineer. If the BSFV platoon is sched-
uled to receive engineer support for the mission, direct Service Support.
coordination with the supported force engineer is re- Command and Signal.
quired to coordinate specific vehicle location require- OPORD formats are frequently modified by units
ments. to meet their specific needs while adhering to the stan-
Fire Support Officer dard five-paragraph format. OPORD will contain an-
The platoon leader’s coordination with the fire nexes for each paragraph to more completely describe
support officer (FSO) may include the following type the actions and events.
and location of targets and target reference points BSFV platoon leaders will write the air defense
(TRPs), Army Airspace Command and Control (A C )
2 2 annex to the supported unit’s OPORD. Depending on
information, and current fire support information. Full the parent air defense artillery battery and supported
integration with the fire support scheme of maneuver unit SOPs, the air defense annex may be written fully
is imperative for mission accomplishment. or in matrix format. An example of an air defense an-
nex is in Appendix A.
COMBAT ORDERS Fragmentary Order
Combat orders are the tools with which leaders A fragmentary order (FRAGO) is an abbreviated
and staffs transmit battle plans to subordinate units. form of an OPORD. A FRAGO is used to update exist-
The Army has developed standard combat order for- ing OPORDs. Examples of information contained in
mats; however, units often modify or augment basic FRAGOs are changes in enemy situation, friendly task
combat order formats to meet their specific needs. organization, mission, graphic control measures, com-
Combat arms platoon leaders may issue orders ei- mander’s intent, and scheme of maneuver. During ex-
ther verbally or in writing, depending on time available. tended operations, units will publish an initial OPORD
Optimally, combat orders should reference unit SOPs and update it with FRAGOs for each follow-on mis-
to enhance brevity and clarity. sion. Like warning orders, FRAGOs are usually brief
BSFV platoons will usc a combination of combat oral or written messages. An example of a FRAGO is
order formats. In addition to the orders format used by in Appendix A.
the parent air defense artillery battery, the platoon
leader must usc the supported unit’s orders format. PLATOON TROOP-LEADING PROCEDURES
This section will list the most frequently used combat Upon receipt of an order, combat arms platoon
orders and describe the basic information included in leaders must begin their own planning process. Troop-
each. leading procedures are designed to focus the leader’s
Warning Order effort, given the time available, on preparations for the
Warning orders notify subordinate units of future ensuing mission.
missions. Normally, warning orders include an antici- BSFV platoon leaders must understand the steps
pated upcoming mission statement, any changes to task of troop-leading procedures and practice them to im-
organization, any movement instructions to position plement them efficiently for each mission. This section
units for the upcoming mission, a general description addresses standard troop-leading procedures and how
of the area of operations, an intelligence update, and each step applies to the BSFV platoon leader.

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FM 44-43

Step One—Receive the Mission various means (radio, facsimile (FAX), and so forth)
Upon mission receipt, the platoon leader must due to battery dispersion and time available. This plan
conduct an initial mission analysis as well as begin to may be general, depending on information available.
prepare the platoon for its next mission. The ADA mis- The AD plan will normally include the air defense ar-
sion, as well as the task force mission, must be consid- tillery task organization, current situation, battery mis-
ered. For timely mission analysis of both air defense sion, supported unit commander’s intent, and scheme
and task force requirements, the platoon leader will of maneuver for the supported unit.
enhance the efficiency of the planning process by con- Based on the command and support relation-
sidering the following: ship, the BSFV platoon leader will conduct parallel
What is the restated mission (task and pur- planning with the supported unit’s staff. This occurs
pose)? during the staff planning process. The BSFV platoon
Who is the enemy (unit, size, and type)? leader, as the senior air defender of the supported
force, is the commander of the BSFV platoon, sup-
Where is the area of operations (is movement ported force commander’s air defense advisor, as
required; when must it start)? well as the staff air defense officer. Integration with
Who is attached? What are the detachments the supported force staff during the planning process
and when are they gained or lost? and an understanding of the planning process used
What is the available time (time for further by the supported force are imperative for proper mis-
planning, when to issue the warning order, FRAGO sion planning. The BSFV platoon leader must align
or OPORD)? his air defense plan and his plan for positioning of his
fire units with the phases specified in the supported
Step Two-Issue a Warning Order force’s scheme of maneuver.
The platoon leader issues a warning order to the During the planning process, the platoon leader
platoon upon receipt of a warning order from higher must ensure that any additions or changes to mission-
headquarters. The warning order is refined upon re- specific information are immediately disseminated to
ceipt of the OPORD or FRAGO. The platoon leader the platoon (that is, linkup time and location with sub-
informs the platoon of upcoming mission information, ordinate units, current task force/company team loca-
initial preparations that must be made, when and tions, changes to task organization, and so forth).
where a detailed OPORD will be issued, and any other The AD plan will continue to be adjusted based on
information that he can give the platoon to aid in its the maneuver plan. Each task force will receive the bri-
preparations. gade order containing the completed ADA annex. The
Step Three – Make a Tentative Plan BSFV platoon leader must review the ADA annex in
The platoon leader begins planning by reviewing the brigade operation order. This written annex con-
the information gleaned during mission analysis. Back- tains the AD plan that will provide the BSFV platoon
ward planning, based on the analysis of available time, leader information on the following:
must be conducted. The initial timeline must be dis- Ground and air IPB.
seminated to the platoon as soon as possible and be up-
dated as necessary (see the Backward Planning The sensor plan.
2
Checklist in Appendix D). The result of backward plan- Enemy aviation command and control (C ) fa-
ning will result in a timeline that may include the fol- cilities targeted by the division.
lowing events: Locations where the platoons may be
Mission execution time (line of departure or employed.
defend no later than time). 2 2
The A C plan.
OPORD issue time. The logistics plan.
Movement time between positions. The platoon leader should have sufficient infor-
Emplacement time. mation from the battery AD plan to synchronize his
Depending on the command and support relation- air defense plan with the supported task force
ship, the BSFV platoon leader may or may not receive scheme of maneuver. He must also consider the fol-
an AD plan from his battery commander. If he does, lowing information: mission, commander’s intent,
this plan may be given by the battery commander via and RISTA threat.

2-6
 FM 44-43

Leaders must follow a logical process when ana- leader’s recons, and linkup operations).
lyzing the mission requirements. The commander’s es-
timate of the situation includes an analysis of mission, Once the timeline is complete, the platoon leader
enemy, terrain, troops, and time available (METT-T). will begin to plan his concept for air defense coverage
The platoon must be aware of the factors of METT-T based on higher headquarters plans. At the same time,
and how they apply at platoon level. METT-T must be he will begin to plan his platoon’s ground scheme of
applied during mission analysis for both air defense re- maneuver based on the supported force’s ground
quirements and the ground scheme of maneuver. Fol- scheme of maneuver. To begin planning, the platoon
lowing are examples of questions that may be leader must have an understanding of enemy air and
considered during mission analysis: ground avenues of approach, the supported force mis-
What is the mission? What are the specified sion and scheme of maneuver, and the supported force
and implied tasks? What is the commander’s intent? commander’s intent.
If the BSFV platoon is direct support to a task force,
the BSFV platoon leader must conduct mission analy- When developing the plan for air defense cover-
sis for both the AD mission and the supported task age of any supported force, the platoon leader must
force mission. consider the six air defense artillery employment
Where is the enemy, and what is its strength? guidelines. These guidelines aid air defenders at all
What is the enemy air threat? What weapons does it levels when planning for air defense coverage.
have that can affect the supported force? What can it Early engagement. Fire units must be positioned so
do in response to the platoon’s actions? What are its they are capable of engaging enemy air platforms be-
weaknesses and how can the platoon exploit them? fore they can release their ordnance on, or gain intelli-
The BSFV platoon leader must consider the ground gence about, friendly forces. With the mobility
threat as well as the enemy air threat. provided by the BSFV, fire units should be located well
forward and integrated into the supported task force
What is the impact of terrain and weather on scheme of maneuver. In the less likely mission of de-
both air and ground operations? Observation and fending a static asset, fire units should be positioned
fields of fire, cover and concealment, obstacles, key forward of the supported force along likely enemy air
terrain, and avenues of approach (OCOKA) should avenues of approach.
also be considered. Weighted coverage. Once the supported force com-
What are the conditions of personnel and ve- mander designates his main effort, BSFV fire units
hicles? What is the status of ammunition, fuel, and should be positioned along the most likely air avenues
supplies? Who is best able to do a specific task? of approach to support the commander’s main effort.
What is the crew endurance (rest) plan? What other This massing of firepower increases the BSFV pla-
assets are available to support the mission? What are toon’s probability of killing enemy air targets. It is ex-
the other ADA platoons in the supported force do- tremely important that a detailed, in-depth air IPB be
ing? Who and where are the adjacent ADA units? developed prior to deciding whereto establish weight
How much time is available for planning and coverage of air defense assets. Air defense will focus
mission preparation prior to mission execution? its effort on the most likely avenues of approach along
How long will it take to position assets and prepare the supported force commander’s designated main ef-
positions if necessary? When can the platoon re- fort.
hearse? The platoon leader should adhere to the Depth. Depth is achieved by positioning fire units
1/3- 2/3 planning rule and take no more than 1/3 of so threat air platforms encounter a continuous volume
the time allocated to prepare his order and dissemi- of fire as they approach the protected force and or as-
nate the order to his platoon, allowing 2/3 of the time set. The BSFV platoon leader achieves depth by posi-
available for squad planning and preparation. It is tioning his assets so that they can provide continuous
imperative that BSFV platoon leaders do not spend fires along enemy air avenues, destroying the enemy as
so much time producing the platoon operations or- it advances toward the protected force and or asset.
der and ADA annex that task force directed prepara- Depth is maximized through the integration of all air
tion tasks are overlooked. Responsibilities for some defense weapons used in the defense. Additional air
preparation tasks may be delegated to the platoon defense assets on the battlefield such as Stinger teams,
sergeant or squad leaders (pre-combat inspections, Avenger fire units, HIMAD assets, and combined arms

2-7
FM 44-43

air defense efforts from ground forces contribute to the Communications with air defense network.
creation of depth on the battlefield.
Balanced fires. Balanced fires are created by posi- Initial positions for individual BSFVs will be deter-
tioning air defense weapons to distribute fires equally mined by considering—
in all directions. Except for the mission of defense of Maximum observation and fields of fire on
a static asset, where no clear avenues of approach are
identified, this guideline will seldom be employed. As high ground over probable air avenues of approach.
an example, on a flat, open battlefield, characteristic of Depth.
a desert environment, no specific air corridors exist. In Communications with platoon leader, platoon
this scenario, planning for balanced fires may be viable. sergeant, adjacent squads, crews, and sensors.
Mutual support. Mutual support is achieved by po-
sitioning weapons to complement fires from adjacent Routes to and from positions.
fire units, thus preventing the enemy from attacking Protection against ground attack.
one position without being subjected to fire from one Platoon leaders must coordinate fire unit posi-
or more adjacent positions. Mutual support will en- tions with the supported force. Sensors may be at-
hance volume of fire as well as cover dead space of ad- tached to the platoon. If so, platoon leaders must also
jacent units. The planning range for mutual support for coordinate sensor positions. Sensor positions should be
Stinger systems is approximately 2,000 meters. selected based on their ability to effectively provide
Overlapping fires. Fire units should be positioned early warning (EW) to the unit. The platoon leader in-
so engagement envelopes overlap. In many instances forms the battery commander of the tentative plan,
because of terrain limitations, the size of the area to be then updates as necessary.
covered, or a scarcity of available Stinger systems, the
air defense planner should attempt to enhance the AD Step Four–Initiate Necessary Movement
protection of the force and or asset by ensuring engage- Movement should begin as soon as possible fol-
ment envelopes overlap. The planning range for over- lowing receipt of the warning order. Often, move-
lapping fires for Stinger systems is approximately 4,000 ment will occur simultaneously with the initiation of
meters. the planning process. Normally, the platoon leader
In developing the plan, the BSFV platoon leader reports to the supported TF tactical operations cen-
will incorporate a mix of guidelines in his coverage ter (TOC) and begins the planning process with the
plan, according to the mission, availability, limitations, TF staff. The platoon sergeant conducts resupply op-
and survivability of ADA assets; the tactical situation; erations for the platoon and the initial coordination
and the threat. Integrating all guidelines into the plan for linkup with the supported force. The platoon
will seldom be possible or desirable. The most import- should be positioned to ease support of t he upcoming
ant guidelines for the BSFV platoon leader to consid- mission.
er normally include early engagement, weighted
coverage, and depth. Step Five-Conduct Reconnaissance
Planning guidelines for developing the platoon’s If possible, a ground reconnaissance of the area in
ground scheme of maneuver will incorporate those which the supported force will fight must be made. This
topics considered in developing the air defense cover- is often possible for defensive operations but harder to
age plan. The platoon leader will consider METT-T accomplish for offensive operations. Reconnaissance
and OCOKA in development of his plan. of the ground on which the platoon will fight will con-
The platoon leader will determine the best posi- firm or deny the tentative plan. For the BSFV platoon
tions for both himself and the platoon sergeant based leader in support of a maneuver task force, reconnais-
on the following: sance efforts will normally be completed in conjunc-
Platoon task organization. tion with the task force reconnaissance. At least, a map
reconnaissance of the area in which the supported
Location of the supported force command force will fight must be made.
post.
Platoon dispersion. Step Six-Complete the Plan
Routes between locations. Based on the reconnaissance, the plan will be
adjusted and detail normally will be added. The air
Survivability of locations. defense annex to the supported force OPORD will be

2-8
 FM 44-43

completed, and the platoon OPORD will be finalized. al with a clear understanding of its mission and where
it fits into the supported force scheme of maneuver.
Step Seven—Issue the Operation Order The BSFV platoon leader is an important atten-
Orders may be issued verbally or in writing. When dee at the supported force rehearsals. He will explain
issuing orders, leaders must ensure that each soldier the air defense plan to support the scheme of maneu-
knows how the mission is to be accomplished and how ver for each phase of the operation and describe its in-
he fits into the plan. Squad leaders should provide the tegration into the supported force scheme of
platoon leader with a backbrief to ensure squad leaders maneuver. Final coordination with the supported force
fully understand the mission and their required tasks. staff may occur at the rehearsal. ADA integration in
Include orientation on terrain if possible. Sand tables the planning, preparation, and execution phases of the
and terrain models are effective tools to use if time is mission is critical. Usually integration will occur con-
available for their construction. currently at respective levels within the supported
Step Eight—Rehearse, Execute, and Supervise force. See the ADA Planning Process illustration.
Rehearsals should be conducted prior to each mis- Supervision and execution will fall into place if a
sion. They can be conducted on the ground, over the solid plan has been developed. The platoon leader
radio, or on sand tables or terrain boards. Time permit- must ensure vehicles are incorrect positions, radio nets
ting, all personnel in the platoon should attend the re- are monitored, and the platoon is ready to execute ac-
hearsals; often, only the platoon leader, platoon cording to its matrix. Experience will enable the pla-
sergeant, and squad leaders will attend platoon re- toon leader to make decisions during execution, based
hearsals. The platoon’s execution matrix is the script on changing enemy actions and modifications to the
for the rehearsals. The platoon must leave the rehears- supported force scheme of maneuver.

CONTROL
Combat units at all levels are controlled on the need it at the proper place and time and in the proper
battlefield through two major control methods: posi- terminology. Maneuver units must disseminate appli-
tive and procedural. This section will discuss the vari- cable early warning to subordinate maneuver ele-
ous types of positive and procedural control measures ments.
the BSFV platoon uses to accomplish its mission. Directed Early Warning
Directed early warning must be quick, simple, and
POSITIVE CONTROL MEASURES redundant in nature. It is imperative that all units, in-
Positive control measures are normally developed cluding the supported force, receive early warning. It
through use of existing equipment and systems. Air de- is especially important that units with no air defense as-
fense positive control measures include the identifica- sets receive all early warning. It states whether the ae-
tion, friend or foe (IFF) system and early warning rial targets are friendly or unknown, provides a cardinal
systems and sensors. direction, and if known, identifies the most likely af-
fected asset(s) within the supported force. For exam-
ple, if an early warning source reports four enemy
Early Warning and Sensors Hinds inbound from the east, and 1st Brigade is attack-
Early warning sensors are an air defense unit’s pri- ing along the eastern axis, the BSFV platoon leader
mary resource for locating aerial targets. Early warning should transmit a local air defense warning (LADW)
sensors are employed to observe aerial NAIs and deci- message over both the maneuver force command net
sion points (DPs). The sensors report aerial target in- and the platoon net: “Dynamite! Dynamite! Hinds
formation on the early warning (EW) net. from the east against Axis Blue!” Dynamite is the
Early warning gives the initiative to the air defend- LADW that alerts the maneuver force of an attack; the
er. Accurate and timely early warning allows the BSFV response, according to the local SOP should be imme-
to attack the aerial threat and also assist the maneuver diate.
commander in protecting his forces. There are numer-
ous methods used to pass early warning information. PROCEDURAL CONTROL MEASURES
Early warning dissemination requires careful coordina- Procedural control measures are control
tion to ensure that the information gets to those who measures developed through established rules and

2-9
FM 44-43

ADA PLANNING PROCESS

BRIGADE ADA BATTERY TASK FORCE ADA PLATOON

New Mission

WARNO WARNO WARNO WARNO

Staff Estimates Gather Move Linkup With TF

Information Prepare for
Recommend COA Future Operations
Allocate ADA

Decide on COA Issue DST/DSM Begin Planning Conduct Planning With

to Platoons Process Supported Force
Leader Recon -Aerial IPB
-Intent -Supported Force Mission
-TASKO -Supported Force Scheme
of Maneuver
-Supported Force
Rehearse Rehearse With Staff Estimates Commander’s Intent
Brigade -AD2 2 Concept
_A C Information
-Concept for Logistics
TF COA Decision support
-Recommend AD Priorities
-Complete AD Annex

OPORD Brief Brief OPORD/AD Annex

Brief OPORD to Platoon

TF Rehearsal Rehearse With TF

Update Execution Matrix

Battery Conduct Platoon Rehearsal

Rehearsal Execute DSM

Refine DST Execute TF Execution Matrix

Execute DSM

2-10
 FM 44-43

standing operating procedures. Procedural control precedes ADW red, the affected force may stop to
relies upon techniques such as segmenting airspace by increase passive air defense and engage with a
volume and time and using weapon control statuses. combined arms response. The response desired by
Procedural techniques are usually more restrictive the affected force is METT-T dependent. See the
than positive techniques but are less vulnerable to Local Air Defense Warnings illustration.
degradation from electronic or physical attack.
Air Defense Warnings
Air defense warnings (ADWs) are established by
the corps or area air defense commander. Authority to
declare ADWs may be delegated to corps command-
ers. In no case can the platoon ADW be of a lower level
than the overall ADW issued by higher authority how-
ever, the platoon’s ADW can be higher. When re-
ceived, ADWs apply to the entire force or a specific
area and must be disseminated to every soldier within
the force. At the brigade level and below, air defense
warnings are disseminated over redundant nets along
with LADWs. See the following illustration.

Fire Control Orders

Fire control orders are commands used to control
engagements on an individual basis, regardless of the
prevailing weapon control status (WCS). For the BSFV
platoon, fire control orders are normally issued by the
immediate ADA commander (squad leader). The
squad leader initiates orders for fire control purposes
and for ensuring safety. Fire control orders are—
Cease Fire: Gunner does not fire--continues
to track.
Hold Fire: Gunner ceases all tactical action,
to include tracking (resume search of assigned sector).
Engage: Gunner fires.
Cease Engagement Gunner changes an on-
going engagement from one target to another of higher
priority. This order accompanies direction to engage
new target.
Local Air Defense Warning Rules of Engagement
Local air defense warning is designed to alert a Rules of engagement (ROE) are used to control
particular unit, several units, or an area of the fires to protect friendly forces and to maintain the
battlefield. LADW parallels ADWs and reflects the needed level of defense. The ROE tell the BSFV
local aerial threat. It should be incorporated into squad what, when, and where they may shoot. There
SOPs which explain what response is desired by the are three primary ROE which are applicable to the
supported force. For example, when Dynamite BSFV.

2-11
FM 44-43

Right of self defense. Right of self-defense is never WEAPONS FREE and a time limit was established,
denied. The ADA fire unit always has the right to de- the same rule applies as in WEAPONS HOLD. If no
fend itself or its protected asset. time limit was established for a fire unit using
Hostile criteria. ADA squad leaders have both WEAPONS FREE, it will immediately revert to
identifcation and engagement authority. The exact cri- WEAPONS TIGHT. See the following illustration.
teria enabling the fire unit to declare a target hostile
may vary with the tactical situation. Hostile criteria
may include — WEAPON CONTROL STATUS DURING
Attacking friendly elements. AUTONOMOUS- OPERATIONS
Violating airspace control measures. If WCS is... and communications and communications
are lost and WCS has are lost and WCS has
Being visually identified as hostile. a time limit... no time limit...
Responding improperly or not at all to IFF in-
terrogation.
BSFV crews must visually identify aerial targets WEAPONS remain at WEAPONS immediately
prior to engagement. The BSFV squad leader has en- FREE FREE for duration of revert to WEAPONS
time limit, then revert TIGHT
gagement authority. The target must satisfy one or to WEAPONS TIGHT
more of the theater hostile criteria.
Weapon control status. Weapon control status WEAPONS remain at WEAPONS remain at WEAPONS
(WCS) describes the degree of control for air defense TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT
fires. WCS applies 10 weapon systems, volumes of
airspace, and types of aerial threats. The degree or WEAPONS remain at WEAPONS remain at WEAPONS
extent of control varies depending on the tactical HOLD HOLD for duration of HOLD for 30
situation. The corps commander usually has WCS time limit, then revert minutes, then reveal
authority for rotary-wing aerial threats. ADA forces to WEAPONS TIGHT to WEAPONS TIGHT
must have the ability to receive and disseminate WCS.
WCSs are-
WEAPONS FREE-Fire at any aerial threat AIR AND GROUND DIRECT FIRE
CONTROL MEASURES
not positively identified as friendly. This is the least re- The differences in Stinger and gun turret weapon
strictive status. systems and the engagement techniques used require
WEAPONS TIGHT-Fire only at aerial separate control measures for each weapon system.
threats positively identified as hostile. For aerial targets, ADA fire units are assigned sectors
WEAPONS HOLD-Do not fire except in of fire and primary target lines. These are designated
self-defense. The term self-defense includes defense by the platoon leader after a review of fire unit
of the fire unit, supported unit, and protected asset. positions to ensure that all aerial targets threatening
This is the most restrictive status. the protected assets can be engaged. These measures
Autonomous operations. Autonomous operations assist in the distribution of air defense fires against
are implemenled when communications with the mulliple targets threatening from different directions.
battery or higher controlling headquarters are lost for Each fire unit concentrates its fires on the most
any reason. The platoon or squad leader must lake threatening aerial target within its assigned sector or
immediate action to reestablish communications. closest to its primary target line (PTL). The following
Specific actions will be listed in the battery SOP. If Stinger control measures provide efficient fires and
communications are lost, the WCS will remain the reduce the probability of simultaneous engagements
same. If a time limit is placed on the weapon control from two or more systems.
status, the fire unit will maintain that status until this Stinger Control Measures
time limit expires and then revert to WEAPONS The following Stinger control measures provide
TIGHT. If the fire unit is in a WEAPONS HOLD efficient fires and reduce the probability of simulta-
status and a time limit was not established, it will neous engagements from two or more systems.
maintain that status for 30 minutes and then revert to Primary target line. A PTL is an azimuth along
WEAPONS TIGHT. If the fire unit is using which the gunner will focus his attention.

2-12
 FM 44-43

Sectors of fire (SOF). Sectors of fire are specified will focus its attention (both searching and firing) with-
by left and right limits. A sector of fire aids target de- in the designated sector. See the Sector of Fire and
tection and identification of aerial targets. The fire unit PTL illustration.

SECTOR OF FIRE AND PTL

Selection Criteria. The assignment of a sector of fire ADDITIONAL CONTROL MEASURES

and PTL does not restrict the Stinger team to look only In addition to weapons control measures, the
in that sector. Given two targets of equal capability BSFV platoon leader must consider the control proce-
within the sector of fire, the target closest in range to dures associated with communications and airspace.
the PTL will be engaged first. Platoon leaders will The descriptions in the following paragraphs explain
ensure assignment of PTLs and sector of fire for each how volumes of airspace can be used.
system during the planning of the operation. See the
Single and Multiple Targets Selection Criteria Radio Transmissions
illustration on page 2-15. Radio transmissions should be brief to reduce the
EW signature. Using a secure means or operational
Gun Turret Weapon Systems Control Measures and numerical codes will also reduce the chance of en-
The 25-mm automatic gun, coaxial machine gun, emy detection. Use low power transmissions and ter-
and TOW control measures dictate the placement of rain to mask signals from enemy direction-finding
their fires. By using the following control measures, equipment. Messengers or wire should be used for
the BSFV crew can correctly and safely engage targets. lengthy messages. BSFV platoons must practice the
Primary target line. PTL is an azimuth along which usc of SOIs, SOPs, and operational terms.
the gunner will focus his attention.
Sectors of fire. Sectors of fire are specified by left Supplemental Fire Control Measures
and right limits. A sector of fire aids target detection Supplemental fire control measures (SFCMs) are
and identification of aerial targets. The fire unit will fo- procedures which delineate or modify hostile criteria,
cus its attention within the designated sector. The delegate identification authority, or serve strictly as
BSFV should not fire outside of its sector of fire and aids in fire distribution or airspace control. The BSFV
must coordinate fires with the supported force. platoon leader must understand these procedures to

2-13
FM 44-43

take advantage of any vertical and horizontal ADA WEAPONS FREE. The promulgation of such
integration with HIMAD, aviation, or air force units. restrictions will include—
The most commonly used measures in the maneuver Identification of the airspace user being re-
force area are weapon engagement zones, high-density stricted.
airspace control zones (HIDACZ), and temporary
airspace restrictions. Period, area, altitude, and height of restric-
Weapon engagement zone. Weapon engagement tion.
zone (WEZ) identifies a volume of defined airspace Procedures for cancellation of modification
within which a specific type of AD weapon is preferred of the restriction in the event of communications
for use in an engagement. Use of WEZ does not loss.
preclude engagement of high-priority targets by Airspace Control Measures
more than one type of weapon system if centralized Airspace control measures afford the commander
control of each weapon system involved is available. a variety of procedural methods of controlling airspace
High-density airspace control zone. The corps and restricting airspace users. Airspace control mea-
commander may establish a HIDACZ with approval
of the airspace control authority (ACA). A HIDACZ sures are the rules and mechanisms promulgated by
allows the corps commander to control the use of a joint and allied doctrine and defined by the theater air-
particular volume of airspace. A HIDACZ also al- space control plan. They are defined in general terms
lows the controlling authority to declare WCS. An according to the normal usage associated with the con-
example would be if the division commander wanted trol measure. The precise dimensions of various con-
to execute a joint air attack team (JAAT) mission. trol measures (for example, low-level transit routes)
Temporary airspace restrictions. Temporary and those techniques used in their arrangement and
airspace restrictions can be imposed on segments of application are specified and defined by the theater air-
airspace of defined dimensions in response to space control plan and ACA directives. The following
specific situations and requirements. These can illustration explains airspace control measures avail-
include combat air patrol (CAP) operations, air able to provide procedural control for airspace users.
refueling areas, HIDACZ, concentrated interdic-
tion areas, and those areas which have been declared

AIRSPACE CONTROL
MEASURE USAGE
Corridors and routes: Air route NATO/ASCC
Low-level transit route (LLTR) NATO/ASCC
Minimum risk route (MRR) US
Standard use Army aviation flight route (SAAFR) US
Special corridor NATO
Transit corridor NATO
Zones: Base defense zone (BDZ) NATO
High-density airspace control zone (HIDACZ) US/NATO/ASCC
Restricted operations zone (ROZ) US/NATO/ASCC
Weapons free zone (WFZ) NATO
Flight levels: Coordinating altitude level US/NATO
Traverse level US/NATO
Other airspace Airspace coordination area US/NATO
subdivisions or Amphibious objective area US/NATO
control measures: Terminal control area (zone ) US/NATO
Weapons engagement zone US/NATO
Control point US/NATO
Way-point US/NATO
Time slot NATO/ASCC

2-14
FM 44-43

2-15
FM 44-43

COMMUNICATIONS
One of the BSFV platoon leader’s most essential Most units are not equipped with sufficient com-
systems is his radio system. It is with this system that he munications equipment to monitor the required nets.
is able to command and control his platoon, stay in One technique to facilitate this is to make a platoon ra-
touch with his battery, monitor the early warning dio net matrix. See the illustration below.
network, and maintain communications with the
supported force. Maintenance of radio nets within the
platoon, with the supported unit, and with the parent PLATOON RADIO NET MATRIX
air defense battery is a challenge for the BSFV platoon SUPPORTED
leader. He must maintain— SUPPORTED UNIT
Control of the air battle. BTRY PLATOON UNIT EW ADMIN/LOG
Command, administrative, and logistical com- Platoon X X X
munications with higher headquarters. Leader
Contact with supported units. Platoon X X
This section will outline standard communications Sergeant
networks that are used by the BSFV platoon. Unit Squad 1 X X
SOPs will develop networks that modify those
described here; however, the BSFV platoon leader Squad 2 X X
must be flexible enough to operate within differing Squad 3 X X
communications networks used by various supported
units. Squad 4 X X

COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS
The minimum communications requirements the Since he realizes your radio situation, the battery
platoon leader must maintain include the following commander will normally eavesdrop on his subordi-
nets: nate platoon nets, thereby freeing the platoon to moni-
Battery command net. tor the other nets above. In this case, the ADA unit
should develop all SOPs to determine when platoons
Platoon command net. should transmit on the battery command net. Exam-
Supported force command net. ples are situation updates and aircraft engagement re-
EW net. ports. In all situations, the BSFV platoon leader must
comply with communications requirements estab-
See the following illustration. lished in the battery and supported force SOPs.
Depending on the availability of radios and the
tactical situation, the BSFV platoon may be required
SAMPLE PLATOON RADIO to operate on the following radio nets:
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK Supported force intelligence net.
Sensor early warning net.
BATTERY SUPPORTED
COMMAND UNIT PLATOON EW Supported force ADMIN/LOG net.
Regardless of the tactical situation, the BSFV pla-
Platoon x x x x
Leader toon leader establishes those nets that are required by
the supported force or ADA unit being reinforced and
Platoon x x x complies with SOPS imposed by those forces.
Sergeant
Squad Leader x x x DISMOUNTED STINGER TEAM
Stinger Team x x x COMMUNICATIONS
The BSFV Stinger team’s ability to effectively
Note: METT-T and local SOP will determine which platoon react to rapidly changing conditions on a fluid
elements will monitor respective communications nets.
battlefield is dependent on efficient and reliable

2-16
 FM 44-43

communications. Digital, radio, wire, and visual signals Techniques and procedures which are developed
provide the necessary means to effectively to reduce communications equipment shortfalls will
communicate with a dismounted team in offensive and only be effective if they are understood by the entire
defensive operations. If available, digital BSFV platoon. The techniques and procedures which
communications are the primary means of early are developed must be trained and rehearsed on a re-
warning communications for the Stinger team. As a curring basis.
backup to digital communications, the team requires Defensive Operations
man-portable FM communications. Communications Considerations
In defensive operations, dismounted Stinger
Offensive Operations team operations are equally as complex. Depending
Communications Considerations on the air IPB and factors of METT-T, the Stinger
Dismounting the Stinger team in support of an team may be located one kilometer away from the
offensive mission will be influenced by the factors of BSFV. This situation will require BSFV squads to be
METT-T and air threat. During an offensive mis- relentlessly innovative in reducing these challenges.
sion, the employment of the Stinger team will be Defensive operations communications require-
quick and usually a short distance away from the ments are the same as for offensive operations. The
BSFV. Once dismounted, communications are chal- primary difference between offensive and defensive
lenging. operations is the dismounted Stinger team is
Ideally, the Stinger team will receive digital employed in a stationary position. The stationary de-
alerting and cueing information. Command and con- fensive posture of the team may allow the squad lead-
trol of the Stinger team by the BSFV squad leader er to—
will be accomplished using voice communications. If Remote the simplified handheld terminal
the communications equipment available to the pla- unit (SHTU) from the BSFV to the Stinger team’s
toon does not support digital and voice communica- position. This will provide digital alerting and cueing
tions, techniques and procedures must be developed information.
to facilitate effective communications. Use wire communications more extensively.
Communications techniques and procedures Share communications equipment with task
that may reduce communications shortfalls are as force elements in the vicinity.
follows: The communications means employed should
Use the orientation of the 25-mm automatic not hamper the BSFV squad’s ability to mount the
gun to cue the Stinger team on the direction of the aeri- Stinger team and reposition in a timely manner. For
al platform. example, recovering wire used for communications
Use the orientation of the hull to indicate the is time-intensive and may not support hasty displace-
direction of the aerial platform’s approach. This tech- ment to another position.
nique allows the 25–mm automatic gun to orient on
secondary threats while the Stinger focuses on the pri- COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
mary air threat. BSFV platoon communications equipment varies
Hand and arm signals can be employed by the depending on the organizational structure. Equipment
BSFV squad leader to cue the Stinger team. It is rec- authorizations indicate the BSFV platoon is autho-
ommended that BSFV platoons use standard Army vi- rized the single-channel ground and airborne radio
sual signals, although BSFV platoons may have to system (SINCGARS) radio equipment.
develop specific visual signals which are not addressed
in Army publications. GTA 17-2–19 should be used as MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS
a guide when developing visual signals. The BSFV platoon leader can choose from a num-
Use color-coded flags as a visual signal to ber of different communications means: radio, wire,
communicate fire control orders. For example, a red messenger, visual, and in the future, digital. Different
flag displayed by the squad leader may indicate an means should be used when possible so that the pla-
aerial platform has been identified as hostile and toon does not depend only on one means. Depending
engagement is authorized. on the situation, one means of communications is often

2-17
FM 44-43

more effective than another. The following criteria over long distances with great accuracy. However,
must be considered when deciding which means to use: without secure equipment, the radio is vulnerable to
Reliability. enemy interception. All vehicles of the platoon should
monitor the platoon net.
Installation time.
Transmission time.
COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY
The platoon leader selects the most effective and se- Communications security preventive techniques
cure, yet least restrictive, communications means. are employed to safeguard communications. These
include all measures taken to avoid enemy detection
Wire Communications and to deny the enemy any useful information about
The platoon hot loop is for usc in static asset de- friendly forces. The most effective preventive
fenses, night defensive positions, or on defensive pe- technique is to keep all communications as short as
rimeters. Each ADA squad has a sound–powered possible, especially radio transmissions and
telephone, and WD-1 wire. transmission times.
Communications security techniques reduce the
effectiveness of enemy spot and barrage jamming ef-
Radio Communications forts. Specific procedures are covered in FM 24-33.
The radio is the platoon’s most flexible means of
communications. It can quickly transmit information

2-18
 CHAPTER 3
FORCE-PROJECTION OPERATIONS
This chapter discusses the role of the BSFV platoon as part of the
collection of forward area air defense weapon systems in force-projec-
tion operations. Air defense in force-projection operations will be a
joint task. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps air elements will pri-
marily counter threat fixed–wing assets while the Army and Marine
Corps ground air defense units will counter the UAV, cruise missile, tac-
tical ballistic missile, and rotary-wing threat. It discusses techniques and
special planning considerations needed to support the maneuver force
during force-projection operations. The focus is on how to counter and
defeat enemy aerial platforms from early entry through postconflict ac-
tivities. It includes discussion on echelons above platoon level so that
BSFV platoon leaders can understand their role in the overall opera-
tion.
OVERVIEW
In general, FAAD doctrine for force-projection include mobilization (if necessary), predeployment
operations may be applied to both contingency and activities, deployment, entry operations (which include
mature theaters of operations in which a force must expansion and buildup operations), postconflict or
operate without US base support, and in which the postcrisis operations, redeployment, and demobiliza-
threat is capable of attacking any point in the area of tion. This chapter will primarily concentrate on the
operations (AO). The stages of force projection stages of early entry through postconflict operations.

FAAD’S ROLE IN FORCE -PROJECTION OPERATIONS

The overall focus for forward area air defense is by augmenting
3
the coverage of other FAAD systems.
to protect the force from low-altitude aerial threats FAAD C I allows for more effective air defense
during force-projection operations. FAAD systems ac- synchronization by providing detection and tracking
complish this by denying enemy intelligence gathering data, early warning, and situational awareness as well
efforts through counter–RISTA, reducing the enemy’s as reducing the potential for fratricide.
aerial combat power, allowing the force freedom of
maneuver, and protecting the forces’ critical assets.
Each FAAD system plays a specific role. The CONTENTS
BSFV provides freedom of maneuver to heavy forces,
thereby providing the ground force commander with Page
the opportunity to seize the initiative and achieve Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1
rapid, decisive victory. Stinger teams are essential for FAAD’s Role in Force-Projection Operations . . . . 3-1
light and special forces and they enhance force Low-Altitude Aerial Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
protection for heavy forces. Also, the BSFV will assist Command and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-2
in the counter-RISTA effort. They provide the Warfighting Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3
flexibility and versatility needed on a fluid battlefield

3-1
FM 44-43

LOW-ALTITUDE AERIAL THREAT

The primary aerial threats that must be countered They can be packaged with a variety of payload options.
by FAAD systems are unmanned aerodynamic vehicles They may be ground, air, or sea launched. CMs with
(UAVs), cruise missiles (CMs), and rotary-wing (RW) their increasing accuracies and warhead diversity make
and fixed-wing (FW) aircraft. Key characteristics of a potent threat.
these priority threats are summarized below.
ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT
UNMANNED AERODYNAMIC VEHICLES Rotary-wing versatility and survivability make
UAVs include both drones and remotely piloted them ideal for logistics resupply, air assault, command
vehicles. They are inexpensive, easily procured or man- and control, and heavily armed weapons platforms for
ufactured, and versatile. There are over 100 UAV pro- attack roles. RW aircraft currently exist in every poten-
grams being pursued by at least 30 countries. Their tial theater US forces may enter.
small radar cross sections make them very difficult to Many countries around the world possess dedi-
detect and track. Payloads may consist of radar seekers, cated attack helicopters. Armed with standoff antitank
high-explosive warheads, forward-looking infrared guided missiles, helicopters can inflict heavy casualties
(FLIR) cameras, laser designators, TV thermal imag- on the force and destroy critical assets. The prolifera-
ing devices, chaff, decoy, and electronic attack capabili- tion of helicopters is also of concern. Utility helicop-
ties. Ranges vary from 25 to 800 kilometers, and the ters, combined with standoff munitions and
upper limit of flight endurance reaches 72 hours. They state-of-the-art target acquisition technology, can
perform a wide variety of missions including RISTA, produce less expensive, robust helicopter capabilities
suppression of enemy air defense, ground attack, for any country.
decoy, communications relay, and chemical detection. FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
The RISTA mission, which uses UAVs to locate ma- Although other threats have taken the place of
neuver forces and key assets with the ability to pass fixed-wing aircraft as the principal air threat to
real–time information back to threat long-range attack ground forces, the following types of fixed-wing air-
systems, is the greatest near-term concern for forward craft may be employed by the enemy against friendly
area air defenders and the force commander. forces: bombers, fighter-bombers, fighters, and
close air support aircraft. Any of the fixed-wing fami-
CRUISE MISSILE ly may carry tactical air-to-surface missiles (TASM),
Cruise missiles are considered the most stressing while only the larger ones will carry cruise missiles.
threat because of the difficulty in detecting them at Improvements to fixed-wing aircraft will include in-
launch, in flight, and in destroying them at extended creased survivability and improved fire control accu-
ranges. Their ranges vary from 10 to 400 kilometers. racy.

COMMAND AND CONTROL

Air defense operations will be planned and worked together. This demands that each person be
controlled by an area air defense commander (AADC) oriented and motivated to accomplish the mission
designated by the joint task force or theater because without this, the possibility of fratricide
commander. The AADC establishes theaterwide rules increases. The platoon leader must also balance the
of engagement (ROE). All forces will receive air physical security of forces between the mission and
defense warnings and weapon control status from the restrictive rules of engagement. This may be hard to do
joint force air component commander (JFACC). because the political concerns used to develop the
Platoon leaders must be aware of the unique and ROE may conflict with the physical security needs of
complex traits of the coordination effort required in the force. Additionally, the ROE are sometimes
projection operations. The constrained and structured established late, requiring flexibility on the part of air
environment adds pressure to all leaders. It is not likely defenders at all levels.
that all forces employed in the JTF have trained and

3-2
 FM 44-43

WARFIGHTING OVERVIEW
3
A joint force entry operation may begin by forces FAAD weapon systems and FAAD C I should be
deploying from CONUS and other locations via air and deployed with the earliest airlifts to ensure composite
sealift for ports of debarkation contained within or defense against the threat spectrum. The BSFV will
near the area(s) of operation. Upon debarkation, the provide force protection and3 assist in the counter
forces are marshaled into staging areas to prepare for RISTA effort while FAAD C I furnishes requisite
future operations or further movements. Whenever early warning of threat aerial platforms. In addition to
possible, US forces will seek unopposed entry. Deploy- integrating with other Army air defense artillery
ing forces are most vulnerable and the success of the systems, FAAD elements integrate their weapon and
operation is at greatest risk during initial entry opera- sensor coverages with deployed joint and combined
tions, especially forced entry operations. Aerial ports arms defenses.
and seaports of debarkation (APODs/SPODs), as well
as staging areas, will be lucrative targets for threat aeri- Protection of forces and equipment in this stage
al platforms. Throughout this stage, enemy UAVs con- requires FAAD systems to be positioned with coverage
ducting RISTA missions can reveal details about at least contiguous and perhaps overlapping, depend-
arriving forces and provide targeting information to ing on the factors of air intelligence preparation of the
long-range attack systems. battlefield (IPB), METT-T and asset criticality. Posi-
Early deployment of FAAD assets is crucial to the tioning based on an in-depth IPB will provide for de-
success of entry operations. The FAAD mission during fense against threat aerial platforms. See the following
this stage focuses on denying enemy RISTA efforts. illustration.

FAAD IN EARLY ENTRY OPERATIONS

3-3
FM 44-43

Expansion and buildup operations set the condi- area (TAA) is critical. Ultimately, the factors of
tions for victory. Buildup in combat power and support- METT-T will determine positions of BSFV squads.
ing forces and equipment occurs during this phase of Nevertheless, BSFVs should be positioned forward
entry operations. Expansion of the force and rapid and on the flanks of maneuver formations. The BSFV
buildup may include— platoon must synchronize its movement so it does not
Establishing forward operating and logistics mask fires of combined arms elements but optimizes
bases. observation and fields of fire on suspected air avenues
Expanding the lodgment. of approach.
The threat will focus on locating unit movements,
Closing the remainder of the force in country. determining unit sizes and strengths, and postulating
Linking up with other forces. the ultimate destinations. The primary low-altitude
Preparing for future operations. threat platform during this stage is the RISTA UAV. In-
During this phase, units road march or maneuver formation obtained by UAVs will be relayed back to the
to tactical assembly areas. These movements can be enemy who will use any attack means necessary to in-
quite extensive, up to several hundred kilometers. flict maximum casualties, inhibit momentum, and de-
Within the assembly areas, units are equipped and pre- stroy forces. These attack means may include lethal
pared to initiate decisive operations. UAVs, CMs, and rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. Un-
The BSFV platoon leader must be integrated in less FAAD systems counter threat RISTA efforts by
all phases of the operation to provide effective air de- denying detection and targeting, the enemy may dis-
fense protection against threat aerial platforms. At a rupt the supported force commander’s plan by inflict-
minimum, when planning air defense protection, the ing significant casualties or preempting his actions.
BSFV platoon leader must consider the commander’s Denial of threat observation of force composition and
intent and priorities, aerial IPB, supported force routes of movement will require that the BSFV pla-
scheme of maneuver, and availability of assets. BSFV toon and sensors be integrated in the supported force
positioning during deployment to the tactical assembly scheme of maneuver. See the following illustration.

FAAD EMPLOYMENT DURING THE EXPANSION PHASE (ROAD MARCH)

3-4
 FM 44-43

Just prior to decisive operations, units will be efforts throughout these initial stages, forward area air
positioned TAAs, completing their final preparations defense ensures that the supported force commander
before launching the attack. BSFVs are positioned retains the element of surprise and the ability to mass
with their supported maneuver elements, prepared to forces at the place and time he chooses. See the FAAD
execute decisive operations. Stinger teams augment air Protection of TAAs (Expansion and Buildup Phase)
defense coverage. By countering the enemy’s RISTA illustration.

FAAD PROTECTION OF TAAs (EXPANSION AND BUILDUP PHASE)

3-5
FM 44-43

During decisive operations, maneuver forces objectives. Aerial and artillery strikes will be generated
deploy out of TAAs and into attack formations that from the gathered intelligence against targets such
ease movement and mass sufficient combat power to as—
ensure decisive victory. Distances from TAAs to close The maneuver force.
combat areas can be extremely long with intermediate
objectives designated along the routes. Numerous re- Forward arming and refueling points
fuel and rearm points may be established along the3 (FARPs).
way. During the deployment, Avenger and FAAD C I Aviation forward operating bases (FOBS).
screen along the flanks of the maneuver force and con- Command and control nodes.
tinue to deny threat RISTA efforts while protecting the
movement. BSFV platoons deploy with their maneu- Reserve troop concentrations.
ver elements. Stingers augment air defense coverage Logistical support areas.
of the maneuver force. See the FAAD in Decisive Op-
erations (Deployment From TAAs). Terrain features which could constrict unit
The threat will attempt to counter the attack with movements (massed forces).
a myriad of aerial weapons. RISTA UAVs will seek to Lethal UAVs will be employed against maneuver
determine friendly unit locations, movements, and forces as they advance toward and close with enemy

FAAD IN DECISIVE OPERATIONS (DEPLOYMENT FROM TAAs)

3-6
 FM 44-43

forces. The lethal UAV’s primary mission is to disrupt to force protection. The BSFV mission is paramount
the tempo of the offensive by disabling
3
and destroying during the decisive operations stage. BSFV platoons
armored vehicles and FAAD C I elements. Cruise mis- will be in support of maneuver units. They will be pri-
siles will be targeted against logistical concentrations marily used to counter CAS threats such as rotary-wing
and command and control nodes. Rotary-wing aircraft aircraft and lethal UAVs. They should be integrated in
will be used to attack the forward elements and the the formation of the lead maneuver elements, posi-
flanks of the advancing maneuver forces in order to tioned behind the lead vehicles of the lead company
slow their tempo, cause confusion, and inflict maxi- teams, and weighted toward the most likely air avenues
mum casualties. They will also conduct cross-forward of approach. Stingers augment air defense coverage of
line of own troops (FLOT), close air support (CAS), maneuver forces and provide flexible force protection
and air insertion operations. These attack helicopters to air defense commanders. Avengers will be deployed
constitute the most widespread and capable air threats with the maneuver force to defend against rotary-wing
to ground forces in the close battle. aircraft and lethal UAVs and to counter enemy RISTA
During this stage of force projection operations, efforts. See the FAAD in Decisive Operations illustra-
the primary focus of FAAD shifts from counter-RISTA tion.

FAAD IN DECISIVE OPERATIONS

3-7
FM 44-43

At the close of the decisive battle, friendly forces from any remaining threat forces. Avenger platoons
may be required to prepare for follow–on operations. will be primarily concerned with countering potential
They must rearm, refuel, and reconstitute personnel enemy RISTA efforts, thereby providing force security
and equipment. Friendly forces are extremely vulner- and preventing surprise attacks. These actions allow
able while conducting these types of activities. They be- for unimpeded reconstitution and unharassed rede-
come lucrative targets for enemy long-range strike ployment of forces.
systems which are able to detect and target them based During postconflict operations, friendly forces are
on information received from enemy RISTA UAVs. marshalled into staging areas for follow-on operations
FAAD weapons, mainly Avengers, shield the force or redeployment. Forces will either be redeployed to
from the enemy reconnaissance and attack and ensure another theater of operation or back to CONUS.
success of future operations.
While the most significant aerial attack capabili-
ties may have been eliminated, friendly forces must be
prepared to counter isolated air and missle attacks

3-8
 CHAPTER 4
OFFENSE
This chapter describes how the BSFV platoon operates during
offensive operations. The offense is the decisive form of combat. Army
operational doctrine seeks to seize the initiative quickly and achieve
decisive victory with minimum casualties.

PURPOSE OF THE OFFENSE

The main purpose of the offense is to defeat, Disrupt an enemy attack.
destroy, or neutralize an enemy force. Additionally,
offensive operations are undertaken to— Deceive and divert the enemy.
Secure decisive terrain. Hold the enemy in position.
Deprive the enemy of resources. Set up conditions for future successful
Gain information. operations.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS

The main feature of an offensive battle is the without massing large formations and is, therefore,
outflanking or bypassing of the defender—that is, essential for achieving and exploiting success. By
taking the initiative. The aim of the commander in an concentrating forces rapidly along converging axes, the
offensive battle is to expedite the decision. Surprise, attacker overwhelms enemy forces at the point of
concentration, tempo, and audacity characterize attack by massing the effects of combat power.
offensive operation and are components of initiative.
Initiative, combined with maneuver, makes decisive
offensive operations possible. TEMPO
Tempo is the rate of speed of military action;
SURPRISE controlling or altering the rate of speed is essential for
Commanders achieve surprise by striking the maintaining the initiative. Commanders seek a tempo
enemy at the time or place or in a manner for which it that maintains relentless pressure on the enemy to
is not physically or mentally ready. Being unpredictable prevent him from recovering from the shock and
and using deception, cunning, and guile also help to effects of the attack. An attack tempo that puts
gain surprise. Surprise is achieved by the direction, sufficient pressure on the defender is essential to
timing, boldness, and force of the attack. success; it promotes surprise, keeps the enemy
offbalance, contributes to the security of the attacking
CONCENTRATION force, and denies the defender freedom of action.
While surprise may contribute to offensive
success, concentration is the ability to mass effects

CONTENTS
Page Page
Purpose of the Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Meeting Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
Characteristics of Offensive Operations . . . . . . . 4-1 Hasty Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-13
Sequence of the Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 Deliberate Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-15
Movement Techniques and Formations . . . . . . . 4-2 Exploitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-16
Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 Pursuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-16
Air Defense Artillery in the Offense . . . . . . . . . . . 4-l0 Forms of Maneuver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-17
Movement to Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10

4-1
FM 44-43

AUDACITY understand when and where they are taking risks but
Audacity is a key component of any successful must not become tentative in the execution of their
offensive action. A simple plan, boldly executed, plan. A difficult situation handled boldly often leads to
requires audacious leaders to negate the disadvantages dramatic success. The offensive is inherently a bold
of numerical inferiority. Commanders should action and must be pursued with audacity.

SEQUENCE OF THE ATTACK

Offensive operations are normally broken down Providing air defense protection for the total
into the following phases. Each phase may have Army analysis (TAA).
subordinate parts within it to further delineate specific
portions, as shown in the following illustration. Linkup operations.
Conducting an ADA rehearsal.
PHASES OF THE OFFENSE Cross-leveling ammunition.
Air battle handover.

MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
1. Preparation for Operations During this phase, maneuver forces in the main
2. Movement to Contact battle area maneuver to positions of advantage. It may
3. Attack be characterized by flanking movements, limited
4. Exploitation attacks, and penetrations of enemy security zone
5. Pursuit forces.
6. Consolidation, Reorganization, and Preparation
ATTACK
Different forms of the attack occur throughout The unit attacks the enemy’s main defensive
the depth of the battlefield. This happens positions, assaulting by fire and maneuver or fixing and
simultaneously and in closely aligned phases that shift bypassing to attack the enemy somewhere else. There
back and forth. They may take new forms and offer are two forms of attack, hasty and deliberate.
increasing options for development. Therefore, phases
of the offense are not fixed. EXPLOITATION
The unit exploits its success by extending its
PREPARATION FOR OPERATIONS destruction of the defending force by maintaining
During this phase, units prepare for offensive offensive pressure. This phase follows a successful
operations and conduct specific tasks in support of the attack.
mission. The BSFV platoon must be integrated in all PURSUIT
phases of the mission, especially the preparation The attacker pursues the retreating enemy to
phase. Planning, reconnaissance, assembly area complete destruction of the opposing force. Pursuit
operations, and movement to the line of departure follows successful exploitation.
occur during this phase. The BSFV platoon must
synchronize task force preparation tasks with air
defense peculiar operations. Simultaneously, task CONSOLIDATION, REORGANIZATION, AND
force directed events such as reconnaissance, PREPARATION FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS
selection, and occupation of position (RSOP) and task The unit secures the objective, consolidates,
force rehearsals must be accomplished in conjunction conducts resupply, reorganizes if required, and
with operations that may be peculiar to the ADA prepares for future operations. Planning begins with
element such as— this step and works backwards.

MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES AND FORMATIONS

The selection of movement techniques and attack METT-T. Either the task force commander or the
formations for the task force is dependent on company team commander may specify movement

4-2
 FM 44-43

techniques for the unit. pause to overwatch the movement of the lead element.
Depending on the duration of halts, the speed of travel,
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES and the air threat, the BSFV Stinger teams may
The three movement techniques are traveling, dismount in the traveling overwatch. See the Task
traveling overwatch, and bounding overwatch. The Force Using Traveling Overwatch Formation
supported force may not move as a unit using one illustration.
movement technique. Rather, the supported force
commander designates the movement technique to be.
used by the subordinate units. Movement techniques TASK FORCE USING TRAVELING
may be modified upon enemy contact. A portion of the OVERWATCH FORMATION
unit may take actions on contact against enemy
positions while the rest of the unit continues to move.
Traveling
Traveling is used when speed is necessary and
contact with the enemy is not likely. The unit moves
with an interval between elements based on visibility,
terrain, and range of weapons. When a BSFV platoon
supports a task force using the traveling technique, a
BSFV section is normally positioned behind the lead
company team and another may be located to the front
of the trail company team. See the following
illustration.

TASK FORCE USING

TRAVELING FORMATION

Bounding Overwatch
When enemy contact is expected, the unit uses
bounding overwatch. Elements move by bounds, one
covering or overmatching the movement of another.
The advancing element moves forward on a covered
route whenever possible and the overmatching unit is
positioned to support the moving element by
suppressive fire or maneuver. The length of bounds is
normally within the direct fire range of the weapon
systems overmatching the bound. Based on METT-T
BSFVs may be placed behind the lead elements to
Traveling Overwatch provide overwatch of enemy air avenues of approach.
When enemy contact is possible but not expected, See the following illustration.
units use the traveling overwatch technique. The units
move in columns, but the interval between elements is Additional BSFV Platoon Considerations
increased. Positioning of ADA elements in the In planning movement techniques, the BSFV
traveling overwatch is similar to the traveling
technique. Traveling overwatch is characterized by platoon leader should consider the following
continuous movement of the lead element. The Use of movement techniques in conjunction
trailing element moves at variable speeds and may even with those used by supported unit.

4-3
FM 44-43

COMPANY TEAM USING BOUNDING OVERWATCH FORMATION

Task organization either as a platoon or in Column Formation

sections, depending on METT-T and prescribed Column formation is used when enemy contact is
movement techniques by supported unit. not expected, a lengthy move is expected, and or
Air defense coverage forward of the lead terrain is restrictive. Normally, the task force lead
elements. element uses traveling overwatch while follow-on
Balanced fires. units move in traveling. The BSFV platoon may travel
as a platoon behind the lead unit in the column or may
FORMATIONS task-organize into sections and travel with supported
The task force may move in any one of seven company teams. A column formation—
formations: column, wedge, vee, echelon, line, box, or Eases speed of movement, is easy to control,
diamond. The task force may use more than one
formation at a time especially when the terrain changes and is useful in defiles or dense woods.
during the movement. For example, the task force Provides for quick transition to other
commander may elect to use initially a column formations.
formation to clear a defile, changing to a wedge Requires flank security.
formation once elements are clear of the defile. Again,
the choice of formations is METT-T dependent. Provides majority of firepower to the flanks.

4-4
 See the Task Force In Column Formation See the Task Force in Wedge formation illustration on
illustration. the next page.
TASK FORCE IN COLUMN FORMATION Vee Formation
In the vee formation, the task force moves with
two company teams abreast and two trailing. It is
normally used when enemy contact is expected and the
location and disposition of the enemy is known. This
arrangement allows the trail company teams to move
to support either lead company team. In the vee
formation, the BSFV platoon is normally task-
organized and moves with supported company teams.
The vee formation—
Is hard to reorient; control is difficult in
heavily wooded areas.
Provides for good firepower forward and to
the flanks.
Allows flexibility allows the task force
commander to move units to support the lead company
teams.
See the Task Force in Vee Formation illustration on the
next page.
Echelon Formation
The echelon formation echelons the task force
with company teams in a slant in direction of the
enemy (right or left). It is commonly used when the
task force provides security for a larger moving force.
In the echelon formation, the BSFV platoon moves
as a platoon behind the lead company team or may be
task-organized in sections and move with supported
company teams. The echelon formation—
Wedge Formation Provides for firepower in the direction of the
The wedge formation best positions the task echelon.
force to attack an enemy appearing to the front and Eases control in open areas; more difficult in
flanks. The wedge is used when enemy contact is heavily wooded areas.
possible or expected. When enemy contact is not Is difficult to control.
expected, it may be used to rapidly cross open terrain. See the Task Force in Echelon (Right) Formation
BSFVs are normally placed behind the lead elements illustration on next page 4-7.
of the main body when moving in the wedge formation.
The wedge formation— Line Formation
Facilitates control and transition to the In the line formation, the task force moves with
assault. company teams abreast. It is often used in
Provides for maximum firepower forward and reconnaissance operations or when continuous
adequate firepower to the flanks. movement with maximum firepower to the front is
required. Since it does not disperse company teams
Is difficult to control in forested areas or in depth, the line provides less maneuver flexibility
during limited visibility operations. than other formations. The BSFV platoon may move
Requires sufficient space to disperse as a platoon behind the company team moving along
companies laterally and in depth. the most dangerous air avenue of approach, or it may

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 FM 44-43

4-6
be task-organized into sections and travel with because it can easily be changed to most other
supported company teams. The line formation— formations, The BSFV platoon may move as a
Permits maximum firepower to the front. platoon positioned astride the main enemy air
avenue of approach, or it may be task-organized into
Uses the use of speed and shock in closing sections with sections moving with supported
with the enemy. company teams. The box formation—
Is difficult to control. Provides firepower to the front and flanks.
See the Task Force in Line Formation illustration on
the next page. Eases speed of movement due to ease of
control.
BOX FORMATION Protects elements moving in the center of
In the box formation, the task force moves with the box.
two company teams forward and two company teams See the Task Force in Box Formation illustration on
trailing. It is the most flexible of all formations the next page.

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FM 44-43

4-8
 FM 44-43

Diamond Formation formation—

The diamond formation is a variation of the box Leads with less combat power forward than
formation. In the diamond formation, one company the box formation.
team leads; one company team is positioned on each
flank; and the remaining company team is at the rear. Transitions easily to other formations.
In this formation, the BSFV platoon may be placed See the Task Force in Diamond Formation
behind the lead company team or task-organized and illustration.
travels with supported company teams. The diamond

TASK FORCE IN DIAMOND FORMATION

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FM 44-43

SUMMARY adjusts his overall scheme of movement based on the

Using a combination of movement techniques factors of METT-T.
and formations, the supported unit commander

THREAT
During friendly offensive operations, threat cover and concealment with the mission of
forces will attempt to use their fire support assets to disrupting friendly operations.
regain the initiative. Threat air activity will most In some cases, helicopters will be used in
likely be categorized by RISTA operations in support conjunction with threat armored forces to deter
of artillery and maneuver. UAVs are best suited for friendly penetrations. However, it is unlikely the
these types of operations, especially if threat forces friendly commander will see large numbers of
have developed effective command, 3
control, helicopters in this role. The enemy will use ground
communications, and intelligence (C I). Secondary forces to first neutralize friendly air defense assets.
weapon systems the enemy will use include Helicopters will be used primarily against armored
helicopters, either as dedicated attack assets or as forces.
armed utility helicopters. Helicopter assets can be Threat fixed-wing assets will be limited and
used in two roles: attack or reconnaissance. their use will be hampered by friendly fixed-wing
Helicopters in the reconnaissance role will operate aircraft. Use of enemy fixed-wing aerial platforms
in the same manner as UAVs to support artillery cannot be entirely ruled out. If used by the enemy,
targeting and maneuver. In the attack, the air the ground commander can expect to see no more
defender can expect spoiling attacks usually than one or two aircraft in a spoiling attack, normally
consisting of two helicopters taking full advantage of not coordinated with enemy ground operations.

AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY IN THE OFFENSE

The BSFV platoon adds an important new ultimately direct priorities for air defense for each
capability to the combined arms team during mission. The BSFV platoon will develop a plan to
offensive operations. Its speed and armor protection support the supported unit’s scheme of maneuver
increase mobility and survivability on the battlefield. and commander’s intent for each mission. The BSFV
Its onboard weapon systems allow the BSFV to platoon leader will develop an execution matrix
protect itself while providing continuous ADA which will position his assets to protect the supported
protection at the critical time and place. force against air threats.
In the offense, BSFVs normally accompany the A task force may conduct various types of
main body or the task force reserve. Ultimately, offensive operations. Each requires the platoon
BSFV positioning will be determined by the factors leader to plan using the six ADA employment
of METT-T. The BSFV platoon may be task- guidelines outlined in Chapter 2. The forms of tactical
organized to provide direct support to the task force offensive operations are—
or task-organized into sections to support individual
company teams. Priorities for protection may include Movement to contact.
maneuver elements, fire support, engineer Attack.
elements, command and control nodes, and logistics Exploitation.
assets. Unit SOPs and mission-specific IPB
developed during the planning process will Pursuit.

MOVEMENT TO CONTACT
A task force conducts a movement to contact to ends when contact is made or the objective is occupied
develop the situation and to establish or regain contact without enemy contact.
with the enemy. A movement to contact often results The movement to contact is characterized by
in a meeting engagement. The movement to contact decentralized control, rapid movement, and

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 FM 44-43

commitment of forces from the march. A movement to the main body, confirms the IPB by developing the
contact can be conducted against either stationary or situation and attempts to make contact with the enemy
moving forces. Each side attempts to seize the initiative with the least amount of force. It may fix small
and overwhelm the opposing force via fire and concentrations of enemy forces. It ensures the main
maneuver. Various subcomponents and variants of the body can deploy uninterrupted.
movement to contact are— The flank and rear guards protect the main body
Approach march. An approach march is a from attack. In a task force, these may be platoon-sized
variant of the movement to contact and is used when forces. These forces are strong enough to either defeat
commanders are more certain of the enemy’s location or fix small enemy forces or delay a stronger enemy
and strength. attack to allow the main body to deploy. The flank
Search and attack. Search and attack guards travel on routes parallel to the main body.
These elements move by continuous march or
operations are conducted by smaller, lighter forces and alternate bounds to occupy key terrain on the flanks of
reconnaissance forces to destroy enemy forces, protect the main body. The rear guard follows the main body
the force, secure areas, or collect information. and likewise protects it from attack.
Reconnaissance in force. A reconnaissance in The main body will normally move along an axis
force is a limited-objective operation by a considerable or axes of advance, and the task force commander may
force to obtain information about the enemy. plan intermediate objectives along these axes to orient
his forces. Usually, the task force commander will
MANEUVER ELEMENT designate a main effort, giving priority to one axis in his
The forward security force, usually a combination zone to more clearly focus his combat power. See the
of ground and air scouts in a moving screen forward of following illustration.

TASK FORCE CONDUCTING MOVEMENT TO CONTACT USING BOX FORMATION

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FM 44-43

AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY UNITS used by the BSFV platoon to engage enemy air targets.
Enemy air can be expected if the friendly attack is Consequently, BSFVs will normally maneuver no
achieving success. BSFV platoon leaders will normally further than 2,000 meters apart to ensure more than
design their coverage in conjunction with the task force one BSFV can engage enemy air targets at the same
commander’s scheme of maneuver. This may mean time.
that the platoon leader will structure his platoon’s Stinger teams should dismount when possible.
support to support the task force commander’s While tedious, this technique results in the most
designated main effort. The platoon leader can do this effective air defense coverage. If the task force uses
by allocating more of his assets to the main effort. bounding overwatch, teams can dismount when
A movement to contact usually results in lateral sections are part of the overwatch element. Sections
maneuver once the enemy is located, and the task force must make opportunities for themselves during
attempts to either fix or bypass. BSFV platoon leaders movement to dismount as much as possible. The
must remain flexible, and planning for a movement to
contact must include analysis of enemy air avenues decision to dismount the Stinger team is normally a
throughout the entire zone of action. BSFV platoons squad leader’s decision, based on METT-T. BSFV
must be able to posture themselves quickly to counter platoons should incorporate into their SOPS dismount
any enemy air threat. criteria during movements to contact. Vehicle
In a movement to contact, the pace of movement dispersion, weapon range, and movement techniques
prevents frequent dismounting of Stinger teams; should be considered when developing dismount SOPs
therefore, the 25-mm chain gun is the initial weapon for offensive operations.

MEETING ENGAGEMENT
The meeting engagement is normally the result of depends on effective execution once contact has been
a movement to contact. A meeting engagement is the made. A force involved in a meeting engagement
initial contact that occurs when a force that is not maintains momentum by focusing all available combat
completely deployed for battle encounters an enemy power against the enemy. The force which seizes the
force on which little information is known. Depending initiative, moves rapidly, and attacks violently will
on his mission, the maneuver commander may defend, usually be the victor in a meeting engagement. See the
bypass, or attack. Success in a meeting engagement Task Force in a Meeting Engagement illustration.

TASK FORCE IN A MEETING ENGAGEMENT

4-12
 MANEUVER ELEMENT templated enemy air avenues in zone. The platoon
The primary consideration in a meeting leader will develop a plan that allows for agility and
engagement is the ability to quickly mass all available flexibility to effectively counter each enemy course of
combat power to defeat or destroy the enemy in action throughout the supported unit’s zone of action.
contact. Rapid grasp of enemy locations and strengths, He will norrnally do this by planning throughout the
quick repositioning of units, and effective integration entire zone a series of aerial named areas of interest
of indirect fire assets are critical for success. to observe, on-order positions to occupy with his
Ultimately, the maneuver commander must conduct BSFVs, and aerial target areas of interest on which to
fire and maneuver with all available elements to gain mass air defense fires. Once contact is made and a
the decisive edge. meeting engagement ensues, the BSFV platoon leader
AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY UNITS will execute planned positions, observe planned NAIs,
Planning for a meeting engagement is conducted and upon enemy contact, activate planned TAIs
during the movement to contact planning phase. according to his decision support and execution
Through the IPB process, the S2 determines possible matrices. Success will depend upon the platoon’s
enemy courses of action throughout the zone of action. ability to quickly execute its plan once initial enemy
The BSFV platoon leader must understand all contact is made in the meeting engagement.

HASTY ATTACK
A hasty attack is normally the result of a meeting Some information of enemy positions and strength may
engagement. A hasty attack differs from a deliberate be known. Friendly lead security elements begin the
attack in the amount of time allowed for planning and hasty attack by reconnoitering enemy positions, and by
preparation, and information available on enemy confirming or denying the initial enemy template.
dispositions. Normally, planning time for a hasty attack Lead scouts will attempt to find a weakness in the
is limited and knowledge of enemy dispositions is enemy position, normally at the enemy’s flank. The
sketchy. A hasty attack results from a meeting task force will deploy, arraying itself to concentrate its
engagement or when bypass has not been authorized. combat power on a designated point of penetration.
Optimally, a hasty attack is conducted when the enemy The task force commander will maneuver trail
is in a vulnerable position or when he is marginally elements in the task force to take advantage of success
prepared to conduct operations. The friendly force during the attack. Since the task force has an offensive
must move quickly to gain the advantage. Speed and mission, it may have subordinate tasks of either fixing
violence can overcome lack of preparation. SOPs, and bypassing, defeating, or destroying the enemy.
battle drills, and understanding of the commander’s The hasty attack is completed when the enemy has
intent are critical for effective execution of hasty been either fixed and bypassed, defeated, or destroyed
attacks. There are two categories of hasty attacks. (depending on the unit’s mission); and the task force
has consolidated on the objective, postured to defend
HASTY ATTACK AGAINST A MOVING FORCE or to continue the mission to the next objective. Seethe
A hasty attack against a moving force occurs when Hasty Attack Against a Stationary Force illustration on
two opposing moving forces converge. Normally, page 4-15.
enemy forces are conducting a movement to contact as
well, and have relatively equal information regarding AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY UNITS
the disposition of friendly forces. The side that wins As in the meeting engagement, the success of air
must gain a rapid understanding of the opponent’s defense artillery in a hasty attack will depend on
disposition, maneuver first to position forces to his thorough prior planning. Prior to the mission, on-order
advantage. and mass all available combat power first. BSFV positions, aerial NAIs and TAIs along suspected
See the illustration on the next page. enemy air avenues of approach, and decision and
execution matrices must be developed throughout the
HASTY ATTACK AGAINST entire zone of action to ensure success. The BSFV
A STATIONARY FORCE platoon leader will plan his scheme of maneuver based
A hasty attack against a stationary force is on the task force designated main effort, outlined in
normally initiated as a result of a movement to contact. the commander’s intent. Unit SOPs and battle drills,

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 FM 44-43

MEETING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN MOVING FORCES WITH ENSUING HASTY ATTACK

combined with rapid, aggressive execution, will aid in other in the reinforcing role. The reinforcing BSFV
mission accomplishment. platoon will allow the commander flexibility to shift
coverage and platoon fires.
During the movement to contact, BSFVs will The platoon leaders deploy systems in an
maneuver based on the supported unit’s scheme of overwatch position—no more than 1,000 meters
maneuver and the BSFV platoon’s execution matrix. behind the assaulting forces.
Stinger teams will dismount whenever possible. Once
the hasty attack begins, the platoon leader will position BSFV fire units must be kept under the
his assets, based on the supported task force designated central control of one platoon leader to maximize
main effort, to defend against enemy air avenues of coordination and synchronization. In certain cases,
approach developed during the planning process. when two BSFV platoons are required, the BSFV
Depending on METT-T and the IPB, the task battery commander may serve as the task force air
force conducting the main effort may require two defense coordinator. The battery commander
BSFV platoons. In this case, the BSFV battery maneuvers with his platoons to enhance command and
commander should allocate his forces in the following control and to shift fires as necessary.
manner whenever possible: Aerial surveillance positions or routes.
One platoon in the direct support role and the

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 HASTY ATTACK AGAINST A STATIONARY FORCE

DELIBERATE ATTACK
Deliberate attacks are fully synchronized may be more detailed based on an increased
operations that employ the effects of every available knowledge of enemy dispositions. Axes of advance to
asset against the enemy defense and differ from hasty intermediate objectives are designated to coordinate
attacks in planning time and knowledge of the enemy. unit movement. A primary axis is designated to
All deliberate attacks are characterized by greater specify the task force main effort. A final objective
planning time and more detailed information on is specified, usually located on what is believed to be
enemy dispositions. Deliberate attacks are often the enemy’s main defensive belt. Movement
conducted from a defensive posture. Because techniques will be specified based on suspected
deliberate attacks require a greater degree of enemy locations. Task force formations will, terrain
synchronization of battlefield operating systems, they permitting, place more combat power forward due to
require additional planning time. It must be noted that a greater knowledge of enemy locations.
during the planning and preparation of a deliberate Reconnaissance is focused on confirming existing
attack, the enemy can improve defenses, disengage, or
launch a spoiling attack against friendly positions. enemy templates, rather than gaining initial contact
with the enemy. The final assault on the objective
MANEUVER ELEMENT will be characterized by a higher degree of
Graphic control measures for a deliberate attack synchronization of combat multipliers; the previous
are similar to those for a hasty attack; however, they planning process will have resulted in a greater

4-15
FM 44-43

degree of specificity for maneuver and support Fixed– and rotary-wing attack profiles.
elements. Probable enemy aviation fire sacks.
AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY UNITS Aerial surveillance positions and routes.
For a deliberate attack, air defense coverage must From the IPB, the BSFV platoon leader will
be extensive and well coordinated. This requires a develop and use his own graphic control measures and
complete IPB process that must include— those directed by the supported unit to control
Air and ground avenues of approach. movement of the platoon. During a deliberate attack,
Air and ground capabilities. BSFVs are normally positioned to support the main
effort. The BSFV platoon leader must, however, retain
Aerial NAIs and TAIs designated along air the flexibility to shift and redirect platoon fires in
avenues of approach. support of the entire zone of action.

EXPLOITATION
Exploitation takes advantage of successes on the MANEUVER ELEMENT
battlefield. Exploitation prevents the enemy from An order to exploit will probably come as a warning
reconstituting, setting up an organized defense, or order and immediately follow the initial offensive
conducting a controlled withdrawal. It may follow mission. Decentralized execution is characteristic of
either a hasty or deliberate attack. The task force can the exploitation. However, the commander must not
exploit its own success, attacking as the exploiting force allow over-extension of his combat forces.
for a larger unit, or follow and support another
exploiting force. AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY UNITS
The task force’s mission can include— ADA resources supporting an exploiting task
Securing objectives deep in the enemy rear. force must be as mobile as the maneuver forces. Less
mobile fire units are used to keep open the task force
Severing lines of communications. lines of communications and protect key logistics
Destroying enemy units. facilities and command and control centers.
Denying escape routes to an encircled force. The BSFV platoon may move with the task force
main body (exploitation force), or it may be task-
Ensuring the exploiting force has mobility and organized to provide support for both the exploitation
balanced firepower. force and the logistics elements. Effective command
and control is required to support constantly moving
units.

PURSUIT
The purpose of pursuit is to complete the enveloping forces cannot get to the rear of the enemy
destruction of the enemy force while it is in the process force, it may attack the flank of the retreating main
of withdrawal. The enemy force itself is the main body. The task force can conduct a pursuit to support
objective. the brigade or have one of its company teams conduct
a pursuit to support task force operations.
MANEUVER ELEMENT
The pursuit usually consists of direct pressure and AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY UNITS
enveloping forces. The direct pressure force prevents As with the exploitation, air defense systems
the enemy from disengaging and inflicts maximum deployed with the enveloping forces must be as mobile
casualties. This force must not allow the enemy to as the supported force. Since penetration occurs deep
break contact. in the enemy rear, the same caution as in a movement
The enveloping force penetrates to the rear of the to contact must be practiced.
enemy and prevents his escape. It destroys the enemy BSFVs maneuver with the enveloping forces.
with support from the direct pressure force. If the They normally travel to the flanks but not outside the

4-16
maneuvering forces. The battery may employ platoons used to protect critical command and control nodes,
with the enveloping forces. Stinger sections may be logistics facilities, and supply lines.

FORMS OF MANEUVER
Offensive actions use different forms of maneuver ENVELOPMENT
to achieve success. These forms of maneuver are— In an envelopment, the attacker uses fire and
Envelopment. maneuver to place greater combat power against the
Turning movement. defender. The attacker strikes the enemy’s flank or
rear, finding or creating an assailable flank. The
Infiltration. envelopment causes the enemy to fight in a direction
Frontal attack. in which he is not prepared to fight. The BSFV platoon
Penetration. has the responsibility to provide air protection for the
Frequently, offensive actions will use more than enveloping maneuver element, as well as the
one form of maneuver. Forms of maneuver orient on stationary maneuver element occupying attack by fire
the enemy, not terrain. BSFV platoon leaders must positions. METT-T commander’s intent, and scheme
understand these forms of maneuver to optimize their of maneuver will ultimately determine how the BSFV
platoon’s capabilities in the combined arms team. platoon accomplishes the mission.
Using forms of maneuver to influence the enemy An encirclement is a continuation of an
is an art, not a science. Forms of maneuver used during envelopment. A force in direct contact with the enemy
each mission are normally specified in the task force fixes the enemy in position while an encircling force
commander’s intent and scheme of maneuver. The maneuvers to surround the enemy, cutting the enemy’s
higher commander seldom directs the form of escape routes. See Task Force Conducting
maneuver to be used by the battalion task force. Envelopment of a Stationary Enemy Force illustration.

TASK FORCE CONDUCTING ENVELOPMENT OF A STATIONARY ENEMY FORCE

4-17
FM 44-43

TURNING MOVEMENT larger unit’s operation. The BSFV platoon

The turning movement is a variant of the employment considerations are basically the same for
envelopment in which the attacker seeks to pass the turning movement as they are for the envelopment.
around the enemy, avoiding his main forces, to secure Special emphasis should be placed on ADA integration
a terrain oriented objective deep in the rear and sever during preparation phase of the operation to ensure
enemy lines of communications (LOC). Optimally, the BSFV platoon does not mask the fries of the
enemy forces will abandon prepared positions and supported force during the turning movement. See the
attack in an undesirable direction. A task force following illustration.
normally conducts a turning movement as part of a

TASK FORCE CONDUCTING A TURNING MOVEMENT

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 FM 44-43

INFILTRATION FRONTAL ATTACK

Infiltration is a form of maneuver in which combat The frontal attack is the least preferred form of
elements move by stealth to objectives to the rear of maneuver. In the frontal attack, the task force uses the
the enemy’s position without fighting through most direct routes to strike the enemy along a wide
prepared defenses. All or part of the task force may front. This attack is normally employed when the
move by infiltration. Infiltrations are slow and are mission is to fix the enemy in position or deceive him.
often conducted during reduced visibility. Successful Although the frontal attack strikes the enemy’s front
infiltration requires effective reconnaissance to within the zone of the attacking force, it does not
discover and secure undefended routes. Such routes require that the attacker do so on a line or that all
are normally found in rough terrain or in areas difficult subordinate unit attacks be frontal. Frontal attacks,
to cover with observation and fire. The infiltrating unless in overwhelming strength, are seldom decisive.
elements avoid detection, but if detected, they avoid Often, frontal attacks are the best form of maneuver
decisive engagement. If the infiltration is mounted, the for a hasty attack or meeting engagement against
Stinger teams will probably remain mounted but may enemy light defenses or security zone forces where
dismount depending on movement and METT-T. If simplicity and speed are important in maintaining
the infiltration is dismounted, Stinger teams may be battle tempo. The BSFV platoon must provide air
part of the dismounted force. See the Infiltration defense protection forward of the lead element of the
Manuever illustration. frontal attack. If follow-on elements of the supported
force are not conducting a frontal attack, the BSFV
INFILTRATION MANEUVER platoon must develop a plan to provide air defense
protection on a supporting axis of advance. See the
Frontal Attack Manuever illustration.

FRONTAL ATTACK MANEUVER

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FM 44-43

PENETRATION enemy’s defense. In support of a penetration, the

In a penetration, the task force concentrates its BSFV platoon must consider the vulnerability of the
force at a specified point of penetration to overwhelm supported element holding open the shoulder of the
the enemy and gain the advantage. A penetration is penetration and the lead element which exploits the
used when enemy flanks are not assailable. All penetration. A penetration is planned in the following
available combat assets are massed at a single point to three phases as shown in the Task Force Conducting a
make a breach; the shoulder of the penetration is held Penetration illustration:
open and any enemy counterattacks attempting to Isolation of the site selected for penetration.
thwart the penetration are repelled. A successful Initial penetration of the enemy position.
penetration depends on surprise and the attacker’s
ability to suppress enemy weapons, to concentrate Exploitation of the penetration.
forces at the point of attack, and to quickly pass
sufficient forces through the gap to destroy the

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 CHAPTER 5
DEFENSE
This chapter discusses the role of the BSFV platoon in defensive
operations. The immediate purpose of defensive operations is to defeat
an enemy attack. Army forces conduct defensive operations as part of
major operations and campaigns, in combination with offensive opera-
tions.

PURPOSE OF THE DEFENSE

Military forces conduct defensive operations to offense.
gain sufficient strength to attack. Though the outcome Failure of an enemy attack.
of decisive combat derives from offensive operations,
it is often necessary, even advisable, to defend. When Time gained for further defensive operations.
commanders choose to defend, they can apply defen- Opportunities created to concentrate forces
sive strategies that achieve the following results: elsewhere.
Enemy destroyed. Control of key or decisive terrain.
Enemy forces weakened as a prelude to the Terrain retained.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

History has shown that normally the defender Strengthening air and missile defenses in crit-
has the advantagc over the attacker. This is due to ical areas.
the defender’s time to prepare and knowledge of the
terrain. The attacker has the initiative to choose the Rehearsing.
time and place of battle. He tries to shatter the de- The efficient use of time during preparation by the
fense quickly and prevent its reconstitution by con- defender normally leads to success during execution of
tinuing the attack at a fast pace. The defender must the defense.
slow the attack to provide time to isolate, fight, and
destroy the attacker. However, the defender’s con-
cept must be tempered with the understanding that, CONTENTS
ultimately, offensive operations must be conducted
to ensure defeat of the enemy. Defensive operations Page
are characterized by prepared positions, security,
disruption, mass and concentration, and flexibility. Purpose of the Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Characteristics of Defensive Operations . . . . . . 5-1
Sequence of the Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
PREPARATION Battlefield Framework Considerations in the
Using the advantages of time and knowledge of Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
terrain, the defender enhances his disposition by pre- Forms of Defensive Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
paring positions from which to fight. Like offensive op- Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
erations, every defense has a focal point or main effort. Air Defense Planning Considerations in the
Preparations include but are not limited to— Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Positioning forces in depth. Defense in Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Improving terrain. Defense of a Strong Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
War-gaming defensive plans. Counterattack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Perimeter Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-l0
Organizing logistics support.

5-1
FM 44-43

SECURITY decisive points, the defender accepts risk in some

Commanders must provide security for their areas. Obstacles, security forces, and fires can assist in
forces during both defensive preparations and execu- reducing these risks. He retains and, when necessary,
tion of the defense. During preparation, a task force reconstitutes a reserve. He maneuvers to gain local
provides security by establishing a screen line to protect superiority at the point of decision. The defender may
the force, conducting counterrcconnaissance opera- have to surrender some ground to gain the time
tions in sector, and repositioning elements during necessary to concentrate his forces.
preparations to deceive the enemy as to the true posi- Defending commanders normally mass effects
tions in the main defensive area. During execution, se- and concentrate forces repeatedly during battle. They
curity is provided at the task force level by the screen do so swiftly since periods that allow them to develop
line and local counterrecon operations to provide early superior combat power will be brief. Concentration of
warning, disrupt the enemy attack early, and protect the force increases the threat of large losses from
the main defensive positions. weapons of mass destruction. Defending commanders
use deception and concealment to hide their vulner-
DISRUPTION ability from the enemy. Furthermore, defending com-
An attacker’s strength comes from momentum, manders protect the force from weapons of mass
mass, and synchronization. The defender attempts to destruction through integrated air and missile de-
disrupt the attacker’s tempo by preventing him from fenses.
massing his combat power. The defender never allows FLEXIBILITY
the attacker to get set. The defender interrupts the at- The defender must plan his defense in depth and
tacker’s command and control, fire support, and logis- build in the agility to counter the attacker’s initiative.
tics system. Disruption can be caused by— He designs contingency plans that allow for rapid ac-
Defeating or misleading enemy reconnais- tion and exploitation of enemy weaknesses. He must
sance forces. anticipate the enemy’s decision-making and maneuver
Isolating enemy units. forces to apply combat power before the enemy can
react against it. The flexibility to outmaneuver the en-
Breaking up enemy formations, causing them emy during the defense stems from detailed planning
to attack piecemeal. and a thorough IPB. Flexibility allows the defender to
shift his point of main effort quickly, without losing the
MASS AND CONCENTRATION advantage. The defender adds flexibility to his defense
He who defends all defends nothing. Like the by planning alternate and supplementary positions
offense, the defense has a main effort, designated by throughout the depth of the battlefield. The defender
the task force commander in his intent. The defender must be prepared to assume the offensive through
seeks to mass the effects of overwhelming combat planning and preparation for a counterattack.
power to defeat the attacker. To concentrate forces at

SEQUENCE OF THE DEFENSE

As in the offense, defensive operations are nor- preparations, refinement of the plan, and rehearsals
really phased. Defensive operations routinely adhere occur during this phase.
to the following phases. DEFENSE
During this phase, the task force conducts the
main defense. Obstacles are closed and armed; units
PREPARATION FOR OPERATIONS occupy initial defensive positions; engagement areas
During this phase, units prepare for defensive are structured; and the task force fights its main defen-
operations. This is the most important phase of sive battle. Local counterattacks and repositioning of
defensive operations. Reconnaissance and forces to complete enemy destruction are accom-
counterreconnaissance operations, defensive position plished during this phase.

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CONSOLIDATION, REORGANIZATION, AND operations. Often, security forces for the next battle
PREPARATION FOR THE ATTACK are positioned forward during this phase to facilitate
The unit consolidates forces, conducts resupply, transition to follow-on missions.
reorganizes (if required), and prepares for future

BATTLEFIELD FRAMEWORK CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEFENSE

The TF normally defends as part of a brigade plan. task force plays the primary role in close operations.
The defensive battlefield framework consists of the The defending commander may do this in several
deep, close, and rear battles. Even though the battle- ways. Often, he fights a series of engagements to halt
field framework components are the same for offen- or defeat enemy forces. This requires him to desig-
sive operations, the objectives are different. nate a main effort, synchronize effects to support it,
then shift the main effort to concentrate forces and
DEEP OPERATIONS mass effects against another threat if necessary. Ma-
The defender designs deep operations to achieve neuver units defend, delay, attack, and screen as part
depth and synchronization in the defense and to secure of the defensive battle.
advantages for future operations. Deep operations dis- Security operations warn of the enemy’s ap-
rupt the enemy’s movement in depth, destroy high- proach and attempt to harass and to slow him. A cov-
payoff targets vital to the attacker, and interrupt or ering force meets the enemy’s leading forces, strips
deny vital enemy operating systems such as command, away enemy reconnaissance and security elements,
logistics, or air defense at critical times. As deep opera- reports the attacker’s strength and locations, and
tions succeed, they upset the attacker’s tempo and syn- gives the commander time and space in which to
chronization. The defender selectively suppresses or react to the enemy. The security force at the task
neutralizes some of the enemy’s operating systems to force level is normally the task force scout platoon.
exploit the exposed vulnerabilities. Individual targets It may be reinforced with additional infantry fighting
in depth are only useful as they relate to the destruc- vehicles and tanks to strip away enemy reconnais-
tion of a critical enemy operating system. A defender sance elements at the forward edge of the task force
denies freedom of maneuver to the attacker with deep main battle area.
operations; he also seeks to set the terms for the transi- Reserves conduct operations throughout the de-
tion to the offense. fense and may require continual regeneration. They
Deep operations provide protection for the force give the commander the means to seize the initiative
as they disrupt, delay, or destroy the enemy’s ability to and preserve his flexibility; they seek to strike a deci-
bring combat power to bear on friendly forces. As with sive blow against the attacker but prepare to conduct
deep operations in the offense, activities in depth, such other missions as well. They provide a hedge against
as counterfire, focus to protect close combat opera- uncertainty. Reserves operate best when employed
tions directly. To synchronize the activities that encom- to reinforce and expedite victory rather than prevent
pass both deep and close objectives, commanders defeat. In defensive operations, a task force reserve
integrate and prioritize reconnaissance, intelligence, is usually no smaller than a platoon and no larger
and target acquisition efforts to focus fires and maneu- than a company team.
ver at the critical place and time on the battlefield.
Normally, the task force has limited involvement REAR OPERATIONS
in deep operations. True deep operations in the de- Rear operations protect the force and sustain
fense are fought at brigade levels and higher. The pri- combat operations. Successful rear operations allow
mary task force responsibility is to monitor the progress the commander freedom of action by preventing dis-
of deep operations and adjust the close battle plan as ruption of command and control, fire support, logisti-
necessary to gain maximum advantage over the enemy. cal support, and movement of reserves. Destroying or
neutralizing enemy deep battle forces achieves this
CLOSE OPERATIONS goal.
Close operations are the activities of the main Rear operations must retain the initiative and
and supporting efforts in the defensive area to slow, deny freedom of action to the enemy, even if combat
canalize, and defeat the enemy’s major units. The forces are not available. A combination of passive and

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active defensive measures can best accomplish this. and close fights. Simultaneous operations defeat the
Commanders assess threat capabilities, decide where attacking enemy throughout the battlefield and allow
risk will be accepted, and then assign the units neces- an early transition to the offense. In task force rear op-
sary to protect and sustain the force. Unity of command erations, the headquarters and headquarters company
facilitates this process. commander or the task force S4 may be designated to
Regardless of the proximity or separation of ele- control rear operations.
ments, defense of the rear is integrated with the deep

FORMS OF DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS

The two primary forms of defensive operations are sets up large-scale counterattacks that offer the de-
mobile and area. Mobile defenses orient on the de- fender the opportunity to gain and retain the initiative,
struction of the attacking force by permitting the en- going over to the offense, and moving into exploitation
emy to advance into a position that exposes him to and pursuit.
counterattack by a mobile reserve. Area defenses ori- AREA DEFENSE
ent on retention of terrain by absorbing the enemy in Commanders conduct an area defense to deny the
an interlocking series of positions and destroying him
largely by fires. enemy access to designated terrain or facilities for a
specified time. In an area defense, the bulk of defend-
MOBILE DEFENSE ing forces deploy to retain ground, using a combination
Mobile defense orients on the destruction of the of defensive positions and small, mobile reserves.
enemy force by employing a combination of fire and Commanders organize the defense around a static
maneuver, offense, defense, and delay to defeat his at- framework provided by defensive positions, seeking to
tack. The minimum force possible is committed to pure destroy enemy forces with interlocking fires. Com-
defense; maximum combat power is placed in a striking manders also employ local counterattacks against en-
force that catches the enemy as it is attempting to over- emy units penetrating between defensive positions. A
come that part of the force dedicated to the defense. security area or covering force is also part of an area
Commanders conducting a mobile defense take advan- defense.
tage of terrain in depth, obstacles, and mines, while
employing firepower and maneuver to wrest the initia- Commanders position their forces in platoon,
tive from the attacker. A mobile defense requires a mo- company, or battalion battle positions on suitable ter-
bility greater than that of the attacker. The defenders rain, with a specific orientation and direction or sector
cause the natural aggressiveness of the attacker to fo- of fire. On occasion, commanders may also direct the
cus on the wrong objective, setting him up for attack construction of a strong point to deny key terrain to the
from an unexpected direction and driving that attack enemy and force his movement in a different direction.
home with overwhelming force and violence. The construction of a strong point requires consider-
Terrain is traded for maximum effect to divert the able time and combat engineer support. In some cases,
attention of the enemy from the defender’s main force, because of terrain restrictions, requirements to hold
overextend the attacker’s resources, exposing his specific terrain, or when enemy forces are weak and
flanks, and leading him into a posture and terrain that disorganized, area defenses without much depth may
diminishes his ability to defend against the counterat- be necessary, requiring the main effort to be well for-
tack of the larger, mobile reserve. The mobile defense ward.

THREAT
During defensive operations, friendly forces are possibly fixed-wing aircraft to determine locations of
the most vulnerable to the full spectrum of threat acri- friendly artillery, command and control, ADA assets,
al platforms. The enemy will attempt to use aerial plat- logistical sites, and troop concentration areas. Once
forms to monitor friendly forces for targeting. these sites are located, we can expect threat forces to
The number one challenge to the BSFV platoon disrupt or destroy these sites with the use of artillery
will be to deny the enemy’s use of RISTA air assets. We or rocket fire, air attacks and air insertions.
can expect the enemy to use UAVs, rotary-wing and

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Artillery and rocket attacks will be the enemy’s These attacks will be supported with preattack and
preferred weapons against US forces and air defense postattack reconnaissances.
assets. These systems are usually numerous, inexpen- Threat air insertion operations will be conducted
sive, survivable, and highly effective. UAVs can be ex- with either fried- or rotary-wing assets and probably
tremely effective for threat use during this phase. The during the hours of limited visibility. The threat will
UAV’s low detection signature and standoff capability likely conduct daytime reconnaissance of landing sites
make them ideal for providing targeting data. Rotary- and target areas within 24 hours prior to attack. These
and fried-wing attacks are less likely during this phase operations will fly at low levels attempting to infiltrate
due to the low survivability of these systems. In most into friendly rear areas.
cases these systems are limited to daylight operations.

AIR DEFENSE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEFENSE

In the defense, the task force commander will fires at the critical point on the battlefield when
prioritize his requirements for air defense coverage, necessary.
based on his mission analysis, IPB, and METT-T. Prior- Actual positioning of vehicles should be based on
ity for air defense in the defense may be to the battle the air IPB, the commander’s priorities for the air de-
positions in the main engagement area, command and fense, and the location of the supported unit’s assets.
control elements, or logistics assets. While most sup- Vehicles should not be further than 2,000 meters apart,
ported unit SOPs outline generic air defense coverage or as METT-T dictates, for the Stinger weapon system.
priorities for defensive operations, each mission will In the defense, BSFVs may be prioritized for engineer
have its own specific requirements. effort and dug in to maximize survivability. The TOW,
The BSFV platoon leader must perform a mission 25-mm automatic gun, and 7.62-mm coaxial machine
analysis, ensuring he understands the commander’s gun should be used against ground targets in self-de-
intent and the task force concept of the operation. The fense.
BSFV platoon leader must clearly understand where If BSFVs are tasked to provide coverage for the
the task force’s effort will be weighted. Based on these task force reserve, they should be positioned along
considerations, the platoon leader will develop a
coverage plan to support the defensive concept of identified enemy air avenues of approach that influe-
operations. The entire BSFV platoon may be deployed nce the task force reserve’s initial positions as well as
to cover the defensive main effort, or the platoon may routes to its defensive or attack by fire positions.
be task-organized into sections, with one section The platoon leader’s decision support template
covering one asset on the battlefield (for example, the will result in an air defense artillery plan that synchro-
reserve) while the other section provides coverage for nizes his operations with the supported commander’s
another asset on the battlefield (for example, the main concept of the operation. Planning and troop-leading
engagement area). In either configuration, the platoon procedures must occur as early as possible to allow
leader must ensure he conducts his planning in maximum preparation time. Once the basic plan is es-
conjunction with the six air defense artillery tablished, reconnaissance and rehearsals are key to an
employment guidelines and can mass his air defense effective defense.

DEFENSE IN SECTOR
A defense in sector defines the unit’s boundaries, MANEUVER ELEMENT
terrain responsibilities, and where it will operate. A de- Normally, a task force commander is given the lat-
fense in sector is the most common defensive mission itude to develop his defense as long as he complies with
given to a task force. The task force commander is ex- boundary restrictions directed by higher headquarters.
petted to defeat enemy forces within his sector forward He must develop a plan to defeat the enemy forward
of a no penetration line and maintain flank security. A of a designated point. Preparation of a defense begins
defense in sector is one of the least restrictive missions. with a thorough IPB. The IPB must clearly describe all

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FM 44-43

enemy ground and air avenues of approach into the positioned to support the building of the engagement
task force sector. area.
Once the IPB is completed, the task force com- The task force commander will designate those
mander designates the point on the ground within his areas within his sector where he intends to take risk.
sector where he wants to kill the enemy. This loca- Through a combination of deception, obstacles, and
tion becomes the cornerstone upon which a defen- unit positioning, he will structure his defense to
sive engagement area is built. An engagement area “turn” the enemy into his main engagement area.
is an area in which the commander intends to trap Strong points and perimeter defenses can be
and destroy the enemy force with the massed fires of used in a defense in sector. If used, the commander
all available weapons. Within the engagement area, will designate their locations and those assets dedi-
the task force will use the following techniques to de- cated to building the strong point or perimeter de-
stroy the enemy: fense.
Target reference points to coordinate both
direct and indirect fires. ADA COVERAGE OF A DEFENSE IN SECTOR
Obstacles to turn the enemy into the engage- In a defense in sector, priority is based on the
supported commander’s intent and METT-T. Com-
ment area and to impede its movement once in the manders designate priorities for air defense cover-
engagement area. age. Maneuver forces, command and control
Battle positions to specify unit locations elements, and logistics nodes are normally among
from which units defend, alternate positions for priorities identified for air defense coverage.
units to occupy when not in their assigned battle posi- BSFVs are normally allocated to the force antic-
tions, positions for the initial placement of the re- ipating the enemy main effort. If the tactical situa-
serve. tion dictates, the platoon may split into sections to
Routes between positions. cover various enemy air avenues of approach in sec-
Depending on the size of the sector the task tor. Stinger sections from the battery may be allo-
force is required to defend, there may be more than cated to augment the BSFV platoon defending
one engagement area designated by the task force against the main attack.
commander. However, one engagement area must BSFVs may provide overwatch for reserve
be designated as the task force main effort, and prior- forces. BSFV crews protecting reserve forces must
ity of effort must be given to building this engage- be aware when friendly reserves are committed, they
ment area. The following is a general sequence of will most likely receive the brunt of the enemy air at-
events that a task force may use to construct an en- tack. The illustration on the bottom of page 5-7, por-
gagement area: trays an example of BSFV platoon support of an
engagement area.
Identify the spot on the ground to kill the en- A task force which is part of a brigade level de-
emy. fense in sector may be assigned the defense of an en-
Construct obstacles to turn the enemy into gagement area. This type of defensive mission is
the engagement area and to block the enemy in the more restrictive than a defense in sector. The task
engagement area. force may be given a series of battle positions in sup-
Position direct fire assets in battle positions port of a specific engagement area within a brigade
sector.
to engage at the designated killing spot. Must have The BSFV platoon leader uses the air IPB to
the ability to mass fires at the specified point. Adjust identify the location of expected air avenues of ap-
battle positions as necessary to ensure effective fires proach. He plans his defense to mass fires on these
into the engagement area. avenues.
Develop indirect fire support plan to kill the BSFVs provide overwatch of maneuver units
enemy at a specified point on the battlefield. Position defending battle positions. The platoon leader must
indirect fire support assets to range engagement plan primary, alternate and supplemental positions.
area. If dismounted Stinger teams support the defense,
An engagement area is built from the inside out. they must be dug in. BSFVs will use their 25–mm
It is imperative that assets are planned and chain guns to support the Stinger teams and for

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 FM 44-43

self-defense. See the Air Defense Artillery of page 5-8.

Coverage of a Battle Position illustration on the top

DEFENSE OF A STRONG POINT

The mission to create and defend a strong point involves a considerable engineer effort and an exten-
implies retention of terrain with the purpose of stop- sive amount of time, equipment, and materials. Once
ping or directing enemy formations. Strong points can constructed, all positions must allow massed fries from
be used in conjunction with battle positions to maxi- two or more units.
mize effectiveness. The construction of strong points

5-7
FM 44-43

AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY COVERAGE OF A BATTLE POSITION

A battalion task force establishes a strong point OCOKA must be used to maximize effectiveness of all
with all units within the strong point perimeter. Posi- air defense weapon systems. Plans must still be flexible
tions are mutually supporting and allow massed fires enough to adjust and synchronize against any air
from at least two units on any target area. Avenues that threat. See the Strong Point Defense illustration, on
cannot be covered by fire are kept under observation. page 5-9. Stinger teams are dismounted and dug in.
In a strong point defense, ADA systems must be BSFVs are in turret-down positions and initially ori-
positioned within the strong point and oriented on the ented for the use of the 25-mm chain gun. All positions
most likely air avenues of approach. METT-T and will have primary target lines.

COUNTERATTACK
Counterattacks are conducted to block a penetra- flank. The task force commander repositions his forces
tion, to attack through forces to seize terrain, or to at- to support the counterattack.
tack enemy forces from the flank or rear. Normally in a counterattack, some ADA systems
Counterattacks are conducted by fire and maneuver. A will travel with the counterattack forces to protect
Counterattack must develop quickly to surprise the en- them from enemy aerial platforms. BSFVs may travel
emy before he has time to consolidate and react. with the counterattacking force or operate from over-
A task force conducts a counterattack against an watch positions. BSFV fires are oriented on the flanks
attacking force. The enemy attack is initially blunted in to defend the maneuver forces moving to conduct the
sector, causing a loss of momentum. The brigade com- counterattack. When counterattack forces move to ac-
mander’s guidance is to counterattack the enemy’s complish their mission, BSFVs must be prepared to

5-8
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5-9
FM 44-43

maneuver with them on a moment’s notice. See the If possible, Stinger teams should be dismounted to
Task Force Counterattack illustration. If attacked by overwatch the counterattack.
air, the BSFVs will return fire with all available means.

PERIMETER DEFENSE
A perimeter defense protects the force from all di- A battalion task force organizes a defensive pe-
rections. A task force organizes a perimeter defense to rimeter to hold a critical piece of terrain for future op-
provide self-protection. A perimeter is established to erations. The TF may defend with three teams in sector
hold critical terrain in areas where the defense is not and one in reserve. It defends with scouts in the prima-
tied in with adjacent units. A perimeter defense may ty direction of the enemy attack and listening posts or
also be used to defend from a strong point. A perimeter observation posts in all directions.
is normally formed when a unit has been passed and The platoon leader uses the air IPB to determine
isolated by the enemy and must defend in place. the most likely air avenue of approach. BSFV units

5-10
 FM 44-43

cover the most likely air avenue of approach but are not mass against the air threat. Stinger teams will be dis-
positioned outside the perimeter. The commander and mounted and dug in. BSFVs will cover assigned PTLs.
platoon leaders must conduct detailed planning to en- See the Typical Perimeter Defense Configuration illus-
sure systems are integrated and positioned to quickly tration.

l*

5-11
 CHAPTER 6
OTHER OPERATIONS
This chapter addresses other types of operations and the peculiari-
ties associated with the tactical employment of air defense artillery units
in support of these operations. A task force conducts operations that
complement offensive and defensive operations. They may be a part of
a larger operation, or in some cases, be performed alone. These opera-
tions may require augmentation by specialized equipment and person-
nel with special skills from brigade or above. In support of other combat
operations, the basic principles and guidelines for the employment of
air defense artillery weapon systems do not change.

RETROGRADE OPERATIONS
Retrograde operations are conducted to econo- defense artillery weapon systems to reposition and
mize forces, maintain the freedom to maneuver, or to overwatch the movement of the delaying force.
avoid decisive combat. Brigades use retrograde opera- Depending on the distances between the occupied and
tions to gain time, deceive the enemy, disengage, short- subsequent positions, the BSFV platoon may be split
en lines of communications, or eliminate exposed into sections to provide air defense protection of the
flanks. The three types of retrograde operations are delaying force in the occupied position and their
delay, withdrawal, and retirement. movement to the subsequent position. See the Tactical
Delay illustration on page 6-2. Stinger teams will be
DELAY dismounted if a section or the platoon is repositioned
The intent of delay operations is to trade space for along the delay route to cover critical choke points or
time, inflict maximum damage on the enemy, and avoid areas of expected air attack.
decisive engagement. Delays consist of a variety of sub- WITHDRAWAL
ordinate unit missions ranging from attacking and con- A withdrawal is conducted to remove a unit from
ducting ambushes to defending and conducting feints. combat, adjust defensive positions, or relocate the
The delay creates time to support other battlefield force. A withdrawal may be executed at anytime, by any
events, such as allowing reserves to reposition. A TF size force, or during any type of operation. Preferably,
will conduct a delay as part of— a withdrawal is made while a unit is not under heavy en-
The covering force operation for defending or emy pressure.
withdrawing forces. Task forces normally conduct withdrawals using a
The advance guard or covering force opera- covering force and a main body. If the TF is conducting
tion when meeting superior forces. a withdrawal as part of a brigade or division force, the
An economy-of-force operation to fix or con-
tain an enemy attack on a low priority avenue of ap- CONTENTS
proach. Page
A deception operation to support a counterat- Retrograde Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
tack. Encircled Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4
The delay is conducted using successive alternate Linkup Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
positions. Air defense artillery units accompany and Defile Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
provide coverage to maneuver units in the delaying Relief in Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
forces. The air defense artillery platoon leader must Passage of Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
establish disengagement criteria which allows air

6-1
FM 44-43

larger unit may provide a covering force to help the TF RETIREMENT

break contact. A retirement is an orderly move to the rear by an
Air defense artillery weapon systems supporting element not in contact with the enemy. The TF con-
forward maneuver units in a withdrawal must be posi- ducts a tactical or administrative move to the rear along
tioned to provide air defense protection as they are multiple routes. Security is essential: advance, flank,
breaking contact. Air defense artillery weapon systems and rear guards are employed. Retiring units may trav-
may be positioned along withdrawal routes or deployed el in a tactical column or in convoy formations, increas-
with the withdrawing force (see the illustration on page ing their vulnerability to enemy air attack.
6-3). Stinger teams will remain mounted unless dis- Since retrograde units travel in tactical road
mounting is necessary. Stingers will dismount at choke marches or administrative convoys, air defense assets
points and passage points. The air defense artillery pla- may be pre-positioned at choke points, along likely air
toon leader must coordinate with adjacent air defense avenues of approach, or integrated into convoys. See
artillery units to determine who has coverage responsi- the Air Defense Artillery Supporting a Retrograde
bility. Operation illustration on page 6-3.

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6-3
FM 44-43

CONSIDERATIONS Mobility
All retrograde operations are difficult and in- Mobility for air defense artillery forces must be
herently risky. To succeed, they must be well-orga- maintained. Retrograde operations are fluid in nature,
nized and executed. A retrograde operation requires and air defense assets must maintain the agility to ad-
these specific elements. just coverage throughout the operation.
Leadership and Morale Deception
Soldiers must not perceive a move to the rear as Deception enhances the security of moving units
a defeat. Leaders must maintain morale. Withdrawals and surprise by denying friendly unit dispositions to the
must be conducted in a tightly controlled manner. enemy. The proper use of deception causes indecision
Leaders must keep soldiers informed. Leaders must be and delay in enemy actions. Deception is aided by tak-
present and set the example to maintain the soldiers’ ing maximum advantage of darkness and other limited
confidence. visibility conditions. Infiltration techniques are used to
cover the relocation of units and material. Visual, elec-
Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and tronic, acoustical, and thermal decoys can greatly en-
Target Acquisition (RISTA) hance deception.
As combat power is echeloned to the rear, the Conserve Combat Power
RISTA threat increases. Air defense artillery assets It is imperative for the commander to conserve the
must maintain vigilance to defeat the enemy air threat. combat power of his unit during the retrograde opera-
During retrograde operations, air assaults and air in- tion. Future operations may depend on the use of this
sertions are likely. combat power.

ENCIRCLED FORCES
Due to battlefield mobility and the nonlinear na- Attack and conduct small unit harassment op-
ture of the battlefield, there will bec situations where erations (guerrilla warfare operations) to attrit enemy
forces become encircled or bypassed. Regardless of the units from the main attack.
operation, units may be cut off from other friendly
forces either by design or due to rapidly changing situa- Attack rear-echelon enemy forces and instal-
tions. Whether defending strong points, retaining key lations to disrupt their operations.
terrain, conducting attacks, holding the shoulder of
friendly or enemy penetrations, units face the possibil- MANEUVER COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES
ity of encirclement. Encirclement occurs when a The senior maneuver commander within the en-
ground force has all of its ground routes of evacuation circlement assumes control of all forces. He informs
and reinforcement cut by the enemy. his superior of the situation and simultaneously begins
Forces face encirclement most often when enemy to accomplish the following tasks:
forces bypass defending units or when advancing units Reestablish a chain of command.
are cut off by an enemy counterattack. The most im-
portant consideration of encircled forces is the contin- Establish a viable defense.
uation of their mission. The encircled force Establish a reserve.
commander must attempt to establish communications
with his higher commander. In the absence of commu- Organize fire support.
nications, he must, however, act on his initiative within Reorganize logistics.
the intent of the higher commander to maintain the in- Establish security.
tegrity of his fighting force. Encircled forces have sev-
eral options. They can— Reestablish communications if interrupted.
Defend until relieved. Continue the defense.
Conduct a breakout toward friendly forces. Maintain morale.

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 FM 44-43

DEFENDING ENCIRCLED Identify and exploit gaps or weaknesses in the

Encircled forces may elect to stay in position and encircling force.
defend encircled. Important considerations in the deci-
sion to stay and fight are— Exploit darkness and limited visibility.
Mission and commander’s intent. Organize the forces for the breakout.
Exfiltrate from the encircled positions toward Concentrate combat power at the breakout
friendly forces. point.
Good defensive terrain. Coordinate with supporting attacks.
Available reinforcement or relief. EXFILTRATION
Availability of the necessary combat support If success of a breakout attack appears question-
to sustain the operation. able and a relief operation is not planned, the least pre-
The enemy’s mobility. ferred option to preserve a portion of the force is
through organized exfiltration. It can distract the en-
Motivation and discipline of troops. emy from his main effort and produce intelligence for
the main force.
BREAKOUT FROM ENCIRCLEMENT The encircled forces are organized into small
Breakout operations are planned, organized, and groups under small unit leaders and exfiitrated during
executed before the enemy has time to react. Com- periods of limited visibility through gaps in the encir-
manders considering the breakout option face the criti- cling forces. Equipment which cannot be taken is left
cal demand of time. Encircled forces have to act before behind and destroyed.
the enemy decides on a course of action and begins to
contain or destroy the encircled forces. AIR DEFENSE CONSIDERATIONS
The attack to breakout of an encirclement differs Air defense units that are caught with encircled
from other attacks only in that a simultaneous defense forces will continue their air defense mission. They
in other areas of the perimeter is maintained. To should orient their fires to the likely air avenue of ap-
achieve a breakout, the commander accomplishes the proach. If a break-out force is planned, the air defense
following tasks: units should mass their fires to cover the force during
the break-out. Air defense artillery leaders must rigid-
Deceive the enemy as to time and place of the ly enforce fire control measures to conserve ammuni-
breakout attack. tion.

LINKUP OPERATIONS
Linkup operations are conducted to join two measures such as linkup points, boundaries between
friendly forces. Both forces may be moving toward one converging forces, fire support coordination line, re-
another, or one may be stationary or encircled. Linkup strictive fire lines, coordinated fire lines, and other
operations may be conducted in a variety of circum- measures to control maneuver and fires. Control mea-
stances. They are most often conducted to— sures may be adjusted during the operation to provide
Complete the encirclement of an enemy for freedom of action as well as positive control.
force. When one of the units involved is stationary,
Assist the breakout of an encircled friendly linkup points are usually located where the moving
force. force’s routes arrive at the location of the stationary
force’s security elements. Alternate linkup points are
Join an attacking force with a force inserted in also designated since enemy action may interfere with
the enemy rear (for example, an airborne, air assault, linkup at primary points. Stationary forces assist the
or infiltration force). linkup by opening lanes in minefields, breaching or
For a TF linkup operation, the TF TOC esta- removing selected obstacles, furnishing guides, and
blishes the command relationship between forces and designating assembly areas.
the responsibilities of each. It also establishes control Linkup between two moving units is a difficult

6-5
 FM 44-43

operation. Primary and altemate linkup points for two supported force commanders, the total number of air
moving forces are established on boundaries where the defense weapon systems available, and the factors of
two forces are expected to converge. As joining units METT-T. Platoon and fire unit responsibilities must
move closer to one another, the need for positive be planned, coordinated, and rehearsed. The sup-
control to avoid firing on one another must be ported force and parent unit must be informed of the
coordinated by commanders to ensure that the enemy disposition of air defense elements throughout the op-
does not esape between the two forces. Leading eration. Failure to synchronize the air defense plan
elements of each force must be on a common radio net. may result in fire units with the same priorities and
leave the task force vulnerable to air attack on unpro-
During linkup operations, air defense consider- tected air avenues of approach.
ations must focus on air defense protection of friendly During linkup operations, particularly with air-
forces. There must be lateral communication between borne or air assault units, the rules of engagement
2 2
be-
the air defense officers from both forces to assure an come extremely important. The brigade A C element
integrated and synchronized air defense effort. The must ensure timely dissemination of information and
battery TOC may assist in communications or synchro- coordination so that air defense artillery units do not
nization during linkup operations.The air defense plan engage friendly aircraft that may be supporting the air-
should incorporate the air defense priorities of both borne or air assault units.

DEFILE OPERATIONS
A defile operation is a critical and vulnerable mis- RIVER CROSSING
sion. because of terrain considerations, maneuver River crossings are conducted to maintain the mo-
forces must mass into relatively small areas. The bene- mentum of an operation. The approach to the water
fits of dispersion are lost and vulnerability to air attack obstacle is made on a broad front whenever possible.
increases. Air defense artillery units must provide pro- Hasty crossings using captured bridges or fords are the
tection to the force conducting the operation. products of rapid offensive action.
Detailed planning ensures that fire support and
PASSAGE POINTS AND CHOKE POINTS crossing means are available with two tactical concepts
Defile drills through choke points or passage in mind. First, assault forces lead, making the initial as-
points are a routine, yet a critical phase of offensive op- sault of the obstacle and continuing the advance from
erations. They pose particular challenges to the BSFV the far side. Second, follow-on forces provide over-
platoon. Because of terrain or mission constraints, ma- watch, direct and indirect fire support, crossing site se-
neuver units canalize forces into relatively narrow ar- curity, and support assistance to the assault.
cas, usually moving in column formation. The benefits The BSFV platoon must be prepared to support
of dispersion are lost and vulnerability to enemy indi- river crossings by either hasty or deliberate operations.
rect and direct aerial fires increases. Often, minimum In either case, considerations are similar to providing
cover and concealment exists at choke points. Target- air defense of a breaching operation. Massed friendly
ing choke points is a common procedure. Choke points forces in a small area provide the enemy a target rich
can be natural or man–made and can vary from bridges environment. Factors of METT-T and the IPB must be
and mountain passes to passages through minefields or continuously monitored to determine whether the
between obstacles. Passage lanes are choke points be- crossing will be opposed or unopposed. Planning and
cause they canalize the force while it moves through a continuous coordination are critical to successfully
stationary force. providing air defense for the force.
Two techniques exist for providing air defense cov- The BSFV platoon leader must consider the fol-
erage at choke points. They are pre-positioned cover- lowing as he prepares his units to defend and negotiate
age and hasty coverage from the march. The BSFV obstacles:
platoon may use either of these techniques. Whenever Identify enemy air avenues of approach.
possible, the Stinger teams should he dismounted and Know where local security is positioned.
oriented to PTLs and STLs. The BSFV supplements
the Stinger with a PTL and sector of fire. Conduct a thorough reconnaissance.

6-6
 FM 44-43

Decide on the most suitable method for cross- Ensure crossing assets are protected.
ing obstacles. Identify key terrain on the far side that enemy
Support the operation from the near and far aerial platforms may use for hide and standoff engage-
side. ment positions.
Include vehicles, personnel, equipment, and The BSFV platoon leader must ensure that he
entrance and exit points in planning considerations. knows what is happening during all phases of the
Plan for continued operations once the cross- operation. He must be flexible and aggessive in his
planning to ensure air defense protection is provided
ing has been completed. during the entire crossing operation. See illustration of
Consider the effects obscurants will have on Air Defense Artillery in Support of a River Crossing.
weapon system’s visual acquisition and identification
of targets.

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FM 44-43

BREACHING OPERATIONS should be established which take advantage of

Obstacles must be rapidly overcome to retain the dominating terrain that cover enemy air avenues of
initiative and to maintain momentum. When con- approach into the area. Furthermore, air defense
fronted with an obstacle, the task force will bypass, assets must establish positions on the near side of the
breach, or force through the obstacle. Bypass is accom- breach that ensure the effective range of the weapons
plished through reconnaissance, while forcing through system extends to the far side of the breach. This will
is chosen when there are no other alternatives. A force ensure air defense protection for breach and assault
through will result in high losses of equipment and per- force elements on the far side of the breach until far
sonnel. Regardless of the method selected, obstacles side security is established and near side air defense
must not be the focus of attention and should be elements reposition to the far side of the breach.
breached or bypassed as quickly as possible en route to BSFVs will usually accompany support force elements
accomplishing the mission. through the obstacle network to the far side of the
The supported force air defense plan should be breach.
designed to protect the force initially in its maneuver
configuration; however, once the commander gives the The BSFV platoon leader must coordinate with
order to conduct an instride breach, the air defense all air defense elements in the vicinity of the breach to
protection must shift to protect the breach site. In this ensure BSFV platoon fires are integrated with the bat-
regard, air defense planning considerations are the tery’s air defense plan. Air defense positions and fire
same as for a river crossing. This does not imply that control measures must be planned throughout the
air defense assets necessarily move to the breach site, depth of the breach. This will prevent one BSFV squad
although some assets may. Air defense assets should from duplicating the effort of another BSFV squad.
remain with their respective maneuver elements See illustration of FAAD Breaching Operations, on
establishing near side air defense protection. Positions page 6-9.

RELIEF IN PLACE
Relief in place is an operation in which a unit is re- logistics, and communications. Air defense protection
placed in combat by another unit. Responsibilities for must be planned for all forces during all phases of the
the combat mission and the assigned sector or zone of relief in place.
action are assumed by the incoming unit. A relief in As the relieving BSFV squads arrive, they will
place can occur during offensive or defensive opera- move out to designated positions selected by the
tions. platoon leader. The squads emplace and are integrated
The primary purpose for a relief in place is to into the present unit’s air defense coverage.
maintain the combat effectiveness of committed ele- This overlap of air defense protection will aid in
ments. A relief in place may be conducted to— ensuring good coverage. Once the replaced unit’s sys-
Give a unit a break from combat when it has tems have departed, the platoon leader will assume
taken heavy losses. complete control of the mission. The platoon leader
Relieve the stress of prolonged operations in must do the following before assuming control:
adverse weather or terrain. Relieve air defense artillery systems in place;
Replace a unit that requires medical treat- do not degrade air defense.
ment or decontamination as a result of combat losses Coordinate with the departing unit about the
or exposure to chemical or nuclear munitions. enemy situation, specifically the departing unit’s asses-
Conform to a larger tactical plan. sment of air avenues of approach.
In the relief in place of a unit, the BSFV platoon Recommend air defense priorities to the
attached to the relieving force will coordinate with the supported commander.
replaced force air defense artillery element. This Determine the air threat and enemy capabili-
coordination will cover, but is not limited to, air IPB, ties.
rules of engagement, current air activity, present fire
2 2
unit positions, A C information, the operations plan, Evaluate air avenues of approach.

6-8
 FM 44-43

FAAD BREACHING OPERATIONS

6-9
FM 44-43

Confirm the present WCS and ADW. commander’s AD priorities.

Confirm hostile criteria and ROEs. Establish communications with early warning
sensors in the area.
Confirm the locations of friendly AD units. Obtain and disseminate airspace control mea-
Position fire units according to the supported sures.

PASSAGE OF LINES
A passage of lines is conducted to allow a moving most cases, the stationary supported force will be able
unit to pass through a stationary unit. It can be con- to protect the passing force, allowing the passing force
ducted as part of offensive, defensive, or retrograde supporting air defense assets to move with them. How-
operations. A passage of lines may be designated as a ever, if the passing force requires static air defense cov-
forward passage or rearward passage. A passage of erage, the terrain will have to be coordinated with the
lines is rarely a primary mission; it is usually performed supported stationary force.
incidental to a mission. The stationary force BSFV platoon may be rein-
In planning a passage of lines, air defense is abso- forced or augmented with additional ADA elements to
lutely essential. Whether passing forward or to the provide air defense protection for the passage of lines.
rear, the moving unit will be forced to move slower and It is imperative that the moving force ADA platoon
often in some type of column formation during the pas- leader coordinate with the stationary force ADA pla-
sage. Congestion in assembly areas after the passage toon leader for the position of all air defense elements
and the linear nature of the movement presents a lu- supporting the passage of lines. Furthermore, he must
crative target to hostile air assets. As a result, air de- develop and coordinate an air defense plan in the event
fense must be coordinated with the stationary unit. In the moving force becomes static.

6-10
 CHAPTER 7
LOGISTICS
This chapter discusses LOGPAC support for the BSFV platoon.
The BSFV platoon receives logistics from the supported unit or the bat-
tery headquarters. The platoon leader and platoon sergeant should en-
sure detailed and timely coordination is conducted to logistically
support the tactical situation. Logistics, or lack of it, may determine the
success or failure of combat operations. The BSFV platoon should be
armed, fueled, and repaired as far forward as the tactical situation per-
mits. Forward support is accomplished through logistics packages
(LOGPACs).

LOGISTICS FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW

Logistics operations in combat and combat sup- company team area and the brigade support area
port battalions are normally organized into support (BSA). Combat trains can provide battlefield recovery,
trains. Support elements from the companies and the maintenance, medical services, and some Class III and
battalion headquarters displace from the combat ele- V support.
ments into eitherfield trains or combat trains. The sup- Field trains consist of the remainder of the battal-
port and supplies availfible vary greatly between the ion combat service support (CSS) element. Field trains
combat trains and the field trains. for all task forces and battalions operating at the bri-
Battalion combat trains carry the minimum gade area are located in the forward part of the BSA.
amounts of supplies and equipment needed to sustain The BSA will also consist of the brigade trains, forward
the force for short periods of time. Combat trains are area support teams, and other combat support and
positioned where they can quickly provide essential combat units.
support to fighting forces, usually between the

LOGPAC OPERATIONS BY THE SUPPORTED FORCE

LOGPACs are organized and put together at the organizes a convoy for movement of all LOGPACs
field trains. They usually include Class I, III, V, medi- under his control. In emergencies, he dispatches unit
cal, and BSFV peculiar items. The platoon leader and LOGPACs individually. The convoy may contain
platoon sergeant are responsible for planning and ex- additional vehicles, such as a maintenance vehicle with
ecuting an effective CSS system for the platoon. CSS Class IX to move to the unit maintenance collection
functions such as supply, maintenance, field services, point (UMCP), or additional ammunition and fuel for
personnel services, and health services must also be
considered during the planning phase. CONTENTS
The BSFV platoon leader conducts logistics plan-
ning. The BSFV platoon logistics plan is implemented Page
by the platoon sergeant. The platoon sergeant consoli- Logistics Functional Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
dates information provided by the squad leaders and LOGPAC Operations by the Supported Force . . 7-1
requests support from the TF or battery. Routine and LOGPAC Operations by Battery Headquarters . . 7-3
recurring CSS operations should be addressed in unit Platoon Resupply Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
SOPs. Cross-Leveling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-5
SUPPORTED FORCE Pre-Positioning Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
LOGPAC operations at the supported force level Personnel Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7
are formed by companies and moved forward under the Replacement Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7
control of the support platoon leader who normally Health Services Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-8

7-1
FM 44-43

the combat trains. The LOGPACs move along the for the next LOGPAC. The supply sergeant collects
main) supply route (MSR) to a logistics release point outgoing mail and equipment for movement to the
(LRP, where the company first sergeant or a unit guide rear. The LOGPAC then returns to the LRP where it
takes control of the company LOGPAC. After the joins the rest of the supported force’s LOGPACs for
company has been resupplied, the company first return to the field trains. See the following illustration.
sergeant informs his supply sergeant of requirements

LOGPAC OPERATIONS BY SUPPORTED UNIT

7-2
 FM 44-43

BSFV PLATOON platoon sergeant or a designated representative will

Any time the BSFV platoon has a support rela- take control of the platoon’s LOGPAC.
tionship of direct support, the basic principles of LOG- Maintenance and evacuation of damaged vehicles
PAC operations by the supported unit will apply. If the will be coordinated with the supported force. The loca-
platoon is reinforcing another ADA platoon, it should tion of UMCPs should be available and briefed to pla-
follow the procedure established for the ADA platoon toon personnel. When the supported force has not
that is being reinforced. The BSFV platoon must be in- responded to a request for support in sufficient time,
tegrated in the planning and preparation of the sup- the platoon leader should notify the supported force
ported force’s LOGPAC operations. commander and his battery commander.
The platoon should coordinate with the supported Evacuation of wounded personnel has to be coor-
force on a constant basis to ensure that the BSFV pla- dinated with the supported force. This is time-sensitive
toon’s LOGPAC consists of the items required and is and generally beyond the capability of the BSFV pla-
formed at the field trains and moved forward to the toon. This requires the BSFV platoon to be knowl-
LRP. The BSFV platoon sergeant must ensure that edgeable of the supported force’s SOP on evacuation
supplies, equipment, and personnel replacements procedures. The platoon must be informed of locations
which are peculiar to the ADA mission are coordinated for casualty collection points. When the tactical situa-
with the support platoon leader or supported unit S4 tion allows, organic platoon vehicles may be used to
or S1. When the LOGPAC reaches the LRP, the BSFV evacuate the wounded.

LOGPAC OPERATIONS BY BATTERY HEADQUARTERS

LOGPAC operations by the battery headquarters for the use of MSRs or LRPs which have already been
follow the same procedures as supported force LOG- established. The LRP should be close to where the pla-
PAC operations with the exception of having different toons are employed and easy to locate. The MSR, LRP
key players. The major difference is that the platoon UMCP and trains locations should be included on the
will normally be operating in terrain which is “owned” operations overlay. The LOGPAC convoy arrival time
by a larger fighting force. The support relationship will at the LRP and length of time it remains are normally
likely be general support or general support-reinforc- established by the SOP.
ing. In this situation, support may be provided by the The first sergeant or responsible battery represen-
battery. tative remains at the LRP as long as the LOGPAC ve-
The battery support vehicles are maintained at the hicles are in the platoon areas. He should ensure that
battery trains where they are loaded with the necessary the LOGPAC release and return takes place efficient-
supplies. The battery first sergeant with the help of the ly. To assist in the coordination for the next LOGPAC,
battery supply sergeant forms the LOGPACs for each the following must be considered:
BSFV platoon based upon prior coordination. The first
sergeant moves the LOGPACs forward along the es- Changes in logistical requirements reflecting
tablished MSR to a designated LRP. When MSRs and any last-minute changes in task organizations.
LRPs are locatcd within the area of operations of Reports on personnel, logistics, and mainte-
another unit, the platoon leader or platoon sergeant nance from the platoon sergeants.
may be required to coordinate for the use of MSRs or First-hand updates on the tactical situation
LRPs with the unit occupying the area. When the and logistical status.
LOGPACs arrive at the LRP the BSFV platoon ser-
geant or a designated representative will take control Delivery, receipt, and distribution of mail.
of the platoon’s LOGPAC. Once the platoon has been The battery maintenance personnel monitor and
resupplied, the vehicle returns to the LRP and the pla- ensure the BSFV platoons are being supported in
toon sergeant gives his requests to the buttery first ser- LOGPAC operations. Contact teams will be integrated
geant for the next LOGPAC. into the LOGPAC convoys when required by the pla-
LRP locations are determined either by the first toons. The contact teams will be moved from LRPs by
sergeant or a designated representative (such as the the platoon sergeants. If it is necessary to evacuate a
battery XO). LRPs are established based on the tactical vehicle, the recovery asset will move the vehicle to the
situation. It is often useful or necessary to coordinate battery UMCP.

7-3
FM 44-43

Evacuation of wounded personnel has to be coor- possible. The means to evacuate personnel will be
dinated and planned in detail. Evacuation of wounded based on unit SOP and the current tactical situation.
personnel should be by the most expeditious means

PLATOON RESUPPLY TECHNIQUES

Routine resupply takes place at least daily. Periods Based on the enemy situation, vehicles will
of limited visibility are best for resupply. If possible, re- disperse from their positions one vehicle at a time.
supply of Class III takes place at every opportunity. The They will be resupplied and returned one at a time until
LOGPAC commonly used technique is a simple and ef- the platoon has been resupplied.
ficient way to conduct routine resupply operations.
LOGPACs should contain all anticipated supplies re- Note: Medical evacuation vehicles are positioned an
quired to sustain the platoon for a specific time, usually equal distance between the refuel and rearm points.
24 hours or until the next scheduled LOGPAC opera- This decreases the number of stops that a vehicle has
tion. to make.
The platoon leader determines the resupply tech- The following graphic illustrates the above proce-
nique to be used based on METT-T. The technique se- dures.
lected for ground resupply will generally be the
service– station method, tailgate method, or a variation
thereof. The platoon leader informs the platoon ser-
geant of the resupply technique to be used. The pla-
toon sergeant briefs each squad on the resupply
method and establishes the resupply point. The pla-
toon sergeant notifies the platoon when the resupply
point is prepared.

SERVICE-STATION METHOD
When the service-station method is the desired
resupply technique, a resupply point centrally located
to the platoon is established. If the platoon is split into
sections, METT-T may dictate that each section is re-
supplied separately. The following procedures outline
the service-station method:
Vehicles enter the resupply point following a
one-way traffic flow.
Only those vehicles requiring immediate orga-
nizational or higher maintenance stop in maintenance
holding areas before conducting resupply.
If not already evacuated, WIA, KIA, and EPW
are removed from squad vehicles once they stop at the
refuel or rearm point.
TAILGATE METHOD
Vehicles will rearm and refuel, rotating to When the tailgate method is used, BSFV squads
each point. remain in place or back out of their position a short dis-
Crews rotate individually to feed, pickup mail, tance so the resupply vehicle is not exposed. POL and
pick up supplies, and refill or exchange water cans. ammunition trucks go to each vehicle position in turn.
Once all vehicles have completed resupply, The following procedures outline the tailgate method:
they move to the holding area where the platoon leader Crew members rotate individually through
or platoon sergeant will conduct a PCI. feeding areas and pick up supplies, water, and mail.

7-4
 FM 44-43

KIA and personal effects are brought to the to the maintenance area.
holding area by platoon personnel. Inspections are completed by the platoon
Armored ambulances pick up critically leader or platoon sergeant at each vehicle.
wounded; other injured are carried or walk to the am- Note: The tailgate issue method is normally used
bulances for first aid. only in an assembly area (AA). If it is employed in for-
ward positions, resupply must be masked by terrain.
EPW are centralized and guarded. This procedure takes much longer than the service-
Vehicles requiring maintenance are brought station method.

TAlLGATE ISSUE METHOD

EMERGENCY RESUPPLY under fire, limited supplies can be brought forward to

Occasionally, usually as a result of combat, the the closest concealed position where the tailgate meth-
battery may have such urgent need for resupply that it od may be used. Individual fighting vehicles drop back
cannot wait for routine LOGPAC. Emergency resup- to resupply at the direction of the platoon leader, then
ply may involve Classes III, V and VIII. Because it of- return to fight. For resupply during a lull in combat, the
ten occurs while in contact with the enemy, special service-station method may be appropriate.
techniques must be considered. When the platoons are

CROSS-LEVELING
Cross-leveling is not a technique of resupply but automatically by squad leaders and platoon sergeants
a way to make supplies last longer. It is the distribution in the assembly areas and after every action. Cross-le-
of supplies evenly throughout the platoon. It is done veling usually takes place between squad and team

7-5
FM 44-43

members but is also used between squads and platoons. and water, they may acquire or draw these items from
It is done for repair parts and all classes of supply. In the other squads remaining in position. These squads
some cases, supplies may be shifted in the platoon to would, in turn, be resupplied by the designated resup-
increase combat potential. For example, if a squad is ply system. Cross-leveling between platoons must be
preparing for movement but is short on ammunition approved by the battery commander.

PRE-POSITIONED SUPPLIES
Pre-positioning supplies is required in most de- covered sites separated from ammunition as well as
fensive operations. Normally, only Class V supply additional equipment, including fuel transfer pumps
items are pre-positioned. The location and amount of and drums, blivets, and 5-gallon cans in quantity.
pre-positioned ammunition must be carefully planned, The following describes the two main methods
and each vehicle commander must be informed. All of propositioning supplies:
leaders down to squad leader verify the locations of the Method 1. Class V supply is located in one place
sites during their reconnaissance and rehearsals. Pro- inside the assembly area or battle position (see the
positioning considerations include the following: following illustration). Each vehicle pulls into the
Pre-positioned ammunition is on pallets, pref- central area to upload ammunition and rations. Pre-
erably in covered, protected positions. positioned fuel tankers are set up at the rear of the
position, and refueling is done using the service-sta-
Pre-positioning frees cargo vehicles to bring tion method.
more ammunition forward. Method 2. Class V supply is pre-positioned at
The possibility of capture or destruction of each vehicle position, and Class III fuel tankers are
pre-positioned ammunition is a risk for the battery. pre-positioned in one location for the entire platoon
The battery cannot guard pre-positioned sites with the (see the illustration on the next page). In this meth-
manpower available. od, Class V supplies are placed on the ground in the
Pre-positioned ammunition must be far vicinity of each vehicle position and begin to rearm.
The fourth vehicle stops at the Class III fuel tanker
enough away from vehicles and individual fighting po- located to the rear of the position and refuels. When
sitions that its destruction will not cause friendly ve- the refueling vehicle is full, it moves into its fighting
hicle or personnel casualties. position and begins to rearm while another vehicle
Pre-positioning fuel is difficult. It requires moves to the refuel point.

PRE-POSITIONED SUPPLIES, METHOD 1

7-6
 FM 44-43

PRE-POSITIONED SUPPLIES, METHOD 2

PERSONNEL SERVICES
This consists of strength accounting, casualty re- When a casualty occurs, DA Form 1156 is filled
porting, replacement procedures, maintenance, per- out for each casualty as soon as the tactical situation
sonnel actions, and awards. permits. This report is processed through ADMIN/
According to local SOP, a strength accounting re- LOG channels. This information is used to inform the
port is sent to battery headquarters detailing platoon soldier’s next of kin and to provide a statistical base for
strength by officer, enlisted, and attached personnel. analysis of friendly or enemy activity. The platoon lead-
At higher echelons, these reports are used to deter- er should be prepared to write a letter for the com-
mine which units receive priority when replacement mander’s signature to be sent to the soldier’s next of
troops arrive. kin.

REPLACEMENT OPERATIONS
Integrating replacements into a platoon is impor- unit, interview him, and introduce him to his squad
tant. A new soldier arriving on the battlefield may be leader and team chief. The squad leader introduces
scared and disoriented as well as unfamiliar with local him to the squad, briefs him on his duty position, and
SOPS and the theater of operations. The platoon lead- assigns him an experienced “buddy” to “look out” for
er and platoon sergeant should welcome him to the him. This in-briefing should cover recent squad and

7-7
FM 44-43

platoon activities, current activities, and future activi- (esprit de corps). The soldier should be told about im-
tics. Furthermore, this in-briefing should reinforce the portant SOPs and special information concerning the
fact that he is part of a good unit with a proud heritage area of operations.

HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORT

At platoon level, health services support consists casually collection point designated in the OPORD. If
of three things: prevention, treatment, and evacuation evacuated by helicopter, they are taken to the rear to
of casualties. Emphasis is placed on prevention since receive medical assistance.
soldiers may become combat ineffective due to non- Unit SOPs and operation orders address casualty
battle injuries or disease as often as due to combat. evacuation in detail. They cover the duties and respon-
These casualties may be eliminated by understanding sibilities of key personnel, rank methods of evacuation,
and applying the principles of field hygiene and preven- and establish procedures for retrieving and safeguard-
tion of weather-related injuries. Leaders have the re- ing the weapons, ammunition, and equipment of casu-
sponsibility to monitor the overall condition of their alties.
soldiers (see FM 21-10). In war, leaders must be prepared to treat and evac-
The leader must be prepared to treat and evacuate uate casualties. The combat lifesaver program en-
casualties. The treatment of serious casualties consists hances the platoon’s ability to provide immediate
primarily of stabilizing the soldier until he can be eva- medical attention to casualties until evacuated to the
cuated to the nearest medical aid station. nearest casualty collection point. The unit must identi-
Casualties are treated and may be evacuated di- fy and train selectcd squad members as combat lifesav-
rectly from the platoon by vehicle or helicopter. If eva- ers. The goal is to have one combat lifesaver in each
cuated by vehicle, they are taken to the supported unit BSFV squad.

7-8
 APPENDIX A
AIR DEFENSE ORDERS AND ANNEXES
This appendix explains those orders and annexes that are asso-
ciated with the BSFV platoon leader’s troop-leading procedures. To ex-
ecute a plan, the platoon leader must be able to organize his thoughts
and convey them in a concise and informative manner to his subordi-
nates. To do this, the platoon leader must have a thorough understand-
ing of the different types of orders and annexes he will receive and issue.

WARNING ORDER
A warning order provides subordinate units ad- Addresses to whom the warning order per-
vance notice of a contemplated action or order to fol- tains.
low. The purpose is to initiate the troop-leading Situation or a brief description of the enemy
procedures of subordinate units. and friendly situation.
The amount of detail included in a warning order
is dependent on the time available, the means of com- Time and nature of the operation. Mission or
munication available, and the information necessary probable mission and time.
for subordinate leaders. As more information becomes Earliest time to move.
available, additional warning orders should be issued. Time and place for OPORD issuance.
Warning orders are normally oral orders but may be Special instructions including any details of
brief written messages. early coordination, rehearsals, special equipment re-
The essential information required in a warning quirements, attachments, et cetera.
order is as follows: Acknowledgement that the warning order has
“Warning Order’” stated so that addressees been received and understood. See the following illus-
will recognize that orders follow. tration for an example of a warning order.

OPERATION ORDER
To carry out the plan, the platoon leader must be Execution.
able to convey his thoughts in a concise and informative Service Support.
manner. The Army’s OPORD format standardizes the
content and organization of information essential to Command and Signal.
clarity and execution of the order.
Leaders at all levels must practice preparing and
presenting OPORDs. The time used will be time well- CONTENTS
spent. Normally, at platoon level, the order will be oral Page
or an annotated graphic overlay.
The five-paragraph OPORD tailored for an ADA Warning Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
platoon should contain the following information: Operation Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-l
Situation. Fragmentary Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Air Defense Annex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Mission.

A-1
FM 44-43

See the following Air Defense Operations Order

Format illustration.

SAMPLE WARNING ORDER

1st platoon moves night of 5-6 Aug to asssembly area Pinto (VIC iYR1016);
prepare to advance early 7 Aug to provide AD for river crossing over Warta
River. Road movement plan and OPORD to be issued at 051300Z August at grid
YQ985105.

AIR DEFENSE OPERATION ORDER FORMAT

1. SITUATION
Information of the overall situation essential to a platoon leader’s
understanding of the current situation.
a. Enemy Forces (weather, terrain, identification, location, activity,
and strength.
(1) Ground forces.
(2) Air forces.
o Identification, type of aircraft, and markings.
o Location of known and suspected airfields and estimated loiter
and turnaround times.
o Strength of enemy air forces, including number of aircraft
sorties available per day by type aircraft.
Note: Air IPB should be briefed at this time to subordinates.
b. Friendly Forces (mission of next higher headquarters; locations and
planned actions of units on left, right, front, and rear; fire support
available; and the mission of any adjacent or supplementary air defense, if
applicable.
(1) ADA forces.
(2) Supported forces.
c. Attachments and Detachments (units attached to or detached from your
unit by higher headquarters and effective time).

A-2
 FM 44-43

AIR DEFENSE OPERATION ORDER FORMAT (continued)

d. Weather and Terrain.

(1) Beginning morning nautical twilight (BMNT).
(2) End (of) evening nautical twilight (EENT)
(3) Moonrise and moonset times.
(4) Percent illumination.
(5) Weather forecast for next 24 hours or period of OPORD,
including the low, and chance of precipitation.
(6) Terrain information concerning vegetation, type of terrain
features, trafficability of roads, cross-country movement, and local water
features.
2. MISSION
The mission includes who, what, why, and where. Include the command and
support relationship and priority.
3. EXECUTION
This paragraph contains the platoon leader’s visualization of the
execution of an operation from start to completion.
a. Platoon leader’s intent for the operation.
b. Concept of operation for support of maneuver forces, stationary
asset, convoy et cetera. This should include the overall plan and missions of
the platoon.
(1) Scheme of maneuver relevant to the supoorted force.
(2) Fire support target reference points, target list, family of
scatterable mines (FASCAM) locations.
(3) Coordinates of priority asset, if applicable.
c. Subunit missions (using the platform execution matrix, assign
mission to each organic and attached squad, section, or team to include the
priority of protection for each unit).
.
d. Coordinating Instructions.
(1) Time of leader’s reconnaissance, departure, and return.
(2) Weapon control status and air defense warnings.

A-3
FM 44-43

AIR DEFENSE OPERATION ORDER FORMAT (continued)

(3) Rallying points and actions at rally points.

(4) Actions at supported unit’s objective or upon enemy contact to
include disengagement criteria.
(5) Any information concerning two or more fire units not covered
by SOP.
(6) Rehearsals, backbriefs, and inspections.
(7) Formations to be used by the platoon or supported unit.
(8) Crew endurance plan.
(9) Rules of engagement.
(10) Hostile criteria.
(11) Mission-oriented protection posture.

4. SERVICE SUPPORT
This paragraph contains CSS instructions for support of the operation.
a. Rations, POL, and water.
b. Ammunition control, ASP location, and resupply plan.
c. Maintenance: motors, ADA systems, and communications (contact teams)
d. Uniform and equipment.
e. Method of handling sick, wounded, and EPWs (supported unit
coordination).
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
This paragraph contains instructions relative to command and to the
operation of common communications equipment.
a. Command.
(1) Chain of command and locations.
(2) Locations of headquarters command posts (CPs) and alternate CPs
(battalion, battery, platoon, and supported unit headquarters).

A-4
 FM 44-43

AIR DEFENSE OPERATION ORDER FORMAT (continued)

b. Signal.
(1) Supported unit frequency.
(2) Convoy frequency (if applicable).
(3) Challenge, password, signals, and code words.
(4) Early warning frequency; IFF codebook number.
(5) Listening silence instructions.
(6) Artillery or FIST element frequency.
(7) Alternate frequencies.
(8) Antijamming procedures (if not addressed in SOP).
Notes: 1. Prior to the briefing, orient personnel with maps (if time
permits, construct a sandtable). Provide personnel with
strip maps and graphic overlays posted on maps.
2. Conduct a backbrief at the end of the OPORD to ensure
personnel understand the order.
3. Establish rehearsal location and date-time group.

FRAGMENTARY ORDER
A FRAGO is an order which presents material ex- with the essentials of an order: their mission or a
tracted from a more detailed order or which changes change to a previously issued mission. FRAGOs may
a previous order. Like warning orders, these are usual- be oral, written, or graphic. In all instances, they are
ly brief oral or written messages. A mission order is one brief. See the Sample Fragmentary Order illustration
form of FRAGO which provides experienced leaders on page A-6.

AIR DEFENSE ANNEX

An annex is an integral part of an order which Combat support instructions (ADA, fire sup-
deals with one aspect of an operation. Its purpose is to port, and engineer).
keep the basic text of an order short. Annexes allow the
distribution of certain information to key players in the CSS instructions (service support overlay,
task force. Annexes include— traffic circulation, and control instructions).
Details that amplify the basic order (opera- Any other information or directions required
tions overlay, intelligence instructions, early warning to amplify the order.
concept).

A-5
FM 44-43

Many times the platoon leader supporting a spe- Annex illustration.

cific unit will be required to write the AD Annex to the An AD annex may also be formatted in an execu-
supported unit’s OPORD. Annexes can be attached to tion matrix style that is common to many units. See the
the order or distributed separately. Unless there is illustration on page A-8 for an example.
good reason to the contrary, each copy of an order is
issued complete with all annexes. See the Sample AD

SAMPLE FRAGMENTARY ORDER

Reference: OPORD 7
Map series V661, sheet 7061, edition 1, scale 1:50,000.
Task Organization: 2d platoon GS to brigade effective 141400Z Jan.
1. SITUATION Tank battalion delaying advance of TF 1-6.
2. MISSION No change.
3. EXECUTION 1st squad LOC TS456835, PTL 6400 mils.
2d squad LOC TS481814, PTL 1600 mils
3d squad LOC TS454783, PTL 3100 mils
4th squad LOC TS424816, PTL 4088 mils.
4. SERVICE SUPPORT No change.
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL Platoon CP currently at TS454814.
Acknowledge.

SAMPLE AD ANNEX
(CLASSIFICATION)
Copy no. of copies
Issuing headquarters
Place of issue
Date-time group
Message reference no.

ANNEX (AIR DEFENSE) TO OPERATION ORDER NO.

REFERENCES: maps, charts, and other relevant documents
Time zone used throughout the order.
1. SITUATION
Items of information affecting air defense support not included in
paragraph 1 of the operation order or which need to be expanded.

A-6
 FM 44-43

SAMPLE AD ANNEX (continued)

a. Enemy Forces.
(1) Reference to intelligence annex, if applicable.
(2) Enemy air capabilities.
b. Friendly Forces.
(1) Outline higher headquarters plan.
(2) Outline higher and adjacent unit AD plans.

(3) Note additional AD resources supporting the unit.

c. Attachments and Detachments. Air defense resources attached and
detached to include effective times.
2. MISSION
A clear concise statement of the air defense mission.
3. EXECUTION
a. Commander’s Intent.
b. Concept of Operation. A brief statement of the air defense operation
to be carried out, to include air defense priorities.
c. Tasks to subordinate ADA units.
d. Coordinating Instructions.
(1) Instructions applicable to two or more subordinate units.
(2) Reference to supporting appendixes not referenced elsewhere in
the annex.
(3) WCS and ROE.
4. SERVICE SUPPORT
5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
Acknowledgement instructions.
Last name of commander
Rank
Authentication
Appendixes
Distribution
(CLASSIFICATION)

A-7
FM 44-43

SAMPLE EXECUTION MATRIX STYLE AD ANNEX

ANNEX DATE
OPORD
UNIT

TASKO: (Includes the TF breakdown by company/team and all the combat

and combat support units)
MISSION: (Who, what, when, where, why, command and support relationship)
COMMANDER’S INTENT

AD

UNIT Ist SQD 2d SQD 3d SQD 4th SQD STINGER

ACTION
PHASE 1
PHASE 2
PHASE 3
PHASE 4
PHASE 5
COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS: ADW/WCS
MOPP
NOTES :
SERVICE SUPPORT: AMMO RESUPPLY POINTS
CASUALTY EVAC POINTS
COMMAND AND SIGNAL: CHAIN OF COMMAND
FREQUENCIES ADA PLT
TF CMD
BATTERY CMD
ADMIN/LOG
DEW
FA FREQ

A-8
 APPENDIX B
COMBINED ARMS FOR AIR DEFENSE
This appendix explains platoon and squad level passive and active
air defense measures. When a unit does not have air defense protection
by ADA weapon systems, the unit must use active and passive means or-
ganic to the unit for air defense protection. In a conflict, threat aerial
platforms may operate over the entire battlefield with the potential to
attack any friendly unit or force. Army units operate under the protec-
tion of ADA units. However, for close protection and self–defense,
these forces also depend on their own passive and active air defense
measures. Every member of the combined arms team must be capable
of firing at attacking air threat platforms. Individual and crew-served
weapons provide a significant defense against aerial threats.

PASSIVE AIR DEFENSE

Passive air defense includes all measures used to Occupy positions which offer natural cover
prevent attack by threat aerial platforms except en- and concealment when stopped. Camouflage vehicles
gagement by fire. The effectiveness of enemy air is that are exposed to enemy observation.
greatly reduced when units take full advantage of ter- Dig in and camouflage dismounted positions.
rain for cover and concealment. The strict enforce-
ment of communications security reduces the enemy’s Use engineer assets if available.
ability to pinpoint friendly units. This is particularly im- Disperse vehicles as much as possible. This
3
portant for C I nodes. If the situation allows, units makes detection and engagement difficult.
should- Cover windshields, headlights, and canopies
Travel by covered and concealed routes when of vehicles to retard glare, making detection difficult.
moving. Require air guards on each vehicle and at each
Turn vehicles (if vehicles are moving when position and rotate them.
there is an enemy air attack) 90 degrees away from the Establish an air attack warning system. In-
direction of attack (the attack is normally parallel to clude both visual and audible signals. Ensure warning
the movement of the convoy) and seek cover and con- system is included in supported unit OPORD (usually
cealment. This quickly gets vehicles out of the line of coordinating instructions).
fire. Include in the SOP the passive air defense
Wipe out track marks after moving into posi- measures tailored to the unit. The SOP must be prac-
tion. ticed during unit training.

ACTIVE AIR DEFENSE

Active air defense is direct action taken to destroy situation, the techniques used in delivering fire are
or reduce the effectiveness of enemy air attack. Tech-
niques of engaging aircraft for non-ADA systems are
summarized below. CONTENTS
Page
ENGAGEMENT PRINCIPLES Passive Air Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. B-1
While the decision to fire is made at the lowest Active Air Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. B-1
level and is based on the leader's judgment of the

B-1
FM 44-43

standard. Volume fire is the key to effective small arms weapons, see Appendix L.
fire against hostile aerial platforms. Every weapon must SMALL ARMS (M16, M60, M249, AND M2)
be used to engage the target. The goal is to mass a high Fighting back is active air defense but should not be
volume of sustained small arms fire in the target’s flight undertaken as a one-on-one activity (one soldier, acting
path with the intention of destroying the aerial platform independently, against one aircraft). Rather, it is a coordi-
when it flies into the fire. Each fire unit and individual nated group response undertaken either spontaneously
must select an aiming point in front of the target and fire or under command using proper engagement techniques.
at that point. This method uses the football field Aiming points for slow- and fast-moving aerial tar-
technique for estimating lead distance. gets using the football field technique for estimating lead
For engagement techniques using vehicle-mounted distance are shown in the following three illustrations.

B-2
FM 44-43

B-3
FM 44-43

A coordinated high volume of fire will get results. air. Soldiers should seek some kind of cover and con-
Fire should be delivered on command and not at the cealment no matter how small. If in an individual fight-
option of the individual. This will ensure controlled, ing position, fire from a supported standing position. If
high-volume engagement. See the Aiming Points for not in an individual fighting position, look for a tree, a
Massed Small Arms Fire illustration below. large rock, or something to help support the weapon
and provide protection.
Firing Positions for Small Arms The M249 gunner will also fire from a protected
A supine position is the proper firing position for position if possible. He can hold the weapon up or use
the engagement of aerial platforms. This means the a support for his arms and the weapon. In an emergen-
soldier is lying on his back, aiming his weapon into the cy, another soldier can act as a hasty firing support.

B-4
 APPENDIX C
RECONNAISSANCE, SELECTION, AND
OCCUPATION OF POSITION
This appendix presents RSOP requirements and their applications.
The procedures for RSOP have been developed to facilitate the rapid,
orderly, and safe movement of ADA systems on the battlefield.
The BSFV platoons displace frequently, whether deployed in for-
ward or rear areas. They move to support the maneuver force plan in
response to mission changes. They also move to enhance survivability.
The RSOP must be part of a unit’s SOP, clearly understood, and prac-
ticed repeatedly by all members of the platoon.

METHODS OF RECONNAISSANCE
Reconnaissance is the thorough examination of Is still an imperfect reconnaissance. Fields of
terrain, to determine its suitability for accomplishment fire, ground conditions, and local threat cannot be de-
of the mission. The three methods of reconnoitering termined unless the aircraft lands..
are: map, aerial, and ground.
Is less secure than a map reconnaissance. Air-
MAP RECONNAISSANCE craft activity in an area exposes soldiers to threat activ-
A study and analysis of a tactical map will provide ity and also reveals an interest in a particular area.
an appreciation of the terrain and show the best route
to the selected location. A map reconnaissance— GROUND RECONNAISSANCE
Precedes all other methods. A map should al- A ground reconnaissance is an on-site examina-
ways be available for the area of operation. tion of the terrain. A ground reconnaissance—
Allows quick examination of large areas. This Is the most accurate and desirable type of re-
is faster than other reconnaissance methods. connaissance. The route can be evaluated for traffic-
ability, obstacles, choke points, and key terrain. Firing
Cannot determine current conditions in the positions, fields of fire, and air avenues of approach can
area. The map may be dated and provide an inaccurate be analyzed for planning finalization.
representation of the area. Is time-consuming. Covering the distances
Ensures the most security. A map reconnais- over potential routes and checking alternate positions
sance can be conducted in a secured area. takes time. The ground reconnaissance is the slowest
AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE method of reconnaissance.
If an aircraft is available, the commander or the Is dangerous. The small reconnaissance party
RSOP officer can see the terrain. An aerial reconnais- could be subjected to threat observation en route or at
sance— the objective area.
Provides the fastest way to see the terrain.
CONTENTS
Is limited by aircraft availability, weather, and Page
light conditions. Methods of Reconnaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
Is still an imperfect reconnaissance. Fields of Reconnaissance, Selection, and Occupation
fire, ground conditions, and local threat cannot be de- of Position Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2
termined.

C-1
FM 44-43

If ground or aerial reconnaissance cannot be per- positions are sclected, and soldiers necessary for these
formed, engineer terrain teams may be able to provide tasks are included in the RSOP party.
necessary information. Plans can be made for the re- Actual inspection of the chosen routes and posi-
connaissance to include routes, release points (RPs), tions on the ground is desirable to confirm selections
assembly points, and assembly times for the reconnais- made from the map or to make necessary adjustments
sance party. If time is limited and the unit must move in plans.
before the reconnaissance party returns, road guard

RECONNAISSANCE, SELECTION, AND OCCUPATION OF POSITION SEQUENCE

Since BSFV units will likely be employed as a pla- positions for checkpoints, and primary and alternate
toon and in support of a task force, the RSOP party will routes are selected and plotted. The platoon leader
normally be led by the platoon leader. The sequence identifies a reconnaissance route by conducting a map
of actions for conducting the RSOP are discussed in the reconnaissance to the proposed area. Positions se-
following paragraphs. lected by map reconnaissance must be confirmed by ad-
ditional reconnaissance if the tactical situation allows.
RECEIVE THE ORDER
The commander meets with his key personnel,
passes on the basic order, and briefs his key personnel PLAN THE GROUND RECONNAISSANCE
on the new mission. The commander’s briefing in- Reconnaissance is performed to select the best
cludes information on the purpose of the operation, fire unit positions, march routes, SPs and RPs, sensor
routes, road clearance times, start and RP locations, positions, and communications sites. The ADA pla-
and AD operational times. Each platoon leader re- toon leader should coordinate with the local maneuver
views his briefing notes, completes precombat check- commander and the supported unit battalion S3 to de-
lists, and initiates the reverse planning sequence. termine what areas maneuver units plan to occupy.
Mutual agreement must be established to make the
ISSUE MOVEMENT WARNING ORDER best use of the available terrain. The platoon leader se-
The platoon leader returns to the assembly area, lects personnel and equipment to conduct the recon-
issues a movement warning order, and briefs his key naissance with him and assigns tasks to the
personnel on the new mission. reconnaissance party personnel. The unit SOP will es-
The movement warning order can be— tablish the normal composition and responsibilities of
Written or verbal. the party. The reconnaissance party for the platoon
should consist of at least the platoon leader and one
Delivered in person. representative from each squad. The RSOP party also
Passed over tactical communications nets. includes a security force.
The warning order must include, as a minimum,
the new mission, the location of the planned area of op- BRIEF NEXT-IN-COMMAND-ISSUE ORDERS
eration, the time of release for march order, crossing After the platoon leader finalizes and coordinates
the start point (SP), crossing the release point, and as- the plan, he briefs his personnel covering all elements
suming operational status at the planned area of opera- of a five-paragraph operation order (situation, mission,
tion. execution, service support, and command and signal)
MAKE A MAP RECONNAISSANCE and indicates when the RSOP party will depart the
This is the fastest way to conduct a reconnaissance present position. He identifies at least the SP and the
and will always precede any other type of reconnais- RP. His briefing and issuing of orders should include in-
sance. The positions of BSFVs and dismounted Stinger structions on continued operations in the absence of
teams are plotted on a map and represent the best loca- key leaders.
tions for providing air defense protection. The platoon CONDUCT THE RECONNAISSANCE
leader must consider the air defense employment
guidelines, weather, and the factors of METT-T. Al- AND SELECT POSITIONS
ternate positions should be identified at this time. Af- As soon as RSOP preparations are complete, the
ter the weapon positions have been plotted on a map, platoon leader departs with the reconnaissance party.

C-2
 FM 44-43

He ensures that the selected primary route meets The following are characteristics which must be
equipment requirements (height, weight, width) is pas- considered in selecting sites for BFSV squads:
sable, and avoids possible ambush locations. He posi- Primary and secondary fields of fire and obser-
tions road guides as required. He may keep the platoon vation must be clear.
main party posted on his progress by referencing prede- Communications with platoon CP, other
termined check points. As the RSOP party approaches
the new location, the platoon leader checks the area. squads in the platoon, and with EW sources are avail-
The platoon leader must ascertain if the tentative able.
map-selected locations will allow immediate occupa- Positions must be within 100 meters of plotted
tion for accomplishment of the mission. Ground recon- positions in original defense design. If not, defense may
naissance verifies whether the terrain provides good need to be redesigned.
natural concealment and has access roads for primary Positions make maximum use of available cov-
and alternate routes into the position. The terrain er and concealment to facilitate survivability.
should provide good observation, fields of fire, and sec- The firing signature of the Stinger and tube-
tors of search and have firm ground that will support launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) weap-
the weight of the equipment. on systems disclose the weapons’ positions during each
NBC and mine detection teams check the immedi- engagement therefore, frequent shifting of position is
ate area to ensure it is free of contamination and mines. required. Units will select primary, alternate, and
A total security plan is then placed in effect. This in- supplementary positions during the ground reconnais-
cludes positioning automatic weapons overlooking the sance. Routes into and out of these positions must be
main avenue of approach and alternate routes into the selected and prepared as necessary. The following po-
position and establishing other security positions sitions are normally selected by ground reconnais-
around the area to preclude gaps in the perimeter. A sance:
PTL and a sector of fire are assigned to each squad, and
communications are established with all the positions. Primary position. A position from which the
Proposed positions plotted during the map reconnais- fire unit intends to accomplish its tactical mission.
sance should be used if possible. Squad representatives Alternate position. A position to which the
reconnoiter the positions assigned to their weapons, fire unit moves when the primary position becomes un-
select tentative sites for the weapons and observation tenable or unsuitable for carrying out the assigned mis-
posts (OPs), and confirm them with the platoon leader. sion. The alternate position must be far enough away
The platoon leader reconnoiters the platoon area and to prevent its being rendered untenable by the same ac-
selects the site for the platoon command post. He visits tion that affected the primary position. The alternate
each proposed weapon site and supervises or assists the position must meet all the requirements of the primary
squad representative. After approving the positions, position.
the platoon leader informs the battery commander and Supplementary position. A place to fight
the supported unit of the weapon and platoon CP loca- which provides the best means to accomplish a task that
tions. cannot be accomplished from the primary or alternate
Positions selected must be the best available for positions.
fields of fire, communications, accessibility, and surviv- Avoid placing positions near terrain features easi-
ability. The following specific characteristics must be ly recognized from the air. Positions are more vulner-
considered in selecting sites for the platoon headquar- able to enemy fires (once spotted near an identifiable
ters. object).
CP is centrally located with respect to fire unit
.positions. PREPARE TO OCCUPY THE POSITIONS
Cover and concealment are available. After the platoon leader has selected the
positions, he ensures the ground guides know exactly
Alternate entrance and exit routes are avail- where he wants all the vehicles and equipment
able. emplaced. Preparation should include marking the
Position is defendable against ground attack. location of each major piece of equipment (as
Communications can be established with high- required). Everyone at the new position is given the
er, lower, and supported units. new challenge and password; any known enemy activity

C-3
FM 44-43

in the area; and the approximate arrival time, location, materials (branches, leaves, snow). These materials
and order of vehicles for the main party. should be from the vicinity of the squad so they will
blend naturally into the surroundings.
MOVE THE UNIT TO THE NEW POSITIONS Individual fighting positions. Hasty positions
The platoon leader informs the platoon sergeant
of the results of his reconnaissance and relays appro- are prepared for the Stinger team. These will be re-
priate instructions for the movement of the main body. placed by deliberate fighting positions.
The platoon sergeant organizes the vehicles as ordered Cover. The BSFV and personnel dig the ve-
by the platoon leader. Platoon vehicles use movement hicle in turret-down for protection from blast, frag-
techniques dictated by the factors of METT-T and unit mentation, and small arms. Engineer support may be
SOP. required in some situations and should be requested
OCCUPY, ORGANIZE, AND IMPROVE through the supported unit.
THE POSITIONS Alternate and supplementary positions. Work
The occupation of position should be coordinated on alternate and supplementary positions is initiated as
with the supported unit to avoid mutual interference. early as possible to ensure that they are available
When the platoon arrives at the position, all vehicles should the primary position become untenable.
move off the road into the position without halting and Upon occupying the position, the platoon must
without closing the interval between vehicles. The unit provide continuous local security. Obstacles such as a
SOP should state the requirements and the priorities hasty protective minefield provide security which
for occupying positions. blocks, disrupts, or canalizes enemy attacks. All ob-
When all squads have reported that they are in po- stacles must be coordinated with the supported unit S3
sition and capable of providing coverage of their as- and the engineer officer. Other measures taken should
signed sector, the platoon leader will report the also be integrated with the ground defense plan of the
platoon “ready for action.” supported unit. Range cards should be prepared. At a
Squad leaders begin improving positions as dic- minimum, range cards should indicate ranges to critical
tated by SOP or additional orders. A typical improve- points on all likely avenues of approach, dead spaces,
ment sequence may include— and likely targets.
Natural camouflage. Supplement existing
camouflage nets where possible with indigenous

C-4
 APPENDIX D
BSFV PLATOON AND SQUAD CHECKLISTS
The checklists in this appendix are recommended for use by the
BSFV platoon leader and squad leaders. They are not all inclusive;
however, they are useful in most combat situations. If required,
make additions to these checklists. If your battery SOP calls for dif-
ferent or more detailed procedures, follow the local SOP.

PLATOON PRECOMBAT INSPECTION CHECKLIST

The platoon precombat inspection checklist is outlined here. Use the lined columns to indicate sta-
tus of the individual item being checked.
a. Individual soldier readiness. b. Equipment readiness (continued).
1. TA-50 inventory. (f) Necessary maps on hand.
2. Assigned weapon clean and zeroed. (g) Rations distributed.
3. Assigned NBC mask with accessories. (h) Vehicles loaded by load plan.
4. Load-bearing equipment (LBE). (i) Compasses on-hand.
(a) First aid pouch with dressing. (j) All necessary manuals on-hand.
(b) Canteen(s) with water. (k) Flashlights.
(c) Ammo pouch with magazines. 5. Communications equipment.
(d) Decontamination kit. (a) All necessary (supported force, AD,
et cetera) TACSOPs and SOIs on-hand.
b. Equipment readiness.
(b) Radios and intercom operational.
1. Publications for vehicles.
(c) AH connectors and receptacles
2. Logbook, dispatch, and drivers’ licenses. clean.
3. Ensure before-operation PMCS and (d) Grounding straps secure.
prefire checks have been completed per
TMs and FMs. (e) Antennas and matching units
complete and serviceable.
4. General.
(f) Field phones present and
(a) Orders and rehearsals conducted. serviceable.
(b) Required package products (g) Applicable batteries on-hand.
on-hand.
(h) Radios complete and operational.
(c) BII present and serviceable.
(i) COMSEC equipment operational
(d) Fuel can(s) filled. and programmed.
(e) Water can(s) filled.

CONTENTS
Page Page
Platoon Precombat Inspection Checklist . . . . . . . D-1 Platoon Coordination Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-4
Platoon Leader’s Planning Checklist . . . . . . . . . . D-2 Platoon Command Post Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . D-5
Squad Leader’s Briefing Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3 Platoon Operation Checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6
Night Defensive Position checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3 Priorities of Work Checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-8

D-1
FM 44-43

PLATOON PRECOMBAT INSPECTION CHECKLIST (continued)

(j) GPSs operational. (b) All machine guns have spare barrels
and cartridge extractor.
(k) CVCs present and operational.
(c) Weapon cleaning equipment
6. Fire control system. on-hand.

(a) Firing circuits operational. 8. Safety.

(b) Optics clean, operational, and (a) Road crossing equipment

present. (warning triangles, safety vests, and flashing
lights) on-hand.
(1) Sights.
(b) Safety briefing.
(2) Night vision device.
(c) Vehicle safety check performed.
(3) Binoculars.
(d) First-aid kits and or bags filled.
7. Weapons.
(a) All weapons clear.

PLATOON LEADER’S PLANNING CHECKLIST

The platoon leader’s planning checklist is outlined here. Use the lined columns to indicate status of
the individual item being checked.
a. Analyze the threat. b. Analyze the mission (continued).
1. Aerial IPB. (i) Delay.
2. Ground IPB. (j) Withdrawal.
3. Templates air indicators. NAIs 4. NDP (see NDP checklist).
and TAIs.
5. Backward planning.
4. Receive DST from battery.
(a) Equipment emplacement time.
b. Analyze the mission.
(b) Movement time from RP to position.
1 Convoy.
(c) Convoy time.
2. Fixed asset.
(d) SP time.
3. Maneuver force.
(e) Brief time to squad leaders.
(a) Passage of lines.
(9 Ammunition, POL, and ration
(b) Movement to contact. resupply plan.
(c) Meeting engagement. (g) Maintenance completion time.
(d) Hasty attack. (h) Time necessary to set hasty
defense.
(e) Deliberate attack/checkpoints.
(i) Movement time to rally point.
(f) River crossing/breach.
(j) March order time.
(g) Defend in sector.
(k) Rehearsal time.
(h) Defend BP/strong point.

D-2
 FM 44-43

PLATOON LEADER’S PLANNING CHECKLIST (continued)

b. Analyze the mission (continued). (m) Time to pass WARNO.
(l) Reconnaissance time. (n) Receipt of order.
(1) Primary route.
(2) Alternate route.

SQUAD LEADER’S BRIEFING CHECKLIST

The checklist contains minimum information the squad leader must receive from the platoon leader
to accomplish his mission. Each item should be checked.
(a) Mission. (i) WCS.
(b) Threat. (j) Hostile criteria.
(c) Fire unit location and alternate. (k) Platoon rally point.
(d) PTL. (l) RP.
(e) Sector of fire. (m) Friendly units in AO.
2 2
(f) A C control measures in effect (n) Platoon rehearsal location and
in the AD. time.
(g) Route and alternate route. (o) ROE.
(h) ADW. (p) MOPP

NIGHT DEFENSIVE POSITION CHECKLIST

Defense of perimeters and rally points during the night are difficult. The following checklist will as-
sist the BSFV platoon and or squad during night operations.
Does the area have the following features? (i) Area secured prior to occupation;
listening post and observation post established
(a) Sufficient area for dispersion. at main entrance.
(b) Alternate exit and entrance routes. (j) NBC detection, monitoring, and
survey teams check the area prior to arrival.
(c) Easily defended against ground
snack. (k) Ensure all units occupy the NDP.
(d) Easily recognizable and known (l) Establish vehicle dismount point
to all squads. with ground guides.
(e) Good communications with (m) Place NBC alarms.
higher, lower, and supported units.
(n) Occupation time after end of
(f) Good observation. evening nautical twilight (EENT).
(g) Reconnaissance prior to (o) Unit moves out and emplaces
occupation. before beginning of morning nautical twilight.
(h) Coordination with adjacent (p) Fill gaps in the perimeter with
units prior to occupation. individual fighting positions.

D-3
FM 44-43

NIGHT DEFENSIVE POSITION CHECKLIST (continued)

Does the area have the following features (continued)? (1) Ammunition resupply.
(q) Ensure each fire unit coordinates (2) POL resupply.
with the fire units to left and right.
(3) Water resupply.
(r) Ensure each position has a range
card. (4) Ration resupply and feeding.
(s) Ensure LPs and OPs have the (5) Maintenance support.
following:
(6) Evacuation plan.
(1) Cover and concealment.
(w) Submit necessary reports.
(2) Communications to perimeter.
(x) Enforce noise, light, and litter
(3) Range card. discipline.
(4) Sufficient distance from (y) Brief everyone on –
perimeter to provide early warning.
(1) Tactical situation.
(t) Camouflage positions and
vehicles. (2) Mission.
(u) Establish a reactionary force. (3) Challenge and password.
(v) Plan and conduct the following:

PLATOON COORDINATION CHECKLIST

The platoon leader’s coordination checklist for coordination at TFand or brigade TOC. Each item should
be checked.
a. Visit all staff sections and exchange Information. Pay (b) Maintenance/vehicle recovery.
particular attention to the TF staff planning/orders pro-
cess. Pass the information gathered to ADA HQ. (c) Rations/water.
1. S3. (d) Casualty evacuation.
(a) Commander’s intent. 4. NBC officer.
(b) Frontline trace (operations overlay). (a) NBC situation.
(c) Friendly air or ground situation. (b) Location of decontamination
points.
(d) Mission.
(c) Location of NBC recon surveillance
(e) Task force rehearsal location and vehicles.
time.
5. Communications and electronics officer.
2. S2.
(a) Currrent SOI requirements and
(a) Current enemy situation. changes.
(b) IPB (air and ground) requirements. (b) Radio replacement procedures.
3. Combat trains command past 6. Engineer officer.
(CTCP) (S1/S4).
(a) Known obstacles.
(a) Personnel reporting/replacement
procedures. (b) Known minefield.

D-4
 FM 44-43

PLATOON COORDINATION CHECKLIST (continued)

6. Engineer officer (continued). c. Keep TF informed on all AD engagements
and squad dispositions.
(c) Coordinate digging assets.
d. Keep TF Informed of AD warnings, hostile
7. Fire support plan. criteria, and WCS.
b. Attend all briefings.

PLATOON COMMAND POST CHECKLIST

The platoon command post checklist is outlined here. Each item should be checked.
a. Ensure good communications with– 7. Maintenance of control points.
1. Battery. 8. Logistics resupply points.
2. Squads. 9. Rally points.
3. Sensors. 10. Location of higher headquarters.
4. Supported unit. 11. Location of adjacent air defense
elements.
b. Observe COMSEC/ECCM procedures.
12. Class IV by squad/team.
1. Enter net according to SOI procedures.
i. Know current SOI and authentication
2. Establish platoon net. passwords.
3.. Enforce net discipline. j. Know and display
.. on map the current
locations or all squads.
c. Ensure all required reports are identified
and submitted in a timely manner. k. Ensure second-in-command i S briefed
on plans and operations so he can take
d. Establish maintenance recovery over in your absence.
procedures for platoon.
l. Take corrective action on down
e. Ensure AD information is disseminated equipment.
during OPORD briefs.
m. Make coordination with adjacent units.
f. Ensure logistical resupply of the platoon
occurs. n. Ensure squads with nonoperational
equipment still observe cover and
g. Ensure all TOC supplies are on-hand. concealment. Camouflage disabled
vehicles.
h. Track the tactical situation in the TOC.
At a minimum, track the following: o. Ensure squads with problems continue
to provide AD coverage to the greatest
1. Frontline trace. extent possible. A disabled fire unit may
still be able to shoot.
2. Friendly air/ground situation.
p. Ensure platoon performs before-,
3. Enemy air, ground, NBC, and EW during-, and after-operation maintenance
situations. on all equipment.
4. Location of decontamination points
and clean/dirty routes. q. Ensure adequate security measures are
taken for classified documents and other
5. SOI requirements and changes. sensitive items.
6. Bridging, route, and obstacle r. Ensure platoon members are clean
information. shaven and perform personal hygiene
daily.

D-5
FM 44-43

PLATOON OPERATION CHECKLIST

The platoon operation checklist is outlined here. Each item should be checked.
a. Planning phase. 23. Perform adequate reconnaissance
to facilitate NDP.
1. 1/3, 2/3 rule.
24. Provide AD for orders group during
2. Perform backwards planning. planning.
3. Properly consider factors of METT-T 25. Plan coverage for choke points and
in TF planning. passage points.
4. Present recommendations to
commander regarding allocation of assets. 26. Consider prestock of ammunition.
5. Actively participate with battalion 27. Coordinate weapon emplacement
staff during planning process. positions with local commander who owns
the ground. Make provisions for alternate and
6. Plan platoon rehearsal (location, time, secondary positions.
and duration).
28. Plan medical evacuation of casualties
7. Ensure TF AD plan is doctrinally through supported unit or ADA battery.
sound.
29. Plan PTLs.
8. Template planned weapons coverage.
30. Establish priority of work for squads.
9. Properly analyze enemy air avenues of
approach. b. Preparation phase.
10. Ensure AD plan compensates for system 1. Brief all personnel on the OPORD at
capabilities. once.
11. Ensure AD plan compensates for 2. Extractor address pertinent elements
maintenance/combat losses. of TF OPORD in platoon OPORD.
12. Ensure AD plan supports commander’s 3. Allocate 1/3 of available time to
scheme of maneuver/intent. planning; allocate 2/3 of available time for
execution.
13. Accomplish contingency planning.
4. Move personnel into position or perform
14. Address AD rearm/refuel/ face-to-face coordination for weapon
maintenance. emplacement with supported force.
15. Address AD of TF rearrn/refuel/ 5. Verify that AD personnel and TF
movement. elements use proper camouflage.
16 Discuss night/limited visibility 6. Verify that AD personnel are prepared to
operations. defend at first light.
17. Discuss BSFV ground support role. 7. Verify that precombat checks and
PMCS are accomplished. BSFVs are
18. Address AD plan in assembly areas/ boresighted; and IFFs are programmed.
nonmission periods.
8. Verify that range stakes/range cards
19. Address receipt/dissemination of are properly prepared.
WCS/ADW.
9. Verify that Class III/V uploads are
20. Address early warning/sensor accomplished in a timely manner.
management.
10. Check AD coverage of TF road march
21. Establish disengagement criteria. and preparation.
22. Address employment of air guards and
engaging with organic weapons.

D-6
 FM 44-43

PLATOON OPERATION CHECKLIST (continued)

b. Preparation phase (continued). 7. Adjustments made to compensate
for maintenance and combat losses.
11. Verify complete dissemination and
understanding of TF/platoon plan with 8. Hostile aircraft properly engaged by
backbriefs. AD weapons.
12. Verify that initial/ongoing liaison is 9. Hostile aircraft properly engaged by
conducted by AD squads and supported organic non-ADA weapons.
elements.
10. TF reacting appropriately to enemy
13. Check preparation of primary, air attack: massing small arms fire.
alternate, and supplementary positions.
11. Platoon reacting properly to artillery.
14. Verify request and receipt of engineer
support 12. Platoon properly responding to NBC
conditions.
15. Template actual weapons coverage.
13. Combat reload accomplished.
16. Conduct rehearsals at all echelons.
14. Movement techniques consistent
17. Conduct backbrief. with TF movement.
18. Verify Stinger team fighting positions 15. Choke points properly defended.
are dug to standard.
16. BSFV ground fires controlled and
19. Verify that BSFVs are dug in to turret properly executed.
down.
17. Sound gunnery techniques employed.
20. Verify that prestocked ammunition
is dug in. 18. Chain of command functioning.
21. Verify that adjacent unit coordination 19. Individual squads maximizing use of
has been accomplished. time.
22. Verify dissemination of engineer d. Reorganization.
obstacle overlay. (Are clear lanes and the
location of minefield known?) 1. Platoon organization reestablished.
23. Conduct coordination for medical 2. FRAGO issued for follow-on mission.
evacuation on the ground with supported unit.
3. Ammunition status reviewed cross-
c. Execution phase. leveling accomplished.
1. Immediately pass any enemy 4. Class III supplies obtained.
information to the platoon.
5. Casualties treated and evacuated.
2. Platoon kept informed on disposition
of friendly troops and scouts disposition. 6. Search scan position improvement
continued during reorganization.
3. Adequate communications maintained
to facilitate C2. 7. Parent battery notified to provide
maintenance support or to pass engagement
4. Changes in WCS/ADW from TF net reports.
passed to the platoon.
8. Battery or supported unit updated on
5. “Flash” attack warnings made to the status of personnel, Class I, III, IV, and V
platoon and to maneuver elements. supplies, and combat capability.
6. AD engagement reports, situation 9. Crews performing PMCS.
reports (SITREPs), and spot reports
(SPOTREPs) sent in a timely fashion.

D-7
FM 44-43

PLATOON OPERATION CHECKLIST (continued)

e. Consolidation. 3. If necessary, the platoon repositions to
overwatch the designated objective.
1. Platoon reestablishes local security.
4. Platoon leader prepare and issues
2. Platoon reestablishes AD sector FRAGO for specific tasks or to continue
of fire. mission.

PRIORITIES OF WORK CHECKLIST

The priorites of work checklist are outlined here. Each item should be checked.
a. Occupation of position (squad checklist). 2. Account for all sensitive items.
1. Recon your tentative position. Select 3. Report/evacuate casualties.
a position that optimizes squad field of fire.
Emergency emplace. 4. Fill leadership positions.
2. Establish security. Advise chain- 5. Zero weapon/check batteries.
of-command of location. Run wire to LP/OP.
6. Conduct maintenance on all
3. Employ NBC detection equipment. equipment.
4. Prepare positions (request engineer 7. Resupply/redistribute Classes I, III,
support). and V and water. Cross-level Class V.
(a) Prepare range cards (in duplicate). 8. Complete two DA Forms 2404; turn
in within two hours of occupation.
(b) Dig fighting positions (overhead
cover). 9. Establish work plan.
(c) Natural and net camouflage (cover 10. Recover WD-1.
track marks).
11. Police area and move trash to rear.
(d) Establish obstacles.
12. Reload vehicles per load plans.
5. Brief AD OPORD to squad members.
13. Cross-level personnel, if required.
6. Perform PMCS of all equipment.
14. Maintain security.
7. Rears, resupply/redistribute Classes
I, II, and V, and water report to CF. 15. Check communications send
situation/status reports.
8. Field sanitation.
16. Prepare to move.
9. Establish work, maintenance, chow,
and rest plan. (Improve alternate/ 17. Prepare sleep plan.
supplementary position and recon routes.)
b. After battle/premovement (squad checklist).
1. Gather forces. Account for all
personnel.

D-8
 APPENDIX E
EARLY WARNING
This appendix describes the purpose of early warning and how it
provides reliable alerting and cueing information to air defense units
and early warning alerting to other combat, combat support, and com-
bat service units. Alerting allows units time to apply active and passive
air defense measures. The accurate and timely dissemination of this in-
formation enhances the effectiveness of air defense weapon systems and
the accomplishment of the air defense mission. Alerting information
tells the unit an aerial platform is approaching its position. Cueing infor-
mation tells the unit the direction of the aerial platform, its location, and
its tentative identification. This enables the unit to focus attention in
that direction to detect the aerial platform at a greater range.
The BSFV platoon leader must coordinate activities for any sensors
in the supported force area of operations. In the event command and
control for sensors cannot be provided by the parent ADA organization,
the BSFV platoon leader may have to provide command and control.

DIGITAL EARLY WARNING

Digital early warning track data will be the primary SINCGARS requires line of sight (LOS) between the
means of early warning communications to the BSFV sending and receiving nodes. Early warning dissemina-
platoon. Voice early warning will be the alternate tion using EPLRS does not require LOS alignment.
method. The air battle management operations center EPLRS also provides2 the
2
capability to net sensors with
(ABMOC) and Army airspace command and control the ABMOC and A C element. This network facili-
2 2
(A C ) clement receive track data simultaneously tates sharing track data and graphics digitally at all
from the airborne warning and control system echelons. See the AWACS and Local Data illustration
(AWACS). The JTIDS track data, along with weapon on page E-2.
control status, and air defense warnings (ADWs) are
transmitted to the tactically employed sensors by using CONTENTS
the enhanced position location reporting system
(EPLRS), or single channel ground and airborne radio Page
system (SINCGARS). The sensors correlate that infor- Digital Early Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. E-l
mation with their own local track data (lightweight and Voice Early Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. E-2
special division interim sensor (LSDIS) with a 20-kilo- Directed Early Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. E-2
meter detection range and ground-based sensor (GBS) Local Air Defense Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. E-3
with a 40-kilometer detection range) and send it to the Ground-Based Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. E-3
BSFV platoon. Early warning dissemination using Simplified Handheld Thermal Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . E-4

E-1
FM 44-43

VOICE EARLY WARNING

Voice early warning is the method of disseminat- early warning. See the Voice Early Warning Network
ing directed early warning. It is the alternative to digital Illustration on page.

DIRECTED EARLY WARNING

Directed early warning is designed to alert a spe- specify the exact procedures to be used. The following
cific unit or area of the battlefield of an immediate aeri- elements of directed early warning will be determined
al threat. It is passed over the supported unit command by unit SOP:
net or a net designated by the supported unit com- Preface.
mander. Directed early warning defines the local air
defense warning and states whether the aerial platform Identification.
is unknown or friendly, location of the aerial platform, Local air defense warning.
provides a cardinal direction of approach for the aerial Direction.
platform, and if known, the element most likely af-
fected within the force. Size.
Directed early warning is quick, simple, redundant Affected asset.
in nature and given in clear text. The unit’s SOP will

E-2
 FM 44-43

LOCAL AIR DEFENSE WARNING

LADWs are described in Chapter 2. The following WHITE, but the level of warning is determined by the
is an example of an LADW. LADW is designated as tactical air defense artillery commander. They are used
DYNAMITE, LOOKOUT and SNOWMAN. They to alert a unit of an impending air attack.
parallel air defense warnings RED, YELLOW, and

GROUND-BASED SENSOR (GBS)

3
GBS with C I node provides ADA fire units with GBS detects one square meter targets to an
a sensor radar device meeting all–weather surveillance instrumented range of 40 kilometers and altitudes of
and detection requirements. GBS is the FM sensor 0 to 4,000 kilometers.
for all heavy maneuver ADA units. GBS is an EW sen- All-weather.
sor that provides FAAD units with cueing, alerting, and 3
other EW information. FAAD C I is IFF-compatible.
3
GBS with C I node capabilities are as follows:

E-3
FM 44-43

2 2
Provides visual display of target location in azi- sensors (and ABMOC/A C ), using EPLRS.
muth and range. GBS provides cueing (specific and timely
Uses military power sources (10-kilowatt gen- range, azimuth, and elevation) data on aircraft within
erator) to include organic vehicle power sources. a designated range of a weapon system. This cueing
quality data permits orienting the weapon systems to
Two-man emplacement or march order of a potential target.
GBS. The platoon will have six sensors (GBS) with six
3
Two-man emplacement or march order of C I
3
C I nodes for deployment. The GBS section consists
node. of two teams. One team consists of a team chief, a sen-
GBS is operable by one man. sor operator, and a driver. The other team consists of
a team chief/operator and a radio operator/driver.
Capable of sharing division picture with other

SIMPLIFIED HANDHELD TERMINAL UNIT

The simplified handheld terminal unit (SHTU) is allowing for internal and external expansion. Separate
a state-of-the-art military light-weight battery oper- numeric keypad and cursor controls provide user
ated, handheld communications terminal designed for friendly operation under adverse conditions. An LCD
“man on the move” operation and providing digital display provides both bitmappable graphics and text ca-
communications over advanced communications sys- pability.
terns. The SHTU has a modular and open architecture,

E-4
 APPENDIX F
COMBAT OPERATIONS IN VARIED ENVIRONMENTS
This appendix discusses the four environments most commonly en-
countered in combat operations. They are mountain, jungle, desert, and
cold weather environments. Rarely will platoons operate in jungle and
mountainous environments. Generally, MANPADS will provide air de-
fense protection in these rugged environments.
Combat operations cannot be stopped because of rain, snow, ice,
extreme heat, lack of water, or rough terrain. These environments pres-
ent special problems to military operations.

MOUNTAIN OPERATIONS
Mountains of military significance are generally Sunburn: a serious case of sunburn can disable
characterized by rugged, compartmented terrain with a person for days.
steep slopes and few natural or man-made lines of Dehydration: excessive sweating without re-
communications. The weather is usually seasonal, va-
rying from extreme cold to warm temperatures. Rapid, plenishing water can happen in mountain terrain.
drastic changes in weather are not unusual in moun- Military operations have a unique challenge in
tainous terrain. The wind can also pose a problem. In mountainous terrain. Some of the physical characteris-
cold weather, the wind chill factor significantly in- tics of this environment that affect operations are—
creases the chances of frostbite. Winds are accelerated Rugged peaks, steep ridges, deep ravines, and
when forced over ridges and peaks or when converged valleys.
through passes and canyons. Limited routes of communications.
There are several problems associated with a
mountainous environment. Personnel acclimation is Highly changeable and unpredictable weath-
required above 2,500 feet. Acclimation is complete er.
only when personnel realize their limitations and the Availability of natural cover and concealment.
limitations imposed on their equipment. The effects of Mountainous terrain offers distinct advantages to
high altitude on unacclimated personnel are— attacking enemy air threats. Air platforms can avoid ra-
Increased errors in performing simple mental dar and visual detection by flying low through valleys
operations. and mountain passes. They attack or surveil their tar-
Decreased ability for sustained concentration. get with little or no warning. Maneuver forces, combat
support, and combat service support units that are
Deterioration of memory. road-bound provide lucrative targets. Narrow moun-
Decreased vigilance. tain roads often prevent passing and force one-way
traffic. A disabled vehicle may stop a whole column
Increased irritability and self-evaluation im-
pairment.
There are several health hazards that exist in CONTENTS
mountainous climates. These hazards include—
Page
Snowblindness: more direct sunlight reaches Mountain Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. F-l
the earth at higher altitudes than at sea level and re- Jungle Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. F-2
flection is increased. Desert Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. F-3
Frostbite: wind chill factor is increased by Cold Weather Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. F-4
strong winds.

F-1
FM 44-43

and make it vulnerable to ground fire, indirect fire, problems that may be encountered are—
or air attacks. Reduced early warning because the terrain
Operations in this terrain favor the use of small, will cause masking of radars and difficulty in estab-
lightly-equipped maneuver forces. The Stinger team lishing line of sight.
may be the only air defense unit that can accompany Reduced ability to visually identify aircraft.
these forces and provide close-in air defense protec-
tion for these units. Stinger teams will generally op- Degraded distance and quality of FM radio
erate— transmission.
Dismounted, accompanying the maneuver Limitations of dedicated airlift for ammuni-
forces. tion and supplies.
Pre-positioned, using helicopters for posi- Limitations of dismounted Stinger opera-
tioning of the teams to provide protection along the tions.
maneuver force’s route of march. Limitations to the missile system for firing
Mixed, dismounted and mounted. Mounted down into valleys.
teams trail units by 1,000 meters. This is especially Receiving adequate preventive medical
useful in poor weather when helicopter support is care.
not available).
The Stinger teams may encounter many prob- IR increases, however, background clutter
lems when operating in mountainous terrain. Some noise will also increase.

JUNGLE OPERATIONS
Jungle areas usually are comprised of trees inter- Military operations in the jungle environment im-
connected by a network of thick vines. High tempera- pact on equipment by requiring an additional mainte-
tures, high humidity, and a heavy annual rainfall create nance effort to prevent—
lush vegetation which can seriously impede movement. Rust.
There are unique hazards in the jungle. Some of
these hazards are— Corrosion.
Movement by vehicle or foot is difficult. Fungus growth that will cause failure or non-
Minor terrain features can present major ob- operation of equiment.
stacles to movement in combination with the dense Problems caused by humidity.
vegetation. Repair parts, ammunition, and other items should
The great fear of the jungle environment in be kept in sealed containers until they are needed to
minimize damage from rust and corrosion. Electronic
the minds of personnel. equipment should be kept on so the heat generated can
The health hazards associated with the jungle op- eliminate moisture that causes corrosion.
erations include the following: Dense jungle offers good concealment for maneu-
Heat exhaustion and dehydration: high hu- ver forces. Defensive act ion is considerably aided by
midity and heat can cause problems without proper natural features. Small units are the essential element
water intake. in all jungle operations. Enemy air attacks will be di-
Sanitation problems caused by the jungle cli- rected primarily against combat service support units,
mate that aids in the flourishing of bacteria. supply lines, and exposed field artillery units. However,
Fungus can rapidly cause infections in person- air attack of maneuver forces can be expected when
nel. they cross open areas such as rice paddies or rivers.
The ADA unit supporting a maneuver force in a
Jungle diseases carried by insects. jungle environment will operate by positioning within
Wildlife and poisonous or harmful plants. and moving with the maneuver force. To defend a

F-2
 FM 44-43

stationary asset, it will clear trees and underbrush to Requirement for more teams to provide bal-
have adequate firing positions. anced fires and mutual support for a particular asset.
The ADA unit will encounter the following prob-
lems in a jungle environment: Reduced range of FM radios.
Increased missile problems due to humidity. Extensive use of wire communications or spe-
Reduced detection and identification ranges. cial wavelength antennas.
Improper individual sanitation causing health
Requirement for teams to be positioned closer risks.
together.

DESERT OPERATIONS
The desert is an arid, barren, and largely treeless Fast-moving operations and high-speed tac-
environment that an be classified as three different tics.
types: mountain, rocky plateau, and sandy or dune des- Navigation problems.
ert. The only common denominator is the lack of water.
A mountain desert is characterized by high, steep Covered and concealed positions are difficult
mountains with rains in the high areas that cause se- to find.
vere flash floods. Flash flooding can bog down movement.
A rocky plateau desert is characterized by relative-
ly slight relief interspersed with large flat areas. Rock Sand or dust storms will reduce visibility.
is usually at or near the surface and steeply eroded val- Forces will be required to disperse to prevent de-
leys are common. Flash floods often occur in the val- tection and engagement at long ranges. Covered and
leys. concealed positions are difficult to find and vehicle
Sandy or dune deserts are extensive, relatively flat tracks leading into fire positions must be erased or cov-
areas covered with sand or gravel. Sand dunes can cred to prevent detection from the air.
reach over 1,000 feet high and 15 to 25 kilometers long. The ADA unit supporting a maneuver force in a
Flash floods can occur and cause problems along with desert environment can expect—
high wind and dust storms. The low, flat terrain to aid in detection of en-
Acclimation of personnel will be needed to allow emy air at greater ranges.
for strengthened heat resistance and physical exertion.
While the jungle and desert environments are very dif- Lack of landmarks will cause problems to en-
ferent, many of the health hazards are the same. The emy air in finding and fixing their targets.
desert hazards include— Fire units will have a greatly improved chance
Dehydration: a resting person may lose as of destroying the air threat before it attacks the target.
much as a pint of water per hour. Fire units will have to move rapidly to survive.
Heat injuries: sweat evaporates so fast the Line of sight can usually be obtained for com-
cooling of the body is degraded. Personnel should re- munications.
main fully clothed to retain sweat and aid the cooling While the ADA units will normally be aided in tar-
process. get detection and engagement in the desert, problems
Cold injuries: rapid heat loss from the ground will also impact on its operations. Some of these prob-
once the sun goes down can cause temperature fluc- lems are—
tuations exceeding 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Sand or dust storms may degrade threat detec-
Numerous diseases. tion.
Loss of mental alertness. Dispersion of forces may cause gaps in de-
Military operations have unique challenges in a fenses where overlapping fires by the fire units are not
desert environment. Some characteristics of a desert possible.
operation are: Concealment is difficult and fire units will
Wide dispersion of forces. need to move often.

F-3
FM 44-43

Missile backblast will create a dust or sand Rubber parts will dry rot and crack; tires punc-
cloud revealing the fire unit’s position. ture easily.
Reduced FM radio range caused by extreme Batteries have a shorter life span.
heat and poor grounding of antennas because the sur- Seals break down.
face soil lacks moisture. Deterioration of clothing and equipment.
Radio dead spaces due to the presence of RF
absorbable minerals on or near the surface. Extreme vibrations of equipment on rocky pla-
In the desert environment, dust and sand can be teaus cause equipment failure and demand preventive
as deadly to equipment as enemy fire. Equipment is maintenance checks and services be performed much
vulnerable to the extreme heat and cold temperatures more than required by operator maintenance manuals.
of the desert. Problems can occur in the following Fuel filters and air filters require more fre-
Vehicle cooling and electrical systems. quent maintenance.
Moving metal parts eroded by sand.

COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS

The area of cold weather operations is generally Momentum: is difficult to achieve and is easily
defined as the areas lying north and south of the tem- lost.
perate zone. It is characterized by deep snow, perma-
frost, seasonally frozen ground, frozen lakes and rivers, Requirement for heat will place a premium on
glaciers and extreme cold. Vegetation varies from thick fuel.
evergreen trees to moss and lichens. During summer Camouflage is difficult due to ice fog created
in permafrost areas, vegetation may mat together over by personnel and equipment and tracks left in the
a pool of water that can support soldiers but will not snow.
support any type of vehicle. These areas can be ex-
tremely dangerous. Navigation is difficult due to lack of aids,
There are several problems associated with a cold blending of features, and blowing snow.
weather environment. They are— Night operations are the rule because of lim-
Freezing: both wet and dry cold require special ited mobility during daylight.
clothing. Conditions which tend to restrict movement on
Frostbite: skin can become painfully frozen in the ground have little or no effect on enemy air opera-
seconds. tions. Roads, hills, and rivers found in all regions pro-
vide good navigational aids for enemy aircraft.
Hypothermia: the body cannot reheat itself Road-bound maneuver and support units are easily de-
and needs an external heating source to regulate its tected and attacked from the air.
functions. Heavy snow in the winter and poor ground condi-
Exhaustion common in cold climates espe- tions in other seasons may require units to move on
cially at high elevations. foot. The ADA units operating in this environment
Snowblindness: reflection of sunlight is in- may encounter the following problems:
creased and more direct sunlight reaches the earth. Units will be limited in the amount of ammu-
Dehydration: heavy clothing will cause in- nition.
creased sweating. Resupply may have to be made by air.
Several factors must be taken into account when
planning military operations in a cold weather area. Equipment batteries have decreased power
These factors are as follows: levels and drain quickly.
Mobility: conditions tend to restrict move- Special equipment for cold weather is neces-
ment on the ground. sary.

F-4
 FM 44-43

Wearing of bulky, heavy clothing and gloves

increase the time necessary to perform the engage-
ment sequence.
Extreme and prolonged cold weather causes
sluggish operations, malfunctions, and broken parts.
To reduce the effects of cold weather, the ADA
leader must ensure that proper training in cold envi-
ronments is conducted and that additional time is pro-
vided to perform preventive maintenance.

F-5
 APPENDIX G
LIMITED VISIBILITY OPERATIONS
This appendix presents the means and methods by which BSFV pla-
toons cope with limited visibility. Platoons that have trained long and
hard and have mastered the tactical and technical job skills required will
fight effectively; however, they must understand limited visibility opera-
tions are extremely difficult.

CONDITIONS
Limited visibility conditions are difficult to deal conditions.
with. Smoke and suppressive fire which can severely The leader’s primary task is to coordinate and con-
limit local visibility are used by all armies. Dust and trol the fire and movement of his unit so that he can
smoke caused by fire and movement of troops in com- mass combat power. This is a demanding task when vis-
bat often obscure parts of the battlefield. Dust and ibility is good, and it becomes even more demanding
smoke are especially critical to the effective employ- when visibility is limited. Even in limited visibility, the
ment of long-range direct fire weapons. Rain, falling unit must detect targets, distinguish between friendly
snow, fog, and natural obscurants also limit visibility. and enemy units, effectively engage targets, and navi-
Most current night vision devices and battlefield illu- gate.
mination means have limited effectiveness under these

PLATOON AND SQUAD LIMITED VISIBILITY EQUIPMENT

Modern technology has produced devices that sol- Image-Intensification Devices
diers and leaders can use to reduce the effects of lim- Image-intensification devices, or starlight scopes,
ited visibility. Several of these devices are organic to do not project detectable energy. They amplify the ex-
the platoon. The following paragraphs describe the isting or ambient light at night and project an image on
types and number of these devices issued to the platoon a viewing scope. Ambient light may be moonlight, star-
and explain how they are employed. light, or the glow from cities and towns. Light from
flares, searchlights, and laser illumination improves
the viewing capability but should not be viewed directly
SURVEILLANCE, TARGET ACQUISITION, AND with these devices. Image–intensification devices are
NIGHT OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT adversely affected by fog, smoke, heavy rain, and fall-
Advanced surveillance, target acquisition, and ing snow. Image-intensification devices and binoculars
night observation (STANO) equipment is either active aid where darkness is the only limiting factor.
or passive. Active STANO equipment projects some
form of energy. This energy, likely radio frequency or
infrared, can be detected by the enemy. Passive CONTENTS
STANO equipment either detects existing energy
emissions or uses available light as a detection means. Page
Use of passive equipment is usually not detectablc by Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1
the enemy. Active STANO equipment is generally Platoon and Squad Limited Visibility
limited to infrared illumination devices. Objects Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1
illuminated by these active devices are viewed using Battlefield illumination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. G-3
passive STANO equipment. There are two categories Control During Limited Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-4
of passive STANO equipment: image-intensification Limited Visibility Employment Considerations . . . G-4
devices and thermal-imagery devices.

G-1
FM 44-43

Thermal-Imagery Devices direct line of sight from the infrared light source to the
Thermal-imagery devices penetrate fog, smoke, enemy. The NVG can be used for vehicle maintenance
camouflage, and light vegetation. The principle of this during darkness and can be worn by a ground guide to
type of device is that all objects radiate energy in the direct the BSFV. It can also be used by the driver as a
form of heat. This radiated energy travels outward. Be- backup system to the AN/VVS-2. See the following
cause of differences in the amount of heat being ra- Night Vision Goggles illustration.
diated, the viewer detects the shape and position of the
object being viewed. Thermal-imagery devices can be NIGHT VISION GOGGLES
used in daylight or darkness. These devices are able to
see through light vegetation, camouflage, darkness,
smoke, fog, rain, falling snow, or a combination of
these factors.
STANO DEVICES
STANO devices greatly improve a unit’s ability to
carry out its mission under all conditions of visibility.
Image intensification and thermal-imagery devices aid
in detecting enemy active STANO devices such as in-
frared equipment.
The platoon may be issued the following STANO
equipment: binoculars, AN/PVS-7 night vision
goggles, AN/VVS-2 night vision driver’s viewer, and
integrated sight unit. AN/VVS-2 Night Vision Driver’s Viewer
Binoculars The AN/VVS-2 is an image-intensification de-
The platoon headquarters is issued two sets of 7X vice. It allows the vehicle driver to see well enough to
50-mm binoculars. Each squad is also issued a pair of move the BSFV during darkness. It is mounted in the
7X 50-mm binoculars. They are used to squire long- center periscope position of the driver’s station. The
range targets. At night, binoculars can be used to ex- center periscope is stowed in the AN/VVS-2’s stowage
tend the range of the naked eye by taking advantage of space in the driver’s compartment when the night vi-
existing light. Binoculars are limited by smoke, dust, sion viewer is used. Without placing his face against the
heavy rain, falling snow, or fog. eyepiece, the driver is able to use both eyes to view
through one large diameter eyepiece of the AN/
AN/PVS-7 Night Vision Goggles VVS-2. Night road marches can be conducted at
The AN/PVS-7 night vision goggle (NVG) is a speeds up to 50 KPH. At night, the driver is also able
lightweight, battery-powered (3 VDC) device. It is a to sense rounds for the gunner with the AN/VVS-2 if
passive or active night vision device with a 40-degree the target is within his field of view. The AN/VVS-2
field of view. The NVG is worn on the head. The can be rotated 30 degrees to the right or left. It has a
battery life is 20 to 75 hours depending on the type of range in excess of 150 meters. This gives the driver a
battery used. The NVG weighs 1.5 pounds and has a possible field of view 115 meters wide at a range of 150
range of 9.8 inches to infinity in the passive mode. meters. Rounds fired from the 25-mm automatic gun
Using the NVG while moving, the track commander and the 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun can be observed
has almost the same night vision capability as the out to greater ranges. The AN/VVS-2 is powered by
driver. The AN/PVS-7 helps the BSFV commander the vehicle electrical system or 2.7-volt battery. See
control the movement of the vehicle as it travels at the following Driver’s Night Viewer illustration on
night on roads or cross country. The NVG has a page G-3.
built-in active infrared light source, which can be used
to provide added illumination for close-up viewing Integrated Sight Unit
within 3 meters. In the active mode, the night vision The integrated sight unit (ISU) is a single-sight
goggles can be used to read maps, overlays, or orders. unit used for all turret weapons. It has a day sight mode
When the active mode is used, the infrared source and a night sight mode. The day sight uses normal op-
must be shielded from enemy detection. Inside a tics that have 4X or 12X magnification. The 4X lens has
building or vehicle or under a poncho, there is not a a wide field of view. It is used for acquiring targets.

G-2
 FM 44-43

Once a target is acquired, the sight is switched to the

12X magnification for target engagement. The smaller When the ISU is used during silent operations, the
field of view presented by the 12X sight helps furnish turret must be traversed and weapons elevated by hand
greater accuracy when engaging targets. The ISU dis- to conserve power.
plays the same image to both the gunner and the BSFV Note. The thermal-imagery sight requires a
commander. Thus both can acquire and engage targets. 10-minute cool down period after turning it on before
Rain and falling snow decrease the ISU’s effective day targets can be detected. Each unit SOP should have an
sight range. See the following integrated sight unit il- SOP describing when the thermal sights are to be
lustration. turned on before dark or during smoke conditions.

BATTLEFIELD ILLUMINATION
Artificial battlefield lighting is an easy way to aided eye. It offers greater security than visible light
penetrate darkness. Effective battlefield lighting because a night observation device is needed to de-
must illuminate or silhouette the enemy without illu- tect it. But it is easily detected by active and passive
minating friendly forces. There is always a chance devices.
that artificial lighting may have an adverse effect on VISIBLE LIGHT
friendly troops. The characteristics of available arti- Visible light is light from flares and searchlights.
ficial illumination systems, and how they are in- It requires no special equipment other than the light
fluenced by darkness, weather, and terrain are source itself. It is the simplest type of illumination.
addressed in the following paragraphs. Visible light sources are used frequently to continue
Artificial light is not necessarily visible light. operations into the night. The disadvantage of using
There are two types of artficial light: invisible and visible light is that it compromises friendly positions
visible. and activities.
INVISIBLE LIGHT The platoon uses the following sources of artifi-
Invisible light is most often light emitted by an cial visible light: trip flares, indirect fire illumina-
infrared source. It is impossible to see with the un- tion, and tank searchlights.

G-3
FM 44-43

Trip Flares Illumination from artillery or mortar flares is

Trip flares are mainly defensive and are excellent dimmed by fog, dust, smoke, and falling snow. Under
early warning devices. They can be set to ignite by rig- these conditions of limited visibility, low illumination
ging them with either a trip wire or a trigger release. rounds may be used as a navigation aid.
Their size and limited burning time make them unsuit-
able for continuous illumination. Searchlights
Searchlights are on many types of tanks and in tar-
Indirect Fire Illumination get acquisition batteries of corps artillery. Tank search-
Indirect fire illumination from artillery and mor- lights furnish two types of illumination: white light and
tar fire is the most commonly used form of battlefield infrared light. Depending on the terrain, enemy situa-
illumination. Wind direction must be considered when tion, and cloud cover, searchlights may provide direct
requesting illumination of this type. Drifting flares may illumination or reflected illumination off low clouds.
illuminate friendly units. Strong winds may move the They can mark targets, objectives, or boundaries. They
burning flare off target. Normally, illumination will not can also be used to increase deception by illuminating
provide enough light to allow use of the ISU day sight. an area or point outside the intended area of action.
The illumination will not affect the usc of the night The system employing the searchlight is easily detected
sight, but if it comes into the night sight’s field of view, and extremely vulnerable. It should be used when no
it will appear as a streak on the screen. other system is available.

CONTROL DURING LIMITED VISIBILITY

Leaders must be ready to use various techniques can be used to control the fires of the BSFV and the
to control units during limited visibility. These include crew member. When the unit is in a stationary posi-
measures to identify friendly forces, control movement tion, range cards should be used. Range cards help
and fire, and navigate. orient weapons on likely targets and reference
points. The platoon should use wire in the defense to
CONTROL establish more reliable and secure communications
During movement, visual contact can be main-
tained by reducing the intervals between dismounted between the squads, OPs, and platoon headquarters.
soldiers or vehicles. Night vision devices allow units to Tracers can be used to denote targets and to direct
retain dispersion while maintaining visual contact. fire on targets. Pyrotechnic signals, such as hand-
When vehicles are moving in any area that has friendly fired flares, can be used to call for the lifting and
dismounted personnel, such as an assembly area or ur- shifting of fire.
ban terrain, dismounted guides must be used. Leaders
should move forward where they can control the direc- NAVIGATION
tion and speed of movement. Whenever possible, guides should be used while
moving over unfamiliar terrain. Compasses, visible
FIRES landmarks, and night vision devices can be used as navi-
Besides the night sight and other night observa- gational aids. Artillery spotting rounds may help deter-
tion devices, there are several techniques and aids that mine location and direction.

LIMITED VISIBILITY EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Reduced visibility during the hours of darkness tive identification become difficult. Temporary night
may limit the intensity and effectiveness of the air blindness which may be caused by the firing of weapons
threat. However, air threat activities will increase dur- can further handicap BSFV squads conducting engage-
ing periods of limited visibility as new technological ad- ments at night. FM 44-16 and FM 44-18-1 discuss
vancements in night observation and target acquisition Stinger in night operations.
are achieved. Aerial platforms can be detected and ac- Since air battle activities may be reduced during
quired using radar, FLIR, sound, moonlight, reflected hours of limited visibility, the BSFV platoon may be
light, and engine exhaust flames. But ranging and posi- integrated in supported force night operations. The

G-4
 FM 44-43

BSFV integrated sight unit and weapons, especially the Move weapons to new, alternate, or supple-
25-mm automatic gun, provide the capability for the mental positions.
BSFV platoon to execute a secondary mission in a
ground role. Before the decision is made to employ the Improve positions.
BSFV in a ground role, leaders must consider BSFV Resupply weapons and crews.
crew, weapons, and ammunition availability for future Perform required maintenance.
air defense operations. Also, periods of limited visibili-
ty can be used to accomplish the following: Crew endurance (rest).

G-5
 APPENDIX H
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL OPERATIONS
This appendix addresses nuclear, biological, and chemical defense;
mission-oriented protection postures; and detection, monitoring, and
unmasking procedures. NBC weapons produce casualties and disrupt
operations. Platoons must be prepared to operate in an NBC environ-
ment during any operation.

NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL DEFENSE FUNDAMENTALS

To defend against NBC weapons, soldiers must Use the NBC Warning and Reporting System
apply the three fundamentals of NBC defense: avoid- When a hazard is detected, pass the alarm locally.
ance, protection, and decontamination. FM 3-100 con- Mark the contaminated area with NATO standard US
tains a general discussion of NBC defense measures. markers and report to higher headquarters using stan-
FMs 3-3, 3-4, and 3-5 also contain detailed informa- dard NBC reports.
tion. Limit Contamination
CONTAMINATION AVOIDANCE Cover mission-essential equipment using readily
The first fundamental of defense against NBC available material. Restrict personnel movement in the
weapons is contamination avoidance. If soldiers can contaminated area.
avoid contamination, they decrease the need for pro- Move From the Contaminated Area
tection. The unit must move if the tactical situation allows.
Take Passive Measures This reduces the overall contamination hazard; howev-
Use concealment so the enemy cannot find you, er, carefully avoid spreading contamination during
or disperse so you make a poor target. You can also movement.
harden your position by improving its cover. Other pas- PROTECTION
sive measures include operations and communications The second fundamental of defense against NBC
security. weapons is protection. It is required when contamina-
Detect and Identify Hazards tion cannot be avoided. See FM 3-4 for a detailed dis-
Monitor for contamination. Reconnoiter and sur- cussion of personnel and selected equipment
vey specific areas to determine contamination status. protection. There are four broad groups of activity that
Listen to higher and supported unit nets for reports of can be emphasized as protective measures. They are
contamination or enemy NBC use. Enemy intentions hardening positions, personnel using MOPP, reacting
may be discerned by identifying the type of agent. Also to attack, and using collective protection.
identification gives the platoon an idea of what type of
decontamination support is required. If the agent is
nonpersistent, weather will reduce it to nonthreaten- CONTENTS
ing levels in minutes or hours. There is no need to re-
quest decontamination units for nonpersistent agents. Page
Decontamination will consist of an operator spraydown Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense
using a decontaminating solution applied with an M11 Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-1
or M13 portable decontamination apparatus. Periodic Nuclear Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-2
monitoring with chemical detection paper (M8 and Chemical Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-4
M9) and the M256 chemical detection kit will identify Biological Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-4
any agent present in threatening concentrations. In a Mission-Oriented ProtectionPosture . . . . . . . . . . . H-5
nonpersistent agent attack, the unit may only have to Decontamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-6
remain in MOPP 4 for 30 minutes or less.

H-1
FM 44-43

DECONTAMINATION personnel and materiel. The extensive time and logisti-

The third fundamental of defense against NBC cal support needed to perform deliberate decontami-
weapons is decontamination. Decontamination re- nation operations mandates avoiding contamination, if
duces the comtamination hazard by removing or neu- possible.
tralizing hazardous levels of NBC contamination on

NUCLEAR DEFENSE
Nuclear weapons are tremendously powerful, but NUCLEAR FIRST AID
defensive measures can be taken to reduce their effec- Various injuries may result from nuclear attack.
tiveness. The more information known about nuclear Soldiers must be prepared to administer first aid as de-
weapons, the more effective the defense and the great- scribed in the following paragraphs.
er the chances of survival.
Blast Injuries
DEFENSIVE ACTIONS BEFORE Damage can range from minor cuts and broken
A NUCLEAR ATTACK bones to severe lacerations and critical damage to vital
Cover is the best protection against a nuclear at- organs. First aid treatment will be the same as that used
tack. Fighting positions, armored vehicles, heavy struc- for conventional combat casualties suffering similar in-
tures (concrete, stone, and brick) culverts, and other juries.
underground areas provide excellent protection. Thermal Radiation Injuries
Light-skin and wheeled vehicles offer very little pro- The intense heat generated by a nuclear detona-
tection. Weapons, individual equipment, clothing, sup- tion burns skin, clothes, and equipment. Injuries can be
plies, ammunition, explosives, petroleum products, caused by direct exposure, reflected exposures (from
and other flammables should be safeguarded. These clouds and ground), and from secondary sources such
items should be secured in one of the protected areas as burning debris. These burns are categorized as first,
listed above. Nuclear defense levels for possible, likely, second, and third degree. First-degree burns should
and imminent conditions are described in the Nuclear heal without special treatment and there will be no scar
Defense Levels illustration, on page H-3. formation. Casualties of a second-degree burn, which
When operating in a radiologically contaminated resembles a severe sunburn with blistering, are treated
area, vehicles should be buttoned up, sandbagged, and as burn casualties to prevent infection. These casual-
the cargo covered. If the mission permits, personnel ties may require evacuation. In third-degree burns the
should be closely monitored to ensure compliance with full thickness of the skin is destroyed. The casualty
operational exposure guides. The radiation exposure should be treated and evacuated.
status should be updated.
Eye Injuries
DEFENSIVE ACTIONS DURING Thermal radiation’s effect on the eyes fall into two
A NUCLEAR ATTACK categories: temporary blindness (dazzle) and perma-
Immediately secure cover using a prone position nent blindness. Individuals suffering permanent dam-
and protect exposed skin until blast waves have passed age should be evacuated as soon as possible.
and debris has stopped falling. Stay calm, check for in- Individuals who are temporarily blinded will recover
juries, check weapons and equipment for damage, and with time but will require assistance until their sight re-
prepare to continue the mission. turns.
Radiation
DEFENSIVE ACTIONS AFTER Individuals may react differently to radiation ex-
A NUCLEAR ATTACK posure; but generally, individuals can be expected to
Once the attack has ended, forward an NBC-1 nu- react similarly to certain dose ranges as shown in the
clear report; consolidate and reorganize the AD posi- Radiation Dose Levels illustration, on page H-3.
tion. Improve protection against possible fallout by Symptoms of radiation exposure include vomiting,
seeking overhead cover for vehicles and begin continu- diarrhea, dry heavy nausea, depression, and mental
ous monitoring. If the radiation dose rate reaches a disorientation. At lower dose levels incapacitation and
hazardous level, request permission to move. lethargy occur due to a loss of physical mobility or

H-2
 FM 44-43

NUCLEAR DEFENSE LEVELS

NUCLEAR
DEFENSE LEVELS PERSONNEL RADIOS EQUIPMENT
OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE
Inform personnel and Turn off all nonessential radios. Secure all loose equipment
continue mission. Disconnect antenna Close and latch all hatches.
and matching unit cables.
A
POSSIBLE DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE
Prepare fighting positions Same as offense. Same as offense.
with minimum of 18 inches Use wire messenger
overhead cover. communications.
Remain in fighting positions or
armored vehicles.

OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE

Inform personnel. Use one radio par squad. Secure all loose equipment
Restrict movement away Remove antennas
from vehicle or position. from all unused Close and latch all hacthes.
Turn off all electrical
B equipment.
LIKELY
DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE
Prepare fighting positions Same as offense. Same as offense.
with minimum of 18 inches of Use one per squad.
overhead cover. Use one radio per squad.
Remain in fighting positions or
armored vehicles.

OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE

Inform personnel. Use visual signals to control. Secure all loose
Remain in fighting positions or Use one radio per squad. equipment
armored vehicles. Close and latch all
hatches.
Turn off all electrical
C equipment.
IMMINENT
DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE
Inform personnel. Turn off all nonessential radios. Same as offense.
Remain in fighting positions or Use wire communications.
or armored vehicles.

RADIATION DOSE LEVELS

DOSE IN TIME OF ONSET OF SYMPTONS
CENTIGRAYS (cGy) AND PERCENT OF PERSONNEL AFFECTED FATALITIES
0 to 70 Within 24 hours, 5 percent. None
150 Within 6 hours, 5 percent. None

250 Within 2 hours, 100 percent, More than 50 percent in

approximately 15 days.
2,000 to 3,000 Within 15 minutes, 100 percent. More than 50 percent in
approximately 7 days.
5,000 Within 5 minutes, 100 percent. All in 1 to 2 days.
18,000 Immediately, 100 percent. All within 24 hours.

H-3
FM 44-43

mental disorientation. At high-dose levels, shock and dosimetry (exposure) reports to the commander.
unconsciousness are the early symptoms. Commanders must identify units that exceed the
Mechanical injuries such as broken bones, inter- operational exposure guidance.
nal injuries and burns are more serious when the casu- Team members contaminated by radioactive dust
alty has received minor doses of radiation. Every effort or debris perform partial decontamination by brushing,
should be made to identify casualties who have been wiping, and shaking debris from their bodies and gear.
exposed to radiation. Contaminated vehicles are partially decontaminated
by brushing or washing. This procedure limits the
RADIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION spread of contamination and reduces radiation hazard.
Platoons exposed to radiation must measure the Early decontamination is necessary to diminish the cu-
total dose using the IM-93 dosimeter and send mulative effects of radiation.

CHEMICAL DEFENSE
Chemical agents are used to kill, injure, or inca- DEFENSIVE ACTION DURING
pacitate personnel. The effects produced by these A CHEMICAL ATTACK
agents are dose-dependent. Through the use of vari- Mask and give the alarm. Get into MOPP 4 as
ous delivery systems, enemy forces can initiate and sus- soon as possible. Use chemical agent detector paper
tain large-scale chemical warfare operations. and M256 chemical detector kits to determine type of
agent and forward an NBC-1 report; continue the mis-
DEFENSIVE ACTION BEFORE sion.
A CHEMICAL ATTACK
Make sure all personnel have their protective DEFENSIVE ACTION AFTER
mask available and that it fits and functions properly. A CHEMICAL ATTACK
All personnel should be wearing protective clothing ac- Certain defensive actions must be taken following
cording to the designated MOPP level. The M-8 auto- a chemical attack. Perform individual decontamination
matic alarm should be put into operation for chemical as required, treat casualties, then complete basic indi-
monitoring and detection. vidual decontamination.

BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE
Biological agents consist of microorganisms and BIOLOGICAL DEFENSIVE ACTIONS
toxins. Microorganisms are germs that cause dis- The best defense is to observe preventive mea-
eases. Toxins are poisons produced by plants, ani- sures such as keeping immunizations up to date, main-
mals, or microorganisms. Biological agents, taining personal hygiene, eating and resting regularly,
including toxins, can cause death and disease. It is and providing rodent and insect control. Keep cuts or
not necessary for biological agents to kill to be effec- scratches covered and germ-free by using soap, water,
tive. Their purpose may only be to reduce the ability and first aid. Insects carry biological agents, prevent in-
of our forces to fight. sect bites by keeping clothes buttoned, covering skin,
and using insect repellent.
DETECTION After an attack, you must assume everything has
Biological attacks are difficult to detect. Sun- been contaminated. Only eat rations that have re-
light reduces the effects of biological agents. Based mained sealed. Wash the outside of food and water
on this, the most likely time for a conventional bio- containers before opening. Use only water from quar-
logical attack is in the evening and early morning termastcr water supply points. In emergencies, boil all
hours. Some toxins are not sensitive to environmen- water for at least 15 minutes or use water purification
tal factors and could be employed in any type of envi- tablets. Do not use water exposed to toxins or spore-
ronment. forming microorganisms.
--

H-4
 FM 44-43

MISSION-ORIENTED PROTECTION POSTURE

Protective actions against biological and chemical illustration. See STP 21-1-SMCT for further guidance
agents depend on the threat, mission, situation, and on wearing MOPP gear.
weather. As with nuclear protective actions, chemical
and biological protective actions fall into three catego- PROCEDURES BEFORE ATTACK
ries: action before the attack, during the attack, and af- The Individual and Unit Actions illustration on
ter the attack. page H-6 describes individual and unit actions that
must be completed at different MOPP levels prior to
MOPP LEVELS an attack. Specific postures are subject to modification
MOPP levels are established by the commander by commanders to permit mission accomplishment.
depending on the risk of NBC attack. Commanders use
MOPP analysis to determine appropriate MOPP levels
based on the tactical situation. SUPERVISION OF MOPP
Standardized MOPP levels allow commanders to Leaders must check their soldiers for proper fit and
easily increase or decrease levels of protection. Com- seal of the protective mask and proper fit of protective
manders can raise or lower the amount of protection clothing. Soldiers must assume stressed positions (bend-
through five levels of MOPP-- MOPP 0 through ing, twisting, and stretching) to check fit. Compliance
MOPP 4. Commanders may not implement a MOPP with the MOPP level should be checked regularly.
level lower than that set by higher headquarters. Stress and fatigue can be reduced by rotating heavy
The BSFV platoon must understand and apply work requirements. Allow frequent rest periods, make
MOPP levels, when required, for protection and maximum use of mechanical aids, and provide adequate
survival. See the Standardized MOPP Levels water supply.

STANDARDIZED MOPP LEVELS

MOPP 0 MOPP 1 MOPP 2 MOPP 3 MOPP 4

Overgarments readily available worn ★ worn ★ worn ★ worn

Overboots readily available carried worn worn worn
Gloves readily available carried carried carried worn
Mask/Hood carried carried worn ★ worn
Mask carried

★
In hot weather the jacket or hood can be left open for ventilation.

H-5
FM 44-43

INDIVIDUAL AND UNIT ACTIONS

MOPP LEVEL INDIVIDUAL ACTION UNIT ACTIONS (all actions mission permitting)

0 Mask/hood carried. Equipment available.

Overgarments, overboots, and gloves available.
1 Wear overgarments. Initiate monitoring with M8 alarms.
Carry mask/hood, gloves, and overboots. Place M8 detector pater on exposed
surface of vehicle and equipment.
Place M8 or detector paper on overgarments. Cover all grounded equipment. ammunition.
Remain under cover whenever possible. end POL products.
Sleep or rest only in pup tents, shelters, and vehicles. Close all hatches, windows, and access plates.
Cover all food and water supplies.
Construct shelter over open hatches when
stationary. Consturct overhead cover for
foxholes.
2 Wear overgarments and overboots. Continue actions described under MOPP 1.
Carry mask/hood and gloves.
3 Wear overgarments, overboots, and mask/hood. Continue actions described under MOPP 1.
Carry mask/hood and gloves.
4 Wear overgarments, gloves, overboots, and mask. Continue actions described under MOPP 1.

DECONTAMINATION
Decontamination is essential in preventing casu- decontamination consists of MOPP gear exchange and
alties and combat degradation in a contaminated envi- vehicle washdown. Both should be done within six
ronment. In the past, when a unit was contaminated, hours of contamination.
it was withdrawn from battle and went through an
18-hour decontamination to remove all traces of con- Deliberate Decontamination
tamination. Tactically and logistically, this approach Deliberate decontamination operations require
may not be feasible. detailed planning. More manpower and resources are
needed than in hasty decontamination. Detailed troop
METHODS OF DECONTAMINATION decontamination may also require external support
There are three methods of decontamination. for decontaminants and shower facilities.
When the battle situation dicataes that the unit cannot
withdraw to decontaminate, the following methods can TECHNIQUES OF DECONTAMINATION
be used. Seven decontamination techniques are used to
Individual Decontamination support the three types of decontamination. These
Individual decontamination begins within one seven techniques are fully explained in FM 3-5. They
minute of contamination and is conducted using indi-
vidual or unit vehicle supplies and equipment (M11 or
M13 decontamination apparatus, M258A1 decontami- Skin decontamination.
nation kit). STP 21-1-SMCT provides further informa- Personal equipment wipedown.
tion. Operator spraydown.
Hasty Decontamination
Hasty decontamination operations are the MOPP gear exchange.
function of teams or squads using equipment found Vehicle washdown.
within battalion-size units. Hasty decontamination Detailed troop decontamination.
reduces the spread of contamination on people or
equipment and may allow relief from MOPP 4. Hasty Equipment decontamination.

H-6
 APPENDIX I
AIR INTELLIGENCE PREPARATION OF THE BATTLEFIELD
This appendix describes the air intelligence preparation of the
battlefield (IPB) process as it applies to AD operations. The breakup
of the former Soviet Union has caused the Army to shift its focus from
the Soviet threat to regional threats. With the current lack of a single,
well-defined threat to plan against, the IPB process will provide contin-
uous input toward defining that threat. Developing templates will be
more challenging and more critical in support of the IPB process.

PROCESS
FM 34-130 is the manual that explains the IPB The IPB process has four steps:
process. IPB is the key for preparing for the next Define the battlefield environment.
battle. The IPB process assists the commander and Describe the battlefield’s effects.
the intelligence staff in predicting where and when
the enemy will surveil and attack and what assets will Evaluate the threat.
be used. The modern battlefield is viewed in three di- Determine threat courses of action.
mensions: width, depth, and airspace. Airspace, or Because IPB of the aerial dimension is conducted
the aerial dimension, is the most dynamic and fast- from a different perspective than that of ground IPB,
paced of the three dimensions. The intelligence staff the terrain and weather have correspondingly different
must consider all the aspects of air operations and effects on air and air defense operations. Enemy forces
must he aware of the capabilities of all air threats to must be evaluated in relation to the effects that weath-
include UAVs, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, er, terrain, and friendly operations will have on them.
TASMs, and rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. The G2 The most significant threats that must be evaluated for
and S2 have overall staff responsibility for IPB. The IPB are UAVs, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles,
air defense artillery and aviation officers must pro- TASMs, and rotary-and fixed-wing aircraft. IPB of the
vide input to the G2 and S2 when integrating air as- aerial dimension is an integral part of the IPB process
pects into the IPB process. at all levels as threat air operations may be tied directly
to ground operations.

DEFINE THE BATTLEFIELD ENVIRONMENT

The battlefield includes aerial dimensions to an BATTLE SPACE
area of operations, battle space, and an area of interest. Battle space is a physical volume that expands or
Because of the aerial dimension, each of these parts of contracts in relation to the ability to acquire and en-
the battlefield framework may be different from that gage the enemy. It vanes in width, depth, and height
of ground force operations.
CONTENTS
AREA OF OPERATIONS Page
The air area of operations is the area where the Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I-1
commander is assigned responsibility and authority for Define the Battlefield Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . .I-1
military operations. It usually is, but does not necessar- Describe the Battlefield’s Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-2
ily need to be, identical to the ground area of opera- Evaluate the Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-4
tions in width and depth. It extends vertically up to the Determine Threat Courses of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . I-6
maximum altitude of friendly ADA systems.

I-1
FM 44-43

as the commander positions and moves assets over than the area of operations or battle space. It is also
time. Battle space is not assigned by a higher com- larger due to the great distances that air and missile
mander and can extend beyond the commander’s area systems can rapidly cover. The air area of interest will
of operations. extend vertically to cover the maximum service ceilings
AREA OF INTEREST or trajectories of aircraft, UAVs, and missile systems.
The area of interest is the geographic area and the Horizontally, it will extend to cover the maximum
airspace above it from which information and range of aircraft, UAVs, and missiles plus threat
intelligence are required to facilitate planning or airfields, forward arming and refueling points,
successful conduct of the commander’s operation. navigation aids, and missile sites. The area of interest
Because the commander and staff need time to process extends to the limits from which intelligence and
information and to plan and synchronize operations, information must be gathered about enemy forces
the commander’s area of interest is generally larger which could affect friendly forces.

DESCRIBE THE BATTLEFIELD’S EFFECTS

The effects of terrain and weather on the enemy Contour flying is flying a constant altitude
and friendly forces must be analyzed. They are differ- above the surface of less than 22.8 meters (75 feet).
ent than the effects on ground operations. This allows for maximum use of terrain masking.
TERRAIN ANALYSIS Pop-up tactics are the use of a low-altitude
Terrain analysis in support of air defense is signifi- approach to the target area. Target acquisition and en-
cantly different from terrain analysis for ground opera- gagement is made by popping-up in altitude at a prede-
tions. The nature of airspace dots not eliminate the termined position or time to minimize exposure.
need for terrain analysis because enemy air and friend- Masking is using terrain to protect an air sys-
ly ADA will still attempt to use terrain to their own best tem from visual and electronic observation or detec-
advantage. IPB focuses on the impact of geographic tion. Electronic warfare supplements natural masking.
factors on the ability of threat air to approach, acquire,
and engage a target. Analysis of the terrain for IPB fol- Cover is using terrain to provide protection
lows the same principles as ground analysis and uses from direct-fire weapon systems.
the military aspects of terrain (OCOKA). Ground clutter can be characterized as a re-
Observation and Fields of Fire duction of electromagnetic signal-to-noise ratio due to
These aspects relate to the influence of terrain on the signature of a background. It is different for each
reconnaissance and target acquisition. In the IPB con- type of terrain or feature.
text, observation relates to optical and electronic line Threat aircraft, cruise missiles, and possibly even
of sight. Many battlefield systems require line of sight UAVs will use contour flying, masking, and ground
to effectively operate or acquire and engage targets. clutter to avoid detection and provide cover from direct
These systems include radios, radars, jammers, direct- fires. Aircraft will also use the terrain by loitering on
fire weapons, and airborne and ground sensors as well reverse slopes, using pop-up tactics and ground clutter
as friendly ADA systems. Fields of fire relate to the ter- and vegetation as a backdrop to enhance concealment.
rain effects on weapon systems. Airspace must be ana- Obstacles
lyzed with regard to routes which provide the best Obstacles are broken down into three primary
protection for air threats entering the target area, and types:
those which provide the best fields of fire once they
reach the target area. Those which prevent the effective employ-
ment of ADA systems.
Cover and Concealment (Masking) Those which restrict contour flight.
Cover and concealment have slightly different
applications with respect to air systems. The following Those which force air threats to use a particu-
tactics and techniques fall into the context of cover and lar surveillance, attack profile, route, or to gain exces-
concealment: sive altitude.

I-2
 FM 44-43

Of particular interest are obstacles and terrain restricted by terrain. TASMs usually fly direct routes
which restrict lateral movement within an avenue of from launch platform to the target. Rotary-wing
approach. This will canalize movement or restrict aircraft primarily conduct contour flights. They follow
evasive action. Additionally, terrain may stop the ridge lines and military crests. Fixed-wing aircraft
employment of certain air threat systems if the terrain usually follow major terrain or man-made features.
exceeds the system’s maximum operating ceiling. Depending on range, they may fly a straight line to the
target. Ordnance or payload may affect range and
Key Terrain altitude of the air system and thus influence the
Key terrain is any locality or area in which the sei- selection of avenues of approach.
zure, retention, or control of it will afford a marked ad- Point of orgin. When determining air avenues, the
vantage to either combatant. In the aerial dimension, staff looks at the commander’s entire area of interest.
these consist of terrain features which canalize or con- Analysis begins at the threat airfield or UAV or missile
strain air threat systems and terrain with an elevation launch site and works toward the probable enemy ob-
higher than the maximum ceiling of air threat systems.
Additionally, areas that can be used for airfields, mis- jective. This allows a look at the big picture. The staff
sile and UAV launch sites, landing and drop zones, or considers the range of the air systems and location of
forward arming and refueling points also need to be navigation aids and ground control sites.
considered as key terrain, since these areas could be Probable threat objective. Each avenue of approach
used to support friendly or threat air operations. Ter- must end at a target or within reconnaissance, intelli-
rain can be used as an aid to navigation. Man-made gence, surveillance, or target acquisition range of a tar-
features are also used as cues to navigate to targets. get. Reverse IPB is used to pick threat objectives.
Potential to support maneuver forces. Air assets
Air Avenues of Approach which are used to achieve ground objectives will seek
Air avenues of approach are evaluated using the to use air avenues of approach coincident with ground
same criteria as for ground. A good air avenue of ap- avenues of approach. Air assets attacking deep are not
proach will permit maneuver while providing terrain limited to these ground avenues. Missiles and RISTA
masking from surface-to-air weapon systems. Some UAVs are not limited by ground corridors.
common air avenues of approach are valleys, direct Freedom to maneuver. Does the avenue—
lines from the enemy point of origin, and river beds. Canalize the air system?
Factors which should be used to determine air avenues
of approach, both ingress and egress, are the following: Have access to adjacent avenues?
Type of air threat, attack profile, and ord- Provide the ability to acquire a target and use
nance. available munitions?
Air threat point of origin and ground control Assist in navigation?
radar positions. Protection for the air system and pilot. Does the ave-
Probable threat objective. nue provide—
Potential to support maneuver forces. Terrain masking (cover and concealment)?
Freedom to maneuver within the air avenue. Full use of air system speed?
Protection afforded to the air system and pilot. Protection against radar detection?
Air threat and pilot capabilities. Protection from air defense weapon systems
Type of air threat. UAVs are small and elusive. and tactical air support?
They usually fly low, and altitude can vary. Once in the Air threat and pilot capabilities. Can the air system
target area, they may fly an orbit attempting to slay out or pilot—
of engagement range of ADA. Most surface-launched Perform contour flying?
cruise missiles are terrain-following, and they use
terrain–masking. Due to their range, they may take Fly at night?
indirect approach routes. Ballistic missiles are not Fly in all weather conditions?
terrain-dependent. They fly a straight ground track
from launch point to objective, and their flight is not Range the targets?

I-3
FM 44-43

WEATHER ANALYSIS Precipitation affects aircraft, missile, and

Air operations are especially susceptible to the UAV performance and reduces the effectiveness of
effects of weather. Weather analysis for air and air sensors. Precipitation reduces ADA sensor range.
defense operations considers the same factors as Cloud cover and ceilings may restrict opera-
ground operations. These factors are as follows: tions by setting low operational ceilings and restricting
Visibility has a significant impact on offensive visibility and target engagement. Low ceilings, over-
air operations and RISTA. Visibility has the same ef- cast, and clouds may restrict visually-directed ADA
fects on visually-directed ADA systems and sensors. weapons’ detection and aquisition ranges.
High winds will hinder maneuver, close air Extreme temperature and humidity have a se-
support, and target engagement, especially in tight air vere effect on aircraft and UAVs by decreasing combat
avenues of approach. Missiles and UAVs will be ad- range, altitude (particularly rotary-wing aircraft), and
versely affected in performance and accuracy. ordnance loads.

EVALUATE THE THREAT

Threat evaluation for air operations consists of a Who has tactical control of aircraft at the point
detailed study of enemy air capabilities, organization, of attack?
and doctrine. The following steps should be used when How will UAVs be used, for example, battle
evaluating the threat:
damage assessment, attack, or RISTA? What are the
Collect and analyze doctrinal threat data. associated profiles?
Analyze threat air capabilities. How does the enemy doctrinally attack? Will
Conduct target evaluation. the enemy use airborne, air assault, or special opera-
tions forces in conjunction with an air or ground at-
COLLECT AND ANALYZE tack? What size are these forces and to what depth are
DOCTRINAL THREAT DATA they used? Will the enemy synchronize the air attack?
Typical questions include the commander’s crit- Does the enemy have the capability to coordinate an air
ical information requirements and priority intelligence attack (possibly with varied air threat platforms that
requirements. Questions which should be answered can overmatch friendly air defense capability)?
during this step are listed below: What are air system combat ingress and egress
What are the major strategic, operational, and speeds?
tactical objectives of the enemy’s air operations? Where are missile and UAV launch points?
Which objectives may be targeted for destruc- What are the likely targets? What are the range, en-
tion or suppression? durance, and profile of these systems?
Where do friendly air defense assets fit into What are the doctrinal distances for forward
the enemy’s objectives? Do they need to be destroyed arming and refueling points? If the enemy’s maximum
or suppressed for the enemy plan to work? Answers range falls short of the area of operations, where is the
to these two questions may result in modification to air enemy likely to stop and refuel, or be aerially refue-
avenues of approach. lled?
What is the enemy’s air order of battle? How What is the enemy’s capability to coordinate
are the assets organized? Knowledge of threat organi- air-to-ground attacks?
zation and who has operational control will indicate the How and where will the enemy attack ground
importance of the area of operations. For example, if targets for interdiction?
the enemy’s bombers are at theater level and are in the What is the enemy’s capability to coordinate
area of operations, then that area is probably receiving
the theater’s main attack. What is the size of his ballis- air and artillery operations? Are ground forward air
tic missile brigade, battalion, and battery? Does it fire controllers used?
as a unit? Does the threat have mobile, fixed, or both What are the enemy’s capabilities for suppres-
types of launchers? sion of friendly air defense?

I-4
 FM 44-43

At what altitude will the enemy approach the Can pilots fly at night or perform contour fly-
target, deliver munitions, and exit the target area? ing? During peacetime, did the pilot conduct the type
What is the release authority of certain types of mission expected to be conducted during war?
of ordnance? This is particularly important when deal- What are the types and capabilities of threat
ing with NBC threats. ordnance? Each type of ordnance should be evaluated
How does the enemy employ reconnaissance for–
assets? Range: assume engagement at maximum
How has the enemy historically fought? range and two-thirds maximum range. What is the ac-
curacy?
Release altitude how high or low must the air-
ANALYZE THREAT AIR CAPABILITIES craft fly?
ADA units evaluate a broad range of order of
battle data and threat capabilities. They also evaluate Reload and refire time. What is the number of
the answers to the following questions: missiles available?
Warhead type: for example, mass casualty,
Aircraft conventional, and submunitions. What is the release
What are the capabilities of the air systems in altitude?
terms of— Guidance modes: how does the pilot acquire
Performance (speed, altitude, airfield restric- and engage?
tions, troop, and weapon load capacity).
Endurance and range. Ingress and egress alti- Unmanned Aerodynamic Vehicles
tudes and speeds. What are the capabilities of threat UAVs in terms
of—
Levels of combat readiness and sortie genera-
tion rate. Performance (speed, altitude, and launch re-
strictions)?
Ability to conduct pop-up maneuvers? What
is the standoff range? Endurance and range?
Target acquisition capability, night and Contour flying or terrain-limiting factors?
adverse weather capability, and identification ranges. Target acquisition and standoff range?
The standoff ranges for cruise and tactical air- Sensor package and payload (maximum
to-surface missiles. weight, type, and load mixture)?
Ordnance load (maximum weight, type, load Loiter time (how long can the UAV stay on
mixture, and level of sophistication). station)?
Combat personnel load. Visibility affecting acquisition?
Navigational capability (type of radar; can it fly Modes of recovery and turnaround time?
at night or in adverse conditions?). Their systems having a real-time data-link ea-
Combat radius (with or without external pability?
tanks, ordnance, and location of staging bases). Guidance modes (ground controlled and pre-
Loiter time (how long will it have on station programmed)?
over the target area?). Crew proficiency?
What is the countermeasures environment?
For example, will standoff jammers, ground-based Tactical Ballistic Missiles
jammers, reconnaissance or chaff-laying UAVs, or air- What are the capabilities of threat TBM systems
craft degrade friendly air defense systems? in terms of—
What type, quantity, and quality of training Performance (flight time, speed, trajectory,
has the pilot received? How much does he conform to launch restrictions)?
doctrine? Maximum and minimum ranges?

I-5
FM 44-43

Circular error of probability? Circular error of probability?

Crew proficiency? Targeting capabilities and type?
Reload and refire time? Number of TBMs Contour flying capability?
available per transporter erector launcher? Vulnerability to countermeasures?
Warhead type and size? Guidance modes?
Guidance modes? Warhead type and size?
Location of presurveyed launch sites?
Cruise Missiles CONDUCT TARGET VALUE EVALUATION
What are the capabilities of threat cruise missiles This should determine what targets are to be la-
in terms of— beled as high-value targets. High–value targets are as-
Performance (flight time, speed, altitude, and sets the enemy or friendly commander has deemed as
important for the successful accomplishment of his
launch restrictions)? mission. High-value targets are determined by opera-
Maximum and minimum ranges? tional necessity and weapon system capability.

DETERMINE THREAT COURSES OF ACTION

Determining air threat courses of action, as with DECISION SUPPORT TEMPLATE
ground, relates the enemy’s offensive air, air defense, The decision support template is based on the
and airborne and air assault doctrines with the effects event template and should depict—
of weather and terrain to determine how the enemy Air avenues of approach.
will employ assets. This is accomplished through the
development of the situation, event, and decision sup- Airborne and air assault objectives.
port templates. The process of developing these tem- Landing and drop zones and largest size en-
plates is covered in FM 34-130. emy element which could be employed at the zone.
SITUATION TEMPLATE Ranges of enemy systems.
The situation template integrates air attack and Ranges of friendly air defense systems.
surveillance profiles with terrain. It focuses on specific Target areas of interest (TAIs).
air avenues of approach and mobility corridors to de-
termine which avenues are the most capable of sup- Decision points (DPs).
porting specific attack techniques, and profiles. It also Air TMs and DPs are determined in the same
determines the most direct routes to landing and drop manner as for ground operations. However, due to the
zones to protect and ensure the survivability of air high speeds of air systems, decision points must be
threat systems. placed significantly farther in advance of the TAIs.
EVENT TEMPLATE In conclusion, IPB in support of air defense opera-
The event template depicts named areas of inter- tions is a quantified, step-by-step process that ex-
est (NAIs) where the commander expects to see certain amines enemy air and ground activity and identifies
activities of tactical significance and is used to confirm gaps in available intelligence holdings. This process
or deny an enemy course of action. These NAIs are will allow the commander and staff to direct collection
based on the terrain constraints on air approach routes assets and request collection from other sources to en-
to potential targets and analysis of the enemy’s attack able them to visualize the battlefield and identify and
and RISTA profiles. Examples of NAIs include landing understand the enemy’s intentions. Preparation and
and drop zones forward arming and refueling points; continuous updates of aerial portions of IPB are funda-
forward staging areas; aerial choke points; and TBM, mental to the execution of the air defense and land
cruise missile, and UAV launch points. force missions on the modem battlefield.

I-6
 APPENDIX J
SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT
This appendix provides guidelines concerning BSFV safety issues
prior to or during combat operations. Leaders at all levels must ensure
that safety is an ongoing process during war. This includes doing a risk
assessment for all operations. Although not all-encompassing, this ap-
pendix provides some basic rules of safety. Leaders should add to the
subjects in this appendix as they deem necessary.

RISK ASSESSMENT
Tough, realistic training conducted to standard is reduce, or control the risk. Risk assessment must be a
the cornerstone of Army warfighting skills. An intense fully integrated part of mission planning and execution.
training environment stresses both soldiers and equip-
ment creating a high potential for accidents. The po- RESPONSIBILITIES
tential for accidents increases as training realism Risk assessment is not complex, technical, or
increases. Thus, realistic training poses a risk to per- difficult. It is a comparatively simple decision-making
sonnel and equipment. Commanders must find ways to process: away of thinking through a mission to balance
protect their soldiers and equipment from accidents mission demands against risks. Once understood, risk
during realistic training to prepare for war. An acciden- assessment is a way to put more realism into training
tal loss in war is no different in its effects than a combat without paying a price in deaths, injuries, damaged
loss the asset is gone. Commanders must compensate equipment, or all three. Risk assessment is not limited
for the advantages of the enemy by protecting their to training scenarios. It is performed during actual
combat resources from accidental loss. How well they combat as well as in peacetime. Leaders must learn to
do this could be the decisive factor in winning or losing. assess risks during actual training events and apply the
Commanders and staffs can use the following informa- same techniques during combat actions. During
tion as a guide for managing risks as it applies to their
organization and mission during peace and war.
CONTENTS
CONCEPT
Page
Risk assessment is a tool leaders can use to make
smart risk decisions in tactical operations. It allows Risk Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J-1
leaders to ececute more realistic training scenarios not BSFV Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J-4
otherwise possible because of the high probability of Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J-8
accidents. Risk assessment is a common sense way of Other Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J-8
training with the least possible risk. It is a method of Vehicle Movements and Convoys . . . . . . . . . . . . J-9
getting the job done by identifying the areas that Developing a Safety Briefing Checklist . . . . . . . . J-10
present the highest risk and taking action to eliminate,

J-1
FM 44-43

combat, risks may be taken, but only after they are play them in a flow chart. This process will aid in the
evaluated and weighed as they are during training. detection of specific risks associated with all specified
and implied tasks. Safety can be built into an operation
Commanders by first seeing the operation in its entirety. Operations
As in all other areas, commanders are responsible invariably can be broken down into a series of phases,
for the effective management of risk. To meet this re- each with special characteristics and considerations. As
sponsibility, commanders– soon as the commander states the mission and concept,
Seek optimum, not just adequate perform- it is usually possible to define the key events. Opera-
ance. tions also have a time factor (beginning-to-ending se-
Select from risk reduction options provided by ries of events) in which the timing of events is often as
significant as the events themselves. The operations
the staff. analysis is a useful tool in quickly defining the flow and
Accept or reject residual risk, based on the time sequencing of events in an operation. The objec-
benefit to be derived from an informed position know- tive is to reflect the total operation from the preparato-
ing what they are accepting or rejecting. ry actions until the operation is completed or the next
Train and motivate leaders at all levels to ef- phase of operation is under way. The operations analy-
fectively use risk assessment concepts. sis is a simple but highly effective tool. It ensures that
risk is evaluated in every aspect of the operation. Oper-
Staff ations safety techniques are effective to a point, but
Staff members also have responsibilities in risk they do not detect risk with the reliability required to
assessment. The staff— achieve the degree of safety needed in today’s Army.
Assists the commander in assessing risks and
in developing risk reduction options. Assess Risks
Determine the magnitude of risks by estimating
Integrates risk controls into plans and orders. loss probability and cost. Assess each event, determine
Eliminates unnecessary safety restrictions whether it is routine, and make an initial risk asses-
that diminish training effectiveness. sment. Ensure that standards for routine events are ad-
equate enough to provide an acceptable level of risk.
Troop Leaders Risk matrix. Consider the value of a risk matrix or
The responsibilities of troop leaders play an im- decision guide for all or part of the operation. Risk ma-
portant part in how risk assessment is viewed by subor- trices provide a quick and ready method of breaking
dinates. Their commitment to managing risks will down an operation into its major operational aspects
improve the fighting capability of their unit. Troop and eliminating or controlling the risks associated with
leaders— it. Like other risk assessment tools, risk matrices can
Develop a total commitment to mission ac- be used alone or with other risk analysis techniques to
complishment and the welfare of subordinates. provide a quick overview of the risk situation. Risk ma-
Consistently apply effective risk assessment trices are simple enough to be routinely used by tactical
leaders in operational planning. These matrices are
concepts and the methods to operations they lead. nearly always more effective than intuitive methods in
Report risk issues beyond their control or au- identifying the extent of risk. The Risk Assessment
thority to their superiors for resolution. Work Sheet/Matrix (Operational) illustrates a typical
matrix that can be used to estimate the level of risk as-
PROCESS sociated with an operation. When using risk matrices,
The risk assessment process improves the efficien- the risk assessor should—
cy, effectiveness, and safety in all operations. The pay- Review each situation; ensure that all signifi-
off of the process is increased readiness as a result of cant areas of concern are evaluated, even if they are
safer, smarter, and more beneficial operations. The not included in the matrices.
process involves four steps for risk assessment. Use the matrices to analyze the risk to target
Identify Risks areas of concern for risk-reducing action.
Identify major events of the operational sequence Review the individual areas of concern before
and list them chronologically then, if necessary, dis- recommending an option. (If an area of concern is off

J-2
 FM 44-43

the scale in a particular situation, a higher decision lev- will be more effective than others. AR 385-10 provides
el may be required than the risk gauge suggests.) a convenient list of actions that commanders can use
Keep in mind that the risk assessment work as an aid in ranking options. In order of priority com-
sheet arbitrarily weighs factors; modify these factors to manders should—
fit particular missions and units. Eliminate the hazard totally if possible. Engi-
METT-T. Consider using the mission, enemy, ter- neer out the hazard or design equipment to eliminate
rain, troops, and time available (METT-T) format as the hazard or incorporate fail-safe devices.
another means to assess risks. Leaders can subjectively Example. A soldier in SWA was killed when his
determine the likelihood and extent of accidental loss poncho was caught in a power takeoff (PTO) shaft on
based on this type of analysis. When using the a desalinization plant. Why was a metal plate or wood-
METT-T format, the risk assessor should— en box not placed over the shaft to prevent this?
Determine mission complexity and difficulty. Guard or control the hazard. Use automatic
Assess the enemy situation and identify specif- monitoring or alarming devices. Provide containment
ic hazards. or barriers.
Example. In the example above, a barrier could
Consider all aspects of the terrain as well as have been placed between the soldier and the hazard.
weather and visibility. In combat operations, control lines that limit subordi-
Determine the supervision required and eval- nate unit operations are an example of controls. At the
uate the experience, training, morale, and endurance unit level, limiting vehicle traffic within a perimeter is
of troops; also, determine the availability of equip- a control measure that keeps traffic away from sleeping
ment. areas.
Risk Decisions Change operational procedures to limit expo-
Make risk acceptance decisions by balancing risk sure. Modify operational procedures to minimize expo-
benefits against risk assessments. Eliminate unneces- sure (numbers and duration) consistent with mission
sary risks. Reduce the magnitude of mission-essential needs.
risks by applying controls. Controls range from hazard Example. In Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 5
awareness to detailed operational procedures. Focus soldiers were killed and 28 injured because of improper
on high-hazard events and events not covered by a misfire procedures. Having soldiers clear their weap-
good set of standards. Complete a preliminary hazard ons and remove the magazine when not on guard duty
analysis of these events. The preliminary hazard analy- may bean effective reduction measure if the enemy sit-
sis is the initial examination of the hazards of an opera- uation allows.
tion and their implications. It is normally based on the Train and educate personnel in hazard recog-
mission analysis and database review and takes place nition and avoidance.
before the details of an operation have been complete- Provide protective clothing or equipment that
ly defined. The objectives of the preliminary hazard
analysis is to define, at the earliest possible point in the will minimize injury and damage potential.
operational life cycle, the hazards that can be expected. Use color coding and signs to alert personnel
Doing this early means that these hazards can be ad- to hazards. Motivate personnel to use hazard avoid-
dressed when they are still preliminary when the oper- ance actions.
ation is being planned. Safety restrictions. Leaders can detect and eliminate
Implement controls. Based on the preliminary risk unnecessary safety restrictions that impede the realism
analysis and products of analytical aids, develop a ros- or effectiveness of training. With proper controls,
ter of options for command decision. Once risks are these restrictions can be eliminated or scaled back.
identified and measured as accurately as possible, the Check for residual effects before implementing risk re-
leader must act to eliminate or control them. These duction options. Visualize what will happen once the
controls must not unnecessarily interfere with training option has been implemented. Sometimes, reducing
objectives. The best options often come from reviewing one risk will only introduce others.
the doctrinal publications relevant to the operation to
glean information about the proper procedures for Supervise
hazard control. Merely reviewing the analysis and Determine the effectiveness of standards in con-
assessment will often suggest options. Some options trolling risk. The commander must enforce controls

J-3
FM 44-43

and standards. This is key to loss control. The com- Risk decisions must be made at the appropri-
mander may have approved a number of risk reduction ate level. The leader who will answer for an accident
procedures, but approval dots not mean that the pro- is the person who should make the decision to accept
cedures are carried out. Leaders must monitor the situ- or reject the risk. In some cases, this will be a senior of-
ation to ensure that action is actually taken. The ficer. In other cases, it will be the fret-line leader.
prudent leaders then follow up to see that personnel Small-unit commanders and first-line leaders will
understand and accept the guidance. Leaders should make risk decisions in combat. Therefore, they should
also monitor the effect of risk reduction procedures to learn to make risk decisions in training. Commanders
verify that they really are good ideas. This is especially should publish risk criteria information and ensure
true for new and untested procedures. subordinates understand the parameters within which
Monitor activities. Leaders must always monitor they may operate.
the operational activities of subordinate elements. The benefits of taking a risk must outweigh the
Only by seeing the character of operations can leaders possible cost of the risk. Leaders must understand the
fully appreciate risk implications. When monitoring risk involved and have a clear picture of the benefits to
operational activities, leaders should— be gained from taking the calculated risk.
Avoid administrative intrusions and not get in RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS
the way. Three tools are provided to assist in risk asses-
Go where the risks are and spend time at the sment: the risk assessment work sheet, the risk matrix,
heart of the action. and the actual risk assessment. These three tools can
Analyze and think through issues, not just be modified as desired and placed into safety annexes
of SOPs. When done, it becomes the unit’s standard
watch. and modification should not be allowed.
Work with key personnel to improve opera-
Risk Assessment Work Sheet
tional procedures after the action and not hesitate to The risk assessment work sheet is a tool to help in
address imminent danger issues on the spot. the quantification of the risks. Events can be added and
Fix systemic problems that are hindering field modified based on local unit missions and the com-
effectiveness. mander’s intent. See the Risk Assessment Work Sheet/
Cost of the risk. Leaders must be able to balance Matrix (Operational) illustration on the next two
the cost of the risk involved with the value of the out- pages.
come desired in an operation. They must consider and The Risk Assessment
manage risks in making decisions. The following three The risk assessment should be used as a part of the
general rules apply when leaders select a tactical pro- near-term training plan or operation order (OPORD).
cedure: It helps to get first-line supervisors thinking and
planning for safety just prior to the mission or task.
No unnecessary risk should ever be accepted. Oftentimes, the information on it can be used as a
The leader who has the authority to accept or reject a safety briefing just prior to the mission or task. With an
risk is responsible for protecting his soldiers from un- OPORD or the near-term training plan in hand,
necessary risks. If a risk can be eliminated or reduced first-line supervisors have readily available what they
and the mission still be accomplished, the risk is unnec- must do and how they should do it safely. See the Risk
essary and must not be accepted. Assessment/Analysis illustration on page J-7.

BSFV SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Personnel operating and maintaining the BSFV The BSFV operations manual should be con-
must be constantly aware of the hazards associated suited for complete information on equipment haz-
with the equipment. All personnel must observe safe ards. Detailed first aid information and instructions are
practices and procedures. found in FM 21-11.

J-4
FM 44-43

J-5
FM 44-43

J-6
FM 44-43

J-7
FM 44-43

The following general safety precautions must be from the system. Damage to equipment or injury to
followed to prevent personal injury or equipment dam- personnel can result.
age. Do not smoke or have any open flame near or
Never work on electronic equipment unless around opened containers of fuel or solvents.
there is another person nearby who is familiar with the Do not kink, twist, strike, walk on, or other-
operation and hazards of the equipment and who is wise abuse cables and hoses.
competent in administering first aid. A technician, Do not expose the ISU to direct sunlight for
aided by maintenance personnel, must warn all person-
nel about dangerous areas. prolonged periods of time. This may causc a heating ef-
fect on the interior that would prevent FU availability.
With power on, personnel must stand clear of Looking at the sun through the ISU add cause blind-
the turret during movements. ness.
Work only in well-ventilated areas when the Whenever exposed to smoke or gases, put on
BSFV is running. Carbon monoxide may be present the protective mask, close heater ventilator intakes,
and is deadly when inhaled. and wear protective clothing. This will help ensure sur-
Do not walk on tools or components removed vivability.

FIRING
Stinger, automatic gun, machine gun, and TOW AUTOMATIC GUN AND MACHINE GUN
missile firings pose special hazards, These hazards in- When the 25-mm automatic gun or 7.62–mm ma-
clude various malfunctions as discussed below. chine gun fails, the gunner announces, “Misfire” over
intercom to the crew. The gunner then follows the pro-
STINGER cedures as outlined in TM 9-2350-252-10-2. Noise
The Stinger missile or the associated firing circuit- from the 25-mm automatic gun can damage hearing.
ry may malfunction, and the missile will not leave the The 25-mm automatic gun barrel can hit personnel or
tube. Should a missile malfunction occur, the team open hatches. Brass ejected from firing weapons can
leader must ensure the proper action is taken. The injure personnel.
team follows the procedure shown in ARTEP
44-117-21-Drill. TOW
Additional safety measures to be observed areas Soldiers on top of a vehicle in the path of a moving
follows: TOW missile launcher could be killed or injured. Check
Fire only from a standing position. top of vehicle. Make sure no soldiers or equipment are
in the path of a moving TOW missile launcher. Acciden-
Wear ear protectors, helmet, and flak jacket tal firing of the TOW missile could injure or kill soldiers.
when firing. Personnel within 125 meters should also Make sure ARM-SAFE-RESET switch is set to SAFE.
wear ear protectors. The TOW missile backblast could kill or injure soldiers.
Use the plastic eyeshield on the weapon sight. All BSFV personnel must be inside of vehicle when the
Always fire at an angle less than 65 degrees. TOW missile is fired. Close all hatches and the ramp. Ev-
eryone outside the vehicle should beat least 246 feet (75
Always superelevate. meters) from the TOW missile blast area. If the TOW
Never discard a used BCU into dry brush or missile misfires, wait 30 minutes after last firing attempt
grass or near flammable materials. before unloading the missile.

OTHER HAZARDS
Safety hazards also exist in the equipment and CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
environment of the unit operation. The hazards Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill. Carbon mon-
described below range from gas poisoning to electrical oxide is a colorless, odorless, deadly poisonous gas
shock. which, when breathed, deprives the body of oxygen and

J-8
 FM 44-43

causes suffocation. Exposure to air contaminated cause severe burns and equipment and clothing dam-
with carbon monoxide produces symptoms of head- age.
ache, dizziness, loss of muscular control, drowsiness, AMMUNITION
and possible coma. Permanent brain damage or Explosives are contained in BSFV machine gun
death can result. ammunition and TOW missile rounds. All applicable
Carbon monoxide occurs in exhaust fumes of safety regulations must be strictly enforced. Explo-
fuel-burning heaters and internal combustion en- sive components containing electrical wiring must be
gines. It becomes dangerously concentrated under protected at all times to eliminate stray voltages.
conditions of inadequate ventilation. You must fol- Missile-handling operations should not be per-
low these safety precautions to ensure safety of per- formed during electrical storms.
sonnel whenever the personnel heater or engine of
any vehicle is operated for maintenance or tactical MISSILE EXHAUST
use. The best defense against carbon monoxide poi- Missile exhaust contains amounts of hydrogen
soning is adequate ventilation. chloride gas which may cause eye and throat irrita-
tion if inhaled by personnel. To prevent any irritation
TOXIC MATERIALS or exposure to potentially harmful concentrations of
Toxic materials are located in the vicinity of the hydrogen chloride from the exhaust plume, the gun-
missile IR dome. If the dome shatters, mercury thal- ner must ensure all hatches are closed and securely
lium liquid may be released. This material is toxic to latched. For first aid, refer to FM 21-11.
unprotected skin. Avoid all contact with released
material unless protective equipment is being worn NOISE HAZARD
(such as a respirator, protective gloves, and chemical A dangerous noise level exist in the vicinity of
goggles). the BSFV system when weapons are fired. Perma-
SOLVENTS nent ear damage may result to personnel during
Solvents used in maintenance are volatile and weapons firing if they are at close distances. The gun-
flammable. They produce toxic vapors that are ner must wear the communications-type headset
harmful when inhaled. Use only in well-ventilated provided for adequate protection while in the turret.
areas and keep away from flame or sparks. For proper
use of lubricants on the BSFV, see the operator’s DECONTAMINATION USING DS2
manual. The chemical solution used in the DS2 unit is
highly combustible. Severe chemical bums may oc-
ACIDS cur when improperly used. DS2 can severely injure
Electrolyte solution in vehicle and FU batteries eyes, skin, or may cause illness if inhaled. DS2 can
contain sulfuric acid. Be extremely careful when also cause damage to NBC MOPP equipment. For
handling or working with batteries. Battery acid can proper use of DS2, see FM 3-5.

VEHICLE MOVEMENTS AND CONVOYS

Proper planning and management of vehicle Have operators been trained to drive in ad-
movements and convoy procedures will affect the verse weather and difficult terrain?
number of vehicles on the battlefield, and more im-
portantly, their timeliness in getting there. All lead- Are convoy drivers provided with adequate
ers should ensure that the following conditions have rest?
been met during movement operations: Are ground guides used in the appropriate
Are basic issue items on every vehicle in the circumstances, such as backing, in bivouac areas, and
convoy? limited visibility areas?
Are operators performing before-, during-, Are personnel prohibited from sleeping in
and after-operation PMCS? vehicles while the engine is running? Are they pro-
hibited from sleeping near or under vehicles?
Are all radio antennas tied down properly to
a length of not more than 7 feet?

J-9
FM 44-43

Are vehicle dismount points clearly marked Are fire drills practiced on all vehicles?
and ground guide procedures strictly enforced at all
bivouac areas?

DEVELOPING A SAFETY BRIEFING CHECKLIST

The purpose of a safety checklist is to provide procedures, and physical standards incorporated into
leaders with a ready safety reference that encompasses unit predeployment exercises?
most tasks common to a unit. The checklist should be
used in conjunction with DA Pamphlet 385-1. Users Is there an established procedure for inform-
are encouraged to add additional checklist items that ing the next higher commander of all accidents, inju-
cover their particular mission needs. ries, and incidents? Are recommendations for
When developing a safety checklist, ADA leaders corrective actions made?
should ensure that the following questions are cov- The following safety briefing checklist should
ered: serve as a guide for ensuring that, as a minimum, the
Is the safety annex of the unit SOP current? following are performed before engaging in training or
Does it cover all field training operations? hostile operations.
Are adequate provisions for safe practices,

SAFETY BRIEFING CHECKLIST

1. MANPADS safety.
2. Individual weapon safety.
3. Ammunition and or explosive safety.
4. Pyrotechnic safety.
5. Serviceable fire extinguishers.
6. Carbon monoxide poisoning.
7. Vehicle safety (personnel restraints, warning devices, speed, road
conditions, road crossings, vehicular river crossings, fuel, spares,
and OVM/BII).
8. Convoy procedures (speed, distance, visibility, routes).
9. Equipment timeworn safety.
10. Ground guide safety (dismounted, mounted, and knowledge of
equipment.
11. River-crossing safety.
12. Complete first aid kits.
13. Hearing protection.

J-10
 FM 44-43

SAFETY BRIEFING CHECKLIST (continued)

14. Eye protection (laser, sun, and foreign objects).

15. Headgear and or flak vest.
16. Heat and or cold injuries.
17. Environmental safety (pollution control, weather, terrain, poisonous
snakes, spiders, and plants).
18. Sleeping safety (in and around vehicles).
19. Air assault and airlift safety (in and around aircraft).
20. Tactical antennas.
21. MEDEVAC frequencies.

J-11
 APPENDIX K
MAPS AND CONTROL MEASURES
This appendix presents some military symbols and control mea-
sures which are of operational interest to the ADA platoon. BSFV pla-
toon personnel must know how to use a map. Each squad leader should
have a plastic map case and marker to post operational symbols. Be-
cause the loss of key personnel may result in the platoon sergeant or
squad leader assuming control of the platoon, the platoon sergeant and
each squad leader must know his location at all times and have the pla-
toon’s operational graphics properly posted on his map.
Performing land navigation while mounted at high speeds is now
easier with the global positioning system (GPS) locator. However, all
key leaders must still be able to use terrain association. Making a thor-
ough map study and identifying major terrain features, contour changes,
and man-made structures that exist along a route is essential. As the pla-
toon advances, the platoon leader and squad leaders must observe exist-
ing features and elevation change. They use these and structures on the
ground to orient or locate themselves and other elements of the pla-
toon. For a complete list see of military symbols and control measures,
see FM 101-5–1.

COLOR REPRESENTATION
Ideally, different colors are used for enemy and installations, equipment and activities, and friendly fire
friendly symbols. Different colors may not always be support ground environment symbols not covered by
available; therefore, other procedures are needed for other colors.
one-color symbols as well as for multicolor representa- Yelow indicates friendly and enemy chemical
tion. or radiological areas and enemy biological areas.
ONE COLOR REPRESENTATION Green indicates friendly and enemy man-
Friendly symbols are outlined by a single line, and made obstacles.
enemy symbols are outlined by double lines. For enemy
equipment, ground environment, and activities sym- Other colors used must be explained in a leg-
bols, use the abbreviation EN. end.
MULTICOLOR REPRESENTATION
The colors on a military map indicate varied mean- CONTENTS
ings. These meanings are given below:
Blue or black indicates friendly units, posts Page
and installations, equipment, activities, and ground en- Color Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. K-1
vironment symbols not covered by other colors. Control Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. K-2
ADA Symbols and Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K-6
Red indicates enemy units, posts and

K-1
FM 44-43

When overlays are transmitted by facsimile, only the abbreviation EN in the line that defines the enemy
black on white is possible. To differentiate between en- area.
emy and friendly contaminated areas or obstacles, use
CONTROL MEASURES
Most of the control measures commonly used by illustration to help facilitate the use of this manual.
the battery or supported commander are also used at
the platoon level. See the Control Measure Graphics

K-2
FM 44-43

K-3
FM 44-43

K-4
FM 44-43

K-5
FM 44-43

ADA SYMBOLS AND GRAPHICS

Symbols and graphics represent units of varying interpret operational graphics, the BSFV platoon lead-
sizes and operations, equipment, activities, or other er must know the ADA symbols and graphics. See the
items of military interest. In order to properly plan and following illustration.

K-6
FM 44-43

K-7
 APPENDIX L
TARGET ENGAGEMENT
This appendix addresses essential elements of target engagement.
BSFV platoons must be prepared to move and rapidly engage multiple
aerial targets. Depending on the tactical situation and area of opera-
tions, threat aerial targets will be operating in the same airspace as
friendly aerial platforms. The BSFV’S effectiveness depends on the abil-
ity to detect, acquire, identify, and rapidly engage threat aerial targets.
Speed and accuracy of an engagement depend on proficiency in target
engagement techniques.

BSFV WEAPON SYSTEMS

The BSFV is a lethal weapons platform that en- gun system allows the crew to fire both high-explosive
hances the firepower and survivability of air defense as- incendiary tracer (HEI-T) and armor-piercing discard-
sets on the battlefield. This section outlines the ing sabot-tracer (APDS-T) ammunition.
capabilities of BSFV mounted and dismounted weap- Aerial. The 25-mm automatic gun has an effective
ons systems. Both are designated to be used primarily range of 2,000 meters against aerial targets. HEI-T is
in an air defense role. For a more detailed description recommended for aerial engagements. The 3,000 me-
of BSFV capabilities, refer to specific weapons and ve- ter self-destruct capability of HEI-T reduces the likeli-
hicle manuals. hood of fratricide.
Ground. The 25-mm automatic gun has a maxi-
DISMOUNTED WEAPONS mum effective range of 3,000 meters against ground
The Stinger is the primary air defense weapon in targets using HEI-T and a 1,700 meter maximum effec-
the BSFV. It is used during engagements against fixed- tive range using APDS-T. APDS-T should be used
and rotary-wing targets. In the current model of the when engaging armored vehicles. Ground targets are
BSFV, the Stinger team must be able to dismount to classified as point or area targets. When engaging point
employ the weapon. Future versions of the BSFV will targets, a three- to five-round killing burst should be
have fire-on-the-move capability. The standard ve- used. Area targets should be engaged using a sufficient
hicle mounted launcher (SVML), a mounted Stinger round burst in a Z pattern. For more information about
firing apparatus, will replace the current TOW missile ground target engagement with the 25-mm automatic
system. In its current configuration, the BSFV carries gun refer to FM 23-1.
a basic load of two ready–rounds and four weapon-
rounds. Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked,
Wire-Guided Missile
MOUNTED WEAPON SYSTEMS The tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-
The primary role of mounted weapon systems on guided (TOW) missile is very limited in an air defense
the BSFV is for engagement of aerial targets. BSFV role but can be a useful alternative to the Stinger for
mounted weapon systems may be used on ground tar- stationary and slow-moving targets. The time required
gets primarily for self-defense. from launch to engagement is a factor that must be
The 25-MM Automatic Gun
The 25-mm chain gun complements Stinger capa- CONTENTS
bilities of the BSFV. The Stinger and 25-mm combina-
tion provides a gun and missile mix for the BSFV. Page
When the Stinger team is dismounted, the 25-mm au- BSFV Weapon Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-l
tomatic gun provides coverage for the Stinger team’s Weapon Selection Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-3
dead zone. The 25-mm automatic gun is used for im- Engagement Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-4
mediate reaction engagements. The dual feed chain

L-1
FM 44-43

considered when employing the TOW as an alternative slow-moving threats. It is mounted on the BSFV com-
to the Stinger. The TOW may be used as a self-defense mander’s hatch and may be used for aerial engage-
weapon against ground targets. Its maximum effective ments. The front ring sight is marked with sighting
range against ground targets and stationary and slow- cross hairs and three speed rings. The rings are spaced
moving aerial targets is 3,750 meters. for a target lead of 50, 100, or 150 miles per hour. The
rear aperture sight has an aperture ring and a pointer
M240C 7.62-MM Coaxial Machine Gun post. See the Ring Sight illustration.
The coaxial machine gun can be used against To use the ring sight–
fixed-wing, rotary-wing, UAV aerial platforms and
airborne troops; however, it is ineffective against the Estimate the target speed. The speed of threat
heavy armor of some helicopters. The coaxial machine aerial platforms using hovering, contour, or transiting
gun may be used against ground targets, usually in flight profiles can be estimated with these general
self-defense. Against ground targets, a 15- to 30- rules: hovering—0 MPH; contour flying—50 MPH;
round burst is used. In both air and ground transiting—100 MPH.
engagements, the coaxial machine gun’s effective Raise the front ring and rear aperture.
range is 900 meters (the tracer burnout point). The Align the front sight cross hairs ahead of and
BSFV can carry 2,200 rounds of 7.62-mm ammunition in line with the line of flight.
and 800 rounds ready to fire and 1,400 rounds stowed.
Look through the rear aperture sight. Lead
SIGHTING SYSTEMS the target one ring for each 50 miles per hour the target
The 25-mm automatic gun and the 7.62-mm coax- is moving for a maximum engageable airspeed of 150
ial machine gun use two sighting systems to engage ae- MPH.
rial targets. The integrated sight unit may be used with Align the pointer post with the target on the
either the 25-mm automatic gun or the 7.62-mm coax- same flight path using the distance from the center
ial machine gun when engaging aerial targets. The ring which the target speed requires. The Cross Hair Align
sight may be used with the 25-mm automatic gun (using ment illustration, on page L-3, shows a target with an
HEI-T) and the 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun against estimated speed of 100 MPH.

RING SIGHT

L-2
 FM 44-43

CROSS HAIR ALIGNMENT

WEAPON SELECTION CRITERIA

Weapon selection criteria against enemy targets is BSFV hatch positions will normally be specified in
an important part of the BSFV commander’s role. It local SOPs, based on possible enemy situations. Open
begins with target detection. Conditions which may af- hatches are preferred unless the BSFV is under direct
fect target detection include— or indirect fire, sniper fire, or nuclear, biological, and
Early warning systems emplaced and opera- chemical attack. If hatches are closed, the crew will
search and or scan with the BSFV integrated sight unit
tional. and squad leader periscopes. In all cases, the BSFV
Visibility of assigned aerial avenues of ap- squad leader must ensure the following operational
proach. considerations are used:
Incoming direct and indirect fire. Use all detection/identification means.
Mission-oriented protection posture (MOPP) The Stinger as the prirnary air defense weapon
level. system.
Target detection begins with the BSFV squad The 25-mm automatic gun to complement the
leader who directs the squad’s search and scan opera- Stinger.
tions within sector. During offensive and defensive op- Use the TOW missile system only if other air
erations, the driver, gunner, and squad leader search defense systems fail or for self-defense.
for targets. When dismounted, the Stinger team The following illustrations show BSFV weapon
searches and scans assigned enemy air avenues of ap- systems and their effects against common threat tar-
proach. gets, and prioritize weapon selection for the BSFV.

L-3
FM 44-43

BSFV WEAPONS, AMMUNITION, AND EFFECTIVENESS

WEAPON/ FIXED-WING HELICOPTER

AMMO SLOW FAST ARMORED/UNARMORED UAV RANGE*

Coaxial MG Yes No Yes Yes*** 900 m

HEI-T** Yes Yes Yes Yes*** 2,000 m
APDS-T Yes Yes Yes Yes*** 1,700 m
TOW No No Yes No 3,750 m
Stinger Yes Yes Yes Yes 4,000 m

Notes: * Maximum effective range for aerial targets. In a ground role, the 25-mm automatic gun has a maxi-
mum range of 3,000 meters with HEI-T and 1,700 meters with APDS-T.
** Recommended as primary ammunition against aerial targets because of self-destruct capability at
3,000 meters which reduces likelihood of fratricide.
*** Probability of kill is minimal; volume of fire increases effectiveness.

BSFV PRIORITIES OF WEAPON SELECTION

WEAPON ROTARY WING FIXED-WING STINGER DEAD ZONE
<2,000 m >2,000 m

Stinger 1 1 1 NA
25-mm automatic gun* 2 NA 2(< 2KM) 1
Coaxial MG** 3 NA 3 2
TOW 4 2 NA NA

Notes: * The APDS-T has a higher probability of hit than HEI-T. However, HEI-T has a higher probability of
kill at ranges beyond 1,700 meters. Even though APDS-T is more accurate, HEI-T will reduce the
likelihood of fratricide if target is missed.
** Maximum effective range 900 meters.

ENGAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
The BSFV coaxial machine gun and 25-mm auto- imperative that the Stinger team acquire the correct
matic gun can be used to engage aerial targets. Due to target. Well-trained and rehearsed target handoff
the difficulty associated with engaging aerial targets, a procedures ensure that target handoff is expedient and
high volume of fire should be established in front of the effective. After orienting the Stinger team to the air
target using the techniques previously discussed. avenue of approach of the aerial platform, the BSFV
When the BSFV squad leader is alerted and cued gunner will continue to track the target through the
about an air threat in the squad’s sector of search, the execution of the engagement sequence. If multiple
Stinger team will be dismounted. Upon dismounting targets are present, the BSFV gunner will immediately
from the BSFV, target handoff must occur between the
BSFV squad leader and the dismounted Stinger team. slew to acquire the target posing the greatest threat
The BSFV squad leader will inform the team chief of after the Stinger team effectively communicates the
the target’s location if the Stinger team is not capable correct target has been acquired. In the event a target
of being alerted and cued by digital or voice means. The acquired by the Stinger team is approaching or in the
squad leader may accomplish this using various Stinger dead zone, the BSFV gunner immediately
communications methods, including visual signals. It is resumes engagement responsibility.

L-4
 FM 44-43

ENGAGING HIGH-PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT threat to the crew or unit (actually making an attack run).
A general rule of thumb is to avoid engaging high- The mission statement usually provides guidance which
performance aircraft with the coaxial machine gun be- includes criteria for the engagement of high-perfor-
cause of— mance aircraft.
Their high speed. If the target has to be engaged, the best technique
The limited amount of machine-gun ammuni- is to fire the coaxial machine gun in a continuous burst
of 50 to 100 rounds. If the target is flying a crossing or
tion available to the vehicle commander and loader. overhead profile, the BSFV commander or gunner uses
The brief exposure time of the aircraft within a 200-meter lead or about two football field lengths (See
effective machine-gun range. the Football Field Technique [Crossing] illustration).
The crew should engage if the aircraft is a direct

FOOTBALL FIELD TECHNIQUE (CROSSING)

REFERENCE POINT TECHNIQUE (CROSSING)

L-5
FM 44-43

Fire is directed in front of the aircraft, allowing the

aerial platform to fly through the automatic gun’s cone ALIGNING A HELICOPTER WITH THE ADR
of fire (See the Reference Point Technique illustration,
on the previous page, for an alternate method of
engagement).
ENGAGING HELICOPTERS
The rule of thumb for engaging high-performance
aircraft also applies to helicopters. However, when he-
licopters are exposed on the ground, and are slow mov-
ing or hovering, they become targets of opportunity
that should be engaged if within effective automatic-
gun range. Heavily armored threat attack helicopters
faced head-on should be engaged with a TOW missile.
The BSFV commander or gunner should use the
following techniques when engaging helicopters with
the 25-mm automatic gun using the integrated sight
unit. If the helicopter is flying a crossing or overhead
profile, the commander or gunner uses a lead of 50 me-
ters or half the length of a football field. If the helicop-
ter is flying directly toward the BSFV, fire should be ENGAGING HELIBORNE INFANTRY
directed slightly above the nose of the helicopter. If the AND PARATROOPERS
helicopter is hovering, the commander or gunner aims Infantry rappelling from a hovering helicopter
just above the fuselage and fires an HEI-T burst of 20 should be destroyed by engaging the helicopter first,
to 25 rounds on high rate of fire. using a high volume of fire. Airborne troops are diffi-
BSFVs with ISU produced after February 1987 cult to engage beccause of their rapid descent (approxi-
have an air defense reticle added to the mately 10 feet per second). When engaging airborne
high-magnification gun reticle. The reticle is used for troops, use the ISU as the primary sight. Use the coax-
engaging attack helicopters. To use the air defense ial machine gun at ranges under 900 meters and the
reticle, set the range control knob to 1,800 meters. 25-mm automatic gun with HEI-T at ranges beyond
Select AP (armored vehicles) or HE (all other vehicles) 900 meters and fire two body lengths below their feet.
and then set rate on HIGH. Align the sight reticle so
the fuselage sides appear to touch the appropriate
reticle lines (See the illustration of Aligning the ENGAGING UNMANNED
Helicopter With the ADR). Fire a 3- to to 5-round AERODYNAMIC VEHICLES
sensing burst until on target and then engage with a 20- When engaging UAVs, the same principles apply
to 25-round burst. As the helicopter approaches, move that are used for the engagement of other hostile aerial
the reticle down to keep the fuselage between the platforms. For massing fires, the BSFV and FAAD are
reticle lines. necessary to destroy these small platforms.

L-6
 GLOSSARY
A COMSEC communications security
2 2
CONUS continental United States
AC Army airspace command and control coord coordinate
AA assembly area CP command post
AADC area air defense commander CSS combat service support
ABMOC air battle management operations center CTCP combat trains command post
ac aircraft CVC combat vehicle crewman
ACA airspace control authority
AD air defense
ADA air defense artillery D
ADCOORD air defense coordinator DA Department of the Army
ADMIN/LOG administrative/logistics DD Department of Defense (form)
ADW air defense warning decon decontamination
AI air interdiction DEW directed-energy weapon
ALOS administrative and logistics operation DP decision point
AO area of operation DS direct support
AOR area of responsibility DS2 decontaminating solution #2
APC armored personnel carrier DSM decision support matrix
APDS-T armor piercing discarding sabot-tracer DST decision support template
APOD aerial port of debarkation DZ drop zone
ASCC Army Service Component Commander
ATP allied tactical publication
AWACS Airborne Warning and Control System E
EAC echelons above corps
ECCM electronic counter-countermeasures
B EENT end of evening nautical twilight
bde brigade EMCON emissions control
BDZ base defense zone en enemy
BFV Bradley Fighting Vehicle engr engineer
BII basic issue items EPLRS enhanced position location reporting system
BMNT beginning morning nautical twilight EPW enemy prisoner of war
bn battalion EW early warning
BSA brigade support area evac evacuation
BSFV Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle
btry battery F
FA field artillery
FAAD forward area air defense
C FACS Field Army Communication System
C2 command and control FARP foward arming and refueling point
C2I command, control, and intelligence FASCAM family of scatterable mines
C3 command, control, and communications FAX facsimile
C3I command, control, communications, and FEBA forward edge of the battle area
intelligence 1SG first sergeant
CAP combat air patrol FIST fault isolation by semiautomated techniques
CAS close air support fld field
cbt combat FLIR forward looking infared
cdr commander FLOT forward line of own troops
CESO communications—electronics staff officer FM field manual
cmd command frequency modulated
CNR command net radio FOB forward operating base
CO company FRAGO fragmentary order
COA course of action freq frequency
coax coaxial FSB forward support battalion

Glossary-1
FM 44-43

FSO fire support office LLTR low-level transit route

FU fire unit LNO liaison officer
FW fixed wing LOC lines of communications (logistics routes)
LOGPAC logistics package
LOS line of sight
G LP listening post
G2 Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence LRP logistics release point
G3 Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans LSDIS lightweight and special divisions interim sensor
GBS ground-based sensor LZ landing zone
gen generator
gP group
GPS gunner primary sight M
GS general support
general support-reinforcing maint maintenance
GS-R
GTA graphic training aid METT-T mission, enemy, terrain, troops, and time
available
MG machine gun
mm millimeter
H MOPP mission-oriented protection posture
HEIT high-explosive incendiary tracer mort mortar
HIDACZ high-density airspace control zone MOS military occupational speciality
HIMAD high- to medium-altitude air defense MPH miles per hour
HIMEZ high-altitude missile engagement zone MRR minimum risk route
HMMWV high-mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicle MSE mobile suscriber equipment
HQ headquarters MSR main supply route
hvy heavy
N
I named area of interest
NAI
IDP initial delay position NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
IFF identification, friend or foe NBC nuclear, biological, and chemical
in inch NBCO nuclear, biological, and chemical officer
int intercommunications NDP night defensive position
IPB intelligence preparation of the battlefield no number
IR infrared nvg night vision goggles
ISU integrated sight unit

O
J obj objective
JAAT joint air attack team OCOKA observation and fields of fire, cover and
JFACC joint force air component commander concealment, obstacles, key terrain, and
JTF joint task force avenues of approach
JTIDS Joint Tactical Information Distribution System OP observation post
OPCON operational control
OPORD operation order
K ops operations
KIA killed in action
KPH kilometers per hour P
PERSTAT personnel status report
PL phase line
L plt platoon
LADW local air defense warning PMCS preventive maintenance checks and services
LBE load bearing equipment POL petroleum, oil, and lubricants
lbs pounds prep preparation/prepare
LC/LD line of contact/line of departure PSG platoon sergeant
ldr leader PTL primary target line

Glossary-2
 FM 44-43

PTO power take off STL secondary target line

PZ pick-up zone sup support
SVML standard vehicle mounted launcher (missile pod)
sync synchronize
R
R reinforcing T
RCS radar cross section
reserve TAA tactical assembly area
res
reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, tac tactical
RISTA
and target acquisition TACSOP tactical SOP
rules of engagement TAI target area of interest
ROE
restricted operational zone TASKO task organization
ROZ
release point TASM tactical air-to-surface missile
RP
remotely piloted vehicle TBM tactical ballistic missile
RPV
reconnaissance, selection, and occupation TC track commander
RSOP
of position TF task force
route tm team
rte
rotary wing TM technical manual
RW
terrain mangement
TOC tactical operations center
S TOE table(s) of organization and equipment
TOW tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-
S1 Adjutant (US Army) guided (missile)
S2 Intelligent Officer (US Army) target reference point
TRP
S3 Operations and Training Officer (US Army) tactical standing operating procedures
Supply Officer (US Army) TSOP
S4 TV television
SAAFR standard Army air flight route
set scout
sect section U
SEN small extension node UAV unmanned aerial vehicle
SFCM supplemental tire control measures us United States
SHTU simplified handheld terminal unit UMCP unit maintenance collection point
SINCGARS single-channel ground and airborne radio system
SITREP situation report
SPOTREP spot report W
sptd supported WARNO warning order
SOF sector of fire WCS weapon control status
SOI signal operation instructions WFZ weapons free zone
SOP standing operating procedure WIA wounded in action
SP start point
SPOD seaport of debarkation
STANAG standardization agreement X
STANO surveillance, target, acquisition, and night
observation XO executive officer

Glossary-3
 REFERENCES
SOURCES USED
These are the sources quoted or paraphrased in this publication.
DA Form 1156. Casualty Feeder Report. 1 June 1966.
DA Form 2028. Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms. 1 February 1974.
DA Form 2404. Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Work Sheet. January 1964.

DA Pamphlet 385-1. Unit Safety Management. 15 Mareh 1973.

DD Form 1425. Specifications and Standards Requisition. Mareh 1986.

FM 3-3. Chemical and Biological Contamination Avoidance. 16 November 1992.

FM 3-4. NBC Protection. 29 May 1992.
FM 3-5. NBC Decontamination. 23 July 1992.
FM 3-100. NBC Defense Chemical Warfare, Smoke, and Flame Operation. 23 May 1991.
FM 21-10. Field Hygiene and Sanitation. 22 November 1980.
FM 21-11. First Aid for Soldiers. 27 October 1988.
FM 24-23. Communications Techniques Electronic Counter-Countermeasures. 17 July 1990.
FM 34-130. Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield. 23 May 1989.
FM 44-16. Chaparral/Vulcan/Stinger Platoon Combat Operations. 20 May 1987.
FM 44-18-1. Stinger Team Operations. 31 December 1984.
FM 44-64. FAAD Battalion and Battery Operation. (TBP)
FM 44-100. US Army Air Defense Operations. (TBP)
(S)FM 44-100A. Air Defense Artillery operational Planning Data(U). (TBP)
FM 57-38. Pathfinder Operations. 9 April 1993.
FM 71-1. The Tank and Mechanized Infantry Company Team. 22 November 1988.
FM71-2. The Tank and Mechanized Infanty Battalion Task Force. 29 September 1988.
FM 71-3. The Armored and Mechanized Infantry Brigade. 11 May 1988.
FM71-123. Tactics and Techniques for Combined Arms Heavy Forces: Armored Brigade,
Battalion/Task Force, and Company/Team. 30 September 1992.
FM90-4. Air Assault Operators. 16 Mareh 1987.
FM90-26. Airborne Operations. 18 December1990.
FM 100-5. Operations. 14 June 1993.
FM 100-103. Army Assistance Command and Control in a Combat Zone. 7 October 1987.
FM 100-5-1. Organizational Terms and Symbols. 2l October l987.

References-1
FM 44-43

These international agreements are available on request from the Naval Publications and Forms Center
(NPFC), 5801 Taber Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19120. Use DD Form 1425 to requisition documents.
STANAG TITLE EDITION
2014 Operation Orders, Warning Orders and Administrative/Logistics Order 7
2019 Military Symbols for Land Based Systems-APP-6 3
2868 Land Force Tactical Doctrine-ATP-35 (A) 4
3880 Counter Air Operations-ATP-42 (B) 2

GTA 17-2-19. Visual Signals for Armored Fighting Vehicles (Combined Arms). May 1991.

STP 21-1-SMCT. Soldier’s Manual of Common Tasks Skill Level 1. 1 October 1994.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED
These documents must be available to the intended users of this publication.
ARTEP 44-117-21-Drill. Drills for an Avenger Squad. 15 June 1992.

TM 9-2350-252-10-2. Operator’s Manual for Fighting Vehicle, Infantry, M2, M2A1, and Fighting Vehicle,
Cavalry, M3, M3A1 Turret. 22 September 1986 (Change 6, 9 July 1992).

READINGS RECOMMENDED
These readings contain relevant supplemental information.
AR 385-10. Army Safety Program. 23 May 1988.

ARTEP 44-177-14-Drill. Drills for a Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle. 20 September 1994.
ARTEP 44-177- 14-MTP. ADA Platoon Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle. 29 September 1994.
ARTEP 44-177-30-MTP. ADA Battery Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle. 20 September 1994.

References-2
 FM 44-43
3 OCTOBER 1995

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

DENNIS J. REIMER
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

Official:

Acting Administrative Assistant to the

Secretary of the Army
00627

Distribution:

Active Army USAR, and ARNG: To be distributed in accordance with DA Form 12-1 l-E.
Requirements for FM 44-43, Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle Platoon and Squad Opera-
tions (Qty rqr block number 4609).
PIN: 074015-000