AMBUSH

Killzone Crazy

References: Ranger Handbook TC 3-21.76 | Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad ATP 3-21.8

Overview

The main goal of an ambush is to surprise the enemy and attack with violence to inflict mass casualties. When arriving to the objective stealth and noise discipline should be the number 1 priority this might mean you have to low crawl to the objective.

The element of surprise is everything along with violence on the objective

The main things you should consider when planning an ambush are:

• Complete coverage of the kill zone with direct and indirect fires.
• METT-TC analysis.
• Available resources (claymores, machine guns, indirect fires).
• Emplacement of security teams (with radios) to isolate the kill zone and provide early warning.
• Route to and occupation of the Limit of Advance (LOA).

General Planning Recap

For any patrol (including ambushes), consider:

• Tasks to subordinates: Assign clear task and purpose; delegate effectively.
• Requirements and security: Analyze terrain, weather, enemy situation, and cadre guidance.
• Special teams: Designate EPW search, Aid & Litter, Demolition (if applicable), and Security.
• Leaders’ Recon: Minimize personnel (typically PL, SLs, security) to reduce compromise risk.
• Objective survey: During recon, confirm kill zone suitability and adjust plan as needed.

Types

There exist hasty and deliberate ambushes, we will be focusing on deliberate ambushes

Categories:

• Point Ambush: Fires concentrated on a single kill zone.
• Area Ambush: Multiple related point ambushes (coordinated by higher HQ).

Formations:

• Linear: Assault line parallel to enemy route.
• L-Shaped: Assault line with support/security forming the “L” for enfilade fire.

We will learn about point ambushes only, that means that fire will be focused on 1 kill zone only.

Let’s go over how to conduct an ambush step by step, using a modified TLP format

1. Receive the mission

You will get your locations and obj. Ask if you can have any claymores as these are perfect for an ambush

2. Issue the WARNO

Disseminate the Who, What, Where, When and Why Repeat the mission statement you received in the WARNO

• Assign your teams: Assign who will be ASS1, ASS2, SEC and WPN Squads
• Assign your RTO, Pointman, and special teams, (EPW, Aid/Litter)
• Disseminate timelines and step off times
• Any major terrain or weather considerations
• Tasks and rehearsals to be conducted
• Disseminate ahead of time who will go on LR (All of Sec squad, PL/RTO, Pointman)

3. Make Tentative Plan/Issue OPORD

Once the WARNO is disseminate and your subordinates have started their tasks, you can start working on the OPORD.

Disseminate as much as possible here, so you can solely focus on the OPORD.

Assign teams if you haven’t already. You will need primary and secondary EPW and Aid & Litter teams

For the plan you should start by considering METT-TC ¹ and OAKOC ² Know your environment and how it will affect the mission at hand

Complete the OPORD based on what you know and what the mission type is which in this case is an Ambush

For an ambush, you have to decide who will initiate fire it can be the claymores, or the PL can start firing or it can be a whistle blow to initiate.

Have a Withdrawal plan. The go to is the Red, White, Blue plan⁴.

After you complete it, Pull your key leaders in for an OPORD brief and disseminate all info. Use your terrain model as much as possible to reinforce what need to be done. Back brief your squad leaders and make sure they know what the plan is

If you can, bring the Alpha team leaders to the meeting.

PSG

As PSG you will make sure 360 security is set at all time, while PL is making the plan. Sectors of fire should be interlocked and noise discipline should be good

Assign a medic

Gather LACE⁵ reports and redistribute accordingly, request for more supplies if needed

You will create and brief CCP⁶, HLZ⁷ and AXP⁸ points. You can use your medic to help you out with this

4. Initiate Movement

After giving your OPORD, you are ready to move in to the ORP⁹

Here is an ORM¹⁰ I would typically use for this type of mission

Once you arrive at the approximate location of the ORP the PL will conduct a SLLS¹¹ halt and decide if it’s a good spot or not.

If it is then occupy the ORP.

5. Conduct Reconnaissance

Once at the ORP, start planning the leaders recon you will take the RTO, All squad leaders, All of security squad and point man again, everyone should be camouflaged.

For this type of mission you will need Left and Right side security teams with radios. Take a radio from and assault squad SL and give them to the TL in the right or left side security teams

Reinforce where you want your squads to be at. You need to figure out where exactly you will emplace the machine guns, assaulting element, and left/right side security. This is why you are going on a leaders recon because things can change

Confirm PIR’s¹² if you have any. set your kill zone. Once you are ready to leave, head to the release point. the PSG and Medic should be there to count out the leaders recon. Leave a GOTWA to the PSG

• G: Where you are Going
• O: Others you are taking with you
• T: Time you will take, or when you will back
• W What to do while you are gone (Maintain sec, other tasks)
• A: Action to do if you receive contact

Once you leave the ORP, head to the OBJ and decide where your elements will be. I recommend personally emplacing each element if you have time. When emplacing your left and right side security you can just leave them there. Same goes with the security element in the middle and security SL. Discuss TRP’s with your squad leaders and make a decision on that

Overall do the following:

• Confirm OBJ location, select the killzone
• Emplace the left and right side security, identify LOA and boundaries
• Emplace the support elements
• The WSL assigns sectors of fire, using metal to metal contact to prevent fraticide

After you are done with the LR and everyone has a better understanding head back to the ORP to be counted in and prepare for movement

before leaving, give the sec SL a GOTWA.

PSG

While the PL is gone, PSG should supervise and refine the ORP. plug any security holes found and maintain noise discipline

Create a ruck plan. You can have everyone bring their rucks with them to the OBJ or you can leave 2 people behind at the ORP as ruck guards while everyone else assault the objective

I suggest stacking the rucks line by line according to squad

6. Complete the Plan

one the LR is done, refine and make any necessary changes to the plan. disseminate and let your subordinates know of any changes. Once ready, everyone picks up and leaves the ORP

PSG and Medic should count people out

8. Supervise and Refine

Time to move in and assault the objective Once again, maintain noise discipline and concealment

The Squad leaders will instruct their squads on positioning.

Setup the machine guns one at a time

Let the WSL handle his MG’s no need to have the PSG near there Have the PSG and PL together near the assaulting element

Once the machine guns and assaulting elements are set in position, you simply wait for the enemy to reach the kill zone

the left and right security elements will give a heads up if they detect enemy on the way. They will not be doing any shooting unless attacked first

Once the enemy reaches the Kill zone. Open up with your predetermined method Doctrinally it’s the highest casualty producing weapon but you can use something else like a whistle blow or claymores

conduct the “Mad Minute” and radio higher that you reached contact with the enemy

Before assaulting through the PL should signal the MG team to lift or shift fires and receive confirmation

After that call for shift fire and let the assaulting element assault to the LOA

Once LOA is reached cease all fire and conduct EPW and then Aid & Litter tasks.

PSG will collect LACE reports from the squad leaders and then report to higher

Withdrawal

Conduct Withdrawal plan. Don’t remain on the objective for more than 5-10 minutes. You want to go in and out as quickly as possible

Gather any enemy intel and report to higher

Red white blue plan

• Red: Assault elements withdraw
• White: Machine guns withdraw
• Blue: Security withdraw

Afterwards move back to the ORP and await for next mission. At the ORP conduct headcount and redistribute ammo/supplies

Contingency

There are fewer things that can go wrong when compared to other missions.

With this type of mission, some OPFOR flee the killzone and tend to strike from the left or right side of the ambush formation potentially wiping out your security element if they are not prepared

OPFOR is also known to attack from behind, so have a security element placed there to keep watch

In addition, there are cases where OPFOR might jump back to life and strike your element after they move towards the LOA

Tips

• Use claymores for initiation and maximum shock.
• Position machine guns for enfilade fire.
• Rehearse initiation, lift/shift, and withdrawal. Have backup communication with this
• Maintain strict noise/light discipline during occupation.
• Place security far enough to provide warning but not compromise main force.

What not to do

• Initiate too early/late (miss kill zone).
• Bunch up during occupation.
• Forget to lift/shift fires before assault.
• Linger on objective.
• Neglect 360 security at LOA.

Closing

Don’t be compromised, and make sure the enemy is dead