"Platoon Defence" Topic

Can anybody point us to a primer on platoon defense. That is how to layout a defensive position in some detail. Even FM 21-75 provides no real information, It shows how to layout a Fighting position and an MG position but does not provides almost nothing on how to lay them out relative to each other in any detail. In fact some diagrams seems counter to its own detail. As an example at the higher level it shows squads shooting directly forward, which is odd as the primary fire arc of the fighting positions is too the flank according to their own text.

There isn't a single source that provides what you're asking about. The platoon leader has to know the capabilities and limitations of each of his weapons and his or her people, the external support that can be called in, the threat, and how to apply this to the assigned terrain . In garrison this equates to a shelf of books but in the field it was a laminated piece of paper.
Here is a link to the current US Army manual on platoon operations to include defense. It is for public release. PDF link

Thanks looks interesting.

Given that you posted to the Ww2 board:

Military history visualized has YouTube videos on German tactics.
Also Osprey has tactics books (though I've never read them).

Platoons would rarely deploy on their own. Much more likely to be part of a company defence imo.

MET-T will dictate a lot. Key weapons on avenues of approach, interlinked fields of fire, alternate and supplemental positions.

That and tying into the Company/Battalion plans.

Doesn't the company commander effectively cover platoon dispositions?

As we are on WW2. Nafzigers 'German Squad Tactics' reproduces the German 1942 manual pages which show how to lay out platoon and company positions including integration with the fire plan of the company heavy weapons section and regimental weapons company.

Chris Sharps 'Soviet Infantry Tactics' has reproductions from the original Soviet manuals of the same thing.

For the Brits, the 1944 Infantry Fieldcraft and Training manual shows how to lay out a platoon position. For company and battalion positions I found the best reference was the reproduction of Lionel Wigrams 1942 manual 'Battle Drill'.

I imagine with modern weapons and communications systems, the positions are a bit more dispersed!

UshCha,
From my own experience in the early 1970's at the squad and platoon level we'd set up 2-man fighting holes. The distance between them depended on the terrain. You would not want someone crawling between them at night or too far away that you can't communicate. I was never more than a squad leader and can't really give any info on how the platoons tied into each other in a defensive position.

Regarding the fields of fire; yes, ideally you want some level of flanking fire. However, as a squad leader you are responsible for defending to your front. Each fighting hole would have aiming stakes that you'd put your rifle against to generate flanking fire during an FPF. You could set up positions that would result in flanking fire when an enemy approached but generally you were responsible to the front.

When you set up barbed wire ideally you have an automatic weapon that fires down the length of it to flank attackers that are held up attempting to cross it.

The overall perimeter design is going to depend on the terrain, cover and expected approach of the enemy. When setting up a perimeter you also have listening posts set up and ideally a patrol going around the perimeter about 100 yards away for early warning. You have trip wires and mines cover areas you can't observe.

In the early 1970's we didn't do positions as elaborate as FM 21-75 shows which appears to favor flanking fire. It appears the illustrations are from the Depuy Fighting Position: PDF link

Wolfhag

'Infantry Tactics of the Second World War' by Osprey is very informative….

Some very good recommendations and information …

Platoons would rarely deploy on their own. Much more likely to be part of a company defence imo.

Generally this is very true. However, Plts may be operating in jungle conditions, etc. on their own, e.g. LRRPs, etc. Will have to set up ambushes, NDPs, etc. Far from other friendlies.

Doesn't the company commander effectively cover platoon dispositions?

Yes that is generally how it is done. Setting up FOFs/interlocking fires, covering main avenues of approach, ID'ing Main, Alternate, Supplemental positions, obstacle locations, etc. etc.,, etc., among the Plts in his[or her] Company positions/TAOR …

I have yet to see games set up with an LP or a perimeter patrol or an accurate presentation of a platoon level FPF with mortars. I'm sure there are some but I can't remember any. Maybe it's more of a scenario setup.

Wolfhag

Can we do something about the TLAs?

The US bumpf appears to abound in them – how does anyone remember them all?

(*) Three-letter-abbreviation.

@MR – the background on Lionel Wigram is fascinating – being a proponent of battle drills – which were rejected by the War Office at the time based on previously agreed decisions that he was unaware of.

JSTOR – Lionel Wigram, Battle Drill and the British Army in the Second World War TIM HARRISON PLACE

Also the stuff on desertion in the British Army in Sicily is illuminating.

how does anyone remember them all?

We after 4 years as an ROTC Cadet, 10 & 1/2 years on active duty and a year or so in the USAR. I managed to remember most of them, even now decades later. Then they change some of them and I have figure those out all over again !

E.g.: Booby Trap = IED then there is VBIED … 🤔

Of course I can't remember what I had yesterday for lunch, where my cell or car keys are …

wolfhag, how do you play if you don't have FPF's for Motars and MG's on Tripods, typical of Brits and Germans at least in defence, and of course Fixed lines for when the smoke hits. WW2 abounds with these things. The famous attack on Pont Du Hoc was thought to be helped as the bombing screwed up the Fixed lines.

Can we do something about the TLAs?

I tried, some time ago, to get certain people to cut down, or at least explain, their use of TLAs (see what I did there?). But to no avail. They are wedded to them, and selfishly assume that everyone else can decipher their wall of them with no difficulty.

Well if I do use any TLA, etc. … please let me know I will be glad to explain them. When typing I just go on and on and forget not to explain some things. My posts are to further information, etc., exchange knowledge, experience, etc. Mea Culpa …

So just in case from some of my last posts :

USAR = US ARMY Reserve

FOF = Fields of Fire

LRRP = Long Range Recon Patrol

NDP = Night Defensive Position

TOAR = Tactical Area of Responsibility

VBIED = Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devise

Did I miss any ? Would not want to be selfish, yes ? 😇🙏

@legion.

Cheers! Ta! TOAR is a new one!

METT-T (US Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops & Time Available) = UK "Combat appreciation"

Dispositions from memory: Platoons deployed on forward slopes at military crest. Paras – 1 section up, 2 sections back. Feeding and replenishments at night.

Site MILAN first (@2,000 m), Charlie G (@can't recall range), Site GPMG in fixed role (@1,200m), GPMG light role (800m), Rifles (7.62mm) – section fire @600m, individual fire @400m, battle sight @300m, 66mm LAW (@can't recall range).

Defense in depth. Slit trenches at first then standing trenches, then apply overhead cover (assuming field engineering stores arrive) GPMG trenches always finished first.

Fighting trench 18 inches deep, six feet wide with another six feet section with overhead cover – anti-nuculear capability provided by plastic sheet stretched over trench supported by criss-crossed nylon string with at least 18 inches of earth cover on top.

Remembering this was the 80s – if lucky then sappers may have pre-dug defensive positions – to be occupied by "withdrawing" forces or reserves being sent up.

FPF (US Final protective fire) = FDF (UK Final defensive fire)

After successful assault of enemy position – re-org at least 100 metres beyond – in order to avoid their pre-planned FDF.

wolfhag, how do you play if you don't have FPF's for Motars and MG's on Tripods, typical of Brits and Germans at least in defence, and of course Fixed lines for when the smoke hits. WW2 abounds with these things. The famous attack on Pont Du Hoc was thought to be helped as the bombing screwed up the Fixed lines.

I'm not sure if this was directed at me or not. However, tripod MG's have advantages and disadvantages. Being flanked is a weakness as it normally cannot displace quick enough. Mortar FPF needs to be plotted in advance. That's how I play it.

Nice description Stoppage.

Wolfhag

Cheers! Ta! TOAR is a new one!

Yes, they may not even use it anymore? But is accurate description, IMO … Of course always glad to discuss this topic and those like it.

METT-T (US Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops & Time Available) = UK "Combat appreciation"

Yep we used that too ! Was mentioned in an earlier post by another Vet.

Agree with all you posted for the most part !

Platoons deployed on forward slopes at military crest

We'd deploy on the reverse slope of the military crest generally. Putting the crest between you and the enemy. But as always everything depends on terrain & situation …

66mm LAW (@can't recall range)

IIRC the FM said 250m … but in reality you'd/I'd wait until the AFV was a bit closer and try to blow off a track/road wheel. We practiced having an M60A1 MBT run over our "concrete reinforced" foxhole, then pop up and "fire" an expended LAW in the AFV's rear. Great fun !!!!

Nice description Stoppage.

Ditto !

tripod MG's have advantages and disadvantages.

Yes, again it depends on terrain and situation. In some ops, like patrolling, you wouldn't always hump the Tripod and T&E [Traverse & Elevation] devise. Generally the Tripod and T&E were used in a deliberate defense.

Being flanked is a weakness as it normally cannot displace quick enough.

Yep, but here again it depends on terrain & situation. Being flanked could be a very "bad" situation if you didn't prep for it, etc. Of course, my/our standard would be most likely to call in mortars & FA plus maybe even CAS in this case. That would be a good fix in many cases. If it is available …

Mortar FPF needs to be plotted in advance.

As a former 81mm Plt Ldr, yes. Normally pre-plotted mortar and FA was a standard. But of course fire missions called in may cause you fire at targets that other tan pre-plots. The damn enemy always does not do what you want them to do !

Oh here is another one I liked !

SALUTE Report went observing the enemy:

Size
Activity
Location
Unit
Time
Equipment

Legion,
Marine Contact Report (CONTACREP)
The CONTACREP, although not a standard report, is very useful for briefly and concisely reporting any enemy contact. It consolidates the most important IRs of the SITREP and the CASREP without wasting large
amounts of transmission time in a rapidly evolving and tenuous situation.

In such situations, the reconnaissance patrol leader must be able to concentrate all of his attention on resolving his patrol's present situation and
continuing the mission, working out a plan to extract his patrol to a secure area, or effecting the evasion and escape (E&E) plan.

C—Call sign. "(Receiver's call sign) this is (originator's call sign)."
O—Occurrence. Describes the type of contact/what has happened.
N—Needs. States medical evacuation, emergency extraction, immediate suppression, reinforcement, resupply, and other needs.
T—Time/Location. Indicates at what time the contact took place and where. These coordinates do not need to be encrypted/shackled.
A—Actions Taken. Describes what the patrol has done since the contact was made, for example, broken contact, E&E, or so on.
C—Casualties. Reports friendly KIAs/WIAs and transmits kill numbers from the warning order/kill sheet to assist the medical evacuation when needed.

Note: The person transmitting the CONTACREP must be prepared to authenticate if operating over an uncovered net. This is especially the case if the patrol is requesting emergency extraction, immediate suppression, medical evacuation, or reinforcement.

The Marine planning version BAMCIS:

Begin Planning
Arrange for Reconnaissance
Make Reconnaissance
Complete the Plan
Issue the Order
Supervise

Wolfhag

One advantage of European MG's like the GPMG they can fire Bipod or Tripod. Tripods and fixed lines are, as I can see it, critical to a fixed defense. Otherwise simple smoke negates the advantage of a dug in position. Surprisingly the US (manual 21-75) even have fixed line rifle fire using Y shaped twigs/branches. (page 2-13).

Wolf … Seems similar to the Army's … as we have similar missions, etc.

Tripods and fixed lines are, as I can see it, critical to a fixed defense

Yes as I posted, we normally used the tripod + T&E in a deliberate defense.

Otherwise simple smoke negates the advantage of a dug in position.

Sometimes, that is weather & terrain dependent. But as we know smoke is concealment not cover. However, smoke used at the right place, at the right time can be very effective.

fixed line rifle fire using Y shaped twigs/branches.

That is just another option, etc. But we rarely if ever used that … It was very rarely even mentioned.

However, just like a bipod, e.g. the M16 had a "close pin" bipod. But even those were rarely used. But a bipod or Y shaped twig may make the weapon more accurate. Based on who is firing it, etc.

Legion,
In my time the Marine TO&E had an "Automatic Rifleman" in each Fire Team who was supposed to get the folding bipod but we hardly ever got them, just something else that would get lost. The M60 bipod was attached to the barrel.

We never used the Y shaped twigs, too hard to find. We put an aiming stake (anything straight you could stick in the ground)in the ground for FPF. When you saw the star shell signal for FPF you angled your rifle against it and fired without selecting a target. The idea was for the enemy to run a gauntlet of interlocking fire before getting into close combat. For night attacks the Japs would probe the Marine lines in an attempt to get the MG's to fire so they could target them in the main attack.

The US M-1919 did later get a bipod and the M60 had a tripod and bipod. If an MG team had time to dig a "U" shaped fighting position the gunner could easily cover his frontal 180 degrees with a tripod or bipod without needing to relocate the entire gun. An MG team might have 4 guys so it could be done fairly quickly.

Some illustrations: link

Wolfhag

In my time the Marine TO&E had an "Automatic Rifleman" in each Fire Team who was supposed to get the folding bipod but we hardly ever got them, just something else that would get lost.

When I first got to the 101 in '80. We had two M16s/squad with the close pin bipod as the designated Sqd AR man. Eventually the ARMY units got the M249 SAW. That was a year or two after I rotated out of the 101. And went to the 2ID.

The M60 bipod was attached to the barrel.

Yes you couldn't loose that !

We never used the Y shaped twigs,

As I said it was rarely even mentioned. But I'm sure some of the troops may have tried it.

We put an aiming stake (anything straight you could stick in the ground)in the ground for FPF. When you saw the star shell signal for FPF you angled your rifle against it and fired without selecting a target.

Yes we did similar. And used limiting stakes, i.e. twigs to limit the traverse of the M60. When setting up an L-Shape Ambush, etc.

the M60 had a tripod and bipod. If an MG team had time to dig a "U" shaped fighting position the gunner could easily cover his frontal 180 degrees with a tripod or bipod without needing to relocate the entire gun. An MG team might have 4 guys so it could be done fairly quickly.

We did similar but our MG crews were usually only 2 men. The M60 was 1/Sqd.

The same goes for our M2 .50, usually stay mounted on the track. But usually dug in when in a deliberate defense. Using it's tripod + T&E.