PATROLLING

Introduction Patrolling keeps the enemy off balance and adds an offensive punch to the defense. It is therefore an integral part of our war fighting philosophy. When we are not actively fighting the enemy, we are actively seeking the enemys location.

This keeps the enemy off balance while we make preparations for further attacks. Physically locating the enemy and keeping him off balance are normally accomplished by small units ranging from a two-man scouting party to a squad-size patrol. Troop are sent out as scouts or members of a

patrol because the commander needs information about the enemy, the ground that is to be fought on, and the location of the friendly troops. The lives of the entire unit may depend upon the success or failure of a patrol and the accuracy and timeliness of their reporting. The success of

the patrol depends heavily on individual and unit training, the preparation by the commander, and the patrols understanding of their mission and the requirements of their higher commander.

Patrolling is a means for units to ensure security and to gather information on areas not occupied or observed by friendly forces. Every member should understand the basics of patrolling. It is a crucial skill to master regardless of MOS, as it develops small unit leaders and

teaches sound field skills. Noninfantry units, as we have recently seen in Southeast Asia and Somalia, are often tasked with conducting patrolling operations.

PATROLLING

DEFINITION A. Is a military tactic. Small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return. The tactic of patrolling maybe applied to ground troops, armoured units, naval units and combat aircraft.

The duration of a patrol will vary from a few hours to several weeks depending on the nature of the objective and the types of the units involved. There are several types of patrol each with a different objective. The most common is to collect information by carrying out a

reconnaissance patrol. Such patrol may try to remain covert and observe an enemy without themselves being detected. Other reconnaissance patrols are overt, especially those that interact with the civilian population. B. A patrol is a detachment sent out from a larger unit to perform an assigned mission of combat operations, reconnaissance, or a combination of both.

PATROLS

PATROLS ARE MISSIONS TO GATHER INFORMATION OR TO CONDUCT COMBAT OPERATIONS.

TYPES OF PATROLS
TYPES:

FIGHTING PATROL CLEARING PATROL STANDING PATROL RECONNAISANCE (RECCE) AREA RECONNAISSANCE ZONE RECONNAISSANCE RAID AMBUSH ANTI ARMOR AMBUSH SECURITY PATROL

FIGHTING PATROL

Is a group with sufficient size (usually a platoon or company) and resources to raid or ambush a specific enemy. It primarily differs from an attack in that the aim is not to hold the ground.

CLEARING PATROL

Is a brief patrol around a newly occupied defensive position in order to ensure that the immediate area is secure.

STANDING PATROL

Is a static patrol, probably known as an OP/LP (observation post/listening post) in US and NATO terminology. Are usually small (half section/section). Static patrols are intended to provide early warning, security, or to guard some geographical feature, such as dead ground.

RECONNAISSANCE PATROL

Is a patrol, usually small whose main mission is the gathering of information. Generally speaking recce patrols tend to avoid contact, although it is not completely unknown for recon patrols to fight for information.

AREA RECONNAISSANCE

CONDUCTED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING A SPECIFIC LOCATION AND THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND IT. THE LOCATION OF THE OBJECTIVE IS DESIGNATED BY EITHER GRID COORDINATES OR A MAP OVERLAY WITH A BOUNDARY LINE ENCIRCLING THE AREA.

ZONE RECONNAISSANCE

CONDUCTED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON ALL ENEMY, TERRAIN AND ROUTES WITH IN A SPECIFIC ZONE. THE ZONE IS DEFINED BY BOUNDARIES.

RAID

CONDUCTED BY A PATROL TO ATTACK OR DESTROY A POSITION OR INSTALLATION, OR CAPTURE TROOPS, EQUIPMENT AND OR LIBERATE PERSONNEL.

AMBUSH

A surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted target. POINT AMBUSH is one in which troops deploy to attack a single kill zone. AREA AMBUSH is one in which troops are deployed as multiple related point ambushes. HASTY AMBUSH is an immediate action drill. DELIBERATE AMBUSH is planned as a specific action against a certain target.

ANTI ARMOR AMBUSH

A SURPRISE ATTACK FROM A CONCEALED POSITION ON AN ARMORED FORCE.

SECURITY PATROL

PROVIDE FRONT, FLANK AND REAR SECURITY TO PREVENT INFILTRATION AND SURPRISE ATTACKS

PRINCIPLES FOR COMBAT PATROLS

5 BASIC PRINCIPLES: SECURITY

SURPRISE COORDINATED FIRE VIOLENCE CONTROL

TASK ORGANIZATIONS BY LEADER

SPECIAL TEAMS:
AID AND LITTER TEAM ENEMY PRISONER OF WAR TEAM COMPASS MAN PACE MAN SURVEILLANCE TEAM EN ROUTE RECORDER

INITIAL PLANNING COORDINATION

CHANGES, UPDATES OF ENEMY SITUATION BEST USE OF TERRAIN ROUTE LIGHT, WEATHER DATA CHANGES IN THE FRIENDLY SITUATION ATTACHMENTS OF SOLDIERS WITH SPECIAL SKILLS (ENGINEERS, PAO, FO) DEPARTURE/REENTRY OF FRIENDLY LINES FIRE SUPPORT REHEARSAL AREA AND TIME SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED TRANSPORTATION SIGNAL PLAN

WARNING ORDER

SITUATION
MISSION GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

PATROLLING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

ASSEMBLY AREA (AA) INITIAL RALLY POINT (IRP) FORWARD PASSAGE OF LINES DESIGNATE RALLY POINTS ALONG ROUTE OBJECTIVE RALLY POINT ACTIONS ON THE OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE RALLY POINT (ORP) DESIGNATE RALLY POINTS ALONG ROUTE REENTRY RALLY POINT REARWARD PASSAGE OF LINES (REENTRY) ASSEMBLY AREA

FRIENDLY UNIT COORDINATION

PATROL LEADER IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AND HIS UNIT SIZE OF PATROL TIME OF DEPARTURE AND RETURN AREA OF PATROLS OPERATION

FRIENDLY UNIT COORDINATION

FORWARD UNIT INFORMATION ON TERRAIN KNOWN OR SUSPECTED ENEMY POSITIONS LIKELY ENEMY AMBUSH SITES DETAILED INFORMATION ON FRIENDLY POSITIONS OBSTACLE LOCATIONS FIRE PLAN SUPPORT THE UNIT CAN FURNISH SIGNAL PLAN LOCATION OF THE FOLLOWING: DETRACKING POINT INITIAL RALLY POINT DEPARTURE POINT REENTRY POINT

RALLY POINTS
USED SO PATROL CAN ASSEMBLE AND REORGANIZE IF DISPERSED DURING MOVEMENT CAN TEMPORARILY HALT TO REORGANIZE AND PREPARE PRIOR TO ACTIONS ON THE OBJECTIVE PATROL CAN TEMPORARILY HALT TO PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE AND REENTRY OF FRIENDLY LINES RALLY POINTS SHOULD BE: LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE PATROL TO ASSEMBLE IN EASILY RECOGNIZED ON THE GROUND HAVE COVER AND CONCEALMENT DEFENSIBLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AWAY FROM NORMAL ROUTES OF TROOP MOVEMENT

RECONNAISSANCE PATROLS AREA RECON SURVEILLANCE/VANTAGE POINT METHOD ZONE RECON - Conducted to obtain information on all enemy, terrain and routes within a specific zone. The zone is defined by boundaries. FAN METHOD CONVERGING ROUTE METHOD SUCCESSIVE SECTOR METHOD