The purpose of attack is to close with and destroy the enemy or to capture terrain done by a combination of fire power and manoeuvre. The destruction of enemy can best be achieved by concentrating superior combat power at the point of attack. This aided by surprise which give the attacker the initiative and will provide an element of security.

 

TYPES OF ATTACK

 

Quick attack. Takes advantage of the relative unpreparedness of the enemy or capitalize on a tactical advantage. Less preparation but greater degree of decentralization of control. Speed is essential and the need to mount an attack quickly may reduce the time available for reconnaissance and rehearsal.  

 

Deliberate attack. Against the highly organize defenses, which involves detailed planning and coordination of all available resources. Necessitates a full study of all intelligence and detailed reconnaissance. It requires full coordination and detail planning of all resources.

 

STAGES OF ATTACKStage

 

1 . Preparatory.Stage

2 . The Assault.Stage

3 . Exploitation.Stage

4 . Reorganization.

 

Preparatory Stages

 

Some preparation for an attack can be undertaken on the receipt of warning order. However, before detailed preparation can begin, the commander must prepare his plan and his orders. Orders from the formation commander will include: 

- Grouping. 

- Objective. 

- Boundaries. 

- Key timings.

 

When the battalion attacks as part of the formation attack the following additional items are normally included: 

- Location for assembly area, FUP/LD and the routes. 

- Details of the formation of fire plan. 

- Rates of advance. 

- Details of rehearsal.

 

CO warn his OGp of the impending operations by issuing a warning order. This information then is used to warn the soldiers of the impending operation. Preparatory stage begins with the issue of a warning order and end when the battle procedure has completed.Once CO has decided on his aim but before he can plan his attack, he must gain the fullest possible information regarding the enemy defensive layout. CO will supply all confirm all the information and consider all factors and then decide to plan. For a quick attack the plan may result from little more than a mental appreciation of the situation by the CO. For a deliberate attack a more detailed appreciation is necessary. After issue a warning order, CO will make a map appreciation and reconnaissance plan from maps and air photographs. When it has been possible to include sufficient detail in the battalion warning order, a company reconnaissance group will carry out simultaneous preliminary reconnaissance. The main sources of information will be the same in both quick and deliberate attack but more detail appreciation will be possible in the preparation of deliberate attack. The plan for the reconnaissance aims at obtaining the maximum possible information in the minimum time. Great care must be taken therefore, in planning the routes to be used, the time to be spent on each task by which the reconnaissance should be complete.

 

 

Factors In Planning The Attack

 

Enemy.Intelligence assessment will need to be continually reviewed and suggest the current deployment of the enemy and forecast his likely intentions

 

Ground. Up-to-date information is needed about the ground include obstacles, going, routes, cover and distance.

 

Weather. Weather condition may influence the movement plan as they will affect the both going and the ability to exloit.

 

Air situation. The air situation includes the likelihood of local air superiority.

 

Objective. The battalion objective is normally selected by the formation commander.

 

Timing. Timing affected by a higher commander directive and the time needed for all the necessary things.

 

Surprise. Tactical surpise may attract benefits that would be lost if action action were delayed.

 

Grouping and the allocation troop to task. Once the objective have been clearly determined. CO must decide the composition and size of the forced necessary to capture them.

 

Axis. The axis of attack will be determined after considering theobjective and the approach.

 

Boundaries. Used to define areas of responsibility and limits of movements for subunits.

 

Phases.  Whether the  attack must be conducted in phases  or not it will be determined  by the number of objective selected, the troops availability and the fire support.

 

Assembly area. The attacking troops organize for the attack. The following battle procedure will usually occur : 

- checking of arms and equipment. 

- checking of radio sets and communication. 

- Liaison and marrying up with supporting arms. 

- Arrangements for having a meal.

 

The FUP. Must secure from direct enemy action. Defilade from direct fire and observation. Sufficiently large for the deployment of the force and as close to the objective as enemy observation and small arm fire allow.

 

The LD. Crossed by the assault forces at H-Hour. From the LD forward the timing or the supporting fire is coordinated with the rates of movements of the assaulting troops.

 

Rate of advance. Laid down to assist coordination between the manoeuvre and fire plan. It may differ during various phases.

 

Fire plan. The coordination of all available fire from artillery, mortars, machine guns, AFV and aircraft as part of the attack plan.

 

 

THE ASSAULT

 

Fighting through the objective starts when dismounted infantry come under accurate small arms fire from objective. The attack must continue until the final objective is captured. In the latter stages of the assault, as the force is fighting its way through the objective, opposition must be expected from enemy who has been previously unlocated. Commanders must continually pass back information on the progress of the attack, as it is on this information that the higher commander initiates further plans. They must report : 

- Arrival of leading troops on the objective. 

- When the objective is secured. 

- Enemy action.

 

EXPLOITATION

Exploitation is conducted to take advantage of success in battle and to follow up initial gains. It enable attacking forces to retain the initiative by preventing the enemy from reorganizing his defence, withdraw, or counter attack. The exploitation stage is part of the whole operation and the factors to be considered in its planning have been discussed previously. Whether the battalion exploitation plan is executed will depend largely on the success of the assault.

 

REORGANIZATION

 

As objective is captured it must immediately be organized for defence agains a likely counter attack and as a firm base for further operation. The reorganization must be supported by artillery and mortar defensive fire task. The following actions take place once objective is captured:

- Commanders coordinate their defensive layout.

- Troops starts digging in on the position allotted for reorganization.

- Commanders adjust and coordinate their fire plan.

- Patrol, sentries, listening post, and OP are established to give early warning of enemy

- Support weapon move forward as quickly as possible.

- Reorganization stores including ammunities are moved forward in the required sequence.

- Casualties are collected and evacuated.

 

POW are evacuated CO Once all objective have been secured, CO must quickly:

- Establish on the spot control.

- Confirm the position of his headquarters so that it can dug in if need be.

- Make any adjustment necessary to the reorganization plan including coordination between localities.

- Reassess and modify exploitation plan if required.

 

NIGHT ATTACK

 

Night attack may be made in preference to a daylight attack to:

-Take advantage of an immediate tactical situation which may not exist the next day.-Achieve greater surprise.

- Minimize the effect of enemy aimed fire and air attack.

- Reduce the possibility of an armoured counter attack before reorganization is complete.

- Maintain the momentum.

 

The stages and conduct of the night attack are similar to those for a daylight operation. However, certain factors require particular attention namely:

a) Simplicity of plan. Simple plan will assist in control which is most difficult to achieve at night.

b) Best possible information and reconnaissance. Detailed day and night reconnaissance if possible down to section level should be conducted before the attack.

c) Detailed preparation. To ensure that troops get onto their objectives and reorganize in the correct location, preparation must be through and detailed rehearsal are needed.

 

Method of Night Attack

 

a) Silent Attack. Normally used to increase the chances of tactical surprise. It is launched in complete silence but it becomes noisy once tactical surprise is lost. A silence night attack usually requires the following circumstances:

 

•The assaulting troops be highly trained and preferably experience in night operations.

•The going is suitable for silent movement, or the weather conditions are such that they shield the attacking force activities.

•The enemy is not active in the area over which the attack will be mounted, and friendly patrols must dominate no man’s land.

•Visibility must be poor and the efficiently of enemy night observation devices degraded.

•A known absence of anti-personal minefield.

•Special navigation aids are provided.

b)Noisy Attack. Uses all available support from the outset. This method is chosen when there is little chance of achieving surprise by stealth.

 

Stage 1 : the preparatory stage

 

The preparatory stage for a night attack is similar to the first stage of a daylight attack. The following special factors must be considered in planning:

 

A phase night attack is usually extreme difficult to conduct. Objective are more limited in frontage and depth than by the day because visual control is difficult to estimate. The rate of advange his much slowerat night depending on their terrain and visibility. Easily identify boundaries must be lain down the axis must be carefully selected by :

- Compass bearing.- Neutral artificial fire.

- Tracer bullets.

- Light flares.

- Tapes laid by navigation parties.

 

Tanks are best used on a separate axis to infantry on foot to shoot the infantry on to their objective by means only limited changes can be made to the planned attack.

 

Stage 2 : Assault stage

 

The movement to the objective requires detailed planning and close to ensurethat the assaulting troops maintain the formation.

 

Stage 3 : exploitation stages

 

At battalion level, exploitation in a night attack will be limited. Normally requires considerable flexibility on a manoeuvre and fire support.

 

Stage 4 : reorganization

 

There are no basic differences between day and night. The lack of visibility in mopping up emphasize the need for the following:

 

- Planning the reorganization in great detail.

- Companies and platoons reorganize where there are holding any area.

- High degree of all round defence.