Tactical Tasks and Operations

Flashcards covering tactical tasks, terrain-oriented tasks, friendly-oriented tasks, purpose words, types of operations, forms of maneuver, and essential fire support tasks.

Ambush

A surprise attack by fire from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy.

Attack by Fire

Fires (direct or indirect) to destroy the enemy from a distance, normally used when the mission does not require or support occupation of the objective.  This task is normally given to the supporting effort and as ctr attk option for a reserve in the defense.  The cmdr must specify intent of fire (destroy, fix, neutralize, suppress)

Block

To deny enemy access to a given area or to prevent enemy advance in a given direction or AA.  It may be for a specified time and units may have to retain terrain.

Breach

To break through or secure a passage through natural or man-made obstacle.

Bypass

To maneuver around an obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain the momentum of advance.  Unreported obstacles or bypassed enemy are reported up.

Canalize

The use of existing or reinforcing obstacles or fires to restrict enemy operations in a narrow zone.

Contain

To stop, hold, or surround enemy forces, or to keep the enemy in a given area and prevent his withdrawing.

Defeat

To disrupt or nullify the enemy commander's plan and overcome his will to fight, thus making him unwilling or unable to persue his adopted COAs and yield to friendly Cmdr's will.

Destroy

Physically rendering an enemy force combat-ineffective unless reconstituted.

Disrupt

To integrate fires and obstacles to break apart an enemy's formation and tempo, interrupt his timetable, cause premature commitment, or piecemealing forces.

Exploit

Take full advantage of success in battle and follow up on initial gains, designed to disorganize the enemy in-depth.

Feint

An offensive action involving contact with the enemy to deceive him.

Fix

To prevent the enemy from moving any part of his forces either from a specific location or fora specific period of time by holding or surroungding them to prevent withdrawal.

Guard

To protect the main force by fighting to gain time, while observing and reporting information.

Interdict

An action to divert, disrupt, delay, or destroy the enemy’s surface military potential before it can be used effectively against friendly forces.

Isolate

To seal off an enemy from his sources of support, to deny freedom of movement, and prevent contact with other forces.

Neutralize

To render the enemy or his resources ineffective or unusable.

Protect

To prevent observation, engagement, or interference with a force or location.

Reconnoiter

To obtain, by visual observation or other methods, information about activities and resources of an enemy.

Rupture

To create a gap in enemy defensive positions quickly.

Screen

To observe, identify, and report information, and fight in self-protection.

Clear

The removal of enemy forces and elimination of organized resistance in an assigned zone, area, or location by destroying, capturing, or forcing the withdrawal of enemy forces that could interfere with the unit’s ability to accomplish its mission.

Control

To maintain physical influence by occupation or range of weapon systems over the activities or access to a defined area.

Occupy

To move onto an objective, key terrain or other man-made or natural terrain without opposition and control the entire area.

Retain

To occupy and hold a terrain feature and ensure it is free of enemy occupation or use.

Secure

To gain possession of a position or terrain feature, with or without force and to prevent its destruction or loss to enemy action. The attacking force may or may not have to physically occupy the area.

Seize

To clear a designated area and gain control of it.

Support by Fire

Where a force engages the enemy by direct fire to support a maneuvering force using overwatch or by establishing a base of fire. The supporting force does not capture enemy or terrain.

Counter-reconnaissance

All measures taken to prevent hostile observation of a force, area, or place.

Disengage

To break contact with the enemy and move to a point where the enemy cannot observe not engage the unit by direct fire.

Displace

To leave one position and take another. Forces may be displaced laterally to concentrate combat power in threatened areas.

Exfiltrate

The removal of personnel or units from areas under enemy control.

Follow and Assume

An operations in which a committed force follows a force conducting an offensive operation and is prepared to continue the mission of the force it is following when that force is fixed, attrited, or otherwise unable to continue.  Such a force is not a reserve but is committed to accomplish specified tasks.

Follow and Support

A committed force follows and supports mission accomplishment of a force conducting an offensive operation.  Not a reserve, but is committed to - Destroying bypassed units, relieve in place any direct pressure or encircling force that is halted to contain an enemy, block enemy reinforcements; secure LOCs, guard EPWs, key areas, and installations; secure key terrain; and control refugees.

Link up

A meeting of friendly ground forces.