Convoy Operations and TTPs

1
Convoy Operations and TTPs

• Lessons Learned during
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• HHC, Task Force 2-69 Armor

2
Threat

• Unconventional (Irregular) Forces
• 1-2 of the Population
• Cannot identify until they attack
• They want to kill Americans
• Looking for soft (easy) targets to attack
• Will avoid hard targets
• Not seeking his or her own death

3
Threat (cont.)

• They are always watching and assessing every
  moment of every day
• They are intelligent
• Know U.S. patches, designators, and equipment
• Use this knowledge to adapt their own TTPs

4
Enemy TTPs

• Sniper fire from building
• Random fire from building or clusters of
  buildings
• Buildings sometimes (often) near other civilians
  not involved in the attack
• RPG fire against convoys of soft skinned vehicles

5
Enemy TTPs (cont.)

• Explosive Devices
• Command detonated on roads, bridges,
  intersections, overpasses or tunnels (choke
  points)
• Pressure activated on roads in plastic bags or
  buried
• Manually thrown
• From same direction vehicles
• From overpasses
• From side of road
• Suicide Bombers
• Personnel
• Vehicle

6
Enemy TTPs (cont.)

• Disrupt U.S. convoys with vehicles
• Prior to attack to slow us down
• Civilians block traffic in the road
• They know where we need to slow down
• Hard Ball Road to Unimproved Surface
• Intersections
• Linear Ambushes (command executed)
• Observers advise ambush
• Flares to trigger

7
Enemy TTPs (cont.)

• Small arms and RPG fire generally directed at
  lead or trail vehicle
• RPG usually directed at trail vehicle

8
Enemy Goals

• Stop Your Movement
• Isolate Soft Targets From Hard Targets
• Kill Americans
• Try to break our resolve
• Make a political statement

9
Considerations

• Individual discipline at all times
• Weapon Orientation
• Security is everyones business
• Security at halts and work sites
• Mounted vs. Dismounted OPs and Security
• Vigilance on security and OPs
• 360 degree security during movement, halts and
  work sites.

10
Considerations (cont.)

• Likely forms of contact
• Direct Fire (Sniper, RPG, Ambush)
• Indirect Fire (Mortars)
• Obstacles (Man Made or Human)
• Explosive Devices
• Visual Contact
• THE ENEMY UNDERSTANDS AND RESPECTS FORCE!

11
Our TTPs

• Convoy Configuration
• Support Platoon Leader or Scout Section Leader
• Crew Served Weapon (Mounted)
• Company Commander (Convoy Commander)
• Element
• Element Leader
• 1SG (Asst. Convoy Commander)
• Element
• Element Leader
• Recovery
• Recovery/Maint. OIC/NCOIC (XO, BMO, or BMS)
• Rear Security

12
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Distribute crew served weapons throughout the
  convoy
• Heavy toward front and rear
• Weapon Orientation
• If vehicle has hatch or ring mount, USE IT!
• Even if you do not have crew served weapon
• TC out of hatch with personal weapon

13
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Uniform Standards at all times
• DCU Complete
• LBV/E Complete
• Flak Jacket/OTV
• Helmet
• Weapon at the ready

14
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Trail vehicle will provide rear security
• M998 or M35 with personnel in the back
• Orient weapon systems to the rear
• Each vehicle watches the 6 of the vehicle they
  are following

15
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Actions with a Breakdown
• Key leader IDs breakdown and reports to CO
• CO halts or slows convoy based on situation
• Key leader remains with breakdown
• Recovery moves forward and assesses the situation
  with breakdown
• If mission/tactical situation warrants, continue
  movement, then key leader becomes responsible for
  security, recovery, and continued movement to
  destination

16
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Actions at Short Halt
• Halt in column or herringbone based on the
  situation (typically column in Iraq)
• Driver remains in vehicle with engine running
• TC dismounts and pulls local security (staggered)
• If TC has crew served weapon, stay mounted and
  stagger orientation with other crew served weapon
  systems in convoy

17
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Trail Element Pulls Rear Security
• When resuming movement, TC re-mounts and
  maintains movement standards

18
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Actions on Direct Contact
• RETURN FIRE - Extremely effective
• Continue to move
• Do Not Stop!! They want you to do this
• If vehicle or personnel are hit, continue to move
  out of kill sack
• Do not be afraid to shoot
• Considerations
• Surface Danger Zones (SDZs)
• 3500 m max range of 5.56mm
• 6000m max range of .50 cal

19
Our TTPs

• Target area - anyone not stopping enemy activity
  is enabling that activity
• This makes returning fire morally right
• RAMP principles
• Return Fire with Aimed Fire
• Anticipate Attack
• Measured Response (Proportionality)
• Protect US Lives and Mission Essential Property
  with deadly force

20
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Indirect Fire/Explosive Devices
• Continue to Move
• Area is probably targeted by mortars, other
  explosive devices, or enemy personnel
• Look for M203 type grenade launchers, command
  detonation of devices, etc.
• If you ID a target, engage it with accurate and
  deadly fire

21
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Obstacles (Man made)
• ID as far away as possible
• Halt outside of kill sack
• ID bypass or enemy activity in area
• Determine if it is possible to pass thru or
  bypass
• Anticipate and prepare for an attack either way
• If you ID enemy, engage with aimed fire
• Do Not Breech - Not your mission

22
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Obtacles (Human - Civilian or Protestors)
• ID as far away as possible
• If no bypass, then short halt
• Based on size, execute call forward drill
• CO moves forward with appropriate number of TCs,
  based on situation
• TCs responsible for maintaining security and
  stand-off distance with human obstacle

23
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Key Leader or CO directs ONE civilian (the
  leader) to approach the security line, ALONE
• Ensure all friendly personnel clear of crew
  served weapons and other lines of fire
• CO gets Human Obstacle to displace or determines
  to force the convoy thru
• You are not PSYOPS or CA - it is not your job to
  meet their demands - your job is to get them to
  displace, then keep moving

24
Our TTPs (cont.)

• Remember, you are working to get them out of your
  way
• Do not appease, feed, or give them anything
• If they do not disband, you must force your way
  thru - tough to execute, but it is feasible
• Warning shots may help, but they could incite a
  riot.
• Smoke Grenades have worked very well so far
• Remember - this obstacle may be linked to enemy
  activity - They want you to stop!

25
Our TTPs

• Visual Contact
• If enemy poses a threat, anticipate an attack.
  Engage with aimed and deadly fires
• Person on the Gun/Weapon System makes the
  decision to shoot or not. If they perceive a
  threat, they eliminate that threat

26
Other Considerations

• Ammunition Status
• Red rounds loaded
• Yellow magazine loaded, chamber clear
• Green magazines out, chamber clear
• Weapons Control Status
• Hold Engage only if engaged (threat) or ordered
  to do so
• Tight Engage if target is positively identified
  as enemy
• Free Engage unless target is positively
  identified as friendly
• .50 Cal, M240B, M249 TTP
• Belt inserted, feed tray closed, bolt forward
• Do not carry weapons on anything but safe - you
  will transition at the moment of truth