Patrolling

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Patrolling
5th (Cadet) Battalion R Welsh 3 Star
Cadre

• Ambushes

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Ambushes

• Often carried out as part of a patrol
• An ambush is
• A surprise attack
• By a force lying in wait
• Upon a moving or temporarily halted enemy
• Usually brief
• Conducted at close quarters

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Types of Ambush

• Deliberate
• With time to plan in advance
• Immediate
• In response to hot information
• Contact with the enemy
• No time for recce
• E.g. If you suspect you are being followed when
  on patrol

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Ambush Sites

• The best places for an ambush site will include
• Known enemy routes
• Known admin/supply/water points, food or ammo
  dumps, approaches to villages
• Where the terrain changes edge of wood, valley
  with steep sides, bend in track, river crossing
• Approaches to own posns
• Route out or back

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Characteristics of a good site

• Covered approach
• Good fields of fire for you
• Good fire positions
• Cover, good natural camouflage
• Bad fields of fire for the enemy
• Few escape routes for the enemy
• Good withdrawal routes

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Principles of ambush

• Good intelligence to ensure contact and success
• Thorough planning prep
• Security not to give away site of ambush
• Concealment good track discipline
• Good control and communications
• Discipline alert, no noise, restricted movement
• Safety arcs ( real safety distances)

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The Deliberate Ambush

• Ambush is made up of
• The ambush group
• The main fire group, springs the ambush
• Contains the commander and main fire power
• Cut off/stop groups
• Give warning of enemy approach
• Cut off lines of retreat
• Protect flanks from counter attack
• Rear RV
• Point to which each group will withdraw after the
  ambush, provides support for the ambush party

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Planning

• The Ambush will often be the task of a fighting
  patrol
• It will be planned in detail as part of the
  patrol preparation
• Rehearsals will include ambush specific Actions
  such as

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Actions

• Action at FRV
• Action in the Ambush Site
• Action on approach of enemy
• Action on 1st signal to withdraw
• Action on 2nd signal to withdraw
• Action in FRV

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Action at FRV inc.

• Occupation of FRV
• Entry OOM
• Positions and arcs of fire
• Sentries
• Action if surprised
• Final close recce of ambush site
• Action if recce party does not return
• Final confirmation orders in FRV
• Brief and last min changes only

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Action in Ambush Site

• Occupation of the ambush site
• OOM
• Method of entry
• Positions and arcs
• Laying comms cord
• Signal for Ambush Set

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Action on approach of enemy

• Warning from cut off groups to Comd
• Other groups warned
• Commander springs the ambush by firing or signal
  to LSW gunner to fire
• 1st signal to stop firing
• 2nd signal to stop firing
• Search party if required

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Action in FRV

• Signal to withdraw given
• OOM
• Action in FRV
• Reorg
• Check numbers, weapons
• Re-distribute ammo
• Prep to move
• All done very quickly
• Move off

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Patrol arrives in FRV Adopts all round
defence Comd checks arcs Moves off on Final
close recce of ambush site
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Ambush occupied
Comms Cord laid
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Signal given Ambush set
Silence no movement Discipline v
important Careful observation
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Other cut off and rear RV warned of enemy approach
Cut off signals approach of enemy
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Main body of enemy caught in ambush
FLARE
FLARE
FLARE
Commander springs ambush by opening fire.
Rear RV party might provide light by firing flares
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Enemy in cover
Enemy caught in cut-offs
Commander signals STOP
Patrol stops firing and observes
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Enemy believes patrol has withdrawn and is caught
when they move off
Commander signals patrol to withdraw
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Patrol checked into Rear RV
Move off quickly when ready
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Conclusion

• An ambush is
• A surprise attack
• By a force lying in wait
• Upon a moving or temporarily halted enemy
• Usually brief
• Conducted at close quarters
• Requires careful planning and preparation
• Discipline