This document outlines immediate action drills for foot patrols encountering ambushes or chance contact with the enemy. There are two types of ambushes discussed - near ambushes with close-range fire, and far ambushes with longer range fire. The drills instruct patrols in a near ambush to immediately assault into the ambush position, while in a far ambush men in the killing zone return fire and seek cover. For chance contact, the drills are an immediate assault to break contact defensively or decisively engage the enemy offensively. Silent signals are also outlined to halt a patrol or initiate these drills without noise.
This document outlines immediate action drills for foot patrols encountering ambushes or chance contact with the enemy. There are two types of ambushes discussed - near ambushes with close-range fire, and far ambushes with longer range fire. The drills instruct patrols in a near ambush to immediately assault into the ambush position, while in a far ambush men in the killing zone return fire and seek cover. For chance contact, the drills are an immediate assault to break contact defensively or decisively engage the enemy offensively. Silent signals are also outlined to halt a patrol or initiate these drills without noise.
This document outlines immediate action drills for foot patrols encountering ambushes or chance contact with the enemy. There are two types of ambushes discussed - near ambushes with close-range fire, and far ambushes with longer range fire. The drills instruct patrols in a near ambush to immediately assault into the ambush position, while in a far ambush men in the killing zone return fire and seek cover. For chance contact, the drills are an immediate assault to break contact defensively or decisively engage the enemy offensively. Silent signals are also outlined to halt a patrol or initiate these drills without noise.
From Combat Training of the Individual Soldier and Patrolling, July 1967
Signals Counter-ambush Drills
There are no standard silent signals for freeze, hasty ambush, When a patrol is ambushed, the immediate action drill used is and all clear. The standard silent signals for halt and enemy in determined by whether the ambush is near or far sight (with direction indicated) require exaggerated arm motions In a near ambush, the killing zone is under very heavy, highly con- which increase the danger of detection. centrated, close-range fires. There is little time or space for men The special silent signals shown in figure 94 may be used to to maneuver or seek cover. The longer they remain in the killing halt a patrol in place, to indicate detection and direction of the zone, the more certain their destruction. Therefore, if attacked by a enemy, to initiate. the drills discussed here, and to indicate that near ambush react as follows: all is clear. 1. Men in the killing zone, without order or signal, immediately Units designing other immediate action drills should devise and assault directly into the ambush position, occupy it, and use special silent signals only when there are no appropriate continue the attack or break contact, as directed. This action standard signals. moves them out of the killing zone, prevents other elements of the ambush from firing on them without firing on their own Immediate Halt Drill men, and provides positions from which other actions may be taken. When the situation requires the immediate, in place halt of the patrol, the immediate action drill freeze is used. This is the situa- 2. Men not in the killing zone maneuver against the attack force tion when the patrol detects the enemy but is not itself detected. and other elements of the ambush, as directed. The first man detecting the enemy (visually or otherwise) gives 3. The attack is continued to eliminate the ambush or to break the special silent signal. FREEZE. Every man halts in place. contact as directed. weapon at the ready, and remains absolutely motionless and quiet until further signals or orders are given. In a far ambush, the killing zone is also under very heavy, highly concentrated fires, but from a greater range. This greater range Chance Contact Drills provides men in the killing zone some space for maneuver and some opportunity to seek cover at a lesser risk of destruction. Hasty Ambush. This immediate action drill is both a defensive Therefore, if attacked by a far ambush react as follows; measure used to avoid contact and an offensive measure to make contact. It may often be a subsequent action freeze. When 1. Men in the killing zone, without order or signal, immediately special silent signal hasty ambush is given (by point, patrol leader, return fire, take the best available positions, and continue fir- or another authorized man), the entire patrol moves quickly to ing until directed otherwise. the right or left of line of movement, as indicated by signal, and 2. Men not in the killing zone maneuver against the ambush takes up the best available concealed firing positions. The patrol force, as directed. leader initiates am bush by opening fire and shouting, “Fire.” This insures initiation of the ambush if his weapon misfires. If the patrol 3. The attack is continued to eliminate the ambush or to break is detected before this, the first man aware of detection initiates contact, as directed. ambush by firing and shouting. 1. When used as a defensive measure to avoid contact, ambush is not initiated unless the patrol is detected. 2. When used as an offensive measure, the enemy is allowed to advance until he is in the most vulnerable position before the ambush is initiated. 3. An alternate means for initiating the ambush is to designate an individual (for example, point or last man) to open fire a certain portion of the enemy reaches or passes him. Immediate Assault. This immediate action drill is used, defensively, to make and quickly break undesired but unavoidable contact (in- cluding ambush), and, offensively, to decisively engage the enemy (including ambush). When used in chance contact, men nearest the enemy open fire and shout, “Contact, Front (Right, Left, or Rear).” The patrol moves swiftly into line formation and assaults. 1. When used defensively, the assault is stopped if the enemy withdraws and contact is broken quickly. If the enemy stands fast, the assault is carried through enemy positions and move- ment is continued until contact is broken. 2. When used offensively, the enemy is decisively engaged. Any one attempting to escape is pursued and destroyed.