reconnaissance and surveillance leader course the contemporary operating environment

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course

THECONTEMPORARY

OPERATINGENVIRONMENT


During the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), US forces and our coalition partners were faced with a committed, experienced, and more sophisticated enemy. The following class is a glimpse into the lessons learned while fighting the Taliban and al-Qaida in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan….


Terminal LearningObjective (TLO)

Action: Familiarize the recon and surveillance leader with the “Contemporary Operating Environment” (COE) and Anti-Coalition Militia (ACM) tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Condition: Given an intel handbook, group discussion, and slide presentation.

Standard: Score 70% on a 50 question multiple choice test.


Safety Requirements: General safety

Risk Assessment: Low

Environmental Considerations: If you brought in, take it with you!!

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated during a written exam and during the graded FTX.

General Admin


It’s the end of the world as we know it - and I feel fine. (R.E.M.)

The EnvironmentToday and Tomorrow


THE CHANGING THREAT

The Cold War

Globalization


Order of Battle

• Full Spectrum Operations• Social Fabric Issues• Implications for Training• Rules of Engagement?

Mugs

Thugs

CHANGE IN THREAT

Wackos


Russia

RegionalStability

Balkans

Iran NorthKorea

Drugs

Terrorism

FragileDemocracies

InternalStability

China


ACM TTPs

• Maneuver

• Fire Support

• Air Defense


Enabling LearningObjective A (ELO A)

Action: Identify the characteristics of ACM maneuver tactics, techniques, and procedures.




Maneuver

• Weapons• Ambush / urban ambush• Sniper ops• Raids• Individual / small team

tactics


PK – General Purpose Machine GunAKM - Automatic Kalashnikov

AK-47 - Automatic KalashnikovRPK – Light Machine Gun

ACM Small Arms


Recoilless Rifles• ACM tactics for recoilless rifles are similar to that of RPGs• Caches of large amounts of B10 rocket ammunition used in the recoilless rifles are

placed near potential firing positions• The following systems are used by ACM

- 90-mm recoilless rifle

- B-10 82-mm recoilless rifle

- SPG-9 73-mm recoilless rifle


Recoilless Rifles90-mm


Recoilless Rifles90-mm

• Not much information available regarding ACM tactics for using the 90-mm recoilless rifle

• Characteristics

- 36 lbs

- 450m max. effective range

- 2100m max range


Recoilless RiflesB-10 82-mm

Vehicle Mounted Tripod Mounted


Recoilless RiflesB-10 82-mm

• The “favorite weapon” of the Taliban in Afghanistan, however, rarely used against US and coalition forces

• Characteristics

- 109 lbs

- 450m max. effective range for high explosive antitank rounds (self destruct round)

- 4500m max. effective range for high explosive rounds (self destruct round)


Recoilless RiflesSPG-9 73-mm


Recoilless RiflesSPG-9 73-mm

• Not much information available regarding ACM tactics for using the SPG-9 73-mm recoilless rifle

• Characteristics

- 99 lb firing tube, 35 lb trailer, 27 lb tripod

- tube can be shoulder fired

- 800m max. effective range

- 4500m max. (self destruction of the round) effective range


RPG-7 – Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher

Rocket-Propelled Grenades


Rocket-Propelled Grenades• Designed to be used in an anti-armor roll, ACM use RPGs in various roles

- ambushes

- rotary wing aircraft

- limited fixed wing aircraft• RPGs display a back-blast and flash signature at launch

- rocket motor ignites approx. 20 meters after launch

- distinct puff of smoke appears as motor ignites


ACM RPG TTPs

• ACM usually deploy 2-man teams (1 gunner, 1 loader)• Gunners will sometimes wet the ground behind the firing position in an attempt to reduce backblast• Coalition flight plans are tracked as a basis for planning ACM attacks• Firing from high-ground, rooftops, and high-level windows are preferred techniques for firing RPGs• Some gunners use the RPGs 900m max range self-destruct feature to engage aircraft in flight or

unprotected ground troops


RPG Countermeasures

Two categories:

- Physical countermeasures

- Tactical countermeasures


RPG Countermeasures

Physical countermeasures:

- chain link fences

- berms

- sandbagging camps and individual positions

- reinforced bunkers

- natural obstacles (trees and shrubs can provide some degree of physical protection, but also reduce fields of fire)


RPG Countermeasures

Tactical countermeasures:

- suppressive fires on known or suspected firing positions

- speed of movement **

- varying speed of movement **

** avoids setting identifiable patterns of movement


Ambush

Conducted for harassment or resupply

- generally small scale and brief

- followed by rapid withdrawl

- when conducted for spoils, requires more personnel

- destroyed or abandoned vehicles are looted


Ambush

Consists of 2-15 personnel, up to 100-150 personnel

- observers, sometimes unarmed (children are sometimes used)

- firing element, “the ambush’s firepower”

- alert element, positioned along possible withdrawal routes

- reserve element, reinforces firing element or covers ambush element withdrawal


Urban Ambush• Provide ACM forces excellent opportunities to conduct both combat and non-combat activities• Population conceals planning and execution• Homes, businesses, religious, and government facilities may be used as covers• Most preferred technique - car bombing

- Detonation of 2 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) several minutes apart

- initial blast elicits emergency response

- second blast (larger) inflicts massive collateral damage

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader CourseAlong w/vehicular mounting, IED’s placed in soda cans, plastic bags, dead animals, along railroad tracks, dropped from an overpass and floating in on a barge.

D Cell Batteries

Car Alarm

Electric Blasting Cap

Explosive Charge

Firing Wire

D cell Batteries

Car Alarm

IEDs Found in Baghdad

Car Alarm w/ Batteries

Explosive Charge(s)Blasting Cap

Firing Wire


AmbushLessons Learned

• Advance recon of routes

- drive through is not enough

- R&S elements must secure entry and exit locations IVO suspected ambush sites

- all high ground must be cleared• Helicopter support is crucial

- narrow time gap between recon flight and point element of patrol/convoy


AmbushLessons Learned

• Continual use of same ambush sites

- Soviets paid the price

- ensure all resources are used when planning patrol routes (ie. historical

databases, obstacle overlays, etc.) • Avoid predictable and set patterns of movement


Sniper Operations

• US and coalition experience with ACM snipers has been minimal

• Little evidence of well trained snipers• Most sniper activity includes high volume of fires

that are poorly aimed• al-Qaida pose the biggest sniper threat


Sniper TTPs

• Boulders, shadows, cloaks, and blankets are typically used for concealment

• Underground water canals increase maneuverability• Integrated into ambushes on opposite side of the initial fire assault• Used in coordination with other attacks• Nighttime operations are generally employed for psychological effect


Sniper TTPs

• High powered weapons w/ telescopic sights are used to target rotary wing aircraft

• Bounties are offered for the killing or capture of coalition personnel

• Russian SVD is usually the weapon of choice, however AK-47/74s are sometimes used


Dragonov SVD – Sniper Rifle

Sniper Operations


Raids

• Usually conducted at night• Targets are usually looted for resupply• Intense surveillance conducted prior to moving on a target• Targets usually include non-government facilities due to poor security• Several probing attacks might precede the actual raid• Might be supported by indirect fire


Raids

Composition of an ACM raid

- Commander w/ body guards

- 3-4 scout observers

- 2-3 combat groups (6-8 men each)

- 1-2 mortar crew

- 1-2 DShK (or similar) machine gun team

- mine laying group (4-5 men)

- MANPAD SAMs and ZU-23s for air defense


Individual andSmall Team Tactics

• Individuals and small teams usually attempt to infiltrate the area near an installation

• Most attacks include firing from a distance with a rapid withdrawal from the area

• Target damage assessment is accomplished by a follow-on element• Once response patterns have been identified, follow-on attacks using

improvise explosive devices (IEDs) or ambushes occur


QUESTIONS???QUESTIONS???


10 Minute Break10 Minute Break


Enabling LearningObjective B (ELO B)

Action: Identify the characteristics of ACM fire support tactics, techniques, and procedures.




Fire Support

• Mortars

• Rockets

• Artillery


Mortars

• Principle ACM first response when coalition forces make contact with prepared defense

• Firing positions usually abandoned when coalition close air support approaches (systems left behind)

• ACM use higher elevation to increase field of observation• 60mm - found in caches but rarely used• 82mm - primary indirect-fire weapon used by ACM• 120mm - used but not preferred


82mm Mortar


82mm Mortar

Two firing methods

1. Indirect - ACM fighters fire from the reverse slope utilizing a forward observer

2. Direct observation - referred to as “disturbance firing”, the system is within line of sight of the target


82mm Mortar(cont.)

• ACM forces displace the system, carrying only the tube and bipod

• Base plates are sometimes cemented in place for future fire missions

• Systems are also abandoned while crews conduct resupply operations


82mm Mortar

The 82mm mortar is used for the following purposes:

- Covering for withdrawal

- Defending in fortified positions

- Supporting the attack

- Harassing fires

- Illumination rounds

- Pre-plotted targets

- Raids

- Ambushes


Rockets

ACM have no organized units, but they use 107-mm and 122mm rockets. Key points are as follows:

- Firing positions placed on high ground

- Crude, expedient launching methods

- Harassment fire is considered both valuable and accurate

- Cities and military bases are prime targets


107mm Rocket


107-mm Rocket

Characteristics:

- truck mounted, towed, portable variations

- transported by vehicle, man-pack, or animal

- max effective range of 8400m

- small area of level ground needed for firing

- 107mm rocket ammunition is easily obtained

- all rounds are high-explosive

- simple mortar sights used for target acquisition


107-mm Rocket

Characteristics (cont.):

- fired from reverse slope when possible

- can be fired from transport vehicle

- launchers typically fire 12 rounds, however, single tube variations are available

- ACM use improvised launchers (rock piles and crossed sticks)(makes time-delay firing possible)


122mm Rocket


122-mm Rocket

Two versions:

1. Long rocket - fired by the BM-21 truck-mounted launcher with four rows of 10 launch tubes with a range of approx. 20,380m

2. Short rocket - fired by smaller, more portable systems


122-mm Rocket

Man-portable versions:

- fire a short-range rocket (14,000m)

- variations include single, double, and 12-tube

- ideal for use in unconventional warfare where fire direction is simple

- 3-4 men used to transport launchers

- can be used in more restrictive firing positions

- expedient aiming methods

- range increases at higher altitude, but loses accuracy


Artillery

• ACM forces employ their artillery unconventionally• Target acquisition is done visually, without the use of computers• 122-mm D-30 Howitzer (M-1963)

- ACM primary artillery fire weapon

- towed, close support gun

- conventional range of 15,300 meters, direct fire range of 1000m

- placed under trees, in heavy brush, or in cave entrances to avoid detection


Enabling LearningObjective C (ELO C)

Action: Identify the characteristics of ACM air defense tactics, techniques, and procedures.




Air Defense

• Man-Portable (MANPADS)

• AAA / Machine Guns

• Snipers


MANPADS

• Gunners work in pairs or small groups• One missile fired, if target is missed, second missile is fired

from separate position• ACM gunners try to use the high ground (provides more time

for gunners to acquire targets)• Common method of attack is to fire during take off and

landings


Antiaircraft Artillery /Machine Guns

Three types of systems used:

1. DShK 12.7mm machine gun

2. ZGU 14.5mm machine gun

3. ZU 23-2 23mm machine gun


DShK 12.7mmMachine Gun


DShK 12.7mmMachine Gun

• Primary choice of ACM forces• Characteristics:

- requires a crew of 2-4 when ground mounted

- requires 1 person when vehicle mounted

- 1000m tactical aircraft range

- 4200m max vertical range

- 7800m max distance range in ground support

- vehicle mounted or man-pack/animal-pack

- used in both AA and anti-personnel roles


ZGU 14.5mmMachine Gun


Characteristics:

- requires a crew of 10 when man-packed

- requires a crew of 2 when firing

- 1400m tactical AA range against fast movers



- towed or vehicle mounted

ZGU 14.5mmMachine Gun


ZU 23-2 23mmMachine Gun


Characteristics:

- requires a 5 man crew

- 2500m tactical AA range against fast movers



- towed or vehicle mounted

ZU 23-2 23mmMachine Gun


Snipers

• When situated on mountainsides, will target rotary wing aircraft flying through mountain passes

• Snipers typically target the crew in attempt to bring the aircraft down

• Aircraft are also targeted during take off and landings• Most high-powered rifles and machine guns can be used in an

AA sniper role


QUESTIONS???QUESTIONS???

reconnaissance and surveillance leader course the contemporary operating environment

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