AMBUSH -PRINCIPLES, PLANNING & CONDUCT

RESTRICTED

AMBUSH - PRINCIPLES, PLANNING & CONDUCT

INTRODUCTION

1. An ambush is a surprise attack, by a force lying inwait, upon a moving or temporarily halted enemy. It isusually a brief encounter and does not require the captureand holding of ground. Ambush may be used in front of orbehind the enemy FEBA.

AIM

2. The Aim of this lecture is to teach officer cadets thePrinciples, Planning and Conduct of Ambushes.

PRINCIPLES OF AMBUSH

3. Sound intelligence:

a. Patrol reports and OP logs.b. The knowledge of the area.c. Surveillance device.d. Military intelligence sources and POWs.e. Police intelligence sources.

4. Planning, reconnaissance and rehearsal:

a. Study the enemy tactics and counter ambush techniques.b. Thorough reconnaissance.c. Ensure that all the ambush party knows exactly what to do.d. Day and night rehearsals.

5. Security:

1RESTRICTED

RESTRICTEDa. Avoid too much reconnaissance and movements in theambush area.b. Move out and position by night and be clear of civilian areas by dawn.c. Do not reoccupy old ambush sites.d. Plan for enemy follow up.

6. Concealment:

a. Avoid leaving tracks in the ambush area.b. Avoid too much cutting of foliage to obtain good fields of fire which could help the enemy to spot the ambush site.c. Ensure that personal camouflage is of the highest standard.

7. Good control:

a. Proper briefing.b. Clear signals.c. Simple early warning system.

8. A simple plan for springing the ambush:

a. To ensure success max weight of fire should be brought down instantly.b. Use of LMG bursts and detonates of claymores.

9. Maximum use of fire power:

a. Site GPMGs to make the best use of their flat trajectory and long beaten zone.b. Use artillery and mortars according to the requirement.c. Make sure accurate firing.d. Use of remotely fired devices.

10. Battle discipline:

2RESTRICTED

RESTRICTEDa. No noise and minimum movements.b. All must be prepared to stop smoking, stop coughing and snoring.c. A high stand of alertness must be maintained.

11. Good standard of Training:

a. Accurate shooting.b. Weapon handling/stoppage drillc. Alertness.d. Reaction to order.

12. Communication:

a. From the sentries/stops to the ambush commander.

b. From ambush commander to the killing group and other parties.

c. Ambush commander to FOO or MFC for in direct support.

PLANNING FACTORS

13. The Mission. The mission may be:

a. To capture a prisoner.b. To destroy terrorist force. c. To eliminate food party.d. To kill fleeing enemy (as part of a stop line).

14. The Enemy.

a. Enemy habits, organization, state of training, uniforms and arms.

b. The aim of enemy patrols, their size, individual and group spacing, their routes.

c. Enemy tactics and counter ambush action.d. Enemy artillery or mortar support, if applicable,

his response time and efficiency.

3RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED15. Friendly Forces.

a. Area clearance.b. Location of other patrols.c. Location of backup forces to reinforce or to

assist withdrawal. This includes MT if required.d. Location of own bases.e. Location of own artillery and mortars and their

available fire support.

16. Surprise and Security.

a. Obey the principles of security and concealment.b. Select a site where the enemy is unlikely to

deploy forward and flanking scouts in advance of his main body.

c. Vary ambush patterns and methods.d. Use a deception plan to cover the move of and

ambush force from its base camp.e. Assume that civilians are hostile and plan for

civilians walking into or spotting the ambush. 17. Fire Support.

a. use artillery and medium mortars with prearranged task to:

(1) Hit the enemy outside the killing ground.(2) Disrupt the enemy counter attack.(3) Harass the enemy flight.(4) Assist the ambush party to withdraw.

b. consider the use of other available arable weapons:

(1) Light mortars.(2) MAW.(3) M79.

4RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED(4) LAW.

18. Ground. If may be possible to select a site bycareful study of maps, air photographs and recentpatrol reports. Detailed reconnaissance is essential to

select:

a. A covered route into the ambush site.b. Enemy approach routes.c. The killing ground.d. Positions for stops, sentries and Ops.e. Cover from view in the ambush area and fields

fire.f. Location of a cover group/flank protection force.g. Suitable base area if ambush is prolonged.h. Enemy escape routes.i. Withdrawal routes, check points and RV.

19. Obstacles. Maximum use should be made of bothnatural and artificial obstacles to channel theenemy, to hinder hid counter attack and delay his fight.Suitable places for obstacles and claymore mines are:

a. On likely enemy lines of withdrawal.b. In dead ground beyond the killing ground and

to the flanks of the ambush site. c. In areas outside the killing ground where the

enemy main body is likely to holt and form up for acounter attack.

d. On likely enemy counter attack routes.

20. Control and Signals. Good control is essential andthe larger the ambush, the harder it is to achieve. Thefollowing must be planed.

a. The detailed deployment in to the ambushposition.

5RESTRICTED

RESTRICTEDb. The method of relieving groups and sections of

the ambush.c. The method of alerting the ambush party on the

approach of the enemy force.d. The signal for opening fire.e. The signal for cease fire.f. The signal for the search g. The signal for withdrawal.h. the methods of withdrawal to the RV:

(1) In face of an enemy attack.(2) When the enemy has withdrawn, leaving

dead and wounded behind.(3) When the ambush has not been sprung.

i. the plan if the ambush is detected orcompromised.

21. Equipment. The Equipment required depends on thetask and duration of the ambush.

a. Mines, booby traps, wire and explosives.b. TOBIAS, IRIS and IWS.c. Defence stores.d. Flares and igniting equipments.e. Nylon cord for prisoners.f. Tree climbing irons for OPs and snipers.g. Light (nylon) rope to help in climbing trees

or rocks.

22. Grouping. An ambush is made up of a number ofgroups. the size of these groups will vary but each groupmust be self contain and have a nominated leader.

AMBUSH SITES

23. Suitable places for ambush site should be as fol:

a. Enemy routes in forward and rear areas.

6RESTRICTED

RESTRICTEDb. Enemy administrative areas, supply and water points and their approaches.c. Areas where a marked change of vegetation occurs.d. Possible lines of enemy withdrawal after a successful attack by own forces.e. The approaches to our own base camps and defensivepositions.f. The withdrawal route from an ambush site.g. An area which canalizes the enemy to the killing zone.

TYPES OF AMBUSHES

24. There are types of Ambushes based on time factor:

a. The deliberate ambush.

(1) Planned and executed as a separate operation.(2) Time is allowed planning, preparation and rehearsal.(3) It may vary in size from a small four man ambush to a major operational level.(4) Many opportunities will exit for small scale ambushes to platoon strength.(5) Success with large scale ambushes may be more difficult to achieve because concealment, movementand control is less easy.

b. The immediate ambush.

(1) Set with a minimum of planning to take advantage of “HOT” information.(2) Little or no time for reconnaissance.

(3) Success achieve will depend on the initiative of the commander concerned, leadership, well knowndrills, and discipline of the team

7RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED25. There are types of ambushes based on its layout and terrain as fol:

a. Linear Ambush. When, because of the ground, thereis only one likely approach, a group or groups may besited in depth with all round defence at place on thatroute which gives good concealment. In this layout the gungroup is concentrating on one killing area, employedmostly beside tracks, roads and rivers. (Annex ‘A’)

b. Area Ambush. Where there is more than oneapproach, all must be covered. Approaches should becovered in depth to catch the enemy scattering from theambush position. This is to cover several killing areaswhen it is uncertain which route the enemy will use.(Annex ‘B’)

26. Principles of layout is as fol:

a. Cover all approaches.b. Depth.c. All round defence.

27. Administrations of ambush is as fol:a. Relieves.b. Food.c. Reinforcement.d. Medical.

COMPOSITION OF AN AMBUSH

28. Groups involved and their tasks as follows:

a Killer group

(1) Cover the killing zone.(2) Spring the ambush.(3) Hold enemy counter attacks.

8RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

b. EW/Cut off groups

(1) Provide EW.(2) Hinder enemy escape.(3) Protection to killer group.

c. Flank protection groups

(1) Flank protection.

(2) Defeat enemy counter attack from flanks.

(3) Cover withdrawal of killer group.

d. Reserve Group

(1) Rear protection.

(2) Provide Mortar support.

(3) Depth to ambush.

CONDUCT

29. Stages. There are five stages.

a. Preparation

b. Move to ambush area.

c. Occupation

d. Springing the ambush.

e. Withdrawal.

9RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED(1) Preparation. Which involve recce, planning,

issue preliminary orders, preparation and rehearsals.

(2) Move to ambush area. This is from your present position to final RV.

(a) Select approach and bearings to be worked out

(b) Action to be taken if you come across anenemy route to FRV.

(3) Occupation . Which includes final recce, reconfirmation and securing the ambush site. (willbe demonstrated)

(a) Lying in ambush fol point to be

considered.

(b) Smoking and lighting.

(c) Foot Prints.

(d) Disturbed vegetation.

(e) Strings /Wires.

(f) Distinctive smells.

(g) Reflecting surfaces.

(h) Personal camouflage.

(i) Comfortable fire positions.

10RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED(j) Grenades ready to throw.

(k) Safety liver in fire position.

(l) Organise relief system.

(4) Springing the ambush . Following methods are usually adopted:

(a) First shot fired by commander.

(b) Detonate claymores.

(c) Firing of MGs.

(d) Subsequent actions.

(i) Fire fight.

(ii)Cease fire.

(iii) Searching/capturing of enemy

equipment if ordered.

(iv)Order of withdrawal.

(v) Final admin and head counting at FRV.

(5) Withdrawal

(a) Select Shortest route for Wdr.

(b) If possible route to be secured.

(c) Workout DF targets a long the route.

(d) Route for cacevac.

(e) Alternative routes.

11RESTRICTED

RESTRICTEDCOURSES OF FAILURE

30. Operation can be unsuccessful due to following reasons.

a. Noiseb. Careless camouflage.c. Movements.d. Bad siting of weapons.e. Unclear dull for opening fire.f. Misfires and stoppages of key weapons.g. Poor fire control.h. Premature opening of fire.g. Bad firing.

12RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

Annex ‘B’

AREA AMBUSH

13RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

Annex ‘A’

LINEAR AMBUSH

14RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

15RESTRICTED