Conduct an Ambush

How to conduct an Ambush

Situation

The enemy is moving or temporarily halted and your force is stationary. The enemy are in column formation. The Ambush may be hasty or deliberate. The person in charge orders an ambush.

Concept

The concept is to kill the maximum number of enemy by using the elements of surprise and the reduced situational awareness of the enemies recent mobility.

Actions On

The actions to be taken on deciding to ambushes entail:

• Surprise
• A chosen kill-zone
• The L shape that results in Crossfire
• A method of holding the enemy in the kill-zone
• High speed of contact
• A preplanned retreat

Surprise

Surprise is achieved by:

• Concealment of the ambush force.
• Obscuration of the chosen kill-zone from the enemy until they enter it, so blind corners on hills, blind crests of hills, and urban environments are good, Forrest ambushes can also help.
• Shocking and overwhelming force

Choosing the kill-zone

Choose a kill-zone that:

• Allows the ambush force to control all phases of contact
• Allows the whole enemy force to be encompassed.
• Allows easy retreat to cover, reverse slopes and urban environments are good.
• Is Obscured from enemy OP and air observation, by time and or terrain masking.

The L shape

The L shape consists of a small powerful blocking force and a larger number of units paralel to the enemy column, thus producing crossfire and thus negating any potential cover for the enemy.

• Normally a blocking force over watch the head of the enemy column and have the most powerful automatic weapons
• The majority of units deploy along the expected length of the enemy column
• The top of the long leg of the L and the junction of L are the best places for AT weapons

Method of holding the enemy in the kill-zone

There are several methods of holding the enemy in the kill-zone:

• Static roadblocks
• Mobile roadblocks
• Topping and tailing the column
• Weight of suppressive fire
• Minefields and command line explosives
• Any combination of the above

High speed of contact

A high speed of contact contacts of less than 60 seconds are best as they:

• Are a fundamental element of surprise.
• Create shock.
• Overwhelm the enemies ability to react
• Disrupt enemy command, cohesion and communication

A preplanned retreat

No ambush can be said to be complete until the Ambush force has escaped direct enemy contact, so the first and most important element to plan is the retreat plan. This retreat plan is a form of the break contact procedure. This may entail:

• A Planned Rally Point (RP) that all elements can get to in 5 minutes or less
• A break contact order given by the Officer Commanding (OC)
• Break contact plan
• Cover and concealment.
• An Over-watch force or over-watch plan
• Obscuration by smoke
• Methods to prevent pursuit, such as mines and timed satchel charges