Convoy Defense:Convoy Defense:

Techniques and Techniques and StrategiesStrategies

Reference:

FM 55-30

Terminal Learning Objectives

Describe convoy defense operations.

Enabling Learning Enabling Learning Objectives:Objectives:

A. Identify possible threats to convoys. A. Identify possible threats to convoys.

B. Explain how to maintain operational security.B. Explain how to maintain operational security.

C. Describe the implementation of fourC. Describe the implementation of fouroperational security measures. operational security measures.

Enabling Learning Enabling Learning Objectives: Objectives:

D. Discuss terrain considerations affecting D. Discuss terrain considerations affecting convoyconvoy defense. defense.

E. Discuss active and passive measures to E. Discuss active and passive measures to defend defend against air attack, indirect fires, snipers, against air attack, indirect fires, snipers, ambushes, and NBC attacks. ambushes, and NBC attacks.

THREATS

Threats to Convoys Threats to Convoys Include:Include:• Airborne or airmobile forcesAirborne or airmobile forces

• Long-range artillery and rocketsLong-range artillery and rockets

• Irregular or guerilla forcesIrregular or guerilla forces

• TerroristsTerrorists

• Civilians on battlefieldCivilians on battlefield Disruption activities

may include:ambushes

snipersraids

sabotage

ELO A

FM 55-30 pg 3-1

SECURITY

Operational Security Operational Security (OPSEC) (OPSEC)

• Leaders must make OPSEC an integral Leaders must make OPSEC an integral part of planning for operations, unit part of planning for operations, unit training, and day-to-day operations.training, and day-to-day operations.

• Leaders must develop OPSEC Leaders must develop OPSEC protective measures.protective measures. security measures

throughoutplanning,

preparation,and

execution

phases.

Maintain

FM 55-30 pg 3-1

OPSEC Planning SequenceOPSEC Planning Sequence

• Determine enemy capabilities for obtaining information Determine enemy capabilities for obtaining information about the convoy.about the convoy.

• Determine what information obtained by the enemy Determine what information obtained by the enemy can compromise the operation.can compromise the operation.

• Determine which actions taken by your unit before an Determine which actions taken by your unit before an operation, if understood by the enemy, would give the operation, if understood by the enemy, would give the enemy an advantage.enemy an advantage.

• Determine what protective measures are warranted Determine what protective measures are warranted and where they must be implemented.and where they must be implemented.

FM 55-30 pg 3-2

OPSEC Measures Include: OPSEC Measures Include:

• CountersurveillanceCountersurveillance

• Signal securitySignal security

• Physical securityPhysical security

• Information securityInformation securityThink

active and passivemeasures.

FM 55-30 pg 3-2

CountersurveillanceCountersurveillance

• Includes all active and passive measures Includes all active and passive measures taken to prevent threat forces from seeing taken to prevent threat forces from seeing your area, equipment, and movementsyour area, equipment, and movements

Train on this:Camouflage and tone down vehicles.

Move at night.Use terrain as concealment.

Enforce noise, litter,

and light discipline.

Techniques

FM 55-30 pg 3-2

Signal SecuritySignal Security

• Use communication and electronics Use communication and electronics security techniques to prevent disclosure security techniques to prevent disclosure of information.of information.

Try this:Keep radio transmissions short.

Maintain signal silence whenever possible.Use wire communications.

Use low power radios.

Techniques

FM 55-30 pg 3-2

Physical SecurityPhysical Security

• Use security forces, barriers, dispersal, Use security forces, barriers, dispersal, concealment, and camouflage to deny concealment, and camouflage to deny enemy access to areas of operations (AO)enemy access to areas of operations (AO)

Use LP/Ops in AO.Use front, rear, and flank placement of security.

Identify OCOKA.Use obstacles.

Use challenge and passwords.Use early warning devices.

Techniques

Be Proactive

FM 55-30 pg 3-2

Information SecurityInformation Security

• Information security is the control of written, Information security is the control of written, verbal, and graphic information to prevent the verbal, and graphic information to prevent the disclosure of operational information.disclosure of operational information.

Post information out in the open. Let civilians without clearances into work areas.Handle classified/sensitive papers improperly.Techniques

Do Not

FM 55-30 pg 3-3

DEFENSE MEASURES

Terrain ConsiderationsTerrain Considerations

• Terrain creates the most common natural Terrain creates the most common natural obstacles affecting convoy movements.obstacles affecting convoy movements.

• How can you prepare for natural obstacles? How can you prepare for natural obstacles?

• How do you plan for movements through hilly How do you plan for movements through hilly or mountainous terrain?or mountainous terrain?

• How do you need to change your plans for How do you need to change your plans for movement through swampy ground?movement through swampy ground?

FM 55-30 pg 3-3

Convoy Defensive Convoy Defensive MeasuresMeasures

• Include both active and passive Include both active and passive actions.actions.

• Convoys must defend against air Convoys must defend against air attack,attack, indirect fires, snipers, ambushes indirect fires, snipers, ambushes and NBC and NBC attacks. attacks.

FM 55-30 Chapter 6

AIR ATTACKS

Reaction to Air Attacks Reaction to Air Attacks

• Convoys are most vulnerable while Convoys are most vulnerable while moving along open roads/during halts moving along open roads/during halts with no overhead cover.with no overhead cover.

• How do you prepare your convoy?How do you prepare your convoy?

FM 55-30 pg 6-1

Reaction to Air Attacks Reaction to Air Attacks • The convoy commander must:The convoy commander must:

– Prescribe alarm signals (unit SOP)Prescribe alarm signals (unit SOP)

– Direct actions on contact (guidance)Direct actions on contact (guidance)

– Prescribe actions to take in absence of Prescribe actions to take in absence of orders (battle drills)orders (battle drills)

– Ensure actions on contact are rehearsedEnsure actions on contact are rehearsed

– Review the procedures with convoy Review the procedures with convoy personnel before the convoy moves outpersonnel before the convoy moves out

FM 55-30 pg 6-1/6-2

Aircraft Engagement Aircraft Engagement TechniquesTechniques

ELO E

Passive Defensive Passive Defensive Measures against Air Measures against Air AttacksAttacks

• Passive measures are more effective for logistics Passive measures are more effective for logistics units. Why?units. Why?

• The key is convoy dispersion. The key is convoy dispersion.

• Commanders must decide whether to use an open or Commanders must decide whether to use an open or closed column .closed column .

• Distance between vehicles must not be fixed. Distance between vehicles must not be fixed.

• Factors influencing vehicle distance include:Factors influencing vehicle distance include:

• Mission• Cover and concealment• Length of road march• Type of road• Type of vehicle• Nature of cargo• Enemy threat• Available defense support FM 55-30 pg 6-2

Defend Against Air Attack Defend Against Air Attack with Passive Reactionswith Passive Reactions

• If aircraft are spotted or early warning is received,If aircraft are spotted or early warning is received, the convoy commander has three options: the convoy commander has three options: - Stop in place - Stop in place - Continue to march - Continue to march - Disperse quickly to concealed positions- Disperse quickly to concealed positions

• If the convoy commander chooses to halt If the convoy commander chooses to halt the the convoy, the vehicles simply pull of the road convoy, the vehicles simply pull of the road in ain a herringbone pattern. herringbone pattern.

• What are some of the advantages and What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the herringbone pattern? disadvantages of the herringbone pattern?

FM 55-30 pg 6-4

INDIRECT FIRE

Reaction to Indirect FireReaction to Indirect FireActive Defensive Active Defensive MeasuresMeasures

• Active defensive measures are limited but should not be overlooked, they include:Active defensive measures are limited but should not be overlooked, they include:

- Directing counterbattery fire- Directing counterbattery fire

- Directing small arms fire or- Directing small arms fire or artillery against the enemy artillery against the enemy forward observer (FO) if forward observer (FO) if located located

- Coordinating air strikes against - Coordinating air strikes against enemy artilleryenemy artillery

Preplanning target reference points (TRPs) and identifying criticalfriendly zones (CFZs)

Train on this

FM 55-30 pg 6-7

Reaction to Indirect FireReaction to Indirect FirePassive Defensive Passive Defensive MeasuresMeasures

• Similar to reaction to enemy air, to march, or Similar to reaction to enemy air, to march, or disperse into concealed positionsdisperse into concealed positions

• The company movement formation either (open or The company movement formation either (open or closed) can be a type of passive defense.closed) can be a type of passive defense.

• Regardless of the action taken, it should be SOP and Regardless of the action taken, it should be SOP and performed as a battle drill.performed as a battle drill.

FM 55-30 pg 6-7

SNIPER

Reaction to Sniper FireReaction to Sniper FireDefensive MeasuresDefensive Measures

• The best actions are passive.The best actions are passive.

• All vehicles should move through the area without All vehicles should move through the area without stopping.stopping.

• Be careful of fratricide and civilians on the battlefield Be careful of fratricide and civilians on the battlefield when returning fire.when returning fire.

• Remember to send a contact report up to higher HQ.Remember to send a contact report up to higher HQ.

FM 55-30 pg 6-7

AMBUSHES

Reaction to AmbushesReaction to Ambushes

• How can you avoid ambushes? How can you avoid ambushes?

• If an ambush can’t be avoided, what can do If an ambush can’t be avoided, what can do to minimize the effects? to minimize the effects?

Think battle drillsAttempt to avoid ambushes

or reducetheir effectiveness

FM 55-30 pg 6-8

Reaction to AmbushesReaction to Ambushes

• If the road is not blocked, only a portion of the If the road is not blocked, only a portion of the convoy will likely be in contact.convoy will likely be in contact.

• The part of the convoy in the kill zone must get The part of the convoy in the kill zone must get out rapidly. out rapidly.

• Disabled vehicles may be pushed out of the Disabled vehicles may be pushed out of the road by follow-on vehicles. road by follow-on vehicles.

• Escort armored vehicles will return fire. Escort armored vehicles will return fire.

• Other vehicles not in the kill zone will stop.Other vehicles not in the kill zone will stop.

• Soldiers will dismount and take up defensive Soldiers will dismount and take up defensive positionspositions

and wait for further instructions . and wait for further instructions . FM 55-30 pg 6-8

Reaction to AmbushesReaction to Ambushes

• If the road is blocked, an element is halted in If the road is blocked, an element is halted in the kill zone and is unable to move because of the kill zone and is unable to move because of disabled vehicles or some type of obstacle.disabled vehicles or some type of obstacle.

• Personnel must dismount, take cover, and Personnel must dismount, take cover, and return fire. return fire.

• Reaction forces should fire and maneuver up to Reaction forces should fire and maneuver up to conduct a hasty breach of the obstacle.conduct a hasty breach of the obstacle.

• Detailed rehearsals of actions at the breach are Detailed rehearsals of actions at the breach are critical. critical.

FM 55-30 pg 6-9

Defend NBC AttacksDefend NBC Attacks• Chemical agents can be delivered by artillery, mortars, Chemical agents can be delivered by artillery, mortars,

rockets, missiles, aircraft, spray bombs, grenades, and land rockets, missiles, aircraft, spray bombs, grenades, and land mines.mines.

• Always be alert because agents may already be on the ground Always be alert because agents may already be on the ground or in the air.or in the air.

• Chemical agents are substances in either gas, liquid, or solid Chemical agents are substances in either gas, liquid, or solid form.form.

• Protect against an NBC attack, you need to know how those Protect against an NBC attack, you need to know how those agents affect your body if used against you.agents affect your body if used against you.

• Plan to sustainment training on NBC periodically. Plan to sustainment training on NBC periodically.

• . .

FM 55-30 pg 6-10

Convoy Defense: Convoy Defense: Techniques and StrategiesTechniques and Strategies

SummarySummary

• Name the possible threats to convoys Name the possible threats to convoys

• How do you maintain operational security?How do you maintain operational security?

• What are the four operational security What are the four operational security measures and how do you implement measures and how do you implement them?them?

• Name the terrain considerations affecting Name the terrain considerations affecting convoy defense. convoy defense.

• What are the active and passive measures What are the active and passive measures used to defend against air attack, indirect used to defend against air attack, indirect fires, snipers, ambushes, and NBC fires, snipers, ambushes, and NBC attacks?attacks?

Convoy Defense: Convoy Defense: Techniques and StrategiesTechniques and Strategies

SummarySummary