Breaking Contact

B Trp 7-10 CAV 4ID

Reference Material FM 3-20.98

Chapter 5

SGT Sears, Adam

Breaking Contact

Mounted and Dismounted

RISK ASSESSMENT

LOW

Breaking Contact

Breaking Contact

Tasks: Utilizes your units METT-TC with your OPORD and rehearsals with Battle Drills

Breaking Contact

Conditions: While on Dismounted or Mounted operations you are attacked by a superior force where the Team Leader is forced to with draw his team to a safer location or rally point utilizing his team and other assets on hand if available

Breaking Contact

Standards: To train leaders and soldiers to know their role in this maneuver to help prevent further lose of soldiers and equipment by using all assets effectively

Breaking Contact

1 Introduction 2 Breaking Contact (Front) 3 Australian Peel Method (front & rear) 4 Australian Peel Method (left and right) 5 React to Air Attack 6 React to Indirect Attack 7 React to Sniper 8 Freeze 9 Questions

Breaking Contact

Introduction

Missions are usually planned for expected types of contact and the amount of assets that you’ll need. But sometimes the enemy will expect your course of action and bring more to the battle than you or your unit expects. That’s why Battle Drills incorporates Breaking contact drills.

Breaking Contact BATTLE DRILLS Well-rehearsed battle drills are critical

to the success of a dismounted team. The team is lightly

armed with a limited supply of ammunition and can expect little or no

fire support. If indirect fires are precoordinated, they should be

maximized while breaking contact. An immediate suppression fire mission on

a near target from the target overlay may support the team breaking

contact; then, once in a covered and concealed position, adjusted fire

missions may be executed against the enemy. Indirect fires should be

considered whenever breaking contact, emphasizing the need for

thorough fire support planning.

Breaking Contact

The team breaks contact as soon as possible because it lacks the

assets to stay and fight. METT-TC determines which drill is executed.

Breaking Contact

Break Contact (Front) The team executes fire and

movement by two- or three-man

teams until contact with the enemy is broken. When contacted from the

front, the senior observer and another observer return fire with one full

magazine each. An observer and the team leader move to a position to

provide support for the withdrawal of the senior observer and observer.

Breaking Contact

Once the senior observer and observer have fired a complete magazine,

team leader and observer begin firing, covering the withdrawal of the

senior observer and observer to the next firing position. The process of

fire and movement continues until contact is broken. RTO can place Claymore if time allows and in hand for quick set up.

Breaking Contact

The Australian peel is a method to break contact from the front

or rear. This technique, which should be executed as a battle drill, is most

effective while the team is in a file formation, where the vegetation is

dense, or during limited visibility. The second through the sixth team

members take one or two steps to the left or right, depending on the

terrain. One member at a time passes back through the formation

Breaking Contact

Front Contact. When contact occurs from the front, the first member fires a full magazine (automatic or burst). Every other member does the same, one at a time. Each member waits until the member in front of him is even with him or on his left or right before firing a weapon. Individuals move straight back through the inside of the formation, avoiding masking the fires of the members providing covering fire. The assistant team leader or the last member throws a hand grenade (fragmentary). During limited visibility, the battle drill may be executed without firing weapons. In this event, the battle drill is still executed in the same sequence. Upon completion of the first iteration, the team can emplace a Claymore mine with a time-delay fuze to slow the enemy. The team initiates fires only if it has been compromised. If the enemy element breaks contact and ceases fire, the team should cease fire immediately to prevent revealing their new position.

Breaking Contact

Rear Contact. If contact occurs from the rear, the Australian

peel technique is executed in the reverse sequence. The first member is

the last to throw a hand grenade (fragmentary). Once the drill is

completed, the team moves to the designated rally point.

Breaking Contact

Rear Contact. If contact occurs from the rear, the Australian

peel technique is executed in the reverse sequence. The first member is

the last to throw a hand grenade (fragmentary). Once the drill is

completed, the team moves to the designated rally point.

Breaking Contact

Break Contact (Left or Right)

If a patrol finds itself in a threat ambush, it must get out of the

kill zone or face destruction. Team members in the kill zone, without

order or signal, immediately return fire, throw smoke, and move quickly

out of the kill zone by the safest route.

Breaking Contact

There is no set procedure for this; each man must decide the best way for

his situation. For inferior-sized enemy force, a team may assault through

a near ambush. Soldiers not in the kill zone fire to support the

withdrawal or hasty assault of the men in the kill zone.

Breaking Contact

REACT TO AIR ATTACK The first soldier who hears

or sees an aircraft signals, “FREEZE.”

The first soldier who sees an attacking aircraft alerts the patrol:

“AIRCRAFT, FRONT (LEFT, RIGHT, OR REAR).” Each soldier hits the

ground, using available cover, and returns fire.

Breaking Contact

Between attacks, the

team should seek better cover and concealment. If the team leader wants

the team to move out of the area, he gives the clock direction and

distance.

Breaking Contact

REACT TO INDIRECT FIRE Upon receiving indirect fire, the team deploys

and takes cover. If more rounds impact, the team leader gives the

clock position and the direction and distance to move. The team

consolidates while moving or at a distance given by team leader. The team may

elect to move to the last rally point or as otherwise directed by the team

leader.

Breaking Contact

REACT TO SNIPER FIRE

5-88. If the patrol comes under sniper fire, it immediately returns fire

in the direction of the sniper. The patrol then conducts fire and maneuver

to break contact with the sniper.

Breaking Contact

FREEZEThis immediate action drill is used when a

patrol, not yet seen bythe threat, observes the threat and does

not have time to take any otheraction. All patrol members remain still until

signaled to continue or takeanother action as directed.

Summary

These lessons were from typically sceniors from FM 3-20.98. Remember different environments, man made objects and weather will all have impacts on your mission. If you take casualties will have to incorporate that in your Breaking Contact Procedures.

QUESTIONS