•Covering the entire kill zone by fire.

•Using existing or reinforcing obstacles (Claymores and other mines) to keep the enemy in the kill zone.

•Protecting the assault and support elements with mines, Claymores, or explosives.

•Using security elements or teams to isolate the kill zone.

•Assaulting into the kill zone to search dead and wounded, assemble prisoners, and collect equipment (the assault element must be able to move quickly through its own protective obstacles).

•Timing the actions of all elements of the platoon to preclude loss of surprise.

•Using only one squad to conduct the entire ambush and rotating squads over time from the ORP (this technique is useful when the ambush must be manned for a long time).

Hasty Ambush

A platoon or squad conducts a hasty ambush when it makes visual contact with an enemy force and has time to establish an ambush without being detected. The actions for a hasty ambush must be well rehearsed so that soldiers know what to do on the leader’s signal. They must also know what action to take if detected before they are ready to initiate the ambush.

Deliberate Ambush

A deliberate ambush is conducted against a specific target at a predetermined location. The leader requires detailed information in planning a deliberate ambush, including:

•Size and composition of the targeted enemy unit.

•Weapons and equipment available to the enemy.

•The enemy’s route and direction of movement.

•Times that the targeted unit will reach or pass specified points along the route.

Point Ambush

In a point ambush, soldiers deploy to attack an enemy in a single kill zone. The security or surveillance teams should be positioned first, and the support element should be in position before the assault element moves forward of the release point. The support element must overwatch the movement of the assault element into position.

The platoon leader is the leader of the assault element. He must check each soldier once the assault position has been established. He signals the surveillance team to rejoin the assault element.

Actions of the assault element include:

•Identifying individual sectors of fire as assigned by the platoon leader.

•Emplacing aiming stakes.

•Emplacing Claymores and other protective devices.

•Emplacing Claymores, mines, or other explosives in dead space within the kill zone.

•Camouflaging positions.

Actions of the support element include:

•Identifying sectors of fire for all weapons, especially machine guns.

•Emplacing limiting stakes to prevent friendly fires from hitting the assault element in an L-shaped ambush.

•Emplacing Claymores and other protective devices.

Instructions to security teams must include how to notify the platoon leader of the enemy’s approach into the kill zone (SALUTE report—size, activity, location, unit, time, and equipment). The security element must also keep the platoon leader informed if any enemy forces are following the lead force.

The platoon leader must determine how large an element his ambush can engage successfully. He must be prepared to let units pass that are too large and report to higher headquarters any units that pass his ambush unengaged.

The platoon leader also initiates the ambush. The ambush should be initiated by the most casualty producing weapon the unit has, which may be a command-detonated Claymore. There should be a plan for a backup method for initiating the ambush should the primary means fail. This should also be a heavy casualty-producing device, such as a machine gun. This information must be passed out to all soldiers and practiced during rehearsals.

Soldiers must have a means of engaging the enemy in the kill zone during periods of limited visibility if it becomes necessary to initiate the ambush then. Use of tracers must be weighed against how it might help the enemy identify friendly positions. The platoon leader may use handheld or indirect illumination flares.

The platoon leader should include indirect-fire support as part of his plan. Indirect fires can cover the flanks of the kill zone to help isolate it. They can also help the platoon disengage if the ambush is compromised or if the platoon must depart the ambush site under pressure.

The platoon leader must have a good plan to signal the advance of the assault element into the kill zone to begin its search and collection activities. Smoke may not be visible to the support element. All soldiers must know and practice relaying this signal during rehearsals.

The assault element must be prepared to move across the kill zone using individual movement techniques if there is any return fire once they begin to search. Otherwise, the assault element moves across by bounding fire teams. Other actions in the kill zone include the following:

•Collect and secure all EPWs and move them out of the kill zone before searching bodies. Establish a location for EPWs and enemy wounded who will not be taken back that provides them cover yet allows them to be found easily by their units.

•Search from one side to the other and mark bodies that have been searched to ensure that the area is thoroughly covered.

•Use the two-man search technique. As the search team approaches a dead enemy soldier, one man guards while the other man searches.

•Identify and collect equipment to be carried back and prepare it for transport. (Clear all weapons and place them on “safe.”)

•Identify and collect remaining equipment for destruction. The demolition team prepares dual-primed explosives (C4 with two M60 fuse lighters and time fuse) and awaits the signal to initiate. This is normally the last action performed before departing the objective and may signal the security elements to return to the ORP.

The platoon leader must plan the withdrawal from the ambush site:

•Elements normally withdraw in the reverse order that they established their positions.

•The elements may return first to the release point, then to the ORP, depending on the distance between elements.

•The security element at the ORP must be alert to assist the platoon’s return to the ORP. It maintains security for the ORP while the rest of the platoon prepares to leave.

Area Ambush

In an area ambush, soldiers deploy in two or more related point ambushes. A platoon is the smallest unit to conduct an area ambush. Platoons conduct area ambushes where enemy movement is largely restricted to trails or streams.

The platoon leader selects one principal ambush site around which he organizes outlying ambushes. These secondary sites are located along the enemy’s most likely approach to and escape from the principal ambush site. Squad-size elements are normally responsible for each ambush site. They establish an area ambush as described above.

The platoon leader must determine the best employment of his machine guns. He normally positions them both with the support element of the principal site.

Squads responsible for outlying ambushes do not initiate their ambushes until after the principal one is initiated. They then engage to prevent enemy forces from escaping or reinforcing.

Linear Ambush

In an ambush using a linear formation, the assault and support elements deploy parallel to the enemy’s route. This positions both elements on the long axis of the kill zone and subjects the enemy to flanking fire. This formation can be used in close terrain that restricts the enemy’s ability to maneuver against the platoon or in open terrain, provided a means of keeping the enemy in the kill zone can be effected.