CHAPTER 4: Tactical Formations

4-3 BATTLE FORMATION.

The OPFOR uses battle formation (attack formation) when encountering strong BLUFOR resistance during:

• The meeting battle.

• The attack against a defending enemy.

• The pursuit.

• The counterattack.

    a. Brigade. Only those elements expecting contact with the enemy deploy into battle formations. Therfore, an OPFOR maneuver brigade reaches battle formation when its first-echelon battalions deploy on line. Its second-echelon battalions remain in march or prebattle formation until they are actually committed. Maneuver brigades are reinforced with several combat and combat support elements prior to contact with the BLUFOR. These reinforcing assets deploy to become part of the supported maneuver brigades’ formations.

    b. Battalion. An OPFOR maneuver battalion reaches battle formation when its first-echelon companies deploy on line. Its second-echelon companies remain in march or prebattle formation until they are actually committed. Maneuver battalions are reinforced with several combat and combat support elements prior to contact with the BLUFOR. Reinforcement usually takes place in assembly areas or before reaching the start line for the march. These reinforcing assets deploy to become part of the supported maneuver battalion's battle formation. (See Figures 4-10 & 4-11).

    c. Line of transition to the attack.

• The line by which the attackers deploy into battle formation, with platoons on line and tanks in front of the infantry vehicles.

• Its location depends on the preparation of the BLUFOR defense and the degree of destruction inflicted by OPFOR artillery.

• The line should be outside the range of BLUFOR short to medium range antitank weapons and small arms and permit a rapid advance into the BLUFOR positions.

• It is usually at least 600 meters from the BLUFOR forward edge, but farther forward than the supporting BRAG.

    d. Dismount line.

• Never more than 1,000 meters from the forward edge of BLUFOR units, it should be as close to the BLUFOR positions as the terrain allows.

• Usually 300 to 400 meters from BLUFOR defenses. If troops dismount, they follow as closely as possible behind the tanks. The BTRs or BMPs follow 100 to 200 meters behind the infantry, providing supporting fire.

Figure 4-10. Battalion battle formations (reinforced MIBN).

Figure 4-11: Prebattle and Battle Formation Deployment Lines.