CHAPTER 5: The OPFOR in the Offense

5-13 RIVER CROSSING OPERATIONS.

    a. Methods.

        (1) Crossing a River: Contact is not expected and an administrative crossing is possible.

        (2) Forcing a River (Assault crossing): Contact with the BLUFOR is expected and an assault crossing will be necessary.

• Assault crossings may be done in one of two ways:

• From the march (preferred method)
• From positions in direct contact

• Assault crossing is done by unit using organic assets.

• Crossing is preceded by reconnaissance.
• BTRs/BMPs lead assault covered by artillery, smoke and direct fire.
• Heliborne forces may be used to seize a bridgehead.

• After mechanized infantry or heliborne troop establishes bridgehead, tanks cross the obstacle via ferry, fording or snorkeling.
• Ferry sites and bridges are established for use by non-amphibious vehicles and follow-on elements.

    b. Brigade.

• Typical brigade crossing sector: 10 km wide.
• A MIBR is expected to be able to cross its combat elements over a 200-m wide river (2 m/sec current) in 2 to 3 hours.

    c. Division:

• Typical divisional crossing sector: 20 to 30 km wide.
• A MID is expected to be able to cross its combat elements over a 200 m wide river (2 m/sec current) in 5 to 6 hours.

5-14 AIRBORNE OPERATIONS.

    a. Key Concepts.

• Rapid deployment over great distances.
• Virtually all-weather employment.
• Self-sufficient and air-droppable.
• Trained to fight across the range of military operations.
• Battalion-sized operations most common.
• Land in unopposed areas, then move to objective, defend until linkup occurs.
• Usually employed by the army commander.

    b. Support to the Offense.

• Seize vital ground, bridgeheads, defiles.
• Destroy higher level C2, political as well as military.
• Block routes used by reserves or withdrawing forces.
• Destruction of logistics installations, especially fuel and ammunition.
• Disrupt transportation infrastructure.

    c. Conduct of Airborne Operations.

• Requires air superiority, even if achieved only temporarily locally.
• Favorable combat ratios in the landing zones and objective area are essential.
• A battalion can be lifted in a single lift.
• If an entire brigade is needed, airborne elements would have to be shuttled:

• first battalion seizes the airfield.
• follow-on forces would then be air-landed.

• Speed and Surprise are critical.
• Supported by air and missile strikes, and artillery.

    d. Once on the ground:

• Consolidate and conduct reconnaissance.
• Move to objective in pre-battle formation.
• Position air defense, artillery, and engineers to support the attack on the final objective.
• Assume battle formation within 1000-200 meters of the objective.
• Attack in one echelon against a weak BLUFOR, two echelons against a strong BLUFOR.
• Once the objective is secure, establish 360-degree defense using unit strongpoints.
• Either await linkup or fight back to friendly lines.

    e. Drop Zone Selection.

• Typical battalion DZ is 3 km by 4 km.
• Typical company DZ is 1 km by 1 to 1.5 km.
• As close to final objective as possible, but no more than 20 km.