ATP-3-94-2 HIMARS Deep Operations Download
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1 September 2016 ATP 3-94.2 C-1 Appendix C Deep Operations Vignettes As described in chapter one, commanders conduct deep operations in both contiguous and noncontiguous areas of operation to set the conditions for subordinate commanders in the close area. This appendix provides two vignettes that illustrate the planning, preparation, execution, and assessment required to conduct deep operations. The first vignette provides an example of a deep operation that occurs in a nonlinear, noncontiguous AO while the second vignette provides an example of deep operations that occurs in a linear, contiguous AO. VIGNETTE #1: NONLINEAR, NONCONTIGUOUS AO C-1. Army Aviation attacks, air assaults, and raids in the deep area are not limited to linear frameworks, but may also shape the enemy in a nonlinear and noncontiguous AO as well. Unbound by complex terrain and able to rapidly mass combat power to achieve the element of surprise, Army Aviation provides the ground maneuver commander the speed, mobility, and lethality required to gain a position of relative advantage during security operations. C-2. In this scenario (refer to figure C-1 on page C-3), the 52d Infantry Division (ID) has secured key terrain in the littorals with brigade combat teams (BCTs) and is currently performing tasks in support of stability. Within the close area, the BCTs are conducting civil control and civil security operations while gray eagles from the ARB are conducting screen operations in the deep area to identify designated high payoff targets. C-3. During the planning and subsequent targeting cycles, the targeting working group analyzed and nominated targets to the commander at the targeting board. The commander provided guidance, established priorities, and approved the high-payoff target list, attack guidance matrix, and target selection standards. The commander’s decision to allocate resources to these selected targets located in the deep area may trigger the formation of the deep-operations planning team to plan, coordinate, and synchronize a deep operation. C-4. In this scenario, the gray eagles observed a company formation of enemy technical vehicles moving into the 52d ID’s AO from a neighboring state. This observation met the criteria of the HPTL, AGM, and target selection standards, and the commander determined the threat posed to friendly operations warranted preemptive action. Therefore, the deep-operations planning team convened to coordinate and synchronize complex attacks to destroy the observed enemy formation and prevent additional threats from influencing division operations. C-5. The deep-operations planning team’s concept of the operation include aviation attacks, air interdiction, and artillery strikes into EA SLEDGE to destroy the observed enemy vehicles. Simultaneous to these attacks, a company of infantry will conduct an air assault to establish a blocking position north of EA SLEDGE to prevent additional enemy forces from maneuvering into the division’s AO and provide additional security for the division’s stability operations. Additionally, a battery of towed artillery will move into and secure position area for artillery OR PAA 1 to extend the range of division fires, conduct strikes into EA SLEDGE and along the international border (not depicted) as required, and set the conditions for the subsequent seizure of objective (OBJ) RAM. An infantry battalion task force will execute a ground assault to seize OBJ RAM to establish a foothold for future stability operations. C-6. Based on detailed mission analysis, parallel planning, and coordination with supporting units, the trigger to begin execution occurs when the lead enemy vehicle enters into EA SLEDGE. The ground assault, air assault, and aviation attack forces will simultaneously depart their respective attack positions and holding areas. The terrain and expected rate of movement will create the desired sequencing of events. Detailed event timings are captured on an execution matrix that the current operations integration cell will use to maintain situational awareness on the progress of the operation. Additionally, the deep-operations planning team will provide the COIC with a decision support matrix that will highlight anticipated decision points that may