ATP-3-94-2 HIMARS Deep Operations Download
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Chapter 1 1-4 ATP 3-94.2 1 September 2016 controlling critical terrain or population centers) and less on their geographic relationship to other friendly forces. DECISIVE-SHAPING-SUSTAINING 1-14. Decisive-shaping-sustaining operations are conducted within the deep, close, and support area framework. Decisive operations lead directly to the accomplishment of a commander’s mission. Commanders typically identify a single decisive operation but more than one subordinate unit may play a role in the decisive operation. Shaping operations create and preserve conditions for the success of the decisive operation. Commanders may designate more than one shaping operation. Sustaining operations enable the decisive operations by generating and maintaining combat power. MAIN AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS 1-15. Designating the main and supporting efforts helps commanders prioritize efforts among subordinate units throughout the conduct of operations. The main effort is the designated subordinate unit whose mission at a given point in time is most critical to overall mission success (ADP 3-0). It is usually weighted with the preponderance of combat power. Typically, the main effort shifts one or more times during execution. A supporting effort is a designated subordinate unit with a mission that supports the success of the main effort (ADP 3-0). Commanders resource supporting efforts with the minimum assets necessary to accomplish the mission. DEEP OPERATIONS 1-16. Deep operations are combined arms operations directed against uncommitted enemy forces or capabilities before they can engage friendly forces in the close fight. Deep operations also contribute to setting the conditions to transition to the next phase of an operation (for example, from defense to offense). Deep operations are not simply attacking an enemy force in depth. Instead, they are the sum of all activities that influence when, where, and in what condition enemy forces can be committed into the close and support area. Deep operations are normally planned and controlled at division and corps and typically include information collection, target acquisition, ground and air maneuver, fires, cyber electromagnetic activities, and information operations either singly or in combination. 1-17. The purpose of deep operations is to prevent uncommitted enemy forces or capabilities from being employed in an effective manner. Deep operations might aim to disrupt the movement of operational reserves or prevent the enemy from employing long-range cannon, rocket, or missile fires. In an operational environment where enemy forces recruit insurgents from within a population, deep operations might focus on interfering with the recruiting process, disrupting the training of recruits, or eliminating the underlying factors that enable the enemy to recruit. 1-18. During major operations, the effects of deep operations are typically more influential when directed against an enemy’s ability to command, mass, maneuver, supply, and reinforce available conventional combat forces. Deep operations are more difficult against an enemy that employs a covert force structure, a simple logistic net, and unconventional tactics. However, with timely accurate intelligence and persistent operations, deep operations can disrupt enemy supply operations, destroy weapons caches, and deny sanctuary. Commanders may use any number of tactical tasks during the execution of deep operations to divert, disrupt, delay, and destroy enemy forces. These actions are not mutually exclusive, as actions associated with one effect may also support the others. For example, deep operations conducted to disrupt the enemy’s movement may force the enemy commander to divert to an alternate avenue of approach and thereby delaying enemy advancement. DIVERT 1-19. Deep operations can divert enemy forces, assets, capabilities, or attention away from areas where there are critical operational requirements for them. Its purpose is to consume resources or capabilities critical to enemy operations in a way that is advantageous to friendly operations. For example, a commander may conduct an envelopment in the deep area behind the enemy’s first echelon to destroy specific enemy forces and interdict enemy withdrawal routes. This envelopment may cause the enemy commander to divert combat