ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download

Planning 07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 103 Table 2-25. Offensive indicators example ATP 2-01.3 Activity Explanation Massing of maneuver elements, armor, artillery, and logistic support. May indicate the main effort by weakening areas of secondary importance. Deployment of combat elements on relatively narrow frontage (not forced by terrain). May provide maximum combat power at attacking point by reducing frontages. Likely threat decisive effort. Massing of indirect fire support assets. May indicate initiation of main effort. Extensive artillery preparation of up to 50 minutes in duration or longer. Initiates preparation preceding an attack. Dispersal of tanks and self-propelled artillery to forward units. Can indicate formation of combined arms assault formations with tanks accompanying the leading maneuver elements and artillery following in bounds. Surface-to-surface missile units located forward. Provides depth to threat offensive operations. Places friendly support and unassigned areas in range. May also indicate, when employed alone, harassing or special weapons (chemical) delivery. Antiaircraft artillery and mobile surface- to-surface missiles located well forward with maneuver elements. Provides increased protection to massed forces before attack. Extends air defense umbrella forward as units advance. Demonstrations and feints. May precede an attack. May deceive actual point of attack. Establishment and strengthening of counterreconnaissance screen. Protects assembly areas and forces as they prepare for attack. May be effort to prevent friendly forces from seeing attack preparations. Concentration of mass toward one or both flanks within the forward area. May indicate intent for single or double envelopment, particularly if massing units are armor heavy. Increased patrolling or ground reconnaissance. May indicate efforts to gather detailed intelligence regarding friendly dispositions before attack. CPs located well forward; mobile CPs identified. Indicates preparation to command an offensive operation from as far forward as possible. Movement of noncombatants from the AO. Indicates preparation for rapid forward advance of troops and follow-on forces. Extensive conduct of drills and rehearsals in unassigned areas. Often indicates major attacks, particularly against fortified positions or strongly defended natural or constructed barriers, which require rehearsal of specialized tactics and skills. Cessation of drills and rehearsals. Unit completes rehearsals. Unit prepares for offensive operations. Increased activity in supply, maintenance, and motor transportation areas. May indicate movement of additional forces to the front to sustain a major attack. Stocking of sustainment items, such as ammunition and medical supplies, before an attack. Increased aerial reconnaissance (including unmanned aircraft systems). Threat effort to collect further intelligence on friendly dispositions or defensive positions. Establishment of forward arming and refueling points, auxiliary airfields, or activation of inactive airfields. Indicates preparation for increased sorties for aircraft and faster turnaround time and aviation sustainment. Indicates preparation to support offensive operations with aircraft as far forward as possible. Clearing lanes through own obstacles. Facilitates forward movement and grouping of assault units, particularly at night, and usually immediately precedes an attack. Reconnaissance, marking, and destruction of defending force’s obstacles. Indicates where assaults will occur. Gap-crossing equipment (swimming vehicles, bridging, ferries, assault boats) located in forward areas (provides large water obstacle or gap). Expect a substantial effort to cross a water obstacle during a main attack. Staging of airborne, air assault, or Special Forces with transportation assets such as transport aircraft or helicopters. Airborne or air assault operations likely indicates efforts to attack friendly commands, communications, or sustainment nodes. May indicate a main effort in which airborne forces will link with ground maneuver forces. Increased signals traffic or radio silence. May indicate intent to conduct offensive operations, but increased traffic could also be an attempt to deceive. Radio silence denies information derived from signals intelligence. Signals intelligence and electromagnetic warfare assets located forward. Provides electromagnetic attack and surveillance support for the attack.