ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download
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Appendix A 166 ATP 5-0.2-1 07 December 2020 A-44. A bridgehead force is a force that assaults across a gap to secure the enemy side (the bridgehead) to allow the buildup and passage of a breakout force during gap crossing (ATP 3-90.4/MCWP 3-17.8). A bridgehead is an area on the enemy side of the linear obstacle that is large enough to accommodate the majority of the crossing force, has adequate terrain to permit defense of the crossing sites, provides security of crossing forces from enemy direct fire, and provides a base for continuing the attack (ATP 3-90.4/MCWP 3-17.8). The bridgehead line is the limit of the objective area in the development of the bridgehead. Breakout forces attack and seize objectives beyond a bridgehead to continue offensive operations. A-45. The communication network that supports a deliberate crossing is critical to the success of the gap crossing. The communications network should be planned, and it should support the five phases of the gap crossing. It requires early planning and redundancy. All sites involved (checkpoints, waiting areas, engineer equipment parks, traffic control posts, and engineer regulating points) should be capable of monitoring and sending information to every other element that has a role in the crossing. Speed A-46. A gap crossing in support of maneuver is typically a race between the crossing force and the enemy to mass combat power on the far side. The longer the force takes to cross, the less likely it will succeed— the enemy will defeat the elements split by the gap. Speed is so important to crossing success that extraordinary measures may be justified to maintain it. Control Measures for a Gap Crossing A-47. Commanders and staffs use control measures to delineate areas of responsibility for subordinate units and to ease traffic control. Figure A-2 provides a simplistic illustration of the graphic control measures described in paragraphs A-48 through A-50. ATP 3-90.4/MCWP 3-17.8 Figure A-2. Example gap crossing graphic control measures