ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download
Page 183 of 440
Offensive Tactics, Techniques, Procedures, and Considerations 07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 167 A-48. A release line is used to delineate the crossing area. Release lines are located on the far side and near side and indicate a change in the headquarters that is controlling movement. A-49. A crossing area is a number of adjacent crossing sites under the control of one commander. It is a controlled access area for a gap crossing used to decrease traffic congestion at the gap. The crossing area is defined on both sides of the gap by a release line. The near side portion of the crossing area must be large enough to stage the optimal number of units to facilitate a speedy crossing while preventing congestion and an undesired massing of assets. The far side must provide enough space for the buildup of sufficient combat power to establish the bridgehead. A-50. The following areas are known as waiting areas and are used to conceal vehicles, troops, and equipment while waiting to resume movement or to make final crossing preparations: Staging area. A waiting area outside the crossing area where forces wait to enter the crossing area. Holding area. A waiting area that forces use during traffic interruptions or deployment from an aerial or seaport of embarkation. Call forward area. In gap crossing, the final preparation waiting area within the crossing area (ATP 3-90.4/MCWP 3-17.8) Attack position. The last position an attacking force occupies or passes through before crossing the line of departure (ADP 3-90). Within the bridgehead, the attack position is the last position before leaving the crossing area. Assault position. A covered and concealed position short of the objective from which final preparations are made to assault the objective (ADP 3-90). Tactical assembly area. An area that is generally out of the reach of light artillery and the location where units make final preparations (pre-combat checks and inspections) and rest, prior to moving to the line of departure (JP 3-35). Engineer equipment park. An area located a convenient distance from crossing sites for assembling, preparing, and storing bridge and other crossing equipment and materiel. It typically holds spare equipment and empty trucks that are not required at the crossing sites. Engineer regulating point. A checkpoint to ensure that vehicles do not exceed the capacity of the crossing means and to give drivers final instructions on site-specific procedures and information, such as speed and vehicle interval (ATP 3-90.4/MCWP 3-17.8). Phases of Gap Crossing A-51. Gap crossing comprises five phases. These phases are for planning purposes only with no intentional pauses between phases during execution. The five phases are— Advance to the gap (Phase I). Attack to secure nearside terrain that offers favorable crossing sites and road networks and provides enough area to stage crossing forces while preventing congestion and an undesirable massing of assets. Assault across the gap (Phase II). Units assault across the gap to seize the far side objective, eliminating direct fire into the crossing sites. Advance from the far side (Phase III). Attack to secure the exit bank and intermediate objectives that eliminate direct and observed indirect fires into the crossing area. Secure the bridgehead line (Phase IV). Secure bridgehead objectives, defeating any enemy counterattacks. This provides the necessary time and space for building up forces to attack out of the bridgehead. Continue the attack (Phase V). Attack out of the bridgehead to defeat the enemy at a subsequent or final objective. This is considered a phase of gap crossing because the timing and initiation of this phase are typically dependent on the success of the other four phases of gap crossing. Table A-5 on page 168 shows a division conducting a deliberate wet-gap crossing and the roles of various command posts in each phase of the gap crossing.