ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download
Page 197 of 440
07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 181 Appendix B Defensive Tactics, Techniques, Procedures, and Considerations This appendix provides common defensive techniques and considerations for executing an area defense, mobile defense, and retrograde (focusing on delay operations) and developing an engagement area and priorities of work. INTRODUCTION TO DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS B-1. This appendix is derived from ADP 3-0, ADP 3-90, FM 3-90-1, FM 3-96, and ATP 3-21.20. B-2. A defensive operation is an operation to defeat an enemy attack, gain time, economize forces, and develop conditions favorable for offensive or stability operations (ADP 3-0). The purpose of defensive operations is to create conditions for a counteroffensive that allows Army forces to regain the initiative. Other reasons for performing defensive operations include— Retaining decisive terrain or denying a vital area to an enemy. Attriting or fixing an enemy as a prelude to offensive operations. Countering enemy action. Increasing an enemy’s vulnerability by forcing an enemy commander to concentrate subordinate forces. B-3. This appendix provides common defensive techniques and considerations for executing an area defense, mobile defense, and retrograde (focused on delay operations) and developing an engagement area (EA) and priorities of work. B-4. Successful defenses share the following characteristics: disruption, flexibility, maneuver, massing effects, operations in depth, preparation, and security. B-5. Defenses are aggressive. Defending commanders use all available means to disrupt enemy forces. Commanders disrupt attackers and isolate them from mutual support to defeat them in detail. Defenders seek to increase their freedom of maneuver while denying it to attackers. Defending commanders use every opportunity to transition to the offense, even if only temporarily. As attackers' losses increase, they falter and the initiative shifts to the defenders. These situations are favorable for counterattacks. Counterattack opportunities rarely last long. Defenders strike swiftly when the attackers reach their decisive point. Surprise and speed enable counterattacking forces to seize the initiative and overwhelm the attackers. B-6. There are three types of defensive operations: Area defense. A type of defensive operation that concentrates on denying enemy forces access to designated terrain for a specific time rather than destroying the enemy outright (ADP 3-90). Mobile defense. A type of defensive operation that concentrates on the destruction or defeat of the enemy through a decisive attack by a striking force (ADP 3-90). Retrograde. A type of defensive operation that involves organized movement away from the enemy (ADP 3-90). B-7. Each defensive operation must be dealt with differently when planning and executing the defense. Although the names of these defensive operations convey the overall aim of a selected operation, each typically contains elements of the other and combines static and mobile elements. Figure B-1 on page 182 provides a graphic of defensive planning and executing considerations when planning and executing a defense.