FM-3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations Download
Page 140 of 256
Chapter 6 6-30 FM 3-09 30 April 2020 6-130. Reduction by fire and maneuver uses a combination of fire and ground maneuver forces to attack and destroy an encirclement. It is the surest method of reduction because it forces the enemy to surrender, displace, or face annihilation. This method also allows the friendly encircling force commander to retain the initiative. 6-131. Commanders must determine which reduction technique to use after selecting the reduction method. This is how commanders will employ that reduction method. Reduction by fire alone uses only one technique, the application of overwhelming fire, and it requires decisions on selection of munitions, delivery means, and targets. Reduction by fire and maneuver incorporates at least four techniques: reduction by continuous external pressure, divide-and-conquer, selective reduction, and reduction by infiltration. 6-132. The first technique, reduction by continuous external pressure, is the classic siege technique. The encircling friendly force contains the encircled enemy force. The friendly force uses fires against the enemy pocket, and it conducts ground attacks against the encircled enemy's perimeter in a battle of attrition. 6-133. This technique has some disadvantages. The encircled enemy force usually has the advantage of strong defensive positions and interior lines. This allows the enemy commander to quickly transfer forces within the defensive perimeter. Last, as a result of these two defensive advantages, the attacking friendly force can expect to suffer a greater number of casualties than the defending enemy. In comparison with the other techniques, reduction by continuous external pressure has few, if any, advantages, unless the encircling force has an overwhelming force advantage. 6-134. The divide-and-conquer technique is a more viable and less costly technique. Once a force surrounds and contains a pocket, the encircling force launches a penetration to divide the pocket in two. Another penetration then divides these pockets into smaller ones. These penetrations and sub-divisions continue until resistance subsides. This technique eliminates the enemy's advantage of interior lines. 6-135. The third technique, selective reduction, attacks the cohesion of an encircled force by focusing on the sequential destruction of specific targets. It then uses Army aviation, CAS, and ground maneuver forces to eliminate the encircled enemy's artillery. The encircling friendly force could then use armored fighting vehicles to attack enemy logistics assets. Dismounted infantry attacks against enemy armored elements could follow. The objective is the eroding of the total combined arms strength of the pocket by eliminating specific capabilities of the encircled enemy combined arms team. Commanders and staffs can use this technique in combination with the other reduction techniques.