FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Chapter 4 4-10 FM 3-81 09 November 2021 4-43. The support area or base camp commander can use the following guidance to counter a penetration: Maintain contact with the penetrating enemy force. Forces may be able to delay the penetrating force by maintaining contact. The commander seeks to determine the size, composition, direction of attack, and rate of movement of the penetrating enemy force. Forces in contact must also sustain fires and close air support against the enemy to disrupt, delay, or divert their attack. Take immediate actions to hold the advance or expansion of the penetration. This may require changing task organization, adjusting adjacent boundaries and tasks, executing situational or reserve obstacles, or shifting priority of fires. Move threatened units. Based on the direction of enemy attack, units may need to move away from the penetration. These movements must be controlled to ensure that they do not interfere with counterattack plans or movements of combat forces. Determine where and how to engage the penetrating enemy force. Based on the size, composition, and direction of enemy attack, the commander selects the best location at which to engage the enemy. The reserve may counterattack into the flank of the enemy, or it may establish a defensive position in depth to defeat or block the enemy. The staff establishes control measures for the attack of the reserve. The reserve can use an engagement area or objective to orient itself to a specific location to engage the enemy. A battle position can be used to position the reserve along defensible terrain. The commander and staff develop a concept of fires and consider required adjustments to fire support coordination measures. They also decide on the commitment of directed, reserve, or situational obstacles to support the action. Traffic control is especially critical. Sufficient routes must be designated for the reserve to use, and provisions such as the use of military police and combat engineers must be taken to ensure that those routes remain clear. Plan effectively. A simple, well thought-out plan, developed during the initial planning process, greatly improves the ability of subordinates to react effectively. 4-44. MEB commanders must keep their higher headquarters informed of any enemy penetrations, and the base camp commanders must keep the MEB commander informed. The higher headquarters or MEB commander might reinforce the base camp commander with additional fires, attack aviation, security forces, or maneuver forces. Normally, in the case of a base camp penetration, the commander positions the response force or reserve according to the priority of the counterattack. Counterattack 4-45. MEB and base camp commanders use counterattacks to destroy an enemy within the support area or base camp perimeter. The units seek to slow the rate of penetration; weaken the enemy; and reduce maneuver options, momentum, and initiative and then counterattack with all available force. Timing is critical to a counterattack. Assuring the mobility of the counterattacking force is critical. 4-46. Ideally, the response force or reserve must be given warning time to prepare and maneuver. A quick verbal warning order or monitoring the command net can give the response force or reserve some warning and allow them to begin immediate movement toward their attack position to begin a counterattack. The response force or reserve issues situation reports and oral fragmentary orders on the move. Planning and preparation to a battle drill standard are needed. Within the support area, a successful defense is the defeat of enemy forces within the security area or the main battle area, if designated. Fires 4-47. The MEB must plan for Army and joint fires: indirect fires, attack aviation, and close air support throughout the support area. The commander must consider the risk and advantages of observed and unobserved fires and then incorporate this into the attack guidance and target selection standards of the concept of fires and targeting criteria.