UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

THE BASIC SCHOOL

MARINE CORPS TRAINING COMMAND
CAMP BARRETT, VIRGINIA 22134-5019

RIFLE PLATOON
NIGHT ATTACKS
B3J3838
STUDENT HANDOUT

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B3J3838 Rifle Platoon Night Attacks

Rifle Platoon Night Attacks

Introduction An attack emphasizes maximum application of combat

power, coupled with bold maneuver, shock effect in the
assault, and prompt exploitation of our success. Our four
principle tasks in an attack (Prevent effective enemy
maneuver, Maneuver to gain an advantage, deliver an
overwhelming assault, and exploit advantages gained)
make it necessary that we are capable of operating in a
limited visibility environment.

Importance As you are conducting your METT-TC analysis in planning

for a limited visibility attack it should be more deliberate in
nature, except when it is part of a follow-up mission to a day
attack mission or as a part of an exploitation or pursuit
operation. As the commander you need to consider the
affect that operating in a limited visibility environment will
have on your unit.

In This Lesson During this lesson we will cover the many considerations on
conducting a limited visibility attack. We will consider how
the limited visibility environment affects the control of units
and fires, identifying and engaging targets, navigating and
moving without detection, locating, treating and evacuating
casualties and enemy prisoners of war, and identifying and
bypassing the enemies’ obstacle plan.

This lesson covers the following topics:

Topic Page
Purpose of Night Attacks 4
Phases of a Night Attack 4
Preparation Phase of a Night Attack 5-12
Conduct Phase of a Night Attack 12-13
Consolidation/Reorganization Phase of a Night 14
Attack
References 13
Glossary of Terms and Acronyms 13
Appendix: Example of a PLD patrol and its 16
possible tasks

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Rifle Platoon Night Attacks (Continued)

Learning Objectives Learning Objectives

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE(S)

1 . Given an offensive order from higher and a rifle unit,
conduct offensive operations to accomplish the
mission. (TBS-OFF-2103)

ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE(S)

1 . Given an evaluation, describe types of offensive
operations without omission. (TBS-OFF-2103a)

2 . Given an evaluation, describe night considerations

without error. (TBS-OFF-2103f)

3 . Given a unit and an order from higher, plan a night

attack to accomplish the mission and meet the
commander's intent. (TBS-OFF-2103g)

“Success in a night attack depends largely upon direction, control, and surprise.”
-FMFRP 12-2, Infantry in Battle

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Purpose of Night Attacks

As a unit leader you would conduct attacks during limited visibility to take advantage of our night
vision devices against the majority of our potential enemies. Other reasons that you would
conduct a limited visibility operation are to continue an attack started in the daylight (i.e. pursuit
of an objective or exploitation of an objective), achieve surprise and psychological advantage,
and compensate for inferior combat power. The table below highlights some of the advantages
and disadvantages of conducting limited visibility operations.

ADAVANTAGES OF LIMITED VISIBILITY DISADVANTAGES OF LIMITED VISIBILITY

OPERATIONS OPERATIONS
 Darkness can conceal the movement of large  Command and control are more difficult
forces  Terrain is more difficult to traverse
 Physical and psychological factors favor the  The attacker loses momentum because he
attacker (shock, disorientation, and isolation attacks at a reduced speed in order to maintain
are easier to achieve) the coherence of the unit
 Land navigation is more difficult at night
 Increase the element of surprise  The enemy can reposition or emplace
 Defender cannot deploy his least engaged unit obstacles at night without being detected
(or reserve) as quickly as he can during the  Attacking units are easier to ambush
day  Adjusting indirect fires is difficult at night
 Compensate for inferior combat power  Units will require significantly larger quantities
 Avoid heavy losses of signal ammunition to develop a signal plan
 Locating and evacuating casualties
 The risk of fratricide
 Communication upon consolidation
 Segregating and marking EPW’s

Phases of the Night Attack

 Preparation
 Conduct
 Movement to the PLD/Objective
 Actions on the Objective
 Consolidation

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Preparation of a Night Attack

As with the preparation of a day attack, preparations for a night attack still requires you as the
commander to conduct a thorough estimate of the situation to identify the points of friction as
well as the advantages that you can exploit. As we talk about considerations for conducting
attacks during times of limited visibility utilize the Platoon in the Attack student handout as a
reference for the basic concepts of an attack. Understand that our attack during limited visibility
doesn’t require us to do anything special although we need to consider those things that are
different from the day.

Once the platoon commander receives his order to conduct an attack, he will immediately begin
to conduct his estimate of the situation (METT-TC). Understanding the commander’s intent and
your mission will enable you to quickly achieve a decision as to whether this will be a hasty or
deliberate attack. Based off of the enemy situation we can determine whether we want to
conduct a frontal or flanking attack.

As stated above we can utilize a hasty attack to exploit success from day time operations or to
pursue an enemy. A hasty attack is where we are going to exchange preparation and planning
time for execution time. As the commander you can choose to conduct a deliberate attack to
help mitigate some of the disadvantages of operating during times of limited visibility. Although
this may be the preferred type of attack the commander must understand that the deliberate
attack allows the enemy to continue defensive improvements or conduct a spoiling attack.

Also we need to determine which form of maneuver to use. Are we going to conduct a frontal
attack or a flanking attack? Table 2-1 outlines some of advantages and disadvantages of
conducting a flanking or frontal attack.

ADAVANTAGES OF A FRONTAL ATTACK DISADVANTAGES OF A FRONTAL ATTACK

 Facilitates control of units during the attack  Attacking the strength of the enemies
 Exploit a weak enemy defense
 Greater dispersion of forces along the enemies
frontage

ADAVANTAGES OF FLANKING ATTACK DISADVANTAGES OF A FLANKING ATTACK

 Your able to gain the element of surprise  May not employ all of the commanders forces
 Attacks a perceived gap in the enemy

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Preparation of a Night Attack

Also we need to look at the advantages and disadvantages of conducting an illuminated attack
verses a non-illuminated attack. As the commander we utilize limited visibility attacks to take
advantage of our night vision device technology as well as the other advantages that operating
at this time affords us. Although non-illuminated may be the preferred course of action what
advantages does an illuminated attack afford you as the commander? See table 3-1 below
which outlines advantages and disadvantages of an illuminated verses a non-illuminated attack.

ILLUMINATED ATTACK NON-ILLUMINATED ATTACK

 Utilizes illumination from organic weapons  Conducted by stealth to maintain secrecy
(M203) or supporting arms (mortars, and achieve surprise.
artillery, air)  A complete fire support plan is developed,
 Resembles a daylight attack including illumination, but not used until the
 Is supported by continuous illumination enemy discovers the attack. This helps to
 Could be used when: ensure that tactical surprise is maintained
o Friendly units lack NVG capability until contact is made.
o Enemy has NVG capability and we  Normally requires accurate and detailed
have no tactical advantage knowledge of the location of
o Poor ambient illumination creates  Enemy positions
poor visibility with NVGs  Obstacles
o Multiple friendly units on the  Security measures
battlefield and commander wants Which is gained during the Leader’s
to reduce confusion Recon.
 The visibility resulting from illumination  Use of NVDs improves our ability to:
determines the degree to which daylight – Move
techniques are employed; under ideal – Navigate
illumination, a night attack could use all the – Reconnoiter
tactics of a daylight attack – Identify enemy positions
 Used when speed is essential – Adjust fires
 Should be placed beyond the objective to  Some units may not have enough optics to
silhouette the objective issue one to every Marine. Therefore,
 Used to confuse the enemy about the priority of issue should go to:
location of attack – Key Leaders
– Automatic Weapons
– Lead trace/reconnaissance units
 Know the enemy: If he has good night
vision capabilities, consider an illuminated
attack to degrade this. It’s a two-way
street!

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Preparation Phase: Prep for Combat

After conducting a thorough estimate of the situation and developing a tentative SOM,
the platoon commander should publish a Warning Order. The platoon can then begin
drawing necessary communications, ammunition, and pyrotechnics specific to operating
at night. It is also at this phase of the preparation that a platoon commander should
conduct fire support planning and have his subordinates check the functionality of their
night vision/thermal devices.

Illumination Planning Considerations

WEAPON Projectile Burn Time Effective Illum Rate of Desent
Diameter (spread) (M/Sec)
(M)
155mm M485A2 120 1000 5
81mm M301A3 60 500 6
60mm M721 40 500 6
40mm M583A1 40 200 7

Preparation Phase: Make Reconnaissance

The leader’s reconnaissance for a night attack is conducted during the daytime, using a patrol
that is task-organized to:

 Accomplish reconnaissance of the enemy positions

 Determine routes, key terrain and tactical control measures for the attacking unit; to
include the Probable Line of Deployment
 Provide terminal guidance and security for the attacking unit
 Mark the PLD

What is a  Similar to an assault position, a PLD is a tactical control measure (TCM)

PLD? that we use under limited visibility conditions to identify where our unit will
deploy prior to beginning its assault.
 It provides a platoon with direction, by facilitating the transition to an on-
line formation in front of the enemy.
 Usually perpendicular to the direction of attack, it is a line on the ground
(either natural or man-made) that can be the last covered/concealed
position prior to the objective and forward of the LOD.
 Where the unit leader plans to complete final deployment of his forces.
 Close enough to the enemy positions so the distance moved in the
assault is relatively short and the amount of obstacles are limited.
 Ideally, is set on terrain that shields it from discovery by the enemy.
 It is the unit leader’s responsibility to confirm the direction of attack and
the unit orientation at the PLD.

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Who goes The patrol may take more Marines in order to provide better control and
on the facilitation in preparation for the night attack. An example of a PLD could
PLD/recon include SBF and maneuver element leader, navigation Marine, a security
patrol? team, and (4-6) guides left at the PLD for link up prior to conducting the
attack.

A sample organization of a PLD patrol and its tasks can be found in the
Appendix of this student handout.

How do we  If no natural features exist to use as a PLD, we can emplace a man-made

emplace a one with a patrol.
PLD?  PLD patrol can be separate from leader’s recon patrol, though at a
minimum, the PLD should be identified during the recon.
 Once near the objective, the patrol leader moves forward to locate the
objective. After establishing security, he supervises the guides as they
locate and mark the necessary control measures.
 A small element (guides) should remain behind to maintain security on
the PLD while the patrol returns to link up with the platoon.
 PLD should be marked at dusk, loaded in the dark.
 Directional or IR chemlights can be used to lead unit to PLD in the dark.

Preparation Phase: Make Reconnaissance (Continued)

Ultimately, the decision is up to the unit leader, but there are several things that must be
considered before the decision is made to establish a support by fire position. If the platoon
commander does decide to use an SBF for a night attack, it is one of the greater command-and-
control challenges that can be faced at the platoon level.

SUPPORT BY FIRE CONSIDERATIONS

 Does the terrain support establishing a support by fire position?
 What is the level of training for my unit?
 Does the situation require us to gain fire superiority from the flank to be successful?
 Do we need to minimize the number of Marines in the maneuver element?
 What is the risk of fratricide?
 What communications assets does my platoon possess?
 What pyro do I have remaining to use for a detailed signal plan?
 What is the No comm. plan and has the unit been informed?
 What unit leader will I place at the SBF position?

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Preparation Phase: Complete the Plan & Issue the Order

As the commander planning for and conducting limited visibility operations you need to plan for
the operation just as you would for a day time operation but with specific emphasis on ensuring
that your plan is simple, that you take extra time for reconnaissance, formations,
communications, contingency plans, tactical control measures, and marking of key leaders.

Formations Choose the formation to facilitate speed and control. This

generally means a column formation in the early stages of
the attack. The unit should transition to a more linear
formation at the PLD or just prior to contact with the
enemy.

Other formation considerations:

 Rate of march should be slow to facilitate control and

stealth, which gives us surprise.
 Leaders should be positioned near the front of their
units. Squad leaders and platoon commanders may
move at the front of their squads and platoons. This
enhances the leaders’ situational awareness and
control, and facilitates the decision-making process.
 All personnel should know the locations and markings
of small unit leaders.

Communications Because the night attack relies on surprise, maintain radio

silence prior to contact with the enemy, when at all
possible. At a minimum, use brevity codes.
 Messengers are also an option for communications.
 Key personnel, in addition to unit leaders, can be
subtly marked to help identify them at night.

Contingency Plan Night attacks may not always be executed as planned.

Leaders must prepare alternate plans and plan for
unexpected developments. Plans must be flexible and
allow for initiative by subordinate leaders.

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Preparation Phase: Complete the Plan & Issue the Order (Continued)

Tactical Control Control measures are generally more restrictive than during daylight and
Measures therefore must be easily recognizable. In addition to the PLD that was
discussed earlier, the table below lists specific considerations for
employing tactical control measures during a night attack.

Assembly Area
 Usually required to conduct the extensive preparations for a night
attack.

Assault Azimuth
 A magnetic azimuth that gives the direction from the PLD to the
objective.
 Determined during leader’s reconnaissance and briefed to
Marines prior to crossing the line of departure.

Time of Attack
 If the night attack is launched to seize favorable terrain for a
succeeding daylight attack, it is usually launched during the final
hours of darkness.
 Conversely, attacks launched during the early hours of darkness
permit the attacker to take advantage of a long period of
darkness to consolidate his position or to exploit the enemy's
confusion and loss of control.
 In either case, attacking units must avoid setting patterns.

Objective Rally Point

 The objective rally point (ORP) is located nearest the objective
where the patrol makes final preparations prior to approaching
the objective. The objective rally point is a point out of sight,
sound, and small-arms range of the objective area. The ORP is
tentative until the objective is pinpointed. Actions at or from the
ORP include: reconnoitering the objective, issuing a FRAGO,
disseminating information from the reconnaissance, making final
preparations before continuing operations

Squad Release Point

 A TCM that may be used, depending on the method utilized to
load the PLD. Established on the friendly side of the PLD, it is
the point at which squads separate from the platoon to facilitate
loading the PLD.

Rally Points
 Designated for link-up if the enemy repulses the attack.

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Limit of Advance
 Is a terrain feature easily recognized in the dark (stream, road,
edge of woods, etc.) beyond which attacking elements will not
advance.
Aids in consolidation after the assault.

Preparation Phase: Complete the Plan & Issue the Order (Continued)

Marking To facilitate control at night, we mark key leaders for identification in the
dark. The following are ways we can do this:
 Cat Eyes
 Illumination tape
 Engineer Tape
 IR Strobes (Dependent on the capabilities of the enemy)
 Chemical Lights
 Colored lights
 Infrared
(ex. 1 = FTL, 2 = SL, 3 = PC, etc.)

By marking terrain, a platoon commander can enhance his unit’s

direction while closing with the enemy.
 Engineer tape – to mark control measures like the PLD
 Keep personnel ON LINE
 Chemical lights – prepped in advance
 Colored
 Not visible to enemy (directional technique / use
tape)
 Used during training
 Infrared
 If enemy does NOT have IR detection capability
 Must train to this standard with NVGs

Preparation Phase: Supervise

The preparations for combat following the issuance of the order are very similar to when
conducting a day attack. However, special emphasis must be placed on inspecting things like
NVDs, issuance of pyrotechnics, marking tactical control measures, marking of key leaders,
PLD marking kits, rehearsals, and LZ marking kits.

PLD Marking Kits  Chemlights (IR and Color)

 Engineer Tape
 Chalk
 IR Strobes

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LZ Marking Kits  Chemlights (IR and Color)

 Engineer Tape
 Chalk
 IR Strobes
 IR Buzzsaw

Rehearsals Rehearsals are vital for success in a night attack because they:

 Reinforce techniques
 Decentralize control
 Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the plan
 Enhance coordination

The unit leader should rehearse his plan of attack over ground as similar
as possible to the terrain over which the attack will be conducted. If
possible, the unit leader should conduct daylight, dusk, and dark
rehearsals.

Conduct Phase: Movement to the PLD

Stealth and controlled movement at night give us surprise over the enemy. The key to gaining
surprise is the individual discipline of the Marines; discipline must be ruthlessly enforced
throughout the operation. It is vital that the platoon move to the PLD without being detected.
Therefore, we always load the PLD in the dark to ensure that our movement remains
undetected.

Conduct Phase: Loading PLD

There are three basic techniques for loading the PLD. They are the same as the defensive
occupation techniques. Once a platoon/squad reaches the guides left from the PLD patrol, the
unit should follow a deliberate process to occupy the PLD. Below are the preferred methods of
occupation:
 Bent-L
 Crows Foot
 Combination (Crows Foot & Bent L)

OCCUPY PLD WITH CROW’S FOOT

The “Crow’s Foot” technique allows for lateral dispersion of the platoon prior to moving into the
PLD. The platoon approaches the squad release point and the squads release. The platoon
then approaches the PLD in three squad columns, rather than a single platoon column. This
facilitates control and enhances security.

Though it may sound easy, the Crow's Foot is not a simple method. The Crow’s Foot is difficult
to set up and to execute (see diagram below).

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Conduct Phase
Crow’s Foot (Pure)

Fire Tm Release Point

Squad Release Point

OCCUPY PLD WITH BENT - L

The "Bent L" is a simple and easily executed technique (see diagram below). The significant
disadvantage is that if the attacking force is discovered as they move in column to the PLD or
while "loading" the PLD, it will have difficulty deploying its forces.

Conduct Phase
Bent – L (Pure)

OCCUPY WITH COMBINATION METHOD

In the combination method, the platoon approaches the squad release point, as in the crow’s
foot method. Upon reaching the squad release point, each squad moves in column to the PLD,
then pivots and moves into an online formation.

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Conduct Phase
Combination (Bent-L / Crow’s Foot)

Squad Release Point

(bent “L”)

Conduct Phase: Actions on the Objective

Once in the PLD, the platoon quietly moves forward to the objective until contact is made or the
attack is discovered. At that point, the squads and fire teams transition to fire and movement.
To ensure that surprise is maintained, the fire support plan, which may include illumination, is
not initiated until contact. Ideally, the assault is not discovered and the attackers capture the
enemy in their sleeping bags as they move onto the objective.

It is imperative for the attacking force to maintain absolute silence throughout the attack until
contact is made. Do not show any lights to the enemy. Flashlights, chemlights, and even the
luminous dial on a compass, if visible to the enemy, can negate the advantage of surprise and
wreck a good plan.

As discussed earlier, we should always attempt to achieve a completely non-illuminated attack.

However, if the enemy decides to use illumination on the battlefield, the platoon commander
must immediately transition his Marines into an illuminated attack using whatever assets he
planned for. Additionally, at any time, a platoon commander may decide to transition to an
illuminated attack at his discretion.

Consolidation/Re-Organization Phase

There are a few extra considerations for consolidating at night that we do not necessarily have
during the day. The platoon’s limit of advance must be easily recognizable in the dark.
Immediately thereafter, just like with a day attack, the unit must quickly transition to security on
the objective, utilizing the priorities of SAFE. Once security is established, the unit begins
putting their automatic weapons on the likely enemy avenues of approach as well as
establishing fields of fire. As the commander you need to ensure that the subordinate element
leaders are giving their units fields of fire that are easily identifiable at night. The Enemy
Prisoners of War (EPW) and Casualty Collection Points (CCP) should be marked using
chemlights or other devices that are visible to Marines in the dark.

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Summary

The night attack is a difficult operation that requires a detailed yet simple plan, realistic and
recognizable control measures, and discipline of individual Marines. The ability to operate
successfully at night is not guaranteed by simply being able to operate during daylight hours.
For units to be successful at night, they must undertake a thorough and intensive training plan
that prepares Marines to operate in the darkness. At the platoon level, platoon commanders
must ensure that their units are properly trained, properly supervised, and that the proper
planning is done prior to ever crossing the line of departure.

References

Reference Number Reference Title

MCDP 1-3 Tactics (Chapter 3)
MCWP 3-1 Ground Combat Operations
MCWP 3-11.1 Marine Rifle Company / Platoon
FMFRP 12-2 Infantry in Battle
MCWP 3-11.3 Scouting and Patrolling

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

Terms and Acronyms Definitions or Identifications

PLD Probable Line of Deployment

Notes

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APPENDIX:
Example of PLD patrol and possible tasks

Organization Tasks (in priority order)

 Patrol leader: Platoon commander  Detailed enemy information and terrain
 Assistant patrol leader: Generally an analysis: The patrol must locate
experienced squad leader  Obstacles
 Radio operators:  Gaps in obstacles
 Patrol will normally require at least  Enemy Ops
one radio  Enemy automatic weapons
 However, the patrol leader  The best route to the objective
determines how many radio  Mark routes and control measures: The
operators he needs patrol must locate and mark very specific
 Guides: and restrictive control measures to
 Each squad provides a Marine to  Move a rifle platoon at night to an
act as that squad's guide enemy position (or other objective)
 The first squad guide also acts as  Transition from a movement
the platoon guide formation to an assault formation
 Guides should be trained and  Assault the objective
experienced at operating  Provide guides:
independently  After locating the enemy and fixing
 Normally, squad and fire team the control measures, some patrol
leaders will not be used as guides. members return to the rifle platoon
Leaders should choose other well- to lead it to the squad release point
qualified Marines for this purpose  Additional guides lead squads and
 Navigation Marine: Who will bring you other subordinate units (machine
back to the PLD during limited visibility guns...) to the probable line of
 PLD security: Each squad may provide deployment and into their assault
one additional man to act as security formations
along the probable line of deployment  Maintain surveillance of objective:
 Inform the platoon commander of
any changes in the enemy
situation. Reinforcements of the
position, additional enemy patrols
or OPs, or repositioning of forces
could seriously affect the platoon’s
plan of attack.
 The patrol needs radios or other
communication gear to inform the
platoon commander of changes in
the situation prior to the platoon
arriving at the PLD

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