AMBUSH
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Task: Conduct an Ambush
Condition: Given a Ranger platoon with all assigned equipment
in a simulated combat environment
Standard: Conduct an Ambush IAW TC 3-21.76 and meet the
Commander's intent
DEFINITION OF AN AMBUSH
An attack by fire from a concealed location, on a moving or
temporarily halted enemy.
ADRP 1-02, Sep 13
INITIATIVE
GAIN - Surprise
MAINTAIN - Coordinated Fires
RETAIN - Violence of Action
ELEMENTS OF AN AMBUSH
CATEGORIES:
DELIBERATE: A deliberate ambush is conducted at a predetermined location against any
enemy element that meets the commander’s engagement criteria.
Planning a deliberate ambush: size and composition, weapons and equipment available to
the enemy.
HASTY: A unit conducts a hasty ambush when it makes visual contact with an enemy force
and has time to establish an ambush without being detected. The actions for a hasty ambush
must be well rehearsed so that Rangers know what to do on the leader's signal. They must
also know what action to take if the unit is detected before it is ready to initiate the ambush.
TYPES: FORMATIONS:
• Point • Linear
• Area • L-Shaped
• Anti-Armor
LINEAR AMBUSH
Enemy
ASLT SBF
• Easy to control
• Lower risk of Fratricide
• Less effective on the enemy
L-SHAPED AMBUSH
Enemy
• Harder to control
• Higher risk of Fratricide
• Most effective on the enemy
ASLT
SECURITY HALT
A A
S S
PL L L Sec SL
T T
2 1
SECURITY HALT
S
E
C
ORP
DAY
200-400 M
NIGHT
100-200 M PL/
SAW
SEC HALT AB Sec SL ORP
ORP Recon:
PL, FO, WSL, WSL/
AB
AB x2, SEC SQD, ASLT 2 SAW
ORP RECON
PL
SAW
SEC HALT AB ORP Sec SL
ORP Recon:
PL, FO, WSL, AB WSL
AB x3, SEC SQD
ORP RECON
WSL
SAW
SEC HALT AB ORP Sec SL
ORP Recon:
PL, FO, WSL, AB
PL
AB x3, SEC SQD
ORP OCCUPATION
SAW
PL Sec SQD
PSG ORP Sec
SEC HALT MG 2 FO
RTO
S/O
-Sec Established -TCS to Long Halt/Bring in Recon TM
-SLLS -Spot Check MG 1
-TCS to Strong Point/ Disseminate 3 W's -Begin MWE Prep w/ Recon TM
LEADERS RECON PARTY
LEADERS RECON: LEADERS RECON: EQUIPMENT
• PL • AT-4 (x3) (SS SEC, WS SEC, S&O)
• FO • STANO
• ASLT 1 SL • M18A1 (x3)
• ASLT 2 SL • MBITR/ASIP (SS SEC, WS SEC, S&O)
• WPNS SL • Sketch Pad
• SEC SQD (-) ORP Security • Pencil
• S/O - M249 + M320 (From ASLT 2) • Marking Capabilities (SBF/PLD)
• Signaling Capabilities (Shift/Check)
MWE:
COMMO PLAN: - Priority of MWE to Recon TM
- Additional Instructions to PSG
SEC SQUAD – ORP SEC
- Individual Discipline w/ Key
ASLT 2 – S&O
LDRs gone
ESTABLISH A RELEASE POINT
RP
Strong Side Sec (SL)
ASLT1 PL
ORP ASLT2
WSL
FO
S/O
Weak Side Sec (BTL)
*Use the same 5
Characteristics of ORP
+ Easily Identifiable
Feature
LEADERS RECON: PINPOINT/S&O
• Pinpoint OBJ
• Complete the plan
• Determine trigger point
• Determine kill zone
• S/O 5-point (x2)
• Special Instructions TP
• Engagement criteria
• Compromise plan
• Radio PSG
RP
S/O
PL
KILL
FO ZONE
ORP
LEADERS RECON:
LEFT/RIGHT FLANK SECURITY
• Occupation plan (3, 2, 1 Rule)
• Dist/Dir/Terrain Feature (Map)
• Location Criteria (C&C, Claymore,
AT4, Early Warning, Isolate)
• Withdrawal plan (Dist, Dir, Time)
• Engagement Criteria (x2) TP
(Recon vs. AOO)
• Compromise plan
• Radio check
RP
• Update PSG
WS SS
KILL
ZONE
ORP S/O
LEADERS RECON: SUPPORT BY FIRE
• Previously identified position?
• Pick up concept sketches from S/O SS
• Identify Secondary RP
•Confirm SBF location fits all three Guns
• Recon all gun positions, mark & improve
• Identify/Brief Trigger Point/Kill Zone
• Divide OBJ/Identify control measures TP
• Initiation and rates of fire
• Compromise plan/Engagement Criteria
• Brief ASLT1 & 2
• Withdrawal Plan (Red, White, Blue) ASLT2 RP
•Update PSG ASLT1 WSL
FO KILL
PL
ZONE
1
ORP S/O 2
3
***All information is
written by WSL, FO or PL to
ensure Gun TMs are briefed
quickly and accurately
during emplacement
WS
LEADERS RECON: ASSAULT POSITIONS
• Check with S/O, nothing changed on OBJ SS
• Recon Element selects routes and best positions
available for assault teams.
• Identify control measures: (PLD, TRP’s, LOA, Phase
A
lines)
S
• Divide objective between squads L
• PLD, LCC, Assault Lane, LOA ASLT2
TP
T
• Brief Trigger Point/Kill Zone (PL ensures they ASLT1 WSL 2
match SBF) FO
PL
• Initiation PACE plan. A
• Detailed engagement criteria RP S
• Verify lift/shift Signals L
• Withdrawal plan (Red, White, Blue) T KILL
• **Recon assault positions, mark & emplace at PLD. 1 ZONE
• Update PSG
ORP S/O
WS
OCCUPATION
• PLT moves from ORP to RP
•PSG Updated on Loc of Pos/Personnel
• WPNS SQD occupies SBF SS
PLD
• 1 Gun Bipod & Linked, update PL
• SBF all Tripod, update PL
• S/O attaches to Assault or SBF (PL may
pickup S/O enroute to Assault from SBF)
•PL recon Ass Pos, Emplace on PLD
•SL confirm SQDs are set, PL gives
signal to move to Ass positions
•PL emplaces claymore & updates PSG
KILL
-PL/PSG roles throughout occupation
-PL ultimately responsible for everything PLT does or
ZONE
PLD
fails to do
A W A RP
S S
P S/O
L L
T
N T
2 S 1 PL
FO
ORP
WS
INITIATION
SS
PLD
A
S
INITIATED BY THE PL L
T
2
-Initiation executed w/ PACE Plan A
-PLT follows Engagement Criteria S
RP
previously briefed L
-LDRs use INITIATIVE (adjust fire, rates T
1 KILL
of fire, "talking guns", etc.)
ZONE
PLD
ORP
WS
ACTIONS ON THE OBJECTIVE
• Cease Fire/Watch & shoot posture
• Fire and maneuver (Control / V.O.A.) SS
PLD
• Vehicle clearance team (first to vehicle)
• Assault to LOA (Aggresively bound all the 2
AR
way through OBJ) B PSG
• Establish LOA / immediate ACE reports
2
• PL/PSG inspect security (spot check /
A
meet in middle) LOA
• Special teams conduct clear / search w/ 1
RP B EPW
SOP or specific T,C,S
1 KILL EPW
A ZONE
R
PLD
R
ORP PL
AR
WS
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE OBJECTIVE
• Demo team reports to PL
• PSG/Medic establish choke point near side SS
A
S
Assault 1 establishes over watch L
2
T
nearside OBJ/Gun 1 and Gun 2 to bipod
B
2
Assault 2 bounds through choke 2
PSG MED
point to RP followed by Assault 1/Gun 3 to A
bipod
RP Dem o
1
• PL initiates demo KILL Dem o PL
B
ZONE
"Blue Burning" called. PL and DEMO 1
team bound through choke point A
-WPNS squad and S/O move to RP
GUN W
-SEC withdrawal on command/time hack to 1
P
GUN
RP (3 min after "Blue Burning" OR 1 min after 2
NAT
demo explodes) S
ORP
• 100% MWE Platoon moves to ORP
WS
CONTINGENCIES AND SOPs
CONTINGENCIES SOPs
• EPW EVAC PLAN • EPW AND SEARCH
• MASCAL • FIVE S’s and T
• WITHDRAWL / COUNTERATTACK • AID & LITTER
• COMMO • CASEVAC
•WPN MALFUNCTIONS • CCP / AXP / CXP
• COMPROMISE • VEHICLE CLEAR TEAM
o ORP • WITHDRAWAL PLAN
o LEADERS RECON
o OCCUPATION
TASK ORGANIZATION
ELEMENT WHO WHAT
PL, PSG, FO, 2x ASIPs, 2x MBITRs, GPS, SIGNALS,
HQ RTO, MEDIC STANO, MAP, BINOS, M18A1
ASSAULT 1 SQUAD MBITR, STANO, SIGNALS, SPECIAL
(+)/(-) TEAMS KITS, MAP
SQUAD MBITR, STANO, SIGNALS, SPECIAL
ASSAULT 2 (+)/(-) TEAMS KITS, MAP, AT4
WEAPONS SQUAD 3x M240Bs COMPLETE, MBITR,
SUPPORT
(+)/(-) STANO, SIGNALS, MAP, MARKINGS
SQUAD MBITR, STANO, 2x M18A1s, 2x AT4s,
SECURITY / ISOLATION SIGNALS, MAP
(+)/(-)
SUMMARY
Terminal Learning Objective
Review
Check on Learning
