Screen in Depth

Screen in Depth by Christopher D. Kolenda FM 17-98 covers screening operations at the platoon level, but it only covers the basic platoon deployment for a mission requiring observation on three avenues of approach. A lot of platoons get into trouble when they receive a mission to cover one covered and concealed, and allows the the main body several advantages. scout to occupy the next observation First, the platoon can repor& on the lo-post undetected. Realistically, this cation and movement of the enemy causes problems. The displacement along the entire avenue of approach route is usually longer than the route without moving. One observation post the enemy has to travel, which often identifies the enemy, then passes the enemy to the next observation post. The scouts remain unde-or two avenues, a type of BY deploying the scouts so they can tected, which inhibits the prevalent at the cm maintain continuous observation along enemy,s ability to template the and NTC, where the terrain restricts the enemy. While this they don’t have to sacrifice surveillance Second, the scouts can report mission may seem easier, many platoons fail to take advantage of securiv displacing in of the the location and movement of the depth ’‘ the avenue Of appfoach9 locationofthemainbody. of the nmwer frontage by enemy. adding depth to their screen. I have had the opportunity to watch several platoons execute screen missions at CMTC and on ARTEPs, and I have seen the same improper decisions with nearly every platoon when screening one or two avenues of approach. The most common decision when screening two avenues is to use the two section configuration, with one section on each avenue, in an attempt to employ the concept of maximum reconnaissance forward. Likewise, when the platoons only screen one avenue, they use the two section configuration with both sections covering the Same avenue. While this may be acceptable by FM 17-98, it is often not the best decision, because the scouts invariably sacrifice the advantage of a stationary observation post during displacement. The most dangerous task for a scout on a screen line is displacing. Maintaining continuous surveillance along an avenue of approach is extremely difficult during displacement. Often, the displacement causes the scout to sacrifice either surveillance or security. The ideal displacement route is causes the scout to arrive late. Second, the scout is often forced to lose observation along the avenue of approach until he arrives at his subsequent observation post.

If the scout opts for a route which allows him surveillance along the route during displacement, he sacrifices security. If the scout can see the enemy, the enemy can see him, especially if the scout is moving. Although this may seem simplistic, it happens too frequently to go unmentioned. When the platoon has the mission to Screen only one or two avenues of approach, it makes better sense to use a screen in depth. By deploying the scouts so they can maintain continuous observation along the depth of the avenue of approach, they don’t have to sacrifice surveillance of security by displacing in front of the enemy. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a screen in depth using terrain similar to that found at CMTC along the avenue of approach leading to the “Baldy Bowl.” In each case, the platoon deploys along the depth of the avenue of approach. This gives the platoon and subsequent echelons before they can influence the battle. This gives the commander the opportunity to structure the ongoing fight, while simultaneously bringing his combat multipliers to bear on the next echelon using early and accurate information from the scouts, rather than having to rely solely on doctrinal templates and rates of movement. This synchronization is the key to fighting outnumbered and winning.

Last, a screen in depth will dramatically enhance the scouts ability to survive. The observation posts are virtually undetectable due to their static nature. The scouts are not forced to displace in front of the enemy. Instead, the scouts can displace between echelons if they need to collapse the screen line with a minimum security risk Some will argue that a screen in depth will violate the principle of maximum reconnaissance forward. I disagree. The intent of the principle is to provide maximum reconnaissance forward of the main body and render timely and accurate information to the commander. A screen in depth is certainly in keeping with this principle. It 14 ARMOR - May-June 1993