Plow Platoon Operations

“Panther X-Ray, this is Maddog X-Ray, enemy obstacle report follows:” Line 1: Wire and mine obstacle Line 2: Starting at Grid AB 303148 to Grid AB 311149 Line 3: Obstacle is 800m in length, from SW to NE Line 4: Depth of obstacle: 100m Line 5: Obstacle sighting has been confirmed by Maddog Red 1 at __ _ hrs.

“Panther X-Ray, this is Panther 6. I monitored Maddog’s report. Execute TM Bulldog, time now!”

In the summer of 1998, 2-69 Armor Battalion began using anew playbook that included the concept of using a plow platoon within each company/ team.

Initially, the company commanders were skeptical and reluctant to change to this new concept of breaching. We had very little knowledge about the tactics, techniques, or procedures for using the plow platoon concept in our warfighting METL. Our train-up for the National Training Center (NTC) was to begin in two weeks (two companies had just returned from Intrinsic Action 98-02 and two companies were still deployed in support of Operation Desert Thunder), and the company commanders, like the rest of the unit, didn’t want the additional requirement to train a time-consuming new concept to go along with the numerous other requirements prior to deploying to the NTC.

I formed a plow platoon within my company. The biggest “sell” was to my soldiers: “Sir, how come it has to be our platoon?” or “Sir, do you realize that you are sending us to our death in the breach?” These were just a few questions for me to think about during my second week as an M1A1 tank company commander.

Like all units within 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division, we trained hard during our train-up period for the NTC, but more importantly, our unit had deployed to Kuwait for real world contingency operations twice within the last three years (Operations Desert Vigilance, Desert Fox/Thunder). The end result: Task Force Panther did well during NTC Rotation 98-02. We won some battles, and we lost some battles, but overall, we were a better trained and battle ready unit after the rotation.

This article discusses the use of the “plow platoon” in co/tm offensive operations. It is by no means the answer to all tactical breaching scenarios, rather a task force and company/team SOP developed through trial and error during our train-up to the NTC in the fall of 1998. For the units using the “plow platoon” concept, the following SOP may aid in breaching operations at the task force and co/tm level. Platoon Task Organization 1-Mine roller 2-Mine plow 3-Mine plow 4-Mine plow Plow Concept The plow tank must build up enough spoil (turned dirt) prior to entering the minefield in order to push and redirect the explosion of the mine(s) away from the tank. In order to develop enough spoil, the plow must be dropped 50-80 meters from the edge of the minefield. This is terrain- and soil-dependent; essentially, there should be a minimum of 13 inches of spoil in front of the mine plow. Prior to creating a lane with the plow, the tank must traverse its turret to the side in order to protect the gun tube from any possible frontal mine explosions. The turret should be traversed to the left side so that the TC may use the.50 caliber machine gun while in the lane. In order to protect the crew from direct and indirect fires, and exploding mines, all hatches must be closed while creating the lane. Mine Roller Concept The mine roller is mounted on the tank prior to use during a mission. The mine roller tank detects the edge of the minefield upon visual contact or by exploding the first mine. The roller tank then backs up in order to allow a plow tank to clear a lane. The roller is also used for proofing a lane after a plow tank or engineer unit has already cleared a path through the minefield. In-Stride Breach (See Figs. 1-3) Concept: Prior to conducting a breach with unit assets, the normal SOSR (suppress, obscure, secure, reduce) conditions must be met. This is done with platoon internal assets, company/team assets, or task force assets, depending on the size and composition of the obstacle and enemy strength covering the obstacle. Once the obstacle is identified, a plow tank section acts as the lane creator and lane proofer. The other tank section provides overwatch and suppression during the breach.

“In the summer of 1998, 2-69 Armor Battalion began using anew playbook that included the concept of using a plow platoon within each company/team....”

ARMOR — 11 Suppress: by fires (indirect/direct) Obscure: primary mortars/ smoke pots Secure: by direct/indirect fire superiority Reduce: 1 lane per co/tm, 2 x lanes per TF maintain momentum & continue to attack SMOKE

# 3 # 4 # 2 # 1 * Not to Scale CO/TM

# 1 # 4 # 3 # 2 * Not to Scale Overwatch -OPFOR prepared/complex obstacle in depth 3:1 Ratio of direct fire high volume of indirect fire detailed smoke plan OoM -Tank w/Plow -AVLM

-Sapper M113 -AVLB

-Sapper M113 E...

OoM -Tank w/Plow -AVLM

-Sapper M113 -AVLB

-Sapper M113 E... ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( Assault E 1 x Tank w/Plow 1 x Tank w/Roller Overwatch (-) * Not to Scale 12 ARMOR — Figure 1. Suppression In-stride Breach SMOKE

# 3 # 4 # 2 # 1 * Not to Scale In-stride Breach Figure 2. Reduction Figure 3. Proofing the Lane In-stride Breach Standard Two-Lane Deliberate Breach Figure 4. Movement to the Breach Suppression (Figure 1) is conducted by the overwatch section and any other assets working to accomplish the breach.

Obscuration is called by the PL or the primary observer for the obscuration mission.

Security (near side) is conducted by the breach section as it prepares to execute the breach mission.

Reduction (Figure 2) is conducted by the #3 tank. It drops its plow 50-80 meters from the edge of the minefield while the #4 tank continues to provide near-side security (vic edge of minefield; enemy and terrain dependent). The #3 tank creates the lane. Once the #3 tank creates the lane the #4 tank follows with its plow dropped in order to proof the lane (Figure 3). While the #4 tank is proofing the lane, the #3 tank provides far-side security. Once the lane has been proofed, the #1 and #2 tanks advance through the obstacle in order to provide far-side security, additional suppression, or assist in assaulting enemy positions. In order to provide redundancy, the #2 tank acts as the back-up breach tank in case the #3 and #4 tanks are rendered NMC. The #2 tank also acts as the FASCAM response vehicle if the enemy places FASCAM on the breach site.

In that case, in order to reestablish the breach, the #2 tank drops its plow and breaches the same lane created by the previous plow tanks.

TF Deliberate Breach With Engineer Assets (See Figs. 4-6) TASK ORGANIZATION:

TM BULLDOG/ B/317 EN (Breach Teams) 1/B/317 EN (#3 Tank, 1xAVLM, 4xM113, 1xAVLB, 1xACE) 2/B/317 EN (#4 Tank, 1xAVLM, 4xM113, 1xAVLB, 1xACE) 3/A/2-69 AR (#1 and # 2 Tank) Concept: When breaching with engineer assets, the task force commander determines whether to create a one- or two-lane breach. If it is the standard two-lane breach, then the #3 and #4 tanks are OPCON to B/317 EN. The #1 and #2 tanks remain in a position to oversee the breach operation and act as a FASCAM breach reserve. The tank platoon remains OPCON to TM BULLDOG until the breach mission is complete and lane(s) are established. The #4 plow tank must maintain FM comms with the platoon leader (#1 tank) in order to ensure the latest SITREPs are known within the platoon. The plow platoon maneuvers as a platoon until the last covered and concealed position as designated by CDR, TM BULLDOG. Once in the final position, the #3 and #4 tanks separate from the plow platoon and prepare to lead their respective platoons toward the breach site. The typical order of march to the breach site for each platoon will be: tank w/plow, AVLM, sapper M113, AVLB, EN PL M113, ACE, EN PSG

M113, and sapper M113 (Figure 4). Suppression is conducted by the #1 and #2 tank and other units assigned the mission according to the TF play book.

Obscuration is called by the engineer commander or by the primary/secondary observer; designated by the TF FSO.

Security (near side) is conducted by TM_/2-69 AR from the overwatch.

- Plow Plt conducts L/U with Mech Co/Tm upon completion of breach * Not to Scale E ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( Overwatch (-) Assault Overwatch # 1 # 4 # 3 # 2 * Not to Scale SMOKE

ARMOR — 13 Figure 5. Reduction Standard Two-Lane Deliberate Breach Standard Two-Lane Deliberate Breach Figure 6. Link-up Continued on Page 20