The crews of the first Bradleys known to be lost in Ukraine appear to have mostly operated according to doctrine, an expert tells us.
www.thedrive.com
I figured for anyone interested in understand the tactical situation more in depth, this may help.
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES
3-69. Movement techniques are not fixed formations. They refer to the distances
between tanks based on mission, enemy, terrain, visibility, speed, and other factors
affecting control. They limit the platoon’s exposure to enemy fire and position it in a
good formation to react to enemy contact. There are three movement techniques:
traveling, traveling overwatch, and bounding overwatch. Factors to consider for each
technique are control, ability to maneuver, dispersion, speed, and security.
TRAVELING
3-70. The platoon uses the traveling movement technique when speed is necessary and
contact with enemy forces is not likely. All elements of the platoon move
simultaneously. The platoon leader/platoon commander is located where they can best
control the movement. When using the traveling movement technique, intervals between
tanks is based on visibility, terrain, and weapon ranges.
TRAVELING OVERWATCH
3-71. The platoon uses the traveling overwatch movement technique when contact with
enemy forces is possible, but speed is important. The lead section is continuously
moving, while the trailing section moves at variable speeds, sometime pausing to
overwatch the movement of the lead section. The trailing section keys its movement to
the terrain, overwatching from a position where they can support the lead section if it
engages the enemy. The trailing section overwatches from positions and at distances that
will not prevent them from firing or moving to support the lead section.
Overwatch
3-72. Overwatch is a technique in which an element observes and provides direct fire
support for a friendly moving element. Situational understanding is a crucial factor in
all overwatch missions, whose objective is to prevent the enemy from surprising and
engaging the moving unit. The overwatch force must maintain communications with the
moving force and provide early warning of enemy elements that could affect the moving
force. It also scans gaps and dead space within the moving element’s formations.
3-73. If the overwatch is unable to scan dead space and engage the enemy, it must alert
the moving element of the lapse in coverage. The overwatch must also be able to support
the moving force with immediate direct and indirect fires. The overwatch element can be either stationary or on the move.
Overwatch on the Move
3-74. The trail section or platoon maintains a designated location in the formation. It
continuously scans the lead element’s AO, closely monitoring gaps and dead space. The
trail element maintains an interval dictated by the capabilities of its weapon systems and
the effects of terrain. As needed, it can execute a short halt on key terrain to provide
more effective overwatch.
BOUNDING OVERWATCH
3-75. The platoon uses the bounding overwatch movement technique when contact with
enemy forces is expected. There are two variations of this technique: alternate bounds
and successive bounds. In both cases, the overwatching section covers the bounding
section from covered and concealed positions with good observations and fields of fire
against possible enemy positions. They can immediately support the bounding section
with maneuver or fires, if the bounding section makes contact. Unless they make contact
en route, the bounding section moves via covered and concealed routes into the next set
of support-by-fire positions. The length of the bound is based on the terrain and range
of overwatching weapon systems. In bounding overwatch, all movement keys on the
next support-by-fire position, which must offer, cover and concealment, good
observation and fields of fire, and protection.
Stationary Overwatch
3-76. The section or platoon occupies hull-down firing positions that provide effective
cover and concealment, unobstructed observation, and clear fields of fire. The section
or platoon leader/platoon commander assigns sectors of fire. Individual crews
aggressively scan their sectors using applicable search techniques to identify enemy
positions. The overwatch element scans, paying close attention to gaps and dead space.
If contact is made, the overwatch element initiates a high volume of direct or indirect
suppressive fires; it moves as necessary between primary and alternate positions to avoid
being decisively engaged.
Alternate Bounds
3-77. If the platoon uses alternate bounds, the lead section moves forward, halts, and
occupies a support-by-fire position covered at all times by the rear overwatching section.
The former rear overwatching section advances past the former lead section and takes
up overwatch positions. The initial lead section then advances past the initial trail section
and occupies a new support-by-fire position. One section moves at a time. This method
is usually more rapid than successive bounds (see figure 3-25).
Figure 3-25. Movement by alternate bounds
Successive Bounds
3-78. If the platoon uses successive bounds, the lead section, covered by the trail
section, advances and occupies a support-by-fire position. The trail section advances to
a support-by-fire position abreast with the lead section and halts. The lead section then
moves to the next position and the move continues. One section moves at a time, and
the trail section avoids advancing beyond the lead section (see figure 3-26).
Figure 3-26. Movement by successive bounds
Taken from The ATP 3-20.15/ MCRP 3-10B.1 is a dual-designated Army and Marine Corps publication.
Edit- somebody in the comment section (of article) pointed out (and rightfully so)-
"This was not a breaching operation.
A breaching operation is a battalion main effort with supporting fires, engineers and tank support. This was a platoon moving forward, largely unsupported, that hit a minefield they didn't expect."
has announced a new military aid package for as Ukraine looks to keep up their offensive momentum. The aid package is valued at $325 million USD and includes the following.
