7458995

Convoy Defense:
Techniques and Strategies

Reference:
FM 55-30
Terminal Learning Objectives
Describe convoy defense operations.

Enabling Learning Objectives:
A. Identify possible threats to convoys.
B. Explain how to maintain operational security.
C. Describe the implementation of four

operational security measures.
Enabling Learning Objectives:
D. Discuss terrain considerations affecting convoy

defense.
E. Discuss active and passive measures to defend

against air attack, indirect fires, snipers,
ambushes, and NBC attacks.
THREATS
Threats to Convoys Include:
• Airborne or airmobile forces ELO A
• Long-range artillery and rockets

• Irregular or guerilla forces
• Terrorists
Disruption activities
• Civilians on battlefield may include:
ambushes
snipers
raids
sabotage
FM 55-30 pg 3-1
SECURITY
Operational Security (OPSEC)
• Leaders must make OPSEC an integral part

of planning for operations, unit training,
and day-to-day operations.
• Leaders must develop OPSEC Maintain
security measures
protective measures.
throughout
planning,
preparation,
and
execution
FM 55-30 pg 3-1
phases.
OPSEC Planning Sequence
• Determine enemy capabilities for obtaining information about the

convoy.
• Determine what information obtained by the enemy can
compromise the operation.
• Determine which actions taken by your unit before an
operation, if understood by the enemy, would give the enemy
an advantage.
• Determine what protective measures are warranted and where
they must be implemented.
FM 55-30 pg 3-2
OPSEC Measures Include:
• Countersurveillance
• Signal security
• Physical security
Think
• Information security
active and passive
measures.
FM 55-30 pg 3-2
Countersurveillance
• Includes all active and passive measures taken
to prevent threat forces from seeing your area,
equipment, and movements
Train on this:
Camouflage and tone down vehicles.
Techniques Move at night.
Use terrain as concealment.
Enforce noise, litter,
and light discipline.
FM 55-30 pg 3-2
Signal Security
• Use communication and electronics security
techniques to prevent disclosure of information.
Try this:
Keep radio transmissions short.
Techniques Maintain signal silence whenever possible.
Use wire communications.
Use low power radios.
FM 55-30 pg 3-2
Physical Security
• Use security forces, barriers, dispersal,
concealment, and camouflage to deny enemy
access to areas of operations (AO)
Be
Proactive
Use LP/Ops in AO.

Use front, rear, and flank placement of security
Techniques Identify OCOKA.
Use obstacles.
Use challenge and passwords.
Use early warning devices.
FM 55-30 pg 3-2
Information Security
• Information security is the control of written, verbal,

and graphic information to prevent the disclosure of
operational information.
Do Not
Post information out in the open.

Let civilians without clearances into work areas.
Techniques Handle classified/sensitive papers improperly.
FM 55-30 pg 3-3
DEFENSE MEASURES
Terrain Considerations
• Terrain creates the most common natural obstacles
affecting convoy movements.
• How can you prepare for natural obstacles?
• How do you plan for movements through hilly or
mountainous terrain?
• How do you need to change your plans for
movement through swampy ground?
FM 55-30 pg 3-3
Convoy Defensive Measures
• Include both active and passive actions.

• Convoys must defend against air attack,
indirect fires, snipers, ambushes and NBC
attacks.
FM 55-30 Chapter 6
AIR ATTACKS
Reaction to Air Attacks
• Convoys are most vulnerable while moving

along open roads/during halts with no
overhead cover.
• How do you prepare your convoy?
FM 55-30 pg 6-1
Reaction to Air Attacks
• The convoy commander must:
– Prescribe alarm signals (unit SOP)
– Direct actions on contact (guidance)
– Prescribe actions to take in absence of orders
(battle drills)
– Ensure actions on contact are rehearsed
– Review the procedures with convoy personnel
before the convoy moves out
FM 55-30 pg 6-1/6-2
Aircraft Engagement Techniques
ELO E
Passive Defensive Measures
against Air Attacks
• Passive measures are more effective for logistics
units. Why?
• The key is convoy dispersion.
• Commanders must decide whether to use an open or closed column
• Distance between vehicles must not be fixed.
• Factors influencing vehicle distance include:
• Mission
• Cover and concealment
• Length of road march
• Type of road
• Type of vehicle
• Nature of cargo
• Enemy threat
• Available defense support FM 55-30 pg 6-2
Defend Against Air Attack
with Passive Reactions
• If aircraft are spotted or early warning is received,
the convoy commander has three options:
- Stop in place
- Continue to march
- Disperse quickly to concealed positions
• If the convoy commander chooses to halt the
convoy, the vehicles simply pull of the road in a
herringbone pattern.
• What are some of the advantages and

disadvantages of the herringbone pattern?
FM 55-30 pg 6-4
INDIRECT FIRE
Reaction to Indirect Fire
Active Defensive Measures
• Active defensive measures are limited but should not be overlooked, they include:
- Directing counterbattery fire
- Directing small arms fire or
artillery against the enemy
forward observer (FO) if
located
- Coordinating air strikes against
enemy artillery
Train on this
Preplanning
target reference
points (TRPs) and
identifying critical
friendly zones
(CFZs)
FM 55-30 pg 6-7
Reaction to Indirect Fire
Passive Defensive Measures
• Similar to reaction to enemy air, to march, or disperse into
concealed positions
• The company movement formation either (open or closed)

can be a type of passive defense.
• Regardless of the action taken, it should be SOP and

performed as a battle drill.
FM 55-30 pg 6-7
SNIPER
Reaction to Sniper Fire
Defensive Measures
• The best actions are passive.
• All vehicles should move through the area without stopping.
• Be careful of fratricide and civilians on the battlefield when

returning fire.
• Remember to send a contact report up to higher HQ.
FM 55-30 pg 6-7
AMBUSHES
Reaction to Ambushes
• How can you avoid ambushes?

• If an ambush can’t be avoided, what can do
to minimize the effects?
Think battle drills

Attempt to avoid ambushes
or reduce
their effectiveness
FM 55-30 pg 6-8
• If the road is not blocked, only a portion of the convoy
will likely be in contact.
• The part of the convoy in the kill zone must get out
rapidly.
• Disabled vehicles may be pushed out of the road by
follow-on vehicles.
• Escort armored vehicles will return fire.
• Other vehicles not in the kill zone will stop.
• Soldiers will dismount and take up defensive positions
and wait for further instructions .
FM 55-30 pg 6-8
• If the road is blocked, an element is halted in the kill
zone and is unable to move because of disabled
vehicles or some type of obstacle.
• Personnel must dismount, take cover, and return fire.
• Reaction forces should fire and maneuver up to
conduct a hasty breach of the obstacle.
• Detailed rehearsals of actions at the breach are critical.
FM 55-30 pg 6-9
Defend NBC Attacks
• Chemical agents can be delivered by artillery, mortars, rockets,
missiles, aircraft, spray bombs, grenades, and land mines.
• Always be alert because agents may already be on the ground or in
the air.
• Chemical agents are substances in either gas, liquid, or solid form.
• Protect against an NBC attack, you need to know how those agents
affect your body if used against you.
• Plan to sustainment training on NBC periodically.
• .
FM 55-30 pg 6-10
Convoy Defense:
Summary
• Name the possible threats to convoys
• How do you maintain operational security?
• What are the four operational security measures
and how do you implement them?
Convoy Defense:
Summary
• Name the terrain considerations affecting
convoy defense.
• What are the active and passive measures used
to defend against air attack, indirect fires,
snipers, ambushes, and NBC attacks?

7458995

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

7458995

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

7458995

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Convoy Defense:

Techniques and Strategies

Describe convoy defense operations.

A. Identify possible threats to convoys.

B. Explain how to maintain operational security.

C. Describe the implementation of four

D. Discuss terrain considerations affecting convoy

E. Discuss active and passive measures to defend

• Long-range artillery and rockets

• Leaders must make OPSEC an integral part

• Determine enemy capabilities for obtaining information about the

Use LP/Ops in AO.

• Information security is the control of written, verbal,

Post information out in the open.

• Include both active and passive actions.

• Convoys are most vulnerable while moving

• How do you prepare your convoy?

• What are some of the advantages and

• The company movement formation either (open or closed)

• Regardless of the action taken, it should be SOP and

• All vehicles should move through the area without stopping.

• Be careful of fratricide and civilians on the battlefield when

• Remember to send a contact report up to higher HQ.

• How can you avoid ambushes?

Think battle drills

You might also like