21st Light Recon and Assault Corps

Field Manual 3: The Ambush

Written By: Alex Moore

I) The Basics
a) Definition: The ambush is a surprise attack on an enemy group with the
intention of destroying or hindering it. “It combines maximum firepower with
minimum time, and does not require the attacking force to take or hold
territory.” (Crawford 117) The ambush is the preferred method of attack
whenever possible because it gives an immediate tactical advantage to the
ambushing party.
b) The Deliberate Ambush: The deliberate ambush is one setup to destroy or
hinder a pre-selected enemy formation, and occurs when prior intelligence has
allowed the attackers to setup their ambush far ahead of the enemy.
c) The Ambush of Opportunity: The ambush of opportunity is when there is a
lack of prior intelligence (often when the enemy has just been spotted by the
fire team) and is more a reaction to enemy movement than a pre-planned
attack. These are most common on the field, but are less successful because of
the lack of prior intelligence and planning.
d) The Guerilla Ambush: An ambush that does not aim to destroy the enemy
formation, but to simply hinder it, take a psychological toll, or wear down an
enemy is a guerilla ambush. It does not follow the usual rules of an ambush, it
can afford to be less organized. Most of the effort of a team performing a
guerilla ambush will be on hitting primary targets and then making an
extremely fast withdrawal to a safe area.
e) Arcs of Fire: In an ambush each individual soldier has an arc of fire, a well
setup ambush should have all soldiers arcs of fire overlapping to ensure no
gaps. This can be achieved properly through zoning off the ambush site and
 giving each individual soldier a zone he or she is responsible for. The
individual soldier should eliminate all enemies in his or her zone.
f) Primary Targets: A soldier’s first and foremost elimination responsibility.
Primary targets should include enemy officers, specialists, and veterans. In
guerilla style ambushes primary targets can often be the only targets.
Eliminating primary targets should sow confusion among the enemy
formation and hinder them in achieving their objective.
g) Secondary Targets: Targets that are less important but should be eliminated
time and firepower allowing.
h) The Ambush Site: The ambush site is critical to the success of the ambush. It
must, “channel the enemy, have good fields of fire, good cover for the
ambushers, natural obstacles to hinder the enemy, and concealed approach and
withdrawal routes.” (Crawford 122) These conditions are ideal, but always at
least attempt to meet most of the criteria.
i) Firepower: Quite simply, the most successful ambush should be one that
none of the enemy force escapes from. Fire fast, fire accurately, and destroy
everything in the “kill-zone”.
j) Ambusher’s Golden Rule: MAKE 100% SURE THE ENEMY FORCE IS
IN THE KILL ZONE BEFORE FIRING. A premature ambush can cause
catastrophic failure, and lead to the elimination of your fire team.

II) Three Elements of a Deliberate Ambush:

a) The Command Element: The command element consists of the chief officer
(commander) in the ambushing party and at least two other soldiers to assist in
communicating orders and to provide security for the commander. In a
scenario game medics and engineers would also be included in the command
element. In a small scale ambush the commander can just be integrated with
the rest of the ambushing force as long as his position allows him to
communicate orders clearly with or without a radio.
b) The Assault Element: The assault element has the task of actually engaging
the enemy formation. The assault element springs the ambush and has the
 objectives of eliminating primary targets, then secondary targets, and finally
preventing any enemy personnel from escaping the ambush site.
c) The Security Element: The security element does as its name suggests,
provides security. It covers areas of approach that could be used by enemy
reinforcements for the ambushed. It also covers the withdrawal of the
attackers and acts as a rear guard. In small-scale ambushes the security
element can consist of one person vigilantly watching the rear. In guerilla
style ambushes the security element can be completely eliminated for the sake
of speed and the lack of personnel.

III) The Three Stages of a Deliberate Ambush:

a) Recon Stage: This stage is critical to the future success of a deliberate
ambush. How this stage is conducted is the major difference between the
deliberate ambush and all other types. During this stage information about the
targeted enemy formation is gathered. This includes but is not limited to,
enemy number and travel direction, primary and secondary targets, and good
ambush sites along the enemy’s route.
b) Attack Stage: The attack stage is the actual engagement of the enemy. This
stage should take no more than two minutes, and in real-life military actions
can take as little as thirty seconds. The individual soldier must eliminate his
primary targets as soon as the order (or signal) to fire is given and then
eliminate any enemy left in his individual arc of fire.
c) Withdrawal Stage: The withdrawal is when the attackers (for lack of better
words) haul ass and run, at this point getting away from the ambush site and
any approaching enemy reinforcement is the most critical objective. A slow
withdrawal can result in the elimination of the ambushing squad (especially if
the ambush was performed behind enemy lines) by a counter ambush or
simply overwhelming enemy numbers.
IV) The Ambush of Opportunity
a) Basics: The ambush of opportunity is a hastily arranged ambush that is
planned in the field. It occurs often when the enemy has just been spotted. It
can and often will occur when the fire team is out completing another
objective and the ambush opportunity simply, “presents itself.”
b) The Enemy is Here?!?! If the enemy pops up in an unexpected location, you
often have three options, withdraw, go around, or engage. If you choose the
final option, don’t waist your time keeping the fight fair. An ambush will
make engagement easier and safer (this is especially nice if you still have
another objective to complete).
c) Think on Your Feet: Follow the basic rules of any ambush, attempt to get as
close to a Deliberate Ambush as possible, but be adaptable, change the
strategy as needed in the field. Conforming to the by the book tactics will
make you predictable.

V) The Guerilla Ambush aka The Objective Ambush

a) Purpose: Unlike the usual ambush, where the goal is the total elimination of
the enemy, the Guerilla Ambush has a set objective. This objective can be the
assassination of prominent enemy officers (see FM 4 on assassination), the
elimination of enemy specialists (anti-tank troops, engineers, medics, tanks),
the stealing of supplies, or simply the delay of the enemy while the majority
of your force is occupied in some other more critical mission.
b) Concentrate on the Objective: The objective in this ambush is the most
important part. Assume as an officer or as an individual soldier that the
objective is critical to the overall strategy of your team, it is easy to try and go
for the glory, but remember simply complete the objective and get out!
c) Think on Your Feet: This cannot b stressed more; being predictable leads a
smart enemy to your weaknesses.

End