Convoy ll

1. Convoy Operations and TTPs
Lessons Learned during
Operation Iraqi Freedom
HHC, Task Force 2-69 Armor

2. Threat
• Unconventional (Irregular) Forces
• 1-2% of the Population
• Cannot identify until they attack
• They want to kill Americans
• Looking for soft (easy) targets to attack
• Will avoid hard targets
– Not seeking his or her own death

3. Threat (cont.)
• They are always watching and assessing
every moment of every day
• They are intelligent
– Know U.S. patches, designators, and equipment
• Use this knowledge to adapt their own TTPs

4. Enemy TTPs
• Sniper fire from building
• Random fire from building or clusters of
buildings
• Buildings sometimes (often) near other
civilians not involved in the attack
• RPG fire against convoys of soft skinned
vehicles

5. Enemy TTPs (cont.)
• Explosive Devices
– Command detonated on roads, bridges, intersections,
overpasses or tunnels (choke points)
– Pressure activated on roads in plastic bags or buried
– Manually thrown
• From same direction vehicles
• From overpasses
• From side of road
– Suicide Bombers
• Personnel
• Vehicle

6. Enemy TTPs (cont.)
• Disrupt U.S. convoys with vehicles
– Prior to attack to slow us down
• Civilians block traffic in the road
• They know where we need to slow down
– Hard Ball Road to Unimproved Surface
– Intersections
• Linear Ambushes (command executed)
– Observers advise ambush
– Flares to trigger

7. Enemy TTPs (cont.)
• Small arms and RPG fire generally directed
at lead or trail vehicle
– RPG usually directed at trail vehicle

8. Enemy Goals
• Stop Your Movement
• Isolate Soft Targets From Hard Targets
• Kill Americans
– Try to break our resolve
– Make a political statement

9. Considerations
• Individual discipline at all times
• Weapon Orientation
• Security is everyone’s business
• Security at halts and work sites
– Mounted vs. Dismounted OP’s and Security
• Vigilance on security and OP’s
• 360 degree security during movement, halts
and work sites.

10. Considerations (cont.)
• Likely forms of contact
– Direct Fire (Sniper, RPG, Ambush)
– Indirect Fire (Mortars)
– Obstacles (Man Made or Human)
– Explosive Devices
– Visual Contact
• THE ENEMY UNDERSTANDS AND
RESPECTS FORCE!

11. Our TTPs
• Convoy Configuration
– Support Platoon Leader or Scout Section Leader
– Crew Served Weapon (Mounted)
– Company Commander (Convoy Commander)
– Element
– Element Leader
– 1SG (Asst. Convoy Commander)
– Element
– Element Leader
– Recovery
– Recovery/Maint. OIC/NCOIC (XO, BMO, or BMS)
– Rear Security

12. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Distribute crew served weapons throughout
the convoy
– Heavy toward front and rear
• Weapon Orientation
• If vehicle has hatch or ring mount, USE IT!
– Even if you do not have crew served weapon
– TC out of hatch with personal weapon

13. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Uniform Standards at all times
– DCU Complete
– LBV/E Complete
– Flak Jacket/OTV
– Helmet
– Weapon at the ready

14. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Trail vehicle will provide rear security
– M998 or M35 with personnel in the back
– Orient weapon systems to the rear
• Each vehicle watches the “6” of the vehicle
they are following

15. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Actions with a Breakdown
– Key leader ID’s breakdown and reports to CO
– CO halts or slows convoy based on situation
– Key leader remains with breakdown
– Recovery moves forward and assesses the situation
with breakdown
– If mission/tactical situation warrants, continue
movement, then key leader becomes responsible for
security, recovery, and continued movement to
destination

16. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Actions at Short Halt
– Halt in column or herringbone based on the
situation (typically column in Iraq)
– Driver remains in vehicle with engine running
– TC dismounts and pulls local security
(staggered)
– If TC has crew served weapon, stay mounted
and stagger orientation with other crew served
weapon systems in convoy

17. Our TTPs (cont.)
– Trail Element Pulls Rear Security
– When resuming movement, TC re-mounts and
maintains movement standards

18. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Actions on Direct Contact
– RETURN FIRE - Extremely effective
– Continue to move
– Do Not Stop!! They want you to do this
– If vehicle or personnel are hit, continue to move out of
kill sack
– Do not be afraid to shoot
– Considerations
• Surface Danger Zones (SDZs)
– 3500+ m max range of 5.56mm
– 6000m max range of .50 cal

19. Our TTPs
– Target area - anyone not stopping enemy
activity is enabling that activity
• This makes returning fire morally right
– RAMP principles:
• Return Fire with Aimed Fire
• Anticipate Attack
• Measured Response (Proportionality)
• Protect US Lives and Mission Essential Property
with deadly force

20. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Indirect Fire/Explosive Devices
– Continue to Move
– Area is probably targeted by mortars, other
explosive devices, or enemy personnel
• Look for M203 type grenade launchers, command
detonation of devices, etc.
– If you ID a target, engage it with accurate and
deadly fire

21. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Obstacles (Man made)
– ID as far away as possible
• Halt outside of kill sack
– ID bypass or enemy activity in area
– Determine if it is possible to pass thru or bypass
– Anticipate and prepare for an attack either way
– If you ID enemy, engage with aimed fire
– Do Not Breech - Not your mission

22. Our TTPs (cont.)
• Obtacles (Human - Civilian or Protestors)
– ID as far away as possible
– If no bypass, then short halt
– Based on size, execute call forward drill
– CO moves forward with appropriate number of
TCs, based on situation
– TCs responsible for maintaining security and
stand-off distance with human obstacle

23. Our TTPs (cont.)
– Key Leader or CO directs ONE civilian (the
leader) to approach the security line, ALONE
• Ensure all friendly personnel clear of crew served
weapons and other lines of fire
– CO gets Human Obstacle to displace or
determines to force the convoy thru
– You are not PSYOPS or CA - it is not your job
to meet their demands - your job is to get them
to displace, then keep moving

24. Our TTPs (cont.)
– Remember, you are working to get them out of
your way
– Do not appease, feed, or give them anything
– If they do not disband, you must force your way
thru - tough to execute, but it is feasible
– Warning shots may help, but they could incite a
riot.
– Smoke Grenades have worked very well so far
– Remember - this obstacle may be linked to
enemy activity - They want you to stop!

25. Our TTPs
• Visual Contact
– If enemy poses a threat, anticipate an attack.
Engage with aimed and deadly fires
– Person on the Gun/Weapon System makes the
decision to shoot or not. If they perceive a
threat, they eliminate that threat

26. Other Considerations
• Ammunition Status
– Red – rounds loaded
– Yellow – magazine loaded, chamber clear
– Green – magazines out, chamber clear
• Weapons Control Status
– Hold – Engage only if engaged (threat) or ordered to do so
– Tight – Engage if target is positively identified as enemy
– Free – Engage unless target is positively identified as friendly
• .50 Cal, M240B, M249 TTP
– Belt inserted, feed tray closed, bolt forward
• Do not carry weapons on anything but safe - you
will transition at the moment of truth