SQUAD LEADER POSITION The position of the squad leader is usually slightly to the rear of the fire teams and to the center of the squad. From this position the squad leader should be able to observe the following:

. Assigned sector of fire. . Observe as much of the squad as possible. l Maintain contact with the platoon commander.

SQUAD FIRE PLAN SKETCH Based upon the fire plan sketch received from the fire team leaders, the squad leader prepares a squad fire plan sketch. Two copies are prepared-one for the squad leader and the other for the platoon commander (fig. 4-10 and appendix II).

The sketch should include the following: Fire team positions and sectors of fire Position and PDF of the automatic rifles Crew-served weapons position Primary fire missions (FPL or PDF) Approved on-call targets Squad leader position Terrain features and estimated ranges to them

Direction of magnetic North

Figure 4-9.- Squad fire plan.

Figure 4-10.- Squad fire plan sketch. PLATOON IN THE DEFENSE terrain or the flank of an adjacent platoon. A distance from the FEBA to the rear is also described (fig. 4-11).

Located within the assigned company battle area FRONTAGE is the platoon defense area. The company commander assigns the platoon a frontage. The frontage left and The terrain and the size of the company battle area right limits are taken from a reference point on the dictates the frontage assigned to a platoon. Physical

Figure 4-11- Frontline platoon defense area. frontage is the area that is physically occupied by the platoon. It can be up to 450 meters.

DEPTH The depth of a platoon defense area is the distance between the squad primary positions and the rearward extension of their supplementary positions. It maybe up to 200 meters.

SECURITY AREA The platoon is assigned part of the company security area forward of the FEBA. This is the area where the company sends out patrols. It is important as a platoon commander to know when and where a patrol will cross into his security area Coordination between platoon commanders and the company commander on the positions of listening posts, observation posts, and early warning devices is essential.

PLAN OF DEFENSE The plan of defense of the platoon commander consists of a well-developed fire support plan that is integrated with the fire support and barrier planning of the company. Close combination with the other platoon commanders assigned to the company is critical. Basically, the plan of defense of the platoon consists of assigning each squad a position on the terrain and a sector of fire. The plan of defense results from the estimate of the situation and the fundamentals of defense of the platoon commander discussed previously in this chapter.