AMBUSH DEFENSE AND ACTION ON CONTACT Whatever the precautions and preparations, the ambush is nearly always an unexpected encounter. Counter ambush drills are simple courses of action designed to deal with the problem of the unexpected encounter. They call for immediate, positive, and offensive action. The action on ambush is to drive through the ambush area or stop before running into it, then to attack the enemy immediately from the flank or the rear. When vehicles are fired upon, the following actions are taken:

1. Drivers attempt to drive through the killing zone.

2. Personnel return fire immediately. 3. When vehicles are clear of the killing zone, they are halted. Occupants dismount and take immediate offensive action against the enemy positions.

4. Subsequent vehicles approaching the killing zone halt short of the zone. Occupants debark and take immediate offensive action against the enemy positions.

If hardened vehicles are forced to halt in the killing zone, all available weapons are used to return fire immediately. Occupants remain in the vehicle. On the first perceptible slackening of enemy fire, occupants dismount. When riding in a "soft" vehicle and caught in a killing zone, occupants dismount immediately. In both cases, occupants dismount under the covering fires of the four corner sentries, who initially remain aboard. The occupants then deploy to the side directed by the vehicle commander and take the enemy under fire to cover the dismount of the four sentries.

After dismounting, if no cover is available, an immediate frontal assault against the enemy is employed. The most logical course of action after dismounting is to take cover, immediately establish a base of fire, and use a maneuver element against the enemy ambush positions. Speed of execution is critical.

COUNTERACTION TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS The most effective counteraction to ambushes is a flanking attack by elements not in the killing zone quickly followed by relentless pursuit of the enemy. Attention must be given to the following tactical considerations:

1. In actions when no troops have entered the killing zone, the convoy commander launches an immediate flanking attack on the enemy position, using supporting fires from machine guns and mortars.

2. Fire in the killing zone may be from only one side of the road with a small holding force on the opposite side. To contain the convoy element in the killing zone, the enemy will place mines and booby traps on the holding force side. Take care when assaulting the main ambush force because mines are commonly used to protect its flanks.

3. In actions where some portions of the vehicles are ahead and out of the killing zone and the remainder are halted short of the zone, the portion that has not yet entered the killing zone initiates the flanking attack. If the convoy commander is not pressent, the senior vehicle commander takes command and directs the attack. Troops in vehicles which are ahead of the killing zone dismount. Under the command of the senior vehicle commander, the troops return to the vicinity of the killing zone and exploit the situation.

4. The best way an armored vehicle can help in counter ambush action is by moving into the killing zone to engage the enemy at short range. In this way it can give good covering fire to the flanking attack or provide protection for those troops caught in the killing zone.

It is possible that the convoy commander may be killed, wounded, caught in the killing zone, or positioned on the wrong side of the zone. It is essential that all vehicle commanders and squad leaders know their responsibilities for organizing and directing a counter ambush action. This is clearly stated in unit convoy orders and emphasized at briefings. The techniques outlined above are practiced repeatedly until the reaction procedures become a predrilled response, permitting immediate and positive action on ambush.

AMBUSH DEFENSE FOR AN UNBLOCKED ROAD Guerrillas are seldom able to contain an entire convoy in a single killing zone. This is because of the extensive road space occupied by even a platoon size convoy, and because security or lack of available forces may limit the size of the ambushing force. More frequently, a part of a convoy, either head, tail, or a section of the main body, is ambushed.

That part of a convoy that is in the killing zone and receiving fire must drive out of the ambush if the road to the front is open. Vehicles disabled by enemy fire are left behind or, if blocking the road, are pushed out of the way by following vehicles. Armored escort vehicles must not block convoy vehicles by halting in the traveled portion of the road to return fire. Vehicles that have not entered the killing zone must not attempt to do so. They should stop and personnel should dismount and take defensive positions. Elements of the convoy should not fire on suspected enemy positions without coordinating with the escort forces. The escort vehicles may have left the road in an attempt to overrun hostile positions. Other actions available to convoy personnel for the neutralization of the ambush force are as follows:

1. Direct any vehicles mounted with weapons to lay down a heavy volume of fire on the ambush force.

2. Call for artillery fire on enemy positions. 3. Call for close air support on enemy positions. 4. Call for reaction forces. 5. Direct all nondriving personnel to place a heavy volume of fire on enemy forces as rapidly as possible, as vehicles move out of the killing zone.

A motor transport convoy with a limited escort is seldom able to defeat a hostile force and should not attempt to do so. When part of the convoy is isolated in the killing zone, vehicles that have not entered the ambush area should turn around and return to the nearest secured area until supporting forces can clear the ambush.

AMBUSH DEFENSE FOR A BLOCKED ROAD When an element of a convoy is halted in the killing zone and is unable to proceed due to disabled vehicles, a damaged bridge, or other obstacles, personnel will dismount, take cover, and return a maximum volume of fire on enemy positions. Security troops from vehicles that have passed through the ambush area dismount and prepare to attack the flanks of the ambush position. Leave a security force behind to protect these vehicles. Personnel in vehicles that have not entered the killing zone follow the same procedure. Before attempting to flank the ambush force, the convoy commander should ensure that the force will not be in the vicinity of any fire missions.

When a security escort is provided and a combat emergency arises, the convoy commander retains operational control unless the command responsibility has previously been assumed by the area commander in whose zone the convoy is operating. Normally, the security force will take action to neutralize the ambush while the convoy escapes from the killing zone.

If immediate air or artillery support is available, personnel will be restricted to a specified distance from the road to avoid casualties from friendly fire. In this situation, personnel in the killing zone establish a base of fire, while others take up defensive positions around their vehicles. Everyone waits while supporting fire is called in on the enemy positions.

When the enemy is defeated or has retreated, the road must be cleared and convoy movement resumed as soon as possible. Wounded personnel are evacuated, usually by helicopter. When disabled vehicles cannot be towed, their cargo is distributed among other vehicles if time permits. When it is not feasible to evacuate vehicles and/ or cargo, they will be destroyed upon order from the convoy commander. When possible, radios and other critical items will be recovered before the vehicles are destroyed. Under no circumstances will anything in the convoy be allowed to fall into enemy hands.