Surprise, coordinated fire, and control are the basic elements essential to a successful ambush. Surprise must be achieved or the attack is not an ambush; surprise distinguishes ambush from other forms of attack Also, surprise allows the ambush force to seize and retain control of the situation. When complete surprise cannot be achieved, it must be so nearly complete that the target is not aware of the ambush until too late for effective reaction. Surprise is achieved by careful planning, thorough preparation, and exact execution. Only through detailed planning and thorough preparation can you make a sound decision on when, where, and what type of targets you should or should NOT attack and how you will attack so the enemy is LEAST prepared.

All weapons, including mines and demolitions, must be positioned. All firepower, including that of available artillery and mortars, must be coordinated to achieve the isolation of the killing zone to prevent escape or reinforcement. An ambush must also achieve the surprise delivery of a large volume of highly concentrated fire into the killing zone. The fire must inflict maximum damage so, when desired you can speedily assault and completely destroy the target. Close control must be maintained during movement to, occupation of, and withdrawal from the ambush site. The ambush commander must effectively control all elements of the ambush force. Control is most critical at the time of approach of the target. Control measures must provide for the following:

1. Early warning of target approach

2. Withholding of fire until the target has moved into the killing zone

3. Opening fire at the proper time

4. Initiation of the right actions if the ambush is prematurely detected

5. Lifting or shifting of supporting fires when the attack includes assault of the target

6. Timely and orderly withdrawal of the ambush force to an easily recognizable rally point

The men of the ambush force must maintain maximum control themselves so they do not compromise the ambush. They must use patience and self-discipline by remaining still and quiet while waiting for the target to appear. They may have to endure insect bites, to thirst in silence, to resist the desire to sleep, to ease cramped muscles, and to perform normal body functions. When the target approaches, the men must resist the temptation to open fire before the signal is given.

POINT AMBUSH

A point ambush can be used independently or as part of an area ambush. In a point ambush, the attack force is positioned along the target's expected route of approach. The formation is an important consideration because it determines whether a point ambush is able to deliver the heavy volume of highly concentrated fire necessary to isolate, trap, and destroy the target.

The formation is determined by careful consideration of possible formations and the advantages and disadvantages of each in relation to the following:

1. The terrain, conditions of visibility, forces, weapons, and equipment

2. The ease of difficulty of control, and the target to be attacked

3. The overall combat situation

In this training manual, a few formations that have been developed for the deployment of point ambushes are discussed. Those discussed are identified by giving them names that correspond to the general pattern formed on the ground by the deployment of the attack force.

Line

The attack force is deployed generally parallel to the target's route of movement (road, trail, stream, etc.) This positions the attack force parallel to the long axis of the killing zone and subjects the target to heavy flanking fire. The area that the attack force can effectively cover with a heavy volume of highly concentrated fire limits the size of the killing zone that can trap the target. The target is trapped in the killing zone by natural obstacles, mines (Claymore, antivehicular, and antipersonnel), demolitions, and direct and indirect fire. A disadvantage of the line formation is the chance that lateral dispersion of the target may be too great for effective coverage. The line formation is appropriate in close terrain that restricts target maneuvers and in open terrain where one flank is restricted by natural obstacles or can be restricted by mines, demolitions, man-traps, or stakes. Similar obstacles can be placed between the attack force and the killing zone to provide protection from the target's counterambush measures. When a destruction ambush is deployed in this reamer, access lines are left so the target can be assaulted. An advantage of the line formation is its relative ease of control under all conditions of visibility.

The L

The L-shaped formation is a variation of the line formation. The long side of the attack force is parallel to the killing zone and delivers flanking fire. The short side of the attack force is at the end of, and at right angles to, the killing zone and delivers enfilading fire that interlocks with fire from the other leg. This formation is very flexible. You can establish it on a straight stretch of a trail, stream, or at a sharp bend in a trail or stream. When appropriate, fire from the short leg can be shifted to parallel the long leg if the target attempts to assault or escape in the opposite direction. In addition, the short leg prevents escape in its direction and reinforcement from its direction

The Z

The Z-shaped formation is another variation of the line formation. The attack force is deployed as in the L formation, but with an additional side so the formation resembles the letter Z. The additional side may serve any of the following purposes:

1. To engage a force attempting to relieve or reinforce the target

2. To seal the end of the killing zone

3. To restrict a flank

4. To prevent envelopment

The T

In the T-shaped formation, the attack force is deployed across and at right angles to the target's route of movement so the attack force and the target form the letter T. This formation can be used day or night to establish a purely harassing ambush and, at night, to establish an ambush to stop or hamper enemy movement through open, hard-to-seal areas, such as rice paddies. A small force can use the T formation to harass, slow, and disorganize a larger force. When the lead elements of the target are engaged, they normally attempt to maneuver right or left to close the ambush. Mines, man-traps, and other obstacles placed to the flanks of the killing zone slow the movements of the enemy. They also permit the ambush force to deliver heavy fire and withdraw without becoming decisively engaged. An ambush established and executed in this manner is called a "bloody nose" ambush.

The T formation can be used to stop or hamper small groups attempting night movement across open areas; for example, you can deploy the attack force along a rice-paddy dike with every second man facing in the opposite direction The attack of a target approaching from either direction requires only that every second man shift to the opposite side of the dike. Each man fires only to his front and only when the target is at very close range. Attack is by fire only and each man keeps the target under fire as long as it remains on his front. When the target attempts to escape in either direction along the dike, each man takes it under fire as it comes to his vicinity. The T formation is very effective at halting infiltration. But it has one chief disadvantage-there is a possibility that the ambush will engage a superior force at night while spread out; therefore, use of this formation must fit the local enemy situation.

The V

Deploy the V-shaped attack force along both sides of the target's route of movement so it forms the letter V. Care is taken to ensure that neither group nor leg fires into the other. This formation subjects the target to both enfilading and interlocking fire. The V formation is best suited for fairly open terrain but can also be used in the jungle. When established in the jungle, the legs of the V close in as the head elements of the target approach the apex of the V and open fire from close range. Here, even more than in open terrain, all movement and fire must be carefully coordinated and controlled to ensure that the fire of one leg does not endanger the other. The wider separation of forces makes this formation difficult to control, and there are fewer sites that favor its use. The main advantage of the V formation is the target has difficulty detecting the ambush until the ambush force is well into the killing zone.