The arrival of an enemy in the area should be signalled by one of the cut-off units. This may be done by radio or by some other signal, but the enemy must not detect the signal. If radio silence is necessary, the pre-electronic expedient of a cord linking the groups, tugged once or twice as a signal, may be employed. The ambush commander will have given a clear instruction for initiating the ambush. An ambush is ideally initiated by the most effective casualty-producing device available to the attacking elements. This might be a burst from an automatic weapon, or the use of an antipersonnel explosive device (such as mines or other directional weapons). Some military doctrines call for an ambush to be initiated by a signal from a whistle, though in US practice, whistles are not favoured, since they do nothing to inflict damage on the enemy. The ambush commander may judge when the ambush will be most effective, and give the signal manually, or the ambush patrol may rely on tripwire or pressure-detonated mines in the kill zone to initiate firing. Against vehicles, the lead and rear vehicles are the primary targets; this traps the remaining vehicles in the kill zone for as long as possible. Targets are prioritised to rapidly destroy the target's unit cohesion. It is vital to obtain fire superiority as rapidly as possible, to prevent enemy counter-ambush tactics from being executed. The order of priorities against an enemy infantry unit is the enemy radio operator (in the past identified by the whip aerial of the backpack radio unit such as the British Army's Clansman system), the enemy's unit commander (a more difficult task today when officers and NCOs are dressed and armed in an identical manner to the rest of the infantry squad), and the platoon or section machine-gunner. After the firefight has been won, the now compromised ambush patrol must leave the area as soon as it is practical to do so. In hit-and-run operations, especially against superior numbers and forces, the ambush force will begin disengaging even before the firefight has been won. In the past, accepted protocol was to check bodies for intelligence, take prisoners, and treat any wounded enemy. Once this was accomplished, the ambush patrol would then exfiltrate the area by a pre-determined route. If time has allowed for it, the ambush force will have prepared their exit; for example, placing land mines to cover their retreat, with the members of the force making, and following, a safe route through the mines. If possible, a subsidiary ambush may be planned along the exit route to catch pursuing troops, and, if available, the egress may be covered by mortar or artillery fire. The following is a list of ambush instructions that was developed from lessons learned during the Vietnam War. Before Ambush 1. Be alert for changes in familiar scenes along the route. 2. Expect ambush upon detonation of mines, automatic weapons fire, and heavy sniper fire. During Ambush 1. Notify security force by radio call using pre-arranged signals. (Do not tie up the radio nets with unnecessary conversation. Maintain strict radio discipline.) 2. Continue moving, maintaining vehicle distance if possible. 3. Place any tracked vehicles in front to activate further detonation of road mines. 4. If disabled, steer off the road to allow passage of other vehicles. 5. If disabled and the convoy is moving through the killing zone, mount a passing vehicle. 6. Do not enter the killing zone when it can be avoided. 7. Provide flanking support fire into the killing zone. 8. Security vehicles apply maximum base of fire; fight as a team; deploy upon command. 9. Prime targets are enemy automatic weapons positions, enemy mortar, rocket positions, and assaulting ground forces. After Ambush 1. Protect and care for wounded; evacuate wounded as soon as possible. 2. After contact has been broken, reopen roadway, ensuring that it is free of mines. 3. Do not attempt to remove mines; contact explosive ordnance disposal. 4. Provide flank security while the convoy passes through the area. 5. When contact is broken, do not give chase. 6. Stay alert for a counterattack. 7. Remember details. Dear Egyptian Mail readers, your contributions to and/or comments on articles published in this corner are welcome. We promise to publish whatever is deemed publishable at the end of this series. [email protected]
