Integrated methods of combating IEDs according to US Army Charter FM 3-90.119: practice
The previous two parts reviewed the methods of countering IEDs according to the US Army Charter FM 3-90.119 from the point of view common factors и specific methods of analysis and interaction with civil society. The final third part examines the practice of counteraction and analysis of local explosions that have occurred.
Analysis and Modeling
The very use of IEDs, according to the regulations, is carried out by the enemy according to the following scheme:
1) transfer of IEDs to the installation site,
2) installation of VCA,
3) searching for targets and activating IEDs,
4) observation of the explosion site,
5) withdrawal of personnel and removal or removal of equipment,
6) determining the effect of the attack,
7) obtaining support from the local population,
8) propaganda of the effects of using IEDs using the media.
The analysis of the situation in conditions where the enemy uses IEDs is divided into individual and mosaic:
• Individual analysis is carried out on the basis of all incoming messages, reports, investigations and observations of enemy operations, as well as from observations of the reaction of the enemy and the local population to their own operations.
• Mosaic analysis is carried out by assessing the performance of the components of the command line, communications and other components of the process in the fight against enemy attacks using IEDs. Particular attention is also paid to how places, people, events and organizations are connected, both in this process and in the actions of the enemy. Mosaic analysis evaluates in detail the components that make up the enemy's organizational network with its interpersonal relationships and systems of command, planning, supply, support, and execution.
During the mosaic analysis, a model is created - a graphical diagram - which characterizes the system of operation of this enemy network, and indicates how the parts of this system interact with each other, the level of their synchronization and the very quantities of forces and means used by this network according to certain periods of time. Moreover, this model itself is constantly updated based on new data and developed.
Disposal practice
In the theater of operations itself - AO (area of operations), issues of combating the search and designation of explosive objects, as well as the neutralization and destruction of mines, can be resolved by sapper units. The bulk of the tasks of searching for and destroying explosive objects - EH (explosive hazards), as well as all issues of combating IEDs with improvised explosive devices - IED (improvised explosive device), that is, their neutralization and destruction (neutralization and destruction), are the responsibility of individual teams for the destruction of ammunition - EOD teams (Explosive ordnance disposal).
However, EH (explosive hazards) or explosives (explosive hazards) are divided into categories:
• UXO (Unexploded explosive ordnance) – unexploded ordnance,
• booby traps – explosive and non-explosive traps,
• captured enemy munitions - ammunition captured from forces opposing the US Army, including those produced in NATO countries or the USA and which are not under the control of the US Army or its allies,
• bulk explosive – stocks of explosive charges.
At the same time, there is a common name for all EH (explosive hazards) or explosive items associated with military operations - ERW (explosive remnants of war).
Because of this, in addition to the fight against IEDs, the task of EOD teams - ammunition destruction teams - is to destroy all types of explosive objects in order to prevent the enemy from using them to create IEDs.
Operations planning is carried out with the involvement of the headquarters sections: J-2 (intelligence), J-3 (operations) and J-7 (engineering).
The implementation of these operations is carried out according to the perception of the place, time and conditions of their conduct - the so-called operational environment OE (operational environment), which means not only the location of the operation, but also the nature of the social environment of the population, how and in what way information flows influence the actions of troops in the local environment and at the political level.
Thus, during the execution of a mission, the commander of a unit or unit, who has received the task of carrying out a tactical mission to completely or partially destroy the enemy’s ability to use IEDD (Improvised Explosive Device Defeat), is obliged not only to find and destroy IEDs in the territory of the combat mission, but and completely or partially suppress the enemy’s ability to create and use them.
Clearance and destruction by combat
The fight against IEDs itself - Improvised Explosive Device Defeat - is divided into breaching operations, carried out during fire contact with the enemy, and clearance operations, carried out without such contact.
The main type of operations to counter the use of IEDs by the enemy are clearing operations. They are part of a tactical mission to completely or partially defeat the enemy’s ability to use IEDs, which is designated by the word “defeat”, and hence the fight against IEDs in the American army itself is called Improvised Explosive Device Defeat. The latter, in turn, are divided into clearing routes of movement of own forces - rout clearance, and area clearance - area clearance, and according to the charter FM 3-90.119, clearing routes of movement of own forces, rout clearance is a priority method in the fight against IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device Defeat) .
Commander's tasks
As part of this fight against IEDs, the commander is obliged not only to take measures to neutralize IEDs, but also to prepare his forces, supplementing and developing existing instructions - SOP (standing operative procedures), manuals - TTP (tactic, techniques and procedures), plans for combat training. At the same time, the commander and staff are required to take measures to prevent the enemy from installing an IED.
The perception of OE (operational environment) according to the charter is perceived comprehensively through the PMSII-PT method (political, military, economic, social, infrastructure, information, physical environment and time), meaning political, economic, social, infrastructural, information, physical conditions and time.
That is fight against IED (improvised explosive device) according to regulations FM 3-90.119 is carried out not only and not so much by their search and destruction, but also by preventing their use, their production and, finally, preventing the emergence of groups ready to produce and use them, by measures in the above-described areas of the life of society and the state. Such a fight would be possible and necessary according to the regulations, so that military personnel would perceive this counteraction comprehensively using the key described above.
According to Charter FM 3-90.119, the US Army command understands that for the enemy in the “War on Terrorism” (WOT), IEDs are the main means of achieving “asymmetric” counteraction to US Army operations.
In this case, the enemy, as written in the regulations, will avoid frontal clashes and thin out battle formations as much as possible, using primarily populated areas and the population as cover, and conduct attacks with the aim of striking the weak points of American troops in order to undermine the political will of American society to continuation of the war, creating mental tension in the ranks of American troops, establishing control over a certain region, changing the very nature of the war, as well as limiting or suspending the use by the US Army of its forward bases - FOB (forward operative base), aviation disembarkation ports – APOD (aerial port of debarkation) and sea disembarkation ports – SPOD (sea port of debarkation).
Charter FM 3-90.119 also notes the danger of the enemy using industrial toxic substances in IEDs - TIC (toxic industrial chemical), which requires the US Army and Marine Corps to take measures to protect against weapons of mass destruction -weapons mass destruction (CBRN - chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear). The ease with which the enemy can obtain information about new technologies from open sources, including the Internet, as well as the collection of information from the local population and persons working under contracts at US Army bases is also noted.
By using IEDs in accordance with Charter FM 3-90.119, the enemy is able to achieve often unpredictable effects, and the vulnerability of communication lines - LOC (line of communications), convoys and the rear network of American troops is noted.
The American Army, in accordance with Charter FM 3-90.119, considers that the use of IEDs can mainly complicate the conduct of mobility operations by the US Army or Marine Corps, which, according to American military doctrine, are part of the overall military combat capability - WFF (war fighting functions).
The key tasks within the framework of maneuver operations according to the charter are the following:
• Combined arms breaching operations.
• Operations to clear engineering barriers, mines and other explosive objects - EH (explosive hazards) clearing operations.
• Operations to create passages – gap-crossing operations.
• Construction and maintenance of roads and passages – construct and maintain combat roads and trails.
• Creation of helicopter and aviation landing pads by engineering units (forward aviation combat engineering).
FM 3-90.119 places an emphasis on ensuring that all Soldiers and Marines are equipped with the necessary level of knowledge to combat IEDs by providing training to personnel based on prepared instructions and familiarizing them with orders, SOPs (standing operative procedures), and ROE regulations. (rule of engagement) with the participation of staff officers. At the same time, important attention is paid to the need for personnel to establish trusting relationships with the local population and local troops in order to organize joint patrols.
The fight against IEDs itself, according to the charter, provides for analytical work to identify individuals and public groups who can use IEDs, the motives of their behavior, determining the structure of organizations (usually at three levels: international, national and local) that use IEDs, and their methods of work (development, recruitment of performers, observation, training of performers, development of VEDs, collection and inventory of components for their production, production of the VEDs themselves and their storage).
Information