Chapter 3 Combat Formations and Signals

MCRP 3-11.2, Marine Rifle Squad (DRAFT)

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Chapter 3

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Combat Formations and Signals

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6 Section I. Combat Formations

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8 3101. General 9 Fire team and squad combat formations are groupings of individuals and units for efficient 10 tactical employment. The factors influencing the leader's decision as to the selection of a 11 particular formation are the enemy disposition, terrain, situation, weather, speed, and degree of 12 flexibility. Combat formations and signals enable the leader to control the fire and maneuver of 13 his unit when moving to and assaulting an enemy position. These formations are not designed to 14 be restrictive in nature or to stifle individual initiative by forcing unit members to focus inward, 15 away from the enemy. Formations should be used to enhance the situational awareness, decision16 making ability and implicit communications required of all squad members to rapidly and 17 aggressively execute the mission.

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19 3102. Basic Combat Formations 20 a. Fire Team. Normally each fire team leader will determine the formation for his own unit. 21 Dispersion should be maximized according to terrain, vegetation, visibility, or mission. Thus, a 22 squad may contain a variety of fire team formations at any one time and these formations may 23 change frequently. The relative position of the fire teams within the squad formation should be 24 such that one will not mask the fire of the others. It is not important that exact distances and 25 intervals be maintained between fire teams and individuals as long as control is not lost. The unit 26 leader will decide on a formation based upon the criteria of speed, firepower, flexibility and 27 solvability. Sight or voice contact will be maintained within the fire team and between fire team 28 leaders and squad leaders. All movement incident to changes of formation is usually by the 29 shortest practical route. The characteristics of fire team formations are similar to those of 30 corresponding squad formations. The characteristics of the fire team formations are as follows: 31 (See figs. 3-l through 3-4.)

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34 (1) Column 35 (a) Permits rapid, controlled movement.

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37 (b) Favors fire and maneuver to the flanks.

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39 (c) Vulnerable to fire from the front and provides the least amount of fire to the front.

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Figure 3-1. Fire Team Column.

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45 (2) Wedge

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MCRP 3-11.2, Marine Rifle Squad (DRAFT)

1 (a) Permits good control.

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3 (b) Provides all-around security.

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5 (c) Formation is flexible.

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7 (d) Fire is adequate in all directions.

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9 (3) Skirmishers Right (Left)

10 (a) Maximum firepower to the front.

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12 (b) Used when the location and strength of the enemy are known, during the assault,

13 mopping up, and crossing short open areas.

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Figure 3-2. Fire Team Wedge.

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Figure 3-3. Fire Team Skirmishers.

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23 (4) Echelon Right (Left)

24 (a) Provides heavy firepower to front and echeloned flank.

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26 (b) Used to protect an open or exposed flank.

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28 b. Squad. The squad leader prescribes the formation for his squad. The platoon leader and squad

29 leader may prescribe the initial formation for their respective subordinate units when the

30 situation dictates or the commander so desires. Subsequent changes may be made by the

31 subordinate unit leaders. The characteristics of squad formations are similar to those of the fire

32 team. The fire team is the maneuver element in squad formations. (See figs. 3-5 through 3-ll.)

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Figure 3-4. Fire Team Echelon

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37 (1) Squad Column. Fire teams are arranged in succession one behind the other.

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39 (a) Easy to control and maneuver.

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41 (b) Excellent for speed of movement or when strict control is desired.

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43 (c) Especially suitable for narrow covered routes of advance, maneuvering through gaps

44 between areas receiving hostile artillery fire, moving through areas of limited observation, and

45 moving under conditions of reduced visibility.

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47 (d) Vulnerable to fire from the front.

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MCRP 3-11.2, Marine Rifle Squad (DRAFT)

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2 (e) Used for night operations.

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4 (2) Squad Wedqe. See discussion under fire team formations for the wedge in paragraph

5 3102a(2).

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Figure 3-5. Squad Column

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(FOR TEAMS IN WEDGE. TEAM LEADERS POSITIONED FOR

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EASE IN COMMUNICATING WITH SQUAD LEADER)

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Figure 3-6. Squad Wedge.

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(FIRE TEAMS IN WEDGE. TEAM LEADERS POSITIONED FOR

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EASE IN COMMUNICATING WITH SQUAD LEAER.)

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Figure 3-7. Squad Vee.

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24 (3) Squad Vee

25 (a) Facilitates movement into squad line.

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27 (b) Provides excellent fire Power to front and flanks.

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29 (c) Provides all-round security.

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31 (d) Used when the enemy is to the front and his strength and location are known. May be

32 used when crossing large open areas.

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(FIRE TEAMS IN SKIRMISHERS)

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Figure 3-9. Squad Line.

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38 (4) Squad Line. See discussion under fire team formations for skirmishers right (left) in

39 paragraph 3102a(3).

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41 (5) Squad Echelon. See discussion under fire team formations for echelons right (left) in

42 paragraph 3102a(4).

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Figure 3-10. Squad Echelon Right.

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MCRP 3-11.2, Marine Rifle Squad (DRAFT)

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Figure 3-11. Squad Echelon Left

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5 3103. Changing Formations (Battle Drill)

6 The squad leader may change formations to reduce casualties from hostile fire, present a less

7 vulnerable target, or get over difficult or exposed terrain. Formation changes in varying or rough

8 terrain are frequent in order to get the squad over manmade obstacles and natural obstacles such

9 as rivers swamps, jungles, woods, and sharp ridges.

10 Directions of movement for members of the fire team when the leader signals for changes of 11 formation are shown in Figure 3-12 a through u. Figure 3-12 is provided only as a guide to

12 assist fire teams in developing the most rapid means of moving from one formation to another.

13 When the team is to execute a movement, the fire team leader signals with his arms and hands,

14 indicating the movement and direction. The squad leader signals the squad formation to the fire

15 team leaders. Remember, the fire team may be in any fire team formation within the squad

16 formation.

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COLUMN TO WEDGE

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Figure 3-12 a. Changing Formations

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COLUMN TO SKIRMISHERS RIGHT

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Figure 3-12b Changing Formations

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COLUMN TO ECHELON RIGHT

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Figure 3-12c. Changing Formations.

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COLUMN TO ECHELON RIGHT

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Figure 3-12d. Changing Formations

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COLUMN TO ECHELON LEFT

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Figure 3-12e. Changing Formations.

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WEDGE TO COLUMN

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Figure 3-12f. Changing Formations

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SKIRMISHERS RIGHT

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WEDGE TO SKIRMISHERS RIGHT

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MCRP 3-11.2, Marine Rifle Squad (DRAFT)

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Figure 3-12g. Changing Formations.

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WEDGE TO SKIRMISHERS LEFT

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Figure 3-12h. Changing Formations.

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WEDGE TO ECHELON RIGHT

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Figure 3-12i. Changing Formations.

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WEDGE TO ECHELON LEFT

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Figure 3-12j. Changing Formations.

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SKIRMISHERS RIGHT TO COLUMN

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Figure 3-12k. Changing Formations.

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SKIRMISHERS LEFT TO COLUMN

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Figure 3-12l. Changing Formations.

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SKIRMISHERS RIGHT TO WEDGE

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Figure 3-12m. Changing Formations

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SKIRMISHERS LEFT TO WEDGE

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Figure 3-12n. Changing Formations

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SKIRMISHERS RIGHT TO ECHELON

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Figure 3-12o. Changing Formations.

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SKIRMISHERS LEFT TO ECHELON LEFT

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Figure 3-12p. Changing Formations.

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ECHELON RIGHT TO COLUMN

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Figure 3-12q. Changing Formations.

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ECHELON RIGHT TO WEDGE

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Figure 3-12r. Changing Formations

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ECHELON LEFT TO WEDGE

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