ATP 3-20.15 (FM 3-20.15) Tank Platoon December 2012 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Headquarters, Department of the Army This publication is available at Army Knowledge Online (https//armypubs.us.army.mil/doctrine/ index.html). *ATP 3-20.15 (FM 3-20.15) Army Techniques and Procedures Headquarters No. 3-20.15 Department of the Army Washington, DC, 13 December 2012 Tank Platoon Contents Page PREFACE .................................................................... viii Chapter 1 TACTICAL FUNDAMENTALS ..................................... 1-1 Section I – Text References ....................................... 1-1 Section II – Overview.................................................. 1-1 Operational Environment .............................................. 1-1 Unified Land Operations ............................................... 1-2 Combat Power .............................................................. 1-2 Section III – Mission Command ................................. 1-4 Command ..................................................................... 1-4 Control .......................................................................... 1-5 Section IV – Command and Support Relationships .............................................................. 1-6 Command Relationships .............................................. 1-6 Support Relationships .................................................. 1-7 Section V – Planning Considerations ....................... 1-7 Operational Variables ................................................... 1-7 Mission Variables ......................................................... 1-8 Troop-Leading Procedures ......................................... 1-10 Risk Management ...................................................... 1-12 Fratricide Avoidance ................................................... 1-13 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. *This publication supersedes FM 3-20.15, 22 February 2007. i Contents Chapter 2 TANK PLATOON ......................................................... 2-1 Section I – Text References ....................................... 2-1 Section II – Role of the Tank Platoon ........................ 2-1 Section III – Organization and Capabilities .............. 2-2 Armor Company ........................................................... 2-2 Tank Platoon ................................................................ 2-3 Section IV – Duties and Responsibilities of Key Personnel .................................................................... 2-5 Platoon Leader ............................................................. 2-6 Platoon Sergeant .......................................................... 2-7 Tank Commander ......................................................... 2-8 Gunner ......................................................................... 2-8 Loader .......................................................................... 2-9 Driver ............................................................................ 2-9 Chapter 3 OFFENSE..................................................................... 3-1 Section I – Text References ....................................... 3-1 Section II – Fundamentals of the Offense ................ 3-1 Characteristic of Offense Tasks .................................... 3-1 Offensive Tasks ............................................................ 3-2 Sequence of the Offense .............................................. 3-4 Section III – Plan ......................................................... 3-4 Mission Command ........................................................ 3-4 Movement and Maneuver ............................................. 3-5 Intelligence ................................................................... 3-5 Fires ............................................................................. 3-6 Sustainment.................................................................. 3-6 Protection ..................................................................... 3-6 Section IV – Prepare ................................................... 3-6 Rehearsals ................................................................... 3-7 Inspections ................................................................... 3-7 Section V – Execute/Assess ...................................... 3-7 Forms of Contact .......................................................... 3-7 Five Steps of Actions on Contact .................................. 3-8 Battle Drills ................................................................. 3-11 Movement ................................................................... 3-11 Transition .................................................................... 3-20 ii ATP 3-20.15 13 December 2012 Contents Chapter 4 DEFENSE .................................................................... 4-1 Section I – Text References ....................................... 4-1 Section II – Fundamentals of the Defense ................ 4-1 Characteristics of the Defense ..................................... 4-1 Defensive Tasks ........................................................... 4-2 Defensive Techniques .................................................. 4-3 Battle Positions ............................................................. 4-3 Sequence Of The Defense ........................................... 4-5 Section III – Plan ......................................................... 4-5 Mission Command ........................................................ 4-5 Movement and Maneuver ............................................. 4-6 Intelligence ................................................................... 4-7 Fires ............................................................................. 4-7 Sustainment ................................................................. 4-8 Section IV – Prepare ................................................. 4-10 Engagement Area Development ................................ 4-11 Preparation Tasks ...................................................... 4-14 Rehearsal ................................................................... 4-17 PreCombat Checks/PreCombat Inspections .............. 4-18 Section V – Execute/Assess .................................... 4-18 Hide Position .............................................................. 4-18 Occupation of Firing Positions .................................... 4-18 Direct Fires ................................................................. 4-19 Movement Considerations .......................................... 4-19 Displacement .............................................................. 4-20 Reserve Force ............................................................ 4-21 Transitions .................................................................. 4-21 Chapter 5 STABILITY ................................................................... 5-1 Section I – Text References ....................................... 5-1 Section II – Fundamentals of Stability Tasks ........... 5-1 Purpose of Stability Tasks ............................................ 5-2 Primary Stability Tasks ................................................. 5-2 Role of the Tank Platoon .............................................. 5-3 Section III – Plan ......................................................... 5-4 Considerations ............................................................. 5-4 Rules of Engagement ................................................... 5-8 Task Organization ........................................................ 5-8 13 December 2012 ATP 3-20.15 iii Contents Section IV – Prepare ................................................... 5-8 Rehearsals and Inspections ......................................... 5-8 Section V – Execute/Assess ...................................... 5-9 Establish a Checkpoint ................................................. 5-9 Conduct Convoy Escort .............................................. 5-10 Support Route Clearance ........................................... 5-10 Support Cordon and Search Operations .................... 5-10 Area Security .............................................................. 5-11 Respond to Civil Disturbance ..................................... 5-12 Conduct Reserve Operations ..................................... 5-13 Chapter 6 ENABLING OPERATIONS .......................................... 6-1 Section I – Text References ....................................... 6-1 Section II – Security ................................................... 6-1 Observation Posts ........................................................ 6-3 Combat Outpost ........................................................... 6-5 Section III – Reconnaissance .................................... 6-6 Reconnaissance by Fire ............................................... 6-7 Section IV – Patrols .................................................... 6-7 Patrols .......................................................................... 6-7 Types ............................................................................ 6-8 Section V – Convoy Escort ........................................ 6-8 Mission Command ........................................................ 6-9 Tactical Disposition ....................................................... 6-9 Actions on Contact ....................................................