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                        COMMAND AND CONTROL

    TOPIC:   Engagement Areas in Open Terrain.

    OBSERVATION:    CTC experience has identified a current
problem in the control of direct fire.   This problem is
exasperated in open terrain where the reduced presence of
identifiable terrain features makes it difficult to construct
engagement areas that are well defined.

    LESSON LEARNED:   Clear identification of engagement areas
is necessary to facilitate the massing and distribution of
fires.   In the absence of identifiable terrain, target
reference points (TRPs) can be created with damaged/destroyed
vehicles that are moved into required locations at the
direction of commanders invested with the responsibility for
specific engagement areas.   Other types of TRPs could be used.
For example, marker panels, visible and infrared chemical
lights,  flags, and white phosphorous/illumination rounds.  The
`German army made use of smoke rounds to facilitate fire
distribution during World War II.

    VIEWER NOTES:


    TOPIC:   Because of the wide open terrain, commanders often
fail to appreciate correctly the time distance relationships in
planning the battle.

    OBSERVATION:    The effort to synchronize Battlefield
Operating Systems during the planning process can be negated by
the failure to continue the synchronization effort during the
preparation phase of a mission.   This is especially true in the
construction of engagement areas for defensive operations.
Direct fire,  indirect fire, and obstacles are linked, and
the adjustnient of one requires the adjustment of all.  The
commander must know and have a good feel for what his unit can
do, how long his unit takes to do it, and what he really wants
his unit to accomplish.

    LESSON LEARNED:   Adjustment of the elements of the
Battlefield Operating Systems can unravel the focus of a
commanders's intent.    This is especially true in open terrain.
Tactical commanders should personally direct the synchroniza-
tion of engagement areas.   Obstacles should be positioned,
indirect fires adjusted, and direct fires rehearsed under the
personal supervision of the commander.   The commander must take
his unit out and actually time them performing certain actions
to his standard so they understand his intent and he knows
exactly bow long they need to reach his goal.   The unit must
practice moving, digging, and fighting, and the planners must
know the planni.~g factors for that specific unit.

    ViSWE~ NOT~S:


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