FIELD
FORTIFICATION
FMSS 0202
8 NOV
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
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Given a combat environment (day and night), and
individual combat equipment, construct field fortifications per the
reference. (FMST.02.02)
ENABLING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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Without the aid of reference materials, from a list
of terms associated with field fortifications, select the two uses of field
fortifications, per student handout. FMST.02.02a)
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Without the aid of reference materials, from a list
of terms associated with field fortifications, select the two types of field
fortifications, per student handout. (FMST.02.02b)
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Without the aid of reference materials, from a list
of terms associated with field fortifications, select the five common
features of a two-man fighting position, per student handout. (FMST.02.02c)
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Without the aid of reference materials from, a list
of terms associated with field fortifications, select the five advantages of
a two-man fighting position, per student handout.
(FMST.02.02d)
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Without the aid of reference materials, from a list
of terms associated with field fortifications, select the two disadvantages
of a two-man fighting position, per student handout.
(FMST.02.02e)
OUTLINE
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A.
TWO USES OF FIELD
FORTIFICATIONS
1.
Offensive.
Fortifications are used in offensive operations when making
periodic halts to regroup, re-supply or consolidate a position gained, and
where the enemy threat is known to include counter-attack capability (or
probability).
2.
Defensive.
Fortifications provide a base for protection of vital areas.
They cause the attacker to mass and present a profitable target and
to dissipate his combat power in the tasks of reducing the fortifications,
thereby making him more vulnerable to counter-attack.
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B.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FIELD
FORTIFICATIONS
1.
Allow effective employment of
weapons. Emplacements must
permit the effective use of the weapons for which they are designed.
This may limit protection which can be provided, and may influence the
design and/or depth of adjacent fortifications.
2.
Protection.
Protection should be provided against hazards except direct hits or a
close nuclear explosion. To obtain
maximum protection, fortifications should be as small as possible to limit the
effective target area for high trajectory weapons and airburst.
3.
Simple and economic.
The fortification should be strong and simple
It should require as little digging as possible and be constructed with
materials readily available.
4.
Improvement/Development.
Defensive fortifications should allow for continuous development to
improve usefulness. Development can be accomplished in three steps:
a.
Dig in quickly. Here speed
is the principal consideration and no special tools or materials are required.
b.
Improve with materials available.
c.
Refine, using stock materials.
5.
Camouflage.
Field fortifications should be built so that all can be camouflaged.
It may not be practical to
conceal a defensive position completely, but it should be camouflaged enough to
prevent the enemy from spotting the position by ground observation. If possible, dummy positions should be constructed around
your area.
C.
BASIC TYPES OF FIELD
FORTIFICATIONS
1.
Hasty emplacements.
These are emplacements which are dug by Marines when in contact with the
enemy, when time and materials are limited.
They are used when there is no natural cover; they are good only for
short periods of time and only against direct fire.
a.
Shell Crater.
A crater made from a shell or bomb of adequate size offers immediate
cover and concealment and can be quickly made into a hasty emplacement.
b.
Improved Crater.
A crater dug with a steep face on the side towards the enemy which
provides the occupant with a firing position.
c.
Skirmisher Trench.
The trench is a shallow pit type emplacement which provides a temporary,
open prone firing position. A low
silhouette is presented, and it affords protection to a limited extent from
small arms fire. It can be
developed further into a prone emplacement.
d.
Prone Emplacement.
This is a further refinement of the skirmisher’s trench.
It serves as a good firing position and provides better protection
against small arms and direct fire weapons, than does the improved crater or
skirmisher trench.
e.
Rocks, Snow, and Ice.
May provide limited protection by piling up rocks, chunks of ice, or
packed snow. Icecrete (mixture of
dirt and water) is an effective arctic building material which provides
protection against small arms fire.
2.
FIGHTING HOLES.
They are individual Marine/Corpsman basic defensive positions which
provide excellent protection from small arms fire.
There are two types of fighting holes:
a.
One-man fighting hole.
b.
Two-man fighting hole.
c.
Both fighting holes are basically constructed in the same manner, except
that the dimensions and positions of the common parts vary.
D.
COMMON PARTS OF ONE-MAN AND
TWO-MAN FIGHTING POSITIONS
1.
Firestep.
There is one firestep for one-man fighting positions; there are two
firesteps for two-man fighting positions. The depth of the firesteps varies,
depending on the height needed to obtain a comfortable firing position by the
occupant (three to five feet) when the occupant is crouching or sitting, there
should be a two foot overhead clearance to provide protection against the
crushing action of tanks.
2.
Watersump.
This is dug at one end of the fighting hole to collect water or
accommodate the feet of a seated occupant.
The water sump may simply provide a collection basin from which water can
be bailed.
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3.
Grenade sump.
This is a circular grenade sump large enough to accept the largest
known grenade. It is dug under and at the lower part of the firestep
riser. Grenades thrown into the fighting hole are exploded in the sump.
Fragmentation is restricted to the unoccupied end of the fighting
hole.
4.
Parapet.
When the fighting hole is dug, soil is used as a hole parapet. The
soil should be placed all around the fighting hole.
If a top is used to camouflage the parapet, it should be removed
from the fighting hole and
parapet; and then when digging is completed, place it on top in a natural
manner.
5.
Elbow rest.
When constructing the parapet, insure that an elbow rest of
original earth next to the fighting hole is made available to provide the
occupant with an effective and comfortable firing position
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Figure 1. |
E.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
FIGHTING POSITIONS
1.
One-man fighting position.
a.
Advantages:
1)
It affords better protection.
2)
Unit can cover wider frontage.
b.
Disadvantages:
1)
When the occupant is resting, his portion of the perimeter is not
covered.
2)
Moral is lower.
2.
Two-man fighting positions.
a.
Advantages:
1)
One man can provide protection while the other man digs.
2)
It affords rest and relief; as one man rests, the other observes.
3)
Firing positions can be manned for longer periods of time.
4)
If a man is hurt, the position is still occupied.
5)
Moral is higher.
b.
Disadvantages:
1)
A direct hit could cause two casualties
2)
The area that could be covered is greatly reduced.
REFERENCES
Marine Rifle Squad, FMFM 6-5, Dec 1991
Combat in Fortified and Built-up Areas, FM 31-50
Field Medical Service School
Camp Pendleton, California
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