Previous: 3-115: Indirect Fires and Obscurants
3-116. Obstacles are integrated with direct and indirect fires. By slowing and disrupting enemy movement, obstacles provide the defender with the time necessary for displacement and allow friendly forces to employ direct and indirect fires against the enemy. The Modular Pack Mine System (MOPMS) also can be employed in support of the disengagement, to either block a key displacement route once the displacing unit has passed through it or close a lane through a tactical obstacle. The location of obstacles in support of disengagement depends on METT-TC. Ideally, an obstacle should be positioned
far enough away from the defender that enemy elements could be engaged on the far side of the obstacle while keeping the defender out of range of the enemy’s massed direct fires.
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Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad