Reconnaissance by fire
Encyclopedia
Reconnaissance by fire is a tactic in which military forces may fire on likely enemy positions to provoke a reaction.
or antitank teams. This method proved too slow to keep pressure on retiring enemy forces. Instead, U.S. armored columns continued to advance at speed, training cannon and machine guns alternately to fire to cover both the left and right of the axis of advance. The column would fire its weapons more or less continuously into any suspected enemy positions as they appeared, suppressing and distracting the aim of enemy gunners and antitank teams.. Supply echelon convoys using trucks equipped with .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns also used the tactic when traveling through areas not completely cleared of enemy forces.
During the Battle of Ia Drang
, the US battalion commander Lt. Colonel Hal Moore
noticed his men had a large amount of ammunition. He ordered his men to fire at anything suspicious at an agreed synchronised time. The large amount of fire at that time led a group of undetected infiltrating enemy soldiers to believe that they had been discovered and charge the Americans, leading to their destruction.
In the Iraq war, irregular forces used a similar tactic, in which they brandished weapons or purposely drew suspicion onto themselves, in order to learn about the rules of engagement
of the opposing forces.
Historical use
Reconnaissance by fire was widely adopted by Allied units in World War II during the war in Europe against Germany. Armored units would typically advance in column behind light armored scouting units. At the same time infantry would be present to provide support in the event of ambush by German panzerfaustPanzerfaust
The Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
or antitank teams. This method proved too slow to keep pressure on retiring enemy forces. Instead, U.S. armored columns continued to advance at speed, training cannon and machine guns alternately to fire to cover both the left and right of the axis of advance. The column would fire its weapons more or less continuously into any suspected enemy positions as they appeared, suppressing and distracting the aim of enemy gunners and antitank teams.. Supply echelon convoys using trucks equipped with .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns also used the tactic when traveling through areas not completely cleared of enemy forces.
During the Battle of Ia Drang
Battle of Ia Drang
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the...
, the US battalion commander Lt. Colonel Hal Moore
Hal Moore
Harold Gregory "Hal" Moore, Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army and author. Moore is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, which is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, and was the first of his West Point class to be promoted to...
noticed his men had a large amount of ammunition. He ordered his men to fire at anything suspicious at an agreed synchronised time. The large amount of fire at that time led a group of undetected infiltrating enemy soldiers to believe that they had been discovered and charge the Americans, leading to their destruction.
In the Iraq war, irregular forces used a similar tactic, in which they brandished weapons or purposely drew suspicion onto themselves, in order to learn about the rules of engagement
Rules of engagement
Rules of Engagement refers to those responses that are permitted in the employment of military personnel during operations or in the course of their duties. These rules of engagement are determined by the legal framework within which these duties are being carried out...
of the opposing forces.