Battle Drill 5 (Knock Out a Bunker) is a U.S. Army tactical drill used by a squad or platoon to neutralize an enemy hardened position. It involves suppressing the bunker, maneuvering a team via a covered route to a blind spot, destroying it with grenades/direct fire, and scanning for further threats while reporting the mission’s completion.
Key Components of Battle Drill 5
Initiation: The squad/platoon takes fire from a bunker and immediately reacts by taking cover and returning fire, engaging in a “fix and suppress” action.
Support by Fire: A designated support team provides constant, heavy fire to suppress the bunker’s crew, often using machine guns, to allow the maneuver element to move.
Maneuver and Assault: A designated assault team moves along a covered and concealed route to the side (flank) or rear of the bunker.
Destruction: The assault team, usually a two-man team, moves to a position to throw hand grenades into the aperture (firing slit) of the bunker, followed by firing weapons directly into it.
Reorganization: Once the bunker is destroyed, the squad leader checks the team for casualties and ammunition (LACE Report) and secures the area before proceeding.
Key Considerations
Teamwork: Success relies on the strict coordination between the support team and the assault team. The support team must suppress until the last second.
Blind Spots: Attackers should avoid the front of the bunker, focusing on the sides or rear, which are usually blind spots for the gunner.
Weapons: Fire team members often use a combination of automatic rifles, machine guns, and grenades to maximize lethality, according to the Knock Out a Bunker video.
This drill is designed for immediate execution to maintain momentum and ensure unit safety, as described in the Knock Out a Bunker Drill by U.S. Army airborne soldiers.
- Establish Base of Fire: The squad or platoon in contact immediately returns fire and seeks cover to suppress the enemy.
- Locate the Enemy: Leaders identify the bunker’s location, its composition, and any supporting positions or obstacles.
- Suppress the Objective: The support-by-fire element destroys or suppresses enemy crew-served weapons and may use smoke to obscure the enemy’s vision.
- Identify Maneuver Route: The leader identifies a vulnerable flank and a covered, concealed route to reach it.
- Position Assault Element: An assault team maneuvers along the identified route to a position near the bunker’s blind spot or flank while the base-of-fire element continues suppression.
- Isolate the Bunker: If necessary, leaders reposition other teams to ensure the bunker cannot be reinforced or supported by nearby enemy positions.
- Shift Fire: On a signal, the base-of-fire element shifts its fire away from the bunker to allow the assault team to approach safely.
- Employ Grenades: A buddy team from the assault element moves to the bunker’s blind side. One soldier provides security while the other throws a grenade into the aperture or exit.
- Enter and Clear: After detonation, the assault team enters the bunker with bursts of fire to eliminate remaining threats.
- Establish Security: The squad immediately sets up local security to defend against counterattacks.
- LACE Report: Team leaders conduct a LACE (Liquid, Ammo, Casualties, Equipment) report to assess the unit’s status.
- Continue Mission: Once the area is secured and reorganized, the unit prepares to continue its original objective.