and changes in the mission. Decentralized engineers also
execute required offensive actions.
Division engineer brigades cannot retain standard engineer
reaction capability.
Engineer forces have difficulty
supporting a mobile defense unless the force commander
attaches the engineers of the corps reserve division
forward to the defending division.
(b) Area
Area defense denies the enemy access to specific terrain
for a specified time and is usually required when a
defending force is predominantly light.
It does not
destroy
the
attacking
force
but
presumes
another
simultaneous or subsequent operation to defeat the enemy.
Most of the defending force is deployed to retain ground.
It uses a combination of defensive positions and small
mobile reserves, and force commanders organize the defense
around
the
static
framework
provided
by
defensive
positions.
Area-defense forces destroy the enemy by
interlocking fires or counterattacking enemy units that
penetrate between defensive positions.
The depth of area defense depends on the mission available
forces, and the nature of the terrain.
When necessary,
the commander locates the main effort well forward and
commits most of the combat power to the forward edge of
the battle area (FEBA). He attacks when enemy forces are
along or beyond the FEBA.
A forward defense may be
necessary, but it is more difficult to execute than a
defense
in
greater
depth.
It
depends
on
rapid
identification of and concentration against the enemy's
main effort.
Engineer planning is very decentralized. Each subordinate
maneuver unit is given an area to defend, and the unit
must plan its own defense. Large obstacle zones and belts
provide the defender with maximum flexibility when
organizing a positional defense.
Allocation of engineer assets and resources is based on
command priorities and the threat, and the majority of the
engineer effort is under centralized control.
The
remaining engineers perform flank or rear-area tasks. GS
provides additional engineer effort to supported units
based on the commander's priorities. In a GS
EN5483
2-4
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