ATP 3-21.50 Infantry Small-Unit Mountain and Cold Weather ...

1 ATP Infantry Small-Unit Mountain and Cold Weather Operations AUGUST 2020 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes ATTP , dated 28 February 2011. Headquarters, Department of the Army This publication is available at the Army Publishing Directorate site ( ), and the Central Army Registry site ( ). *ATP RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. *This publication supersedes ATTP , dated 28 February Army Techniques Publication No.

2 Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, , 27 August 2020 Infantry Small-Unit Mountain and Cold Weather Operations Contents Page v INTRODUCTION .. vii Chapter 1 ORGANIZATION .. 1-1 Section I Infantry Small-Unit Organizations .. 1-1 Close Combat .. 1-1 Operational Influences .. 1-3 Section II Environmental Considerations .. 1-5 Operational and Mission Variables .. 1-5 Physical Characteristics .. 1-5 Effects on Infantry Small-Unit Operations .. 1-11 Chapter 2 COMMAND AND CONTROL .. 2-1 Section I Leadership.

3 2-1 The Importance of Competent Leadership .. 2-1 Challenges Within Mountainous Terrain .. 2-2 Extreme Weather and Temperature Conditions .. 2-2 Section II Mission Command .. 2-2 Section III Relationship Between Command and Control .. 2-3 Command .. 2-3 Control .. 2-4 The Exercise of Command and Control .. 2-5 Command Post Organization and 2-7 Section IV Operations Process .. 2-12 Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield .. 2-13 Analysis of Terrain and Weather .. 2-14 Centralized Planning and Decentralized Execution.

4 2-19 Chapter 3 OFFENSE .. 3-1 Section I Doctrinal Basis for the Offense .. 3-1 Offensive Operations .. 3-1 Characteristics of the Offense .. 3-2 Contents ii ATP 27 August 2020 Section II Conduct of the Offense .. 3-4 Environmental Considerations .. 3-4 Plan and Prepare .. 3-4 Execute .. 3-10 Assess .. 3-12 Section III Small-Unit Offensive Operations .. 3-13 Movement to Contact .. 3-13 Hasty and Deliberate Attacks .. 3-15 Special Purpose Attacks .. 3-18 Chapter 4 DEFENSE .. 4-1 Section I Doctrinal Basis for the Defense.

5 4-1 Defensive 4-1 Characteristics of the Defense .. 4-4 Section II Conduct of the 4-6 Environmental Considerations .. 4-6 Plan and Prepare .. 4-6 Execute .. 4-11 Assess .. 4-15 Section III Small-Unit Defensive Operations .. 4-15 Area Defense .. 4-16 Battle Positions .. 4-18 Defense of a Linear Obstacle .. 4-22 Perimeter Defense .. 4-23 Reverse-Slope Defense .. 4-25 Chapter 5 TACTICAL ENABLING OPERATIONS AND 5-1 Section I Small-Unit Movement, Employment, and Maneuver .. 5-1 Tactical Movement .. 5-1 Observation Post.

6 5-21 Combat Outposts .. 5-24 Tunnels and Caves .. 5-27 Base Camps .. 5-30 Section II Dismounted March Considerations .. 5-31 March Mission .. 5-32 Planning for the March .. 5-32 Preparations for the March .. 5-34 March Execution .. 5-35 Section III Soldier Load Considerations .. 5-41 Echeloning 5-41 Load Determination .. 5-42 Decisions to Reduce or Offset Risk .. 5-44 Chapter 6 AUGMENTING COMBAT POWER .. 6-1 Section I Information Collection .. 6-1 Planning and Employment Considerations .. 6-1 Information Collection Plan.

7 6-2 Execution of Tactical Missions .. 6-3 Soldier Sensor Missions .. 6-4 Section II Direct Fires .. 6-5 Fundamental Principles .. 6-5 Direct Fire Weapons and Systems .. 6-6 Section III Fire Support .. 6-10 Contents 27 August 2020 ATP iii Indirect Fires .. 6-10 Aviation Fires .. 6-14 Section IV Engineer Support .. 6-16 Mobility .. 6-16 Countermobility .. 6-17 Section V Protection .. 6-17 Survivability .. 6-17 Local Security .. 6-18 Passive and Active CBRN Defense .. 6-18 Passive and Active Air Defense .. 6-18 Additional Protection Tasks.

8 6-19 Section VI 6-19 Effects on Soldiers .. 6-20 Effects on Individual and Unit Equipment .. 6-27 Resupply 6-30 Section VII Special Purpose Teams, Skills, and Attachments .. 6-35 Special Purpose Teams .. 6-36 Specialist Skills and Training .. 6-36 Attachments .. 6-38 GLOSSARY .. Glossary-1 REFERENCES .. References-1 INDEX .. Index-1 Figures Figure 1-1. Mountainous regions of the world .. 1-6 Figure 1-2. Operational terrain levels .. 1-8 Figure 1-3. Cold regions of the world .. 1-9 Figure 2-1. Retransmission 2-11 Figure 3-1.

9 Company deliberate attack, example .. 3-17 Figure 3-2. Company raid (insertion/infiltration), example .. 3-19 Figure 3-3. Company multiple ambushes (infiltration/occupation), example .. 3-22 Figure 4-1. Area defense (security area activities) .. 4-12 Figure 4-2. Area defense (main battle area engagements) .. 4-14 Figure 4-3. Area defense (platoon battle positions in-depth) .. 4-17 Figure 4-4. Primary, alternate, supplementary, and subsequent battle positions .. 4-20 Figure 4-5. Strong point battle position .. 4-21 Figure 4-6.

10 Defense of a linear obstacle .. 4-23 Figure 4-7. Perimeter defense .. 4-25 Figure 4-8. Reverse-slope defense .. 4-26 Figure 5-1. Mountain road (mounted movement) .. 5-4 Figure 5-2. Enemy ambush on a narrow Mountain pass .. 5-5 Figure 5-3. Using a fixed rope system .. 5-11 Figure 5-4. High Angle Mountaineering Kit .. 5-12 Figure 5-5. Assault Climber Team Kit .. 5-13 Contents iv ATP 27 August 2020 Figure 5-6. Snow and Ice Mobility Kit .. 5-14 Figure 5-7. Helicopter slope landings .. 5-16 Figure 5-8. Overwatching a patrol.