Offensive Warfare Terminology

Patton's Strategy

Offensive Warfare - Fire Distribution

Offensive Warfare Strategy may have a Security Element (Sniper Fire Team providing overwatch and long range reporting), Assault Element (consisting of two or three Assault Fire Teams and a Heavy Weapons Fire Team), and Support Element (Safe House Fire Team moving under cover to set up.)

Fire distribution is the science of controlling weapon power. Here's a few of the more popular possibilities:

In LSN, grazing fire is used when the enemy is anticipated to be charging toward you, or to deny an enemy from using a point of entry without taking some hits. When in doubt, always pick a doorway or street along the threat axis and lay down some grazing fire from several supporting units through it, that way anything that darts through will take some hits.

"I like grunts because they dish out 10 shots a turn. 3-4 of them can lay down a withering wall of fire." -- The Black Rat

Frontal, Flanking or Enfilade Fire: These are just terms describing how your shots are hitting the enemy.

A good use of enfilade fire is to set up an ambush so a machinegun is pointed down the length of a trail. Once the enemy group is stung out along that section you can open fire with a much better chance of hitting the target, and have the chance of hitting more than one target with each bullet.

Offensive Warfare - Task Assigning

Dividing your forces according to their jobs is always a good idea, even in a four-man team.

Assault Element is the unit responsible for the main attack. In an ambush, they would be assigned different firing areas in the kill zone.

Support Element is a back-up or reserve unit. In an ambush the Support Element is often set along possible escape routes so the enemy will be trapped.

Security Elements have the responsibility for keeping everyone else safe. For example, if a unit had set up an ambush on a hill, the Security Element will patrol the back and sides of the hill to prevent a rear or flank attack.

See Job Tasking & Elements

Offensive Warfare - Ambushing

Preparing the ambush means picking a place where you have a good view of the enemy, yet are concealed and under cover. See Basic Ambushing 101 for detailed instructions.

Kill Zone is the area where you plan on shooting the enemy. It should be a place with limited or no cover, limited escape routes, and little or no opportunity for the enemy to return fire.

Dead Spaces are areas out of sight of the ambushers. For example, a group on a hill may have a good view of the trail, but may not be able to see into a gully right below them. These areas should be booby trapped or targeted for accurate grenade fire.

Concealment and Camouflage are useful in any kind of combat. The more difficult it is for the enemy to see you, the more difficult it is for him to shoot you. (Real World) Natural Concealment is anything that hides you from the enemy's sight. Bushes, grass, trees, geological formations and shadows are all effective.

Camouflage
is basically artificial concealment. Usually it involves clothing and equipment with the same colors as the natural environment. Irregular shapes of color are the hardest to see. Adding make-up to exposed skin, and attaching leaves and branches to helmet and clothing are also good forms of camouflage.
In LSN, Concealment is the primary reason for tactics - staying concealed just before shooting, then returning to cover where the enemy cannot see you is typified by Cornerdancing and other tactics.