9. Ambush.
a. Roadway not blocked. Ambush forces are seldom able to keep an entire convoy in the kill zone.
The part of the convoy that has passed the kill zone will continue to move for some distance. The
drivers will pull off to the other side of the road from the attackers and set up a defense. Those in the
kill zone must drive out of the ambush as fast as possible. Disabled vehicles are left behind. Those
blocking the road will be pushed out of the road by the following vehicles. Armed escort vehicles
should not block the road by stopping on the traveled portion of the roadway to return enemy fire. Once
the vehicles are out of the kill zone, the drivers will pull their vehicles to the opposite side of the road
from the attackers and set up defensive positions. Convoy personnel will lay down a base of fire and
suppress the enemy forces. Fire must be controlled. Do not fire on positions that are being overrun by
friendly forces. Vehicles that have not entered the kill zone stop. They do not try to drive through.
They pull their vehicles to the side of the roadway and dismount and take up defensive positions. The
convoy commander may direct the MP to leave the roadway and attempt to overrun the hostile force. If
this is done, MP must coordinate with all of the convoy elements. This assures that they will not be
confused with the hostile forces and fired upon.
Other actions available to the convoy:
(1) Call for artillery fire. Prearrange with the units whose sector the convoy will pass through.
Possible target areas may be identified.
(2) Call for attack helicopters.
(3) Direct vehicles mounted with heavy weapons to place a heavy volume of fire on ambush
force.
(4) Call for a reaction force.
(5) All nondrivers direct a heavy volume of fire on the enemy force as vehicles move out of the
kill zone.
b. Roadblock - The convoy may be ambushed and the road blocked, or an element of a convoy is
halted in the kill zone and cannot proceed due to a disabled vehicle, blockade, etc. Troops from
vehicles in the kill zone dismount and take cover. Place a great volume of fire on the ambush position.
Troops in vehicles that have passed through or have not entered the kill zone dismount. Provide a
coordinated base of fire on the ambush position. The MP elements conduct fire and maneuver against
the enemy while convoy elements provide a base of fire. When the ambush has been suppressed, the
convoy will consolidate, reorganize, treat and evacuate the wounded, and continue the movement.
c. Air attack - The convoy may come under air attack. Each vehicle turns away from the direction
of attack and seeks cover. A good guideline to use is for all odd-number vehicles to go to the right side
of the road. Vehicles with critical cargo have the option of going to either side of the road. Whichever
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MP1007
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