Patrol formations

REF 6TP/TRG/001

Principles, then eight formations: when to use each one, and what to watch for.

00INTENT

MINIMISEThe patrol's exposure to enemy fire and explosives.

MAXIMISEThe effectiveness of the patrol's firepower, through orientation and clear orders.

AIDThe control of patrol movement.

SPACING

In daylight, general spacing is ±10 m. It changes with terrain, weather and at night. On the word 'Tight', shorten the distance between individuals.

ARCS

As a rule, your arc is 45° either side of your body, left and right.

5s AND 20s

When stopping, take a knee and look out to 5 m, then 20 m, all around your body. This matters most in an IED environment.

KEY

Operator

Gunner / MG

Arc of fire (45° either side)

Direction of travel, or axis

Diagrams are top-down, with travel toward the top. Six-man patrols shown unless stated. Not to scale.

File

Single file

USES

Moving in or between friendly areas
When contact is unlikely
When speed is essential (mass casualties)
When there is a known or suspected IED threat

POINTS TO NOTE

A good 'springboard' into other formations
Provides good flank protection
All must cover their own arcs and not become 'tunnel visioned' on the person in front

Staggered file

Staggered column

USES

Along roads and wide tracks
On opposite sides of hedgerows
On opposite sides of rivers and streams
OBUA environments

POINTS TO NOTE

For ease of C2, the patrol splits into two single files
In open ground, the arcs face outward (shown)
In OBUA, the arcs face inward
In small patrols, the 'step drill' may be used for contact to the front, in both this formation and file

Arrowhead

USES

When clearing open ground
In an advance to contact

POINTS TO NOTE

Provides the patrol with 360° cover
Quickly becomes an extended line for an assault
Strict fire discipline must be maintained when coming under fire from a flank. Maintain your own arcs until told otherwise by the patrol commander
The formation should be staggered from flank to flank

Diamond

Five-man patrol shown

USES

For very small patrols (4–5 pax)
In dense vegetation, jungle or tropics
At night
For HVI or HVT protection

POINTS TO NOTE

Rarely used, although a key formation for four-man patrols
Provides 360° cover

NATO T

USES

Patrolling in woods and forests (FIWAF)
Dense vegetation, jungle or tropical climates
Becoming more popular as a generic formation

POINTS TO NOTE

The 'tail' is a manoeuvre element
The tail can 'tac' right or left as required
Useful when two or more patrols are working together

Extended line

Base line / battle line / skirmish line

USES

Clearing open ground
Advance to contact
When a known threat is to the front
When conducting an assault

POINTS TO NOTE

Excellent fields of fire to the front and rear
Has a small flank profile, therefore limited flank protection
An MG is generally placed on a flank to act as a 'pivot point' for the patrol to move around

Herringbone

USES

In base, to manage the patrol for orders and briefings
When mounting land or air vehicles
Re-org phase after an assault in dense vegetation
At night in dense vegetation

POINTS TO NOTE

A very tight formation with 360° cover
The front man faces forward, then others face right and left in turn, until the last man, who faces the rear
If someone leaves the formation, everyone else readjusts their arcs
These arcs carry over to vehicle formations too

All round defence

ARD

USES

Medium-duration halts
When the direction of contact is unknown
When holding ground (HLS or resupply)
The re-org after an assault

POINTS TO NOTE

All arcs interlock
The gunner (shown in blue) faces the axis or threat
All are prone
Space for a single-rotor helicopter
Effective spacing limits the grenade or mortar threat
The formation is not effective under constant attack
The spacing is closer at night

ABBREVIATIONS

ARDAll round defence

C2Command and control

FIWAFFighting in woods and forests

HLSHelicopter landing site

HVI / HVTHigh-value individual / target

IEDImprovised explosive device

MGMachine gun

OBUAOperations in built-up areas

PaxPersonnel

Re-orgReorganisation