8 - 25 BREACH A MINED WIRE OBSTACLE (07-3-D9412) CONDITIONS (CUE) —The platoon encounters a mined wire obstacle that prevents the platoon from moving forward. The platoon cannot bypass the obstacle. The enemy begins engaging the platoon from positions on the far side of the obstacle. This drill begins when the platoon's lead element encounters a mined wire obstacle, and the unit leader orders an element to breach the obstacle. STANDARDS—The platoon breaches the obstacle and moves all personnel and equipment quickly through the breach. The platoon moves the support element and follow on forces through the breach and maintains a sufficient fighting force to secure the far side of the breach. PERFORMANCE MEASURES 1. A platoon's section/squad executes actions on contact to reduce effective fires from the far side of the obstacle. 2. The section/ squad in contact— a. Deploys (1) Returns fire. (2) Seeks cover. (3) Establishes fire superiority. (4) Establishes local security. (5) Platoon sergeant repositions other squads to focus supporting fires and increase observation. b. Reports (1) Squad leader reports location of hostile fire to platoon leader from base of fire position using the SALUTE format. (2) Platoon leader sends contact report followed by a size, activity, location, unit, time, and equipment (SALUTE) report to commander. 3. Evaluate and develop the situation. a. The platoon leader quickly evaluates the situation using the SITREPs from the squad in contact, and using his personal observations. At a minimum, his evaluation should include— (1) Number of enemy weapons or volume of fire. (2) Presence of vehicles. (3) Employment of indirect fires. b. The platoon leader quickly develops the situation: (1) Conducts a quick reconnaissance to determine enemy flanks. (2) Locates mutually supporting positions. (3) Locates any obstacles that impede the assault or provides some type of cover or concealment. (4) Determines whether the force is inferior or superior. (5) Analyzes reports from squad leaders, teams in contact, or adjacent units. 4. The platoon leader directs the vehicles (if available) and the squad in contact to support the movement of another squad to the breach point. a. Indicates the route to the base of fire position. b. Indicates the enemy position to be suppressed. c. Indicates the breach point and the route the rest of the platoon will take. d. Gives instructions for lifting and shifting fires. 5. On the platoon leader's signal, the base of fire squad— a. Destroys or suppresses enemy weapons that are firing effectively against the platoon. b. Obscures the enemy position with smoke. c. Continues to maintain fire superiority while conserving ammunition and minimizing forces in contact. 6. After the breach, the platoon leader designates one squad as the breach squad and the remaining squad as the assault squad. (The assault squad may add its fires to the base of fire squad. Normally, it follows the covered and concealed route of the breach squad and assaults through immediately after the breach is made.) 7. The base of fire squad moves to the breach point and establishes a base of fire.