IPB

1. IPB INTELLIGENCE PREPARATION of the BATTLEFIELD FM 34-130

2. IPB Definition IPB is the process which integrates enemy doctrine with weather and terrain to provide a basis for determining and evaluating enemy capabilities, vulnerabilities, and probable COA. IPB is a systematic and continuous process of analyzing the threat and environment in a specific geographic area. It also serves as a planning basis for the formulation of the units concept of operations.

3. IPB Steps Define the Battlefield Environment Describe the Battlefield Effect Evaluate the Threat Determine Threat Course of Action

4. Define the Battlefield Environment Identify environmental factors that may influence available COAs or the commander’s decisions. There are 6 elements that must be considered . Focus on the relationship between these elements and AI, AO, and Battle Space

5. Elements of Battlefield Environment 1. Characteristics affecting friendly and enemy COAs/decisions 2. Limits of AO and Battle Space Define the Battlefield 3. Limits of AI 4. Details required versus time available 5. Data base available and intelligence gaps 6. Collect intel and material to conduct IPB

6. Area of Operations (AO) The AO is the geographical area where the commander has been assigned the responsibility to conduct operations. Based on METT-T Air AO is identical, except for height which is based on acft ceiling height and effective altitude of AD weapons.

7. Battle Space Battle Space is determined by the maximum capabilities of a unit to acquire targets and physically dominate the threat. The command’s battle space includes all of the AO as well as areas outside the AO. The evaluation of this area may be as detailed as the AO if required by the commander, or it receives the same as AI. Also depends on the commands ability to acquire and engage targets using its own assets or those of other commands on its behalf.

8. Area of Interest (AI) The AI is the geographical area monitored by the commander and from which information (intel) is required for planning and conducting unit operations. Generally larger than its AO and battlespace. Limits of AI include characteristics of the battlefield environment exerting an influence on available COAs or command decisions

9. Describe the Battlefield Effects Define the Battlefield Environment Describe the Battlefield Effect During this step, one analyzes the battlefield environment and describes its effects on threat and friendly COAs. • terrain • weather • light data

10. Military Aspects of Terrain OCOKA 1. Observation and fields of fire 2. Cover and concealment 3. Obstacles 4. Key Terrain 5. Avenues of Approach

11. Observation involves the influence of terrain on reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities. Fields of fire involve the effects of terrain on weapons effectiveness. Observation and Fields of Fire

12. Concealment is protection from air and ground observation. Cover is protection from the effects of fire. (IPB determines the concealment and cover offered to both friendly and enemy forces from both ground and air perspectives. Cover and Concealment

13. Obstacles are natural and man made terrain features that stop, impede, or divert military movement. Terrain analysis attempts to identify where obstacles to ground and air movement are and what effects removing, overcoming, or bypassing these obstacles will have on overall operations. Obstacles

14. Key terrain is any feature or area, of which the seizure, or control of, offers a marked tactical advantage. eg bridges, fording sites, choke points, road junctions. Mission accomplishment normally depends on the seizure or control of decisive terrain. Key Terrain

15. These are routes by which a force may reach key terrain or an objective. Air and ground mobility corridors are subsets of air and ground avenues of approach. Mobility corridors are areas within the avenues of approach which permit movement and maneuver. Air and Ground Avenues of Approach

16. Unrestricted Terrain Restricted Terrain Severely Restricted Terrain Terrain Analysis

17. Unrestricted Terrain Terrain free of any restrictions on movement. Unmarked There is no need to enhance mobility.

18. Restricted Terrain • Terrain hinders movement to some degree. • Little effort required to improve mobility. • Unit using the terrain is restricted doctrinally. • Depicted on the overlay by diagonal green lines. OBJ.

19. Severely Restricted Terrain • Terrain severely hinders or slows movement of formations • unless some effort is made to improve mobility. • Mobility must be improved by using assets not organic to • the formation or by deviating from doctrinal tactics. • Depicted on the overlay by cross-hatched, diagonal OBJ

20. Modified Combined Obstacles Overlay (MCOO) • Product used to disseminate the results of the AO terrain • analysis. This is the final product, but must continually be • updated. • Aids the staff in completing their estimate. • cross-country mobility classifications • obstacle networks • defendable terrain • engagement areas • key terrain

21. Built-up Areas (BUA) • A BUA is larger than 1 square Km and is considered an obstacle. • They are outlined and cross-hatched in black on the overlay. • One should remember that cities are always growing and maps • may be outdated. Plan for the worst case.

22. Rivers and water obstacles Swamps, lakes, ponds, and canals are outlined in blue on the overlay using wide solid lines.

23. K Key Terrain Key terrain is usually designated by: Obvious color other than yellow or red (purple).

24. Obstacles • Major cultural obstacles such as: • roads • rail-roads • embankments • power lines • overpasses • are depicted on the MCOO in black.

25. Avenues of Approach • Enemy avenues of approach are indicated in red. • Friendly axes of approach are indicated in blue. • Each avenue of approach indicates the size of the enemy • force it will support. • - they are based on doctrinal frontages and shown • from at least the FLOT to the final objective, and • prioritized to indicate the most likely avenue. • - As they show the general area through which a force can move, • the boundaries of avenues of approach and axes of advance may • cross Severely Restricted Terrain.

26. Mobility Corridors • Mobility corridors are shown in red (enemy) or blue • (friendly) on the MCOO. • They indicate areas where a force will be forced to • narrow its frontage due to terrain. • They are normally labeled with the size of the force • they will doctrinally support. • The boundaries do not cross Severely Restricted Terrain.

27. Objectives Friendly and enemy objectives are shown in either blue or red on the MCOO. They may be shown as area objectives or limits of advance. OBJ SNAKE

28. Weather Analysis The commander integrates weather and terrain analysis to determine their effect on tactical operations. Weather and terrain are inseparable and can have a significant impact (on both enemy and friendly operations). They are integrated by the commander to determine their effect on tactical operations and potential maneuver areas.

29. Visibility (SF insertion) • Wind speed and direction (NBC) • Precipitation (traffic) • Cloud cover (acft operations - CAS) • Temperature and humidity (heat injuries)Note: normally conducted at corps level and above by weather teams Military Aspects of Weather Analysis

30. Evaluate the Threat Define the Battlefield Environment Describe the Battlefield Effect Evaluate the Threat • When evaluating the threat: • doctrinal templates are produced • Threat tactics and options are described • High Value Targets and threat capabilities • are identified

31. Doctrinal Template The doctrinal template illustrates the threat’s normal tactics and deployment when not constrained by the effects of the battlefield environment.

32. EXAMPLE OF A DOCTRINAL TEMPLATE MRB(+) (-) MRB MRB(+) RAG DAG MRB MRB(+) 20-30 KMs DIV CP RAG MRB MRB(+) (-) (-) 15-20 KMs

33. High Value Target (HVT) HVTs are assets that the threat commander requires for the successful completion of the mission. They are depicted on the templates as HVTs.

34. Categories of HVT There are 13 categories of HVTs: 1. C3 11. Maintenance Units 2. FS 12. Lift 3. Maneuver 13. LOC 4. ADA 5. Engineer 6. RISTA 7. NBC 8. REC or EW 9. Bulk Fuels 10. Ammunition Points

35. Identify Threat Capabilities • They take the form of statements. • They are the broad COAs and supporting operations taken • by the threat to influence the ability of friendly units to • accomplish their mission. • Example: The enemy is capable of providing a strong • defense within 1 hour; the enemy can attack with success; • the enemy can be reinforced.

36. Determine Threat COA Define the Battlefield Environment Describe the Battlefield Effect Evaluate the Threat Determine Threat Course of Action Identify and develop likely COAs that will influence the friendly mission

37. Identify Threat COAs • COAs that threat doctrine indicates appropriate to the • current situation • COAs which could significantly influence your • command’s mission • COAs indicated by recent activities and events

38. Criteria for COAs 1. Suitability 2. Feasibility 3. Acceptability 4. Uniqueness 5. Consistency with doctrine

39. Prioritize Each COA 1. Identify COA strengths and weaknesses, centers of gravity, and decisive points. 2. Evaluate using the 5 criteria. 3. Compare them with each other. 4. Keep surprise in mind when evaluating COAs. 5. Analyze threat activity for indications that a COA has already been adopted.

40. COA: Three Parts Situational Template Description of List of HVTs the COA

41. Situational Templates The situational template graphically illustrates how the enemy might deviate from doctrinal dispositions to account for battlefield environment effects. Situational Template Description of List of HVTs the COA

42. Time Phase Lines Time Phase Lines (TPLs) are developed to evaluate time and space factors using threat movement.

43. Describe the COA Situational Template The COA description is used to support staff wargaming and to develop the event template. It can range from a narrative description to a detailed synchronization matrix. Description ofList of HVTs the COA

44. Named Area of Interest (NAI) and indicator A point, route, or area where you expect key events to occur. An indicator is an activity which reveals the enemy’s selected COA.

45. NAI GRAPHICS NAI 6 AREA NAI POINT NAI ROUTE OF AIR APPROACH NAI 3 4

46. Event Template Depicts where and when to collect the information which will indicate which COA the threat has adopted.

47. EXAMPLE OF EVENT TEMPLATE SIT TEMP 1 SIT TEMP 2 CONSOLIDATED TEMPLATES 1 1&2 2 1&2 NAI 1 NAI 4 EVENT TEMPLATE NAI 2 NAI 3

48. Event Matrix Supports the event template by providing details on the type and time of activity in each NAI.

49. EXAMPLE OF EVENT MATRIX NO EARLIER NO LATER THAN THAN NAI NO. INDICATOR NAI 1 H-7 H-2 Engineer preparation of artillery positions NAI 1 H-2 Artillery occupies firing positions H-30 MIN NAI 1 H-1 H-15 MIN Artillery commences preparatory fires NAI 2 H-2 H-1.5 Combat recon patrol conducts route recon NAI 2 H-1.5 H-30 MIN Rifle company (+) in march formation

50. Decision Support Template (DST) Relates the detail of the event template to decision points that are significant to the commander.