Executing break contact via bounding overwatch
Breaking contact allows an element to disengage from the enemy while maintaining suppressive fire to avoid becoming decisively engaged.
Steps
- Leader announces intent to break contact.
- Assign a base-of-fire element (e.g., buddy-team, fireteam, or larger).
- Base-of-fire takes hasty cover and suppresses enemy.
- Other elements bound to the rear under fire protection.
- Deploy smoke to conceal movement.
- On signal, base-of-fire element bounds back to new position.
- Repeat until disengagement is complete.