Tactics 101: 012. Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (Pt. 1)
By Rick Baillergeon and John Sutherland

Published Friday, February 02, 2007  | 0 comments  | Print  | E-mail

Once we have created this, we can begin to analyze the terrain for maneuver and movement. During this step, we categorize terrain as unrestricted, restricted and severely restricted. Below are definitions and a symbol we can utilize in creating further products for each:

Using these terrain classifications, we now take our Combined Obstacle Overlay and begin drawing restricted and severely restricted terrain upon it. With this complete, we can start to determine mobility corridors in our area.

After you have identified mobility corridors and placed them on your Combined Obstacle Overlay, you begin to develop your avenues of approach. To do this, you look for mobility corridors that relate or converge with other. Generally, two mobility corridors will translate into an avenue of approach. Thus, two battalion mobility corridors equates to a brigade avenue of approach.

After drawing the avenues of approach on the overlay, we add other characteristics we believe will effect operations. These can include:

• Key terrain (decisive terrain)
• Defensible terrain
• Engagement Areas
• Potential Landing Zones/Drop Zones
• Air Avenues of Approach
• Counterattack routes for reserves

Once we complete this, we have now turned our original combined obstacle overlay into a Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay (MCOO). This provides us a tool that reflects the results of our terrain analysis and now we can analyze the effects the terrain will have on us and the enemy.

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