PFC WILSON
TURN MINEFEILDS
A turn minefield changes the enemies maneuver in a desired direction. One technique or a combination of techniques helps in achieving the turn effect. First in order to make the enemy move in the direction you want rather than to reduce the obstacle, the obstacle must have a subtle orientation relative to the enemy's approach. Second, the obstacle and fires must allow bypass in the direction desired by the friendly scheme of maneuver. Obstacles in the start of the turn are visible and look more complex than those in the direction of the turn. Finally, the obstacle is tied into severely restricted terrain at the initial point of the turn. The point where the severely restricted terrain feature and the minefield meet is known as the anchor point. Commanders normally use the turn effect on the flanks of an EA (Engagement Area). The standard turn effect minefield has a width of 500 meters and a depth of 300 meters. One turn effect minefield affects the entire width of an enemy company's front. It must be deep enough to cause multiple applications of line charge reduction assets. In short, the minefield must discourage any attempts to breach and must entice the enemy to bypass instead of reducing.
The angle of the minefields should be subtle, making the enemy bypass individual minefields. Each minefield overlaps another one to tie the minefields together and prevent gaps. This is considered in the resource factor (1.2) for a turn obstacle group. This factor, multiplied by the width of the AA, equals the amount of linear obstacle effort required for this turn effect. Minefields must be extremely lethal and achieve approximately 80 percent probability of encounter. An enemy vehicle attempting to reduce or pass through the minefield will likely encounter a mine. This forces the small unit commander to make an immediate decision breach or bypass. A lethal minefield that is covered by intense fires and has an easily detectable bypass...