Ambushes and Road Blocks - What to do

Whatever precautions are taken and preparations made, ambushes when they happen are intended to be an unexpected encounter. A hostile force will spring an ambush from ground of their choosing, usually at close range, and which offers them a good view of the target.

The hostile force will have planned the ambush in an area that would allow them to be able to inflict as many casualties as possible in the shortest time. This is called ‘the killing ground’, and it would most likely prove fatal to stop in this area.

The only way to try to stop an armoured vehicle is to shoot out the tyres. It is imperative, therefore, that such vehicles are equipped with ‘run flat’ tyres. The best chance of escape is to try to drive through the killing ground if caught out in this situation.

If ambushed in a convoy, immediately inform all other vehicles of the ambush by the use of radios. The vehicles to the rear, if not caught up in this ambush, should have time to turn around or reverse out of the immediate danger area. Every effort must be made to get the vehicles out of the area so that effective fire cannot be brought down on the vehicles. Do not stop until you are definitely clear of the area, and only then in an emergency.