What is considered key terrain?
What is considered key terrain?
The U.S. Army defines key terrain as “any locality or area, the seizure or retention of which affords a marked advantage to either combatant” [3]. Identifying key terrain gives military planners, whether attacking or defending, a physical location upon which to focus their efforts.
What are terrain areas?
In physical geography, terrain is the lay of the land. This is usually expressed in terms of the elevation, slope, and orientation of terrain features. Terrain affects surface water flow and distribution. Over a large area, it can affect weather and climate patterns.
What are the features of terrain?
Thumb rules: The five major terrain features are: Hill, Ridge, Valley, Saddle, and Depression. The three minor terrain features are: Draw, Spur and Cliff.
What is key terrain in cyberspace?
Introduction. “Key Terrain” is defined as “Any locality, or area, the seizure or retention of which affords a marked advantage to either combatant. (JP 2-01.3)” [1]. The value of terrain in support of defensive and offensive military operations has been known for millennia1.
What are the five military aspects of terrain?
(2) The terrain is analyzed in terms of its five military aspects which can be remembered easily by using the acronym “OCOKA.” This stands for “observation and fields of fire, cover and concealment, obstacles, key terrain, and avenues of approach.” These must be analyzed in light of the mission of the unit, the type …
What is key terrain in military?
In military doctrine, key terrain refers to areas which, if seized, afford an advantage to an attacker or defender. Key terrain might include a hill that overlooks a valley an enemy wants to control or a crossing point over a river that must be traversed before launching an attack.
What are examples of terrain?
There are different types of terrains. The common ones are plateau, mountain, plain, and valley terrains. Other types of terrains include open, tundra, oasis, steppe, desert, swamp, forest, marsh, river, and hill. Open terrains are flat and open grasslands while tundra refers to flat and icy wastelands.
What is the meaning of difficult terrain?
In times of war, you’ll often hear the term “hostile terrain” used to describe a region with lots of mountains, vast stretches of desert, or impenetrable jungles. These are all areas of difficult terrain that are hard to pass. Much of humankind’s history can be traced by its effort to alter the terrain.
What are the 10 terrain features?
Terrain Features on a Map (MGRS)
- Major Terrain Features.
- Hill. A hill is an area of high ground.
- Saddle. A saddle is a dip or low point between two areas of higher ground.
- Valley. A valley is a stretched-out groove in the land, usually formed by streams or rivers.
- Ridge.
- Depression.
- Minor Terrain Features.
- Draw.
What is the difference between key terrain and decisive terrain?
Decisive terrain is key terrain whose seizure and retention is mandatory for successful mission accomplishment (FM 3-90). Decisive terrain is relatively rare; it is not necessarily present in every situation. Unlike key terrain, decisive terrain is not associated with any COA.
What three things must leaders consider when analyzing terrain?
The planner must consider the terrain, the weather, the SITTEMP, current obstacle intelligence, friendly movement capabilities, the optimal sites for ABF and SBF positions, friendly and enemy weapon systems capabilities, and any other information relevant to the operation.
What are the three types of terrain?
There are different types of terrains. The common ones are plateau, mountain, plain, and valley terrains.
What does difficult terrain mean?
How would you describe rough terrain?
If a surface is rough, it is uneven and not smooth.
What are 5 terrain features?
The five major terrain features are: Hill, Ridge, Valley, Saddle, and Depression. The three minor terrain features are: Draw, Spur and Cliff.
What is an example of a terrain?
Terrain is defined as the specific physical features of an area of land. An example of terrain is a rocky and jagged coastline. The surface features of an area of land; topography. Boots designed for rugged terrain.
What is a hilly terrain?
Adj. 1. hilly – having hills and crags; “hilly terrain” cragged, craggy, mountainous. rough, unsmooth – having or caused by an irregular surface; “trees with rough bark”; “rough ground”; “rough skin”; “rough blankets”; “his unsmooth face”