text: _________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 3
  3-88. Exploitation Force. The exploitation force in a dispersed attack must
  be capable, through inherent capabilities or positioning relative to the en-
  emy, of destroying the target of the operation. An armored force may be the
  weapon of choice to maneuver throughout the battlefield as single platoons in
  order to have one company reach a vulnerable troop concentration or soft C2
  node. Alternatively, the exploitation force may be a widely dispersed group of
  SPF teams set to attack exposed logistics targets simultaneously. Dispersed
  attacks often make use of multiple exploitation forces separated in time
  and/or space, but often oriented on the same objective(s).
  LIMITED-OBJECTIVE ATTACK
  3-89. A limited-objective attack seeks to achieve results critical to the strate-
  gic campaign plan (SCP) by destroying or denying the enemy key capabilities
  through primarily military means. The results of a limited-objective attack
  typically fall short of operational decision on the day of battle, but may be vi-
  tal to the overall success of the SCP. Limited-objective attacks are common
  during adaptive operations in which the objective is to preserve forces and
  wear down the enemy, rather than achieving a military decision.
  3-90. The primary objective of a limited-objective attack is a particular enemy
  capability. This may or may not be a particular man-made system or group of
  systems, but may also be the capability to take action at the enemy’s chosen
  tempo.
  3-91. Limited-objective attacks are characterized by
  • Not being focused solely on destruction of ground combat power but of-
  ten on C2 and logistics.
  • Denying the enemy the capability he most needs to execute his plans.
  • Maximal use of the systems warfare approach to combat (see Chapter 1).
  • Significant reliance on a planned or seized window of opportunity.
  3-92. At the operational level, there are three types of limited-objective at-
  tack: sophisticated ambush, spoiling attack, and counterattack. One of these
  types, the sophisticated ambush, requires conditions similar to those needed
  for a dispersed attack, but is executed by autonomous tactical-level forces
  with the OSC providing coordination and support. The other two types, the
  spoiling attack and counterattack, share some common characteristics, but
  differ in purpose.
  Sophisticated Ambush
  3-93. A sophisticated ambush is the linking in time and task of RISTA, at-
  tacking forces, and window of opportunity to destroy key enemy systems or
  cause politically unacceptable casualties. What makes a sophisticated am-
  bush “sophisticated” is not the actual attack means. In fact, the actual am-
  bush is executed by tactical-level forces. (See FM 7-100.2 for examples.) What
  makes it “sophisticated,” however, is the linking of sensor, ambusher, window
  of opportunity, and a target that affects an enemy center of gravity. This
  typically requires sophisticated ambushes to be planned, coordinated, and
  resourced at the operational level.