text: Retrograde
  vehicles from the security area unless they can quickly repair them. Units destroy inoperative vehicles that
  they cannot evacuate to prevent their capture.
  Terminating the Delay
  11-70. A delay operation terminates when the delaying force conducts a rearward passage of lines through
  a defending force, the delaying force reaches defensible terrain and transitions to the defense, the advancing
  enemy force reaches a culminating point, or the delaying force transitions to the offense. If the advancing
  enemy force reaches a culmination point, the delaying force maintains contact in current positions, withdraws
  to perform another mission, or transitions to the offense. In all cases, the senior commander must plan for the
  expected outcome of the delay. If commanders expect a friendly counterattack, they plan for the forward
  passage of the counterattack force, conserve resources to ensure combat superiority, and handover
  appropriate assigned areas.
  WITHDRAW
  11-71. A withdraw is to disengage from an enemy force and move in a direction away from the enemy
  (ADP 3-90). Commanders may or may not conduct a withdrawal under enemy pressure. Subordinate units
  may withdraw without the entire force withdrawing. A unit conducts a withdrawal for the reasons listed at
  the beginning of this chapter. In addition, a withdrawal may precede a retirement operation.
  11-72. Although commanders avoid withdrawing from action under enemy pressure, this is not always
  possible. They may conduct a withdrawal when the situation requires rapid action to save the command from
  disaster. This usually occurs after a tactical reverse or after a unit reaches its culminating point. When an
  aggressive enemy force becomes aware of a friendly force’s withdrawal or its intention to withdraw, the
  attacking enemy commander attempts to exploit the withdrawal, using all available capabilities to turn the
  friendly force’s withdrawal into a rout. The attacking enemy force may have ground and air superiority and
  continuously attempt to pursue, encircle, and destroy the withdrawing force. The attacking enemy
  commander may use a combination of direct pressure and enveloping forces and fires to isolate the
  withdrawing friendly force.
  11-73. Withdrawals are inherently dangerous because they involve moving units to the rear and away from
  an enemy force. The heavier the fighting and the closer the contact with an enemy force, the more difficult
  the withdrawal. OPSEC is extremely important. A unit usually confines its rearward movement to times and
  conditions when an advancing enemy force cannot observe the movement, so that the enemy force cannot
  easily detect the operation. To retain the element of surprise and freedom of action, commanders consider
  the enemy’s abilities to observe friendly movements. OPSEC is critical during the initial stages of a
  withdrawal, when most of the functional and multifunctional support and sustainment elements displace.
  11-74. Units withdraw to assembly areas or new defensive positions. Alternatively, they can withdraw
  indirectly to either area through one or more intermediate positions. When preparing new positions,
  commanders balance the need for security with the need to establish the defense.
  Organization of Forces for a Withdrawal
  11-75. Commanders organize a withdrawing unit into a security force, a main body, and a reserve. They
  also organize a detachment left in contact and stay-behind forces if the scheme of maneuver requires them.
  Commanders avoid changing task organization unless subordinates have sufficient planning time. However,
  circumstances may dictate rapid task organization changes immediately before a withdrawal, such as when
  the unit must conduct an immediate withdrawal to prevent encirclement.
  11-76. The security force maintains contact with the enemy force until ordered to disengage or until another
  force takes over. It simulates the continued presence of the main body, which requires additional allocation
  of combat multipliers beyond those normally allocated to a force of its size. The greater its mobility and
  range advantages over the enemy force, then the easier for the security force to cover the main body’s
  withdrawal. Commanders organize most available combat power to their security forces as a rear guard or a
  rear covering force, since the most probable threat to a withdrawing force is a pursuing enemy. However,
  security forces must maintain all around security of the withdrawing force. When an enemy force can