text: Mobile Defense
  striking force commander’s freedom of maneuver. However, such restrictions may be necessary to avoid
  contact with enemy forces that could distract the striking force from accomplishing its primary mission. Units
  may have to determine and transmit these control measures rapidly for subordinates to take advantage of an
  opportunity to commit the striking force in the counterattack. Units also develop graphics that help them
  recover the defense’s integrity if the striking force is not successful in its attack. (Appendix A explains these
  control measures.)
  PLANNING A MOBILE DEFENSE
  10-13. The key to a successful mobile defense is the integration and synchronization of all available assets
  to maximize the combat power of the defending unit, particularly the striking force. Units integrate and
  synchronize their plans to deliver combined effects at decisive times and places.
  10-14. In a mobile defense, units may take advantage of terrain or obscurants to hide a striking force until
  the enemy force's forward elements pass the striking force. Until committed, the striking force maintains a
  defense. This technique closely resembles the use of stay-behind forces. Similarly, commanders may order
  friendly units inadvertently bypassed by enemy forces not to break out immediately so that they may
  capitalize on their position to destroy enemy forces.
  10-15. A mobile defense gives enemy forces an opportunity to conduct a limited penetration or advance
  along a limited frontage with a portion of their forces. Units conducting a mobile defense employ minimal
  forces as the fixing force. This generally allows enemy forces to penetrate or cross an obstacle in at least one
  location. Once this occurs, the fixing force isolates and fixes the enemy penetration. Once the penetration is
  fixed, defending units launch a counterattack by using the striking force to destroy the fixed enemy. Units
  may also choose this variation when an enemy force is likely to use weapons of mass destruction.
  MOVEMENT AND MANEUVER
  10-16. The ability to maintain the mobility advantage of a defending force is an important aspect of the
  mobile defense. This mobility advantage may result from or be enhanced by countermobility actions directed
  against an attacking enemy force. In the mobile defense plan, units ensure their reserves and striking force
  have freedom of maneuver. Simultaneously, the fixing forces restrict the enemy’s mobility and momentum,
  while guiding or forcing the enemy into areas that favor the defense.
  10-17. Most countermobility assets support the operations of the fixing force. Most mobility assets support
  the operations of the striking force. Situational obstacles provide a tremendous advantage to defending forces
  in a mobile defense. These obstacles are a combat multiplier because they enable economy of force measures.
  Units use situational obstacles to exploit enemy vulnerabilities, exploit success, separate enemy follow-on
  forces, and provide flank protection.
  FIRES
  10-18. The carefully planned indirect fires of all weapons is the basis for an effective mobile defense. The
  striking force conducts the main effort in a mobile defense. It requires continuous and concentrated fire
  support. Commanders weight their main effort, in part, by allocating field artillery and other weapon systems
  to it. They rapidly shift indirect fire support from the fixing force to the striking force. These fire support
  systems do not have to move with the striking force if it remains within supporting range.
  10-19. Units plan to move their fire support assets to locations where they can support the fixing and strike
  force. Fire support assets, especially when employing precision munitions, can partially compensate for a
  lack of maneuver forces in the striking force. Units take precautions to prevent fratricide as the striking force
  approaches the fixing force’s engagement areas by establishing RFLs while supporting air and artillery assets
  interdict enemy movements.
  SUSTAINMENT
  10-20. When planning to sustain the mobile defense, planners must look beyond the fixing force’s
  supporting effort to support the striking force’s counterattack. The greater the distance the striking force must
  cover when moving from its assembly area to its final objective, the greater the amount of supplies needed