text: Attack
  major counterattacks to defeat or block an enemy penetration that endangers the integrity of their entire
  defense, or to attrit an enemy force by the defeat or destruction of isolated portions of it. In both cases, waiting
  for an enemy force to act first may reveal the enemy’s main effort and create an assailable flank to exploit.
  Organization of Forces for a Counterattack
  5-128. Units conducting a local counterattack often consist of defending forces that survive after completing
  their withdrawal from lost positions and the unit’s reserve. Units performing a local counterattack are unlikely
  to change the internal task organization of these immediately available forces because this most likely will
  delay initiation of these local counterattacks. Units may be able to designate elements to conduct
  reconnaissance.
  5-129. Units conducting a major counterattack typically organize their combined arms assets into forces for
  security, reconnaissance, main body, and reserve. They use defending forces already in contact with enemy
  forces to fix or contain those same enemy forces. Commanders may use a force committed to the
  counterattack, their reserve, another echelon’s reserve, or commanders may designate any other force to be
  their counterattack force. Units complete changes in task organization in time to allow subordinate forces to
  conduct rehearsals with their attached or supporting elements as time allows.
  5-130. A counterattack force is a committed force if its commander’s defensive scheme hinges on a
  counterattack to destroy, dislocate, disintegrate, or isolate the attacking enemy force. The reserve becomes a
  committed force when ordered to conduct planned counterattacks. Units conducting mobile defenses allocate
  field artillery, engineers, and other combat enablers to their striking forces because their defensive schemes
  hinge on counterattacks by their striking forces. In this case, commanders designate other forces as their
  reserves.
  Planning a Counterattack
  5-131. Units plan their counterattacks against enemy forces when those enemy forces are vulnerable. Their
  defenses create gaps between attacking enemy units, exposing the flanks and rear of elements of attacking
  enemy forces as they advance. The seizure of defended positions typically leaves attacking enemy forces
  temporarily disorganized, depleted, and ill prepared to meet sudden counterattacks. Units must assess their
  situations rapidly since opportunities for effective local counterattacks are usually brief and must execute
  their counterattacks swiftly. They assign objectives or attack by fire positions to counterattacking forces,
  depending on if they intend their counterattacking forces to close with and assault enemy forces. Local
  counterattacks may or may not be the result of previous deliberate planning.
  5-132. Units normally develop their major counterattack plans as branches or sequels to their main
  defensive plans. A major counterattack may achieve surprise when it strikes enemy forces from an
  unanticipated direction. For that reason, units involve forces allocated to the performance of a major
  counterattack, such as the strike force in a mobile defense, in developing those plans as well as any plans to
  exploit potential success.
  5-133. Units generally have two options when executing a counterattack. The first, and generally preferred,
  technique is to attack using forces not previously committed to the defense. This is because defending units
  may still be decisively engaged. Attacking forces may come from the reserve or consist of reinforcements.
  Since these forces were not recently or actively involved in combat, they are more likely to—
  * Be at authorized strength levels.
  * Enjoy a higher combat system operationally ready rate.
  * Have leaders and Soldiers who are more likely to be rested and thus capable of prolonged,
  continuous operations.
  * Have a complete basic load of supplies.
  * Have the time and energy to plan and prepare for offensive action.
  * Be able to maneuver out of physical contact with enemy forces.
  5-134. Potential drawbacks to using forces not previously committed to the defense:
  * Forces are required to conduct a forward passage of lines.
  * Enemy information collection assets are likely to detect the arrival of significant reinforcements.