text: Chapter 5
  provide the necessary fire support before their supported maneuver units move inside the effective range of
  enemy direct fire weapon systems. Units use fires delivered from fixed- and rotary-wing systems and the
  autonomous operation capabilities of artillery systems to help counter enemy artillery range advantages.
  5-67. Units deploy to maintain maximum firepower against known enemy positions when they expect to
  make contact at or shortly beyond their LDs. Commanders select the formation that best balances firepower,
  tempo, security, and control for the specific situation. They have the option of deploying a security force in
  front of their attacking units. Units may also employ flank or rear security forces if required by the enemy
  situation. They may not want to change formations during the attack because of potential loss of momentum
  resulting from such changes. Attacking forces transition to the bounding overwatch movement technique
  when they expect enemy contact. See paragraphs 2-20 through 2-23 for more information on the bounding
  overwatch movement technique.
  5-68. Between the LD and the PLD, attackers seize intermediate objectives only to eliminate enemy positions
  or apply additional suppressive fires. Artillery, rocket, electromagnetic warfare, and aerial assets engage
  targets of opportunity and enemy security forces. They direct subordinate forces to occupy predesignated
  support by fire positions as their units approach suspected enemy positions or danger areas. Lethal fires,
  suppression, and obscuration enable attacking forces to occupy these support by fire positions. Units use
  direct fires from these positions to suppress enemy forces while the rest of their formation continues to
  advance toward their objectives.
  5-69. Units engage known enemy forces with the maximum combat power to overwhelm them as quickly as
  possible. Attacking units that encounter a small enemy unit on the way to their objectives either quickly
  overrun or bypass that small enemy unit if it meets the bypass criteria.
  Actions at the Probable Line of Deployment, Assault Position, or Final Coordination Line
  5-70. Attacking units maintain their pace of advance as they approach their PLDs. Commanders divide their
  attacking units into one or more assault and support forces either before or on reaching the PLD. Infantry
  Soldiers dismount from their combat vehicles at their PLD, if necessary. All forces supporting the assault
  force are in their support by fire positions before the assault force crosses the PLD. Units synchronize the
  occupation of support by fire positions with the maneuver of their supported attacking units to limit the
  vulnerability of the forces occupying these positions. They use unit tactical SOPs, battle drills, prearranged
  signals, EAs, and target reference points (TRPs) to control the direct fires from these supporting positions.
  Units normally employ RFLs between converging forces.
  5-71. Figure 5-3 shows that the PLD can be co-located or near the assault position. Units ensure that the final
  preparations of their breach forces in assault positions do not delay maneuver to breach points as soon as
  conditions are set. Whenever possible, assault forces rapidly pass through their assault positions. They may
  have to halt in their assault positions while supporting and suppressive fires lift and shift. In this case, if the
  defending enemy force anticipates the assault, assault forces deploy into covered positions, and obscure their
  positions with smoke. Support forces continue their suppressive fires on the objective for as long as assault
  forces remain in their assault positions.