Small War Tactics: Traffic Control Points (TCP)
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Here is a short article from Small War Tactics: Professional Handbook, this one focusing on how to set up Traffic Control Points (TCP) to support counterinsurgency operations. The nature of insurgent operations also frequently requires them to move. For example, they might need to smuggle explosives in from another region, build a bomb in one location, stage it in another location and then deploy it at a another location. All of this requires movement. By making it more difficult for insurgents to move about, you increase the level of security in the area. Emplacing TCPs is one way to limit insurgent mobility.
Choosing the Best Location for a TCP
The first thing you must do is select the best location for your TCP. The best location for the TCP will depend on the task and purpose behind setting it up. If the TCP is intended to provide security and will be remaining in a fixed location for a longer period of time, you will want to emplace it in a location where you can see far down the road in either direction. It will be more difficult for enemies to surprise you or attack you, if they have to travel a long distance towards you in plain view.
Setting up the TCP with long lines of sight also assists in escalation of force procedures. If the first time you see a speeding vehicle is when it pulls around a corner 50-meters from your TCP, you will have very little time to execute a proper escalation of force. You will have to engage almost immediately. Also, if the first time local nationals see your “stop or you will be shot” signs, is after they have sped around a corner 50-meters away from your TCP, they will have very little time to react and stop. Therefore, once again, if the purpose of the TCP is to provide security or defend, place it in a location that offers long lines of sight in both directions down the road.
If you are setting up a temporary TCP with the task of confiscating illicit materials from local national vehicles, you may want to take the opposite approach. If your TCP has long lines of sight in either direction that also means that enemy vehicles will be able to see your TCP from a long way off. This will give them plenty of time to stop, turn around or avoid passing through. Therefore, if the task and purpose of your TCP is to confiscate illicit materials, it could be best to set it up in a position where it will surprise drivers, appearing unexpectedly as they drive down the road. An example of this would be emplacing a TCP around a blind bend in the road.
Placing a TCP on a bend in the road (in an urban or wooded area) can offer many advantages as well, especially in a high threat environment. Placing the TCP on a bend in the road usually offers good observation and stand-off in both directions. Also, if for any reason the enemy attacks your TCP with overwhelming force, you can have pre-established secondary defensive positions around the bend in both directions. Therefore, as the enemy attacks, you can fall back around the bend in the road for concealment and protection. When the enemy follows you around the corner they will find themselves caught in a prepared near ambush.
Finally, for all TCPs, it is vital to choose a spot that creates a channeling effect that will canalize the enemy. If there are many ways to drive around your TCP or avoid your TCP, the TCP does not serve much purpose. Therefore, the terrain or road configuration must force vehicles through your TCP.
Establishing a Deliberate TCP on a Low-Traffic Road
You use this type of TCP when you intend to carefully search every vehicle that passes along a certain road. The complexity of the setup and search procedure might make this type of TCP impractical in high-traffic areas. However, the general tactical principles remain the same for all types of TCPs. To set up the TCP, follow these steps…
Emplace obstacles in the road that will be able to stop a fast-moving vehicle. If the only obstacle blocking your TCP is a strand of barbed wire, that may be insufficient for many situations. Instead, use concrete barriers or parked vehicles to create a solid physical barrier.
Emplace your “stop” signs well out in front (100m-200m) of your physical barrier. Make sure these signs are clearly visible. Make sure to emplace additional signs at closer distances just in case the driver misses the first sign. The signs should include instructions for local nationals to “exit your vehicle open all doors and move forward.”
Emplace a machine gun or sniper team that can observe vehicles at the stopping location from the flank. Essentially, as a vehicle stops at the stop signs, this team should be looking directly at the stopped vehicle from the side. Make sure this team is well concealed and has good optics for both day and night and effective primary and alternate communications. Also ensure you have good direct fire control measures so your hidden position can engage vehicles if necessary.
Establish a designated personnel search area and a designated vehicle search area off the side of the road in front of your physical barriers. Both areas should be shielded so that no one can observe you as you search vehicles or personnel. Also, ensure that even the passengers of a vehicle do not see you search their vehicle. Ideally, no one should see you search vehicles. The reason for this is that the enemy might send recon elements through a TCP to observe what we search and what we don’t search. Once they determine a pattern, they will know what areas they can use to smuggle materials. Therefore, never let anyone watch how you search a vehicle.
To improve force protection against a vehicle rigged with explosives, you can dig foxholes in various locations around your TCP. These are particularly useful in the vehicle search area. If your personnel identify that a vehicle is rigged with explosives, they can dive into the foxhole for protection. Even close to an exploding vehicle, a deep hole will provide good protection. You can cover the foxholes with blankets to prevent the enemy from identifying their purpose. You can even place old mattresses at the bottom of the hole to prevent personnel from injuring themselves when diving in.
EXAMPLE ONLY - Adjust the configuration to fit your specific situation
Low-Traffic TCP Procedures
As a local national vehicle approaches your TCP, they will see the signs 100m-200m away and they will comply by stopping, exiting the vehicle and moving forward.
If the vehicle does not stop, have a pre-arranged escalation of force plan that you will execute at specific marked distances along the route to your TCP. For example, when the vehicle passes the first sign you will use a visible laser, when the vehicle passes the second sign you will engage the tires and engine block. If the vehicle reaches the third sign you will engage with any force necessary to stop the vehicle.
Shooting a vehicle’s tires is a good way to stop a vehicle without risking accidental killing of an innocent person. In terms of escalation of force, you can justify shooting the tires on a vehicle if there is any doubt that the vehicle may present a threat. Shooting out tires should be your preferred technique because it allows you to take no chances with your own security, while risking very little in terms of civilian casualties.
Your hidden MG/sniper position on the flank will be very effective in engaging vehicle tires. When engaging tires to stop a vehicle, try to shoot the tires off the vehicle. Do not just shoot once, continue to fire until you destroy the tire, bringing the vehicle to an immediate stop.
Most vehicles will stop at the signs as directed. Remain behind cover while the locals will exit the vehicle and open all their doors as instructed. You can use a loudspeaker team to make these instructions clear. With all the doors open, your concealed flank team will be able to use their optics to observe the interior of the vehicle. They will be able to see anyone hiding in the back seat. They will also be able to see if the vehicle is weighted unevenly in the front or back.
Once the passengers exit the vehicle, have them move forward to a personnel search location. Perform a hasty search of the passengers and talk to them to try to determine if anything seems suspicious before you go on to search the vehicle. If the passengers seem at all suspicious, do not approach the vehicle since it might be rigged with explosives. Use extreme caution.
Once you are finished with your hasty search and interview, let one passenger return to the vehicle and pull it forward into the search area. While he is doing this, you will continue to search the other passengers. Once the vehicle is in the vehicle search area, send the driver back to the personnel search area and search the vehicle carefully.
Once you have finished searching both the passengers and the vehicle, you may let the vehicle pass.
Small War Tactics: Professional Handbook is available now on Amazon. We hope it becomes a valuable addition to your tactical library. Click below to order it today. For more information feel free to email us at staff@specialtactics.me.
