Group
‘Peeling’ is a squad or fireteam movement used when encountering a larger force with overwhelming firepower. During a peel the team employs continuous suppressive fire while successively and rapidly moving in the chosen direction. This is different to bounding as a peel implies a defensive tactic being performed, whereby a bound can be both offensive and defensive.
A peel is used when an element is operating on its own when no other forces are available to provide mutual support, and splitting the element would be detrimental to the engagement. The engagement is maintained until contact is successfully broken and the element is safe or until a mutual support element is in place to provide fire to cover their withdrawal.
A center peel is used when the element encounters an overwhelming force from the front, especially in staggered column, and needs to withdraw to their rear. This will be used when operating in urban terrain and the element needs to move back down a street or in open terrain where natural cover and concealment is to the rear.
A line peel is used when the element encounters an overwhelming force from the front and needs to withdraw to cover on their right or left. This will be used in urban terrain when moving off a main street onto a side road or when out in the open to move towards natural cover and concealment.
Peel using the following method:
Above: Center peel diagram
Peel using the following method:
Above: Line peel diagram