Center Peel

Center Peel, or simply "Peel" for short is a type of retreat practiced by modern-day infantry. This particular tactic is more specifically designed for situations where smaller groups of infantry withdraw from an engagement of a much larger force. In general terms, it is a sloped or diagonal retreat from the enemy.

Video Demonstration:

Definition

This tactic was designed with human psychology in mind. It begins with an infantry unit facing off with a larger force of enemies. Once the command is called, the soldiers implement a battle line formation facing into the enemy's midst. The soldiers then begin, or continue, to use suppressing fire to delay the enemy's attack and advance. Depending on the direction of the retreat, the second to last soldier on the farmost end, opposite the retreating direction, calls out, "Peel one". Next, the infantryman next to him, on the end of the line, ceases fire, works his way behind the line towards the other side, takes a position one meter diagonally back from the farthest soldier on this side, and resumes suppressing fire. Then, the process repeats with the commands being simplified to "Peel", the "one" only there to signify the actual start of the tactic, and continues until the party has safely disengaged the target.

The slanting motion of the tactic gives the impression of increasing numbers of infantry joining the battle, a psychological move designed to demoralize the opposition. The slanting motion also has the benefit of keeping open one's field of fire. Retreating directly backwards would put the soldier too closely behind his own men, severely limiting his/her field of fire.

In the Canadian Army, this technique is referred to as an "Aussie Peelback".

In the Australian Army this tactic is known as "The Tunnel of Love" and is often used as the first part of "Break Contact" drills for small reconnaissance and special forces patrols when encountering larger enemy forces.

References in film and literature

The Center Peel tactic was demonstrated in the final gunfight of the 2003 movie, Tears of the Sun, where Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis) directs his men away from a significantly larger group of aggressive Nigerian troops.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cryptocurrency on February 7, 2012 at 10:35pm

Here is a variation of the Center Peel:

In this drill it seems they were focused more on rapid movement and response than concentrated fire. In actual combat the "peeled" forces from the line that have fallen back, would be providing suppression fire with the rest of the unit.

Permalink Reply by AynMan on February 27, 2012 at 9:42pm

I learned almost none of this stuff in the US Army. MOUT training was one day.

Permalink Reply by Cryptocurrency on March 2, 2012 at 4:08am

Really? Were you infantry??

Permalink Reply by Tom A Hawk on August 30, 2012 at 2:14am

There are many peel maneuvers. You can peel left, right, or to the rear or diagnally to the rear as you have shown.

Center Peel, however, is specifically designed for staggered or double column formations. As seen in the following video, to disengeage from a sudden and overwhelming attack from the front of a Colum Formation, which does not have much time to respond to a direct assault head on, thus you faint allot of firepower to buy time and retreat to a better position, so you can regroup and reform your position to deal with the now known threat at your front.

Permalink Reply by Tom A Hawk on August 30, 2012 at 2:26am

Here is an example of Cover Bounding during a retreat and then Peeling to the right, to disengage, flank or reposition.

Untrained units will be stagnant, think statically and get themselves killed. Trained or experienced units know the battlefield is always changing and thus take the initiative to make that change happen first, before the enemy does.

Keep or regain the intitiative by moving. Be the change and make the difference! Godspeed!

Permalink Reply by Cryptocurrency on August 30, 2012 at 10:17pm

Great videos. I could use some help with this group if you've got the time and desire. You seem to be quite knowledgeable of firing maneuvers. If you're interested, we should talk.

Permalink Reply by Tom A Hawk on September 4, 2012 at 12:08am

For more info, you can check out ARM, at: http://americanresistancemovement.ning.com/