A hunter-killer team is a team that separates the tasks of "hunting" and "killing" to two or more individuals. Examples include: * Two-person sniper teams, one using specialized optical hardware and the other a rifle * Pairs of F-4G Wild Weasel V and F-16Cs, where the F-4G "hunter" could detect, identify, and locate an enemy's radar and then direct the F-16C's weapons to the site * Bradley fighting vehicles may "hand off" fire missions to M1 Abrams main battle tanks in their hunter-killer team. However, Bradleys with TOW missiles may also be able to engage. * "Pink teams" of scout and

attack helicopter An attack helicopter is an armed helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the offensive (military), offensive capability of engaging ground targets such as enemy infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Due to their ...

s, such as OH-6 "Loach" or OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopters and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

* In

anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in the older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations ar ...

an Maritime patrol aircraft may be employed as "hunter", with surface ships such as

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats. They were conceived i ...

s as killers. * Task Forces such as Task Force 88 where one element, the "hunter," (e.g., CIA Operatives) gathers intelligence on the target while the other, the "killer," (e.g., Delta Force or Rangers) acts on the intelligence and eliminates the target. * Independent "hunter-killer sights", such as on the FV-214 Conqueror, where the tank commander can independently "hunt" and range a target, while the gunner is still aiming at and "killing" a previous target.

Operations

Hunter killer operations are prolonged operations conducted in irregular warfare by a unique and specifically organized force, in conjunction with an indigenous force, against irregular warfare adversaries by operating behind the lines or in hostile, safe haven, or semi permissive environments, employing unorthodox tactics, for the sole purpose of achieving attrition and punitive actions predominantly against the personnel, leadership, and resources of the enemy.

Principles

Hunter-killer forces and operations: * are best employed during irregular warfare environments * require independent maneuver in enemy territory * should not be formed

ad hoc ''Ad hoc'' is a List of Latin phrases, Latin phrase meaning literally for this. In English language, English, it typically signifies a solution designed for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a Generalization, generalized solution ...

* require specialized training in enemy tactics and weaponry, long-range endurance operations, infiltration and exfiltration techniques, and combat techniques * require equal or superior maneuverability and mobility to the enemy in order to succeed

Advantages

The hunter-killer approach provides: * versatility through its combination of combat power,

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

capability, and survivability. * the ability to effectively acquire information aggressively, perform security, and conduct counter-reconnaissance. * control of any predicament the team is in, and of the operational tempo, denying this to the enemy. * psychological effects on the enemy, specifically their will to fight.

References

Military units and formations {{military-stub