2RHPZ
08-04-2004, 03:45 PM
Tactical decision game: seizing and holding an enemy training center in Afghanistan with a tactical air assault - Training Notes
by Lester W. Grau
Situation--You are the commander of an Air Assault rifle company.
Your mission is to conduct an air assault to secure an LZ near a confirmed enemy surface-to-air missile training center (STINGERs) in Afghanistan in order to allow the remainder of your battalion to land and destroy the training center.
You conducted an in-depth preparation for the mission 48 hours in advance, and were provided with detailed information on the enemy occupying the base as well as overhead imagery and detailed maps that identified dead space in the approach to the objective, likely enemy fighting positions and fire sacs, as well as key targets to be destroyed with indirect and Apache fires.
Your company landed on the LZ without any problems and quickly secured it, but the remainder of the battalion was cut off and forced to land 20Km from your position due to effective ADA fires from the training camp and the surrounding hills. After driving off the remainder of the battalion, the enemy began to attack you in platoon size elements from the north and the south.
After fighting all day, your company is down to 4 magazines per man, 400 rounds per SAW and 240B, and 50x 60mm rounds. In addition, although the remainder of the battalion is trying to break through to your location, they have met heavy resistance and will not be able to reach your location until the next morning, and no supplies can be brought in by air.
You have support from 2 OH-58s and 2 Apaches, but their ability to place effective fires on the objective is limited due to the ADA threat. You also have priority of fires from the Brigade's 105mm howitzer battalion.
At 2300 hours, your battalion commander called and ordered you to conduct an attack at night to seize the training camp NLT 0300 to prevent the enemy from continuing ADA training and attacks against U.S. aircraft.
Editor's Note: This exercise is based upon an actual Soviet operation conducted against Afghan Mujahideen forces in 1985, by the 12th Air Assault Company and includes comments by the staff of Russia's Frunze Military, Academy.
12th Air Assault Company's seizure of a mujahideen training center:
After a full day of combat, The 12th AASLT Company realized that their situation was becoming critical. Ammunition was beginning to run out, men had to fire single shots rather than bursts. The battalion main force was unable to break through and reinforce the company. The company commander reviewed the situation and determined that they must attack at nightfall. The commander ordered his 3rd platoon to seize the southeast slope of hill 2825 to distract the enemy. The 1st and 2nd platoons would envelop the enemy from the west and the east at 14 0230 OCT 85, simultaneously attacking from two directions to seize the base, capture ammunition, and then hold the base until the battalion arrived. His plan worked, and by 14 0400 OCT 85 his company had taken the base without casualties. They had captured three DShK heavy machine guns, two recoilless rifles, 17 individual small arms and ammunition. The enemy tried to retake the base at 14 0600 OCT 85, but was driven off. When the main body of the battalion arrived, they punished the enemy badly and forced him to withdraw, denying the enemy the opportunity to retake the base.
Frunze Commentary/Lessons Learned:
This vignette demonstrates that a soldier's combat load is essential: proper equipping of air assault personnel, including sufficient ammunition, rations, water, and radio batteries. Additionally, one must ensure that there is uninterrupted resupply and safe LZs to conduct emergency resupply missions. Resupply can determine the course of the battle and--as important as it and casevac are to mission accomplishment--the length of time needed to complete the mission will depend on how well the direct coordination with aviation was done. One must consider the weather conditions and the effectiveness of the enemy's air defense. The closer the LZs are to the objective or the fewer there are, the harder it will be to resupply forces and conduct casevac. From this and previous battles, it was determined that in order to fight independently for three or four days, each air assault trooper would need to carry an approximate load of 35-40 kilograms, so when regular resupply is guaranteed, the soldier's load could be lightened or tailored.
Editor's Commentary:
The air assault company ran out of ammunition after a day's combat, based partially on Soviet doctrine: small arms are used to suppress the enemy and eventually it may kill the enemy. The standard AK-47 fire selector switch goes from safe to full automatic to semiautomatic, which demonstrates the Soviets norm of automatic weapons fire, unlike U.S. doctrine, that uses crew-served weapons to suppress the enemy while small arms are used to destroy the enemy. The standard U.S. assault rifle selector switch goes from safe to semiautomatic to three round burst demonstrating the norm of semiautomatic/ controlled weapons fire. An army facing for a guerilla war needs to devote more time to rifle marksmanship. It saves on ammunition consumption. Frequently in the mountains, bolt-action rifles with better range and accuracy proved to be of better use. However, the rapid firing assault rifle proved most useful in ambushes.
Edited from: The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan, Edited by Lester W. Grau, second printing August 1996, pp. 94-97.
by Lester W. Grau
Situation--You are the commander of an Air Assault rifle company.
Your mission is to conduct an air assault to secure an LZ near a confirmed enemy surface-to-air missile training center (STINGERs) in Afghanistan in order to allow the remainder of your battalion to land and destroy the training center.
You conducted an in-depth preparation for the mission 48 hours in advance, and were provided with detailed information on the enemy occupying the base as well as overhead imagery and detailed maps that identified dead space in the approach to the objective, likely enemy fighting positions and fire sacs, as well as key targets to be destroyed with indirect and Apache fires.
Your company landed on the LZ without any problems and quickly secured it, but the remainder of the battalion was cut off and forced to land 20Km from your position due to effective ADA fires from the training camp and the surrounding hills. After driving off the remainder of the battalion, the enemy began to attack you in platoon size elements from the north and the south.
After fighting all day, your company is down to 4 magazines per man, 400 rounds per SAW and 240B, and 50x 60mm rounds. In addition, although the remainder of the battalion is trying to break through to your location, they have met heavy resistance and will not be able to reach your location until the next morning, and no supplies can be brought in by air.
You have support from 2 OH-58s and 2 Apaches, but their ability to place effective fires on the objective is limited due to the ADA threat. You also have priority of fires from the Brigade's 105mm howitzer battalion.
At 2300 hours, your battalion commander called and ordered you to conduct an attack at night to seize the training camp NLT 0300 to prevent the enemy from continuing ADA training and attacks against U.S. aircraft.
Editor's Note: This exercise is based upon an actual Soviet operation conducted against Afghan Mujahideen forces in 1985, by the 12th Air Assault Company and includes comments by the staff of Russia's Frunze Military, Academy.
12th Air Assault Company's seizure of a mujahideen training center:
After a full day of combat, The 12th AASLT Company realized that their situation was becoming critical. Ammunition was beginning to run out, men had to fire single shots rather than bursts. The battalion main force was unable to break through and reinforce the company. The company commander reviewed the situation and determined that they must attack at nightfall. The commander ordered his 3rd platoon to seize the southeast slope of hill 2825 to distract the enemy. The 1st and 2nd platoons would envelop the enemy from the west and the east at 14 0230 OCT 85, simultaneously attacking from two directions to seize the base, capture ammunition, and then hold the base until the battalion arrived. His plan worked, and by 14 0400 OCT 85 his company had taken the base without casualties. They had captured three DShK heavy machine guns, two recoilless rifles, 17 individual small arms and ammunition. The enemy tried to retake the base at 14 0600 OCT 85, but was driven off. When the main body of the battalion arrived, they punished the enemy badly and forced him to withdraw, denying the enemy the opportunity to retake the base.
Frunze Commentary/Lessons Learned:
This vignette demonstrates that a soldier's combat load is essential: proper equipping of air assault personnel, including sufficient ammunition, rations, water, and radio batteries. Additionally, one must ensure that there is uninterrupted resupply and safe LZs to conduct emergency resupply missions. Resupply can determine the course of the battle and--as important as it and casevac are to mission accomplishment--the length of time needed to complete the mission will depend on how well the direct coordination with aviation was done. One must consider the weather conditions and the effectiveness of the enemy's air defense. The closer the LZs are to the objective or the fewer there are, the harder it will be to resupply forces and conduct casevac. From this and previous battles, it was determined that in order to fight independently for three or four days, each air assault trooper would need to carry an approximate load of 35-40 kilograms, so when regular resupply is guaranteed, the soldier's load could be lightened or tailored.
Editor's Commentary:
The air assault company ran out of ammunition after a day's combat, based partially on Soviet doctrine: small arms are used to suppress the enemy and eventually it may kill the enemy. The standard AK-47 fire selector switch goes from safe to full automatic to semiautomatic, which demonstrates the Soviets norm of automatic weapons fire, unlike U.S. doctrine, that uses crew-served weapons to suppress the enemy while small arms are used to destroy the enemy. The standard U.S. assault rifle selector switch goes from safe to semiautomatic to three round burst demonstrating the norm of semiautomatic/ controlled weapons fire. An army facing for a guerilla war needs to devote more time to rifle marksmanship. It saves on ammunition consumption. Frequently in the mountains, bolt-action rifles with better range and accuracy proved to be of better use. However, the rapid firing assault rifle proved most useful in ambushes.
Edited from: The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan, Edited by Lester W. Grau, second printing August 1996, pp. 94-97.