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Leadership Tactical Theory

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Basic Guidelines

  • Follow orders, show initiative, but don't freelance. If you have a better idea on how to complete an objective, pass it up the chain.
  • Avoid splitting up squad members. They are most effective when working together. Splitting up units of any size will reduce their capability to respond to new threats and may expose them to significant casualties.
  • Ensure that there is a continual flow of information up and down the chain of command. If a soldier fails to notify the squad leader, the squad leader can't notify the platoon leader. If you feel a message has been missed, repeat it or ask for acknowledgement.
  • Avoid micro-managing teams. Micro-managing is any time when orders are given beyond the level immediately below in the chain of command. There may be some situations where micromanaging must occur, but in no circumstances should the chain of command be skipped over.
  • When Platoon Leader, Zeus is your friend. They may withhold information, but should never deceive. If anything is unclear, send them a message. Do not treat them as the enemy and try to "outsmart" them - you won't win as they see everything.

Planning

  • Ensure to gather as much information about the objectives as possible. Don't be afraid to ask any question, and make no assumptions.
  • Carefully consider the assets available and their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Avoid taking Recon, SF or Weapon teams without good reason. If they are not going to be used consistently, they may become more of a burden than a help.
  • Keep it simple stupid! The more complex a plan is, the more likely it is to fail.
  • The drawn plan should ideally convey the intent without much explanation. Keep it clear and concise by using colour coding, symbols and text. Avoid too much additional detail - leave that for the squads.
  • No plan survives first contact. Be prepared for the plan to change.
  • If part of the plan is dependent on another factor being true, define a contingency plan for when it is false. If a contingency can't be conveyed by voice alone, the plan may be too complicated or too dependent on certain conditions.
  • Don't be afraid to gather leaders during a quiet period to go over changes to a plan. Convey significant plans directly when the opportunity is available.
  • If possible, take time to recon and plan a course of action when assaulting any unknown objective. Avoid standing in the open when reconnoitering an objective.

Terrain

  • Terrain is a friend for tactical engagements.
  • Read contours and map details. Pay attention to the altitude numbers and the difference. What may look like a big hill may only be a difference of 5 meters.
  • High terrain provides better view over a position and reduces chances of a successful ambush. But can visibly expose a team to being spotted or engaged.
  • Low terrain provides better cover against being spotted, but reduces squad visibility and increases the chance of a successful ambush.
  • Always use grids and map tools to measure distances. The distances between two objects may look bigger or smaller than they
  • really are.
  • Travelling over large distances without vehicles will take longer than expected.
  • Tactics such as overwatch and recon have minimum and maximum effective ranges. Make sure the ranges involved are suitable for the desired tactics.
  • When using high terrain, avoid skylining by crouching or going prone before cresting the hill. Only crest enough to see over the hill.

Communication

  • Speak clearly and firmly.
  • Repeat key messages and phrases.
  • Ensure to use the callsign of the unit you are talking to. This ensures you get their attention.
  • Ensure to use your own callsign to identify yourself. This ensures they know who is talking to them.
  • Make sure to use call signs regularly when referring to other units or yourself, and not just within the "handshake".
  • Pay attention to broadcasts from units close to your position. Consider if this information puts you or their units at risk of friendly fire, or if you have information that is pertinent to their plans.

Medical

  • Locating Corpsmen close to squads allows them to react quickly to casualties to one or more squads (depending on available transport). However, it exposes them to threats in the field more directly.
  • Vehicle based medical allows Corpsmen to respond to casualties at greater distances, and transport casualties quickly. However, vehicle based medical may tempt the Corpsman to treat at the casualty's location, potentially putting themselves in greater danger.
  • Always ensure that Corpsmen are treating casualties in safe locations or that sufficient defensive cover is provided by nearby ground forces.

Formations

  • Every formation has a purpose.
  • Formations aren't works of art. It doesn't matter if the formation breaks to go around objects, breaks to use cover or is not a perfect geometric representation.
  • Formations can be adapted to team, squad and platoon level.
  • Line is good for assaulting from a covered position. Maximises firepower. Exposes flanks and the rear.
  • Column is best for moving. Easy to use, minimizes visible squad profile, increases stealth and provides good flank cover.
  • Staggered column is similar to column. Provides good crossfire in urban environments. Also useful when working with vehicles on roads. In open environments, has same benefits as column but reduces column length.
  • Wedge is very over used. Best used when actively seeking to engage contacts in semi-open terrain (i.e. sweeping for enemy patrols). Provides good cover to front and sides, and allows quick conversion into a line.

Engagements

  • Unless the objective is to eliminate all enemy forces, consider whether enemy units need to be engaged at all. If the enemy is not the objective, not an imminent threat and is not going to be a threat to the completion of the objective, avoid engaging them.
  • Do not waste ammunition engaging at ineffective ranges. If the enemy engages first, try to use cover to get into a more effective range.
  • Get team members into hard cover if possible and ensure flanks remain covered. Avoid having all personnel looking in the same direction.
  • When ambushed in open terrain, use smoke to create the needed cover to move to a hard position.
  • Do not allow enemies to dictate the length of the engagement - if the engagement is not effective or unnecessary, disengage.

Pacing

  • Try to maintain momentum during key stages of an assault.
  • Not enough momentum will allow the enemy to regroup.
  • Do not allow casualties to break the momentum.
  • Do not try to carry momentum too long.
  • Too much momentum leads to attrition.
  • As soon as the need for momentum has passed, slow the pace.
  • Regular breaks important to maintain stamina. Work them into the plan.
  • Save speed and momentum for when it is needed. Otherwise, when it is needed the required stamina will not be available.

Flanking

  • Can be used at team, squad or platoon level to great effect.
  • Almost every assault tactic is based on a flanking manoeuvre.
  • Flanking is an effective way to eliminate hostile forces located in a fixed position.
  • May be ineffective when coming up against larger forces, as they may be more capable of defending against or countering attempts to flank.

Bounding

  • Provides continual cover and/or suppressive fire while moving in a forward or reverse direction.
  • Effective when trying to move across open ground with elements of hard cover, in order to reach an objective or reduce range to enemies.
  • Provides continual cover, and if necessary suppressive fire, against enemies while enabling the team to continue moving.
  • Ineffective without hard cover to provide suppression from. Smoke cover can be used while moving, however.
  • Critical that the moving team continues moving and does not get stopped in the open. Casualties must be carried.
  • Also effective as a method of non-emergent retreat.

Peeling

  • Primarily a method of retreat.
  • Pairs of men move behind the remainder of the team are continually suppressing enemy positions.
  • Effective when the team has got into a situation they can not win and needs to get out of it while taking fire.

Displacing

  • If an enemy is honing in on a team's position with accurate fire, it can be useful for that team to break contact, displace to another nearby position and continue firing as before.
  • This manoeuvre causes the enemy to have to recalculate their fire, reducing their effectiveness.○
  • Most effective in treelines or when dealing with unseen hostiles.

Overwatch

  • An overwatch position may be setup for recon or supportive purposes.
  • Effective for recon when the position has good eyesight over an objective or area of combat.
  • Effective for supportive recon when the position has good eyesight over an objective, and is within firing range (500-750m) of the
  • objective. Ideally used with an MMG team.
  • Ineffective if the overwatch team does not have eyesight on the objective, or if supporting, is out of range.
  • Ineffective overwatch positions should be abandoned in favour of a more advantageous position, or reported up the chain of command so the team can be more favourably redeployed.

Retreating

  • Retreat is a valid tactic, not cowardice.
  • Should be considered whenever the position has become untenable, the unit is no longer effective or the expected conditions have changed significantly enough to make the planned action ineffective.
  • It is better to retreat, patch up and plan again, than to keep pushing into a bad situation.

Vehicles

  • Vehicles are an asset, not just transportation. Even an unarmed vehicle can be used as mobile cover for a team or squad.
  • Keep vehicles with the infantry and do not leave them behind unnecessarily.
  • Use vehicle guns to help support infantry movement with a base of fire.
  • Armored vehicles are strong to the front, and weak to the sides and rear.
  • Positioning squads to protect the sides can greatly increase the survivability of armor.

Convoys

  • A convoy that is ambushed or blockaded, has two options - halt, dismount and engage contacts, or continue to push through the
  • contact.
  • Halting a convoy allows troops to dismount and provide superior firepower. The convoy will be more defensible, but stationary vehicles are easier targets. Consider whether dismounted troops will have sufficient cover and how quickly they can neutralise the contacts.
  • Pushing a convoy through makes the vehicles harder to hit, but reduces it's firepower and defensive capabilities. Consider whether pushing through contact guarantees greater safety than halting to engage contacts.
  • When pushing through contacts, keep in mind that significant vehicle damage may force a convoy to halt regardless - potentially in a worse situation.
  • Special consideration should be given when a convoy's cargo is an objective. Is the contact coincidental? Are the enemy attempting to capture or destroy the cargo?
  • Consider all of the above points together as well as the overall battlefield scenario. Looking at the encounter in isolation may commit the convoy to a worse situation.

Air

  • Air assets may be used for transport and logistics, or recon and support.
  • Always make sure to work with qualified pilots, JTAC and FAC when planning an air-based operation. Selecting the appropriate insertion method or tactics can be critical to success.
  • Always consider the distance to objectives when picking a rotary-based insertion LZ - they should never be within 1km of the target objective unless there is significant cover at the insertion point.
  • Extraction LZs should be at the closest and safest possible location. Travelling further may not always provide a safer landing zone, due to unknown contacts or enemy responses.
  • Helicopter gunships have excellent visuals and range. They can simultaneously provide both reconnaissance and support for ground forces, and can engage armor threats long before friendly infantry can.
  • Fixed-wing close air support can deliver considerable destructive power with great precision, but may have limited visual capabilities. Ensure that the JTAC/FAC are given the neccessary freedom to be the pilot's eyes on the ground.
  • Logistics and medical run via air assets may be slower than normal due to transit times. A minimum of two aircraft are neccessary in these situations, so that more tasks can be handled at once.

Stealth

  • Effective use of stealth can win or lose battles, particularly at night.
  • Don't engage any unnecessary contacts, and avoid use of loud weaponry.
  • If silencers are removed during an engagement, re-attach them when disengaging to re-establish stealth.○
  • Use shadows, bushes, camouflage and terrain to keep the team hidden.
  • If enemy is close, keep down, keep quiet, move slowly. Maintain eyes on contact and only engage if discovery is imminent.[

Leadership Feedback Loop

  • The key to improving as a leader at any level is analysing your own performance, by questioning the situations that occured, what could have been done differently and how it might have changed the outcome. Ask yourself the following questions after leading in an operation:
    • Completion of Objectives
      • Were objectives completed? If objectives were not completed, why?
      • Were orders followed? If not, was it due to poor communication or insubordination?
      • Were there frequent miscommunications or misinterpretations? Were radio channels clear and understandable, or too busy?
    • Number of Casualties
      • Was more than 50% of the platoon KIA?
      • Was more than 100% of the platoon seriously injured at some point?
      • If yes to either, the rate of attrition is too high. What tactical choices could have reduced the attrition?
    • Use of Tactics
      • Were sound tactical choices used in completing the objectives?
      • How many vehicle assets were lost and why?
      • Was the plan straight forward and clear?
    • Self-Improvement
      • Re-read the documentation above.
      • What tactical choices could have changed the outcome?
      • Were any rules on leadership broken and if so were they legitimate?
      • If none of the documentation provides a solution, ask someone with more experience.
  • Making adjustments based on this analysis will help you to recognise and adjust for the same situation in future.