The defense is all about preparation and preparation is logistically focused. Planning must be proactive and not reactive. The wheels (literally) must be in place well before the occupation of the defense. It takes time for supplies and materials to get forward. If you start too late; you will never be able to make this time up!
It is critical you plan primary and alternate Main Supply Routes (MSRs) throughout your defensive area (from the rear area to your recon assets). These routes are utilized specifically for logistical traffic. These routes must be deconflicted with the maneuver plan and obstacle plans. If not, chaos ensues!
Ensure you have a plan for security of these MSRs. This includes mounted patrols and aerial patrolling (if available). These forces should be equipped to deal with smaller enemy forces. If the enemy is substantially bigger, you should have larger maneuver forces prepared to deal with the threat.
You should pre-stock ammunition forward in the main battle positions. This includes tank rounds, TOW rounds, larger caliber machine gun rounds, and artillery rounds. Better safe than sorry! Use historical data for usage.
A well-planned and rehearsed casualty evacuation plan is a necessity. Every minute is critical and a Soldiers’ life is at stake. Evac plans must include ground and air assets. Do not tie-up air evac for routine casualties (not that these are not important!). Keep air for your priority casualties.
As in the above, a well-planned and rehearsed vehicle evacuation plan is a necessity. Do not wait to the end of a battle before evacuating battle damaged vehicles. If the tactical situation warrants it, begin evacuation of these vehicles immediately. A good unit can repair vehicles (forward) and get them back into the fight! This is combat power!
The defensive fight can last a long time. You must continually resupply your units. There is no sadder event when you have the opportunity to transition to the offense and you can’t because you are incapable logistically.
Command and Control
The Infamous Antennae Farm.
Tracking the preparation of the defensive area is leadership business. Leaders must circulate around the battlefield during preparation to ensure quality preparation. Soldiers also like to see their leadership while they are busting their butts! A couple words of encouragement and the offer of a hot or cold drink are great for motivation.
The Commander’s location during the fight is critical. You cannot depend on technology to provide you the picture of the fight. A Commander must have all his senses exposed to the fight to make the 3-4 key decisions that will come up during the fight. A Commander who sits in his distant command post will not utilize all his senses.
So where should the Commander position himself during the fight? The best place is where he can personally gather the information he needs to make his most critical decision. Once again, he must have all his senses involved so he can make the right decision at the right time.
You cannot position your command and control nodes in obvious locations. Your enemy is not dumb. If you place them in typical locations they will target them with deep patrols, artillery, or chemicals.
During the preparation of the defense (this can extend for a few days), it is wise to move your command posts frequently. A smart enemy will find your command posts and will wait until the initiation of his attack before he attacks it. This just adds more confusion at a critical time.
With that said, ensure you have internal and external security for your command posts. Give your maneuver units be-prepared missions to assist in defeating any attacks of the command posts. Key in this is ensuring these units have rehearsed the routes and know the locations of the command posts. It is not a good day when you need the support of an armor platoon and they cannot get to the command post quickly!
As we discussed earlier in the intelligence section; your information requirements must change during the preparation and execution phase of the defense. This is also the case with the information the Commander needs to make his key decisions (CCIR). If the Commander’s CCIR stays the same throughout the operation; the end result will likely not be good. The good Commander should review his CCIR at various times during the operation.
Make sure you know what is happening on the flanks. Success or failure with an adjacent unit will impact you. In fact, the smart enemy will attempt to maneuver on boundaries! This almost always leads to a little chaos on has responsibility.
Depending on the size of the unit and your resources available, you may want to develop a deception plan. As we have discussed before, if you going to do it – do it right! A feasible deception plan consumes significant resources. You cannot simply go through the motions. If you do; you will only deceive yourself. (We will dedicate a later article on deception).
REVIEW
As in many things in life, you have to make the most with what you have! This is certainly the case for the commander who is conducting a defense. Leave out an asset in a fight and it is the difference between winning and losing. We hope this article has provided you some ideas and actions you can use on your battlefield. Defending is a tough mission. Defending while not using every resource at your disposal makes it almost an impossible mission.
Armchair General (ACG) and ACG online feature a unique, interactive editorial approach that invites the reader to decide the course of action in challenging historical scenarios, to step into the shoes of a battlefield commander. Leading historians and contributors lend integrity and credibility to this fresh presentation of historical and contemporary events.
Armchair General is the INTERACTIVE history magazine where YOU COMMAND and decide the course of action!
