The Soviet Conduct of Tactical Maneuver

Spearhead of the Offensive

David Glantz

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781135183615
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

First Published in 1991. This book addresses a critical aspect of Soviet maneuver theory that has been almost totally neglected in Western analysis, specifically, Soviet concern for tactical maneuver. Since the 1930s, the Soviets have consistently argued that operational maneuver can be successful only if conducted in conjunction with equally successful tactical maneuver, carried out primarily by forward detach­ments. Forward detachments, the primary tactical maneuver forces tasked with performing critical combat functions, emerged in theory in the 1930s and flourished on the basis of virtually untested concepts until the initial phases of Operation Barbarossa, when the Soviet mobile force structure was destroyed in a matter of weeks. Forward detachments again emerged after the Stalin­ grad Operation in 1943, when the Soviet General Staff required their use to spearhead all operations by mobile forces. After mid-1943, forward detach­ments led the operations of all tank armies and tank and mechanized corps, particularly during exploitation operations. By war's end all forces, mobile and rifle alike, employed forward detachments to lead their operations during the exploitation stage of operations. Forward detachments preempted enemy defenses and collectively formed a coordinated network of forward mobile units which provided coherence to the vast array of advancing Soviet mobile and rifle forces. In the late 1960s, the forward detachment received renewed attention as a critical element which could assist in the conduct of operational maneuver. Today, the Soviets believe that forward detachment operations are the key to conducting successful operations on a battlefield increasingly threatened by deadly high-precision weaponry. Tailored, flexible, battalion-size forward detachments, along with their operational counterparts (corps and brigades), may, in fact, be the model upon which the future Soviet force structure will be based. This volume surveys in detail the conceptual and organizational evolution of the forward detachment as the premier Soviet tactical maneuver force. It vividly demonstrates why forward detachments are suited by their versatile nature to be a precursor of future restructured Soviet units in general.

CHAPTER 1

DEFINITIONS

When preparing to join battle or during the conduct of battle, Soviet forces are specifically arrayed to meet whatever situations arise. The Soviets term these arrays “march formation \pokhodnyi poriadok]” and “combat formation [boevoi poriadok].” The former is used on marches, during an approach to battle, during commitment into battle, and during exploitation and pursuit phases of an operation. The latter is used when forces prepare to engage and actually engage a defending enemy. Each of these arrays (or formations) includes specific elements assigned to perform separate functions. Taken together, their actions form a logical and cohesive approach to resolution of combat situations, an approach designed to produce successful results.

By Soviet definition, march formation is “the formation of subunits [battalions], units [regiments], formations [divisions], and groups of ships, with their reinforcing means, for the carrying out of a march...¹ March formations facilitate rapid movement, quick deployment of forces into pre-combat or combat formation, and reliable and stable command and control.

The march formation of combined arms formations [divisions] and units [regiments] consists of several distinct elements including a forward detachment, march security forces, a main force, and rear service units and subunits. Each of these elements performs a distinct military function. The forward detachment [peredovoi otriad] is the lead combat element of the force; march security forces [pokhodnoe okhranenie] perform reconnaissance [razvedka] and provide protection [obespechenie] for the main body; the main body [glavnyi sil] represents the principal combat element of the force; and rear service elements [tylovie chasti] sustain all force operations.

A wide variety of functional units perform combat, reconnaissance, and protection missions in support of the main force. These include:

Function	Force
combat	forward detachment [peredovoi otriad - PO] enveloping detachment [obkhodiashchii otriad]
reconnaissance detachment [razvedivatelnyi otriad - RO]	reconnaissance group [razvedivatel’naia gruppa - RG] separate reconnaissance patrol [otdel'nyi razvedivatel nyi dozor - ORD] reconnaissance patrol [razvedivatelnyi dozor - RD]
Protection	advance guard [avangard] advance party (lead march party) [golovnyi pokhodnyi zastav - GPZ] flank party (flank march party) [bokovyi pokhodnyi zastav - BPZ] rear party (rear march party) [tylovyi pokhodnyi zastav - TPZ]
Others:
Protection Against Weapons of Massive Destruction (ZOMP) Engineer Protection	chemical reconnaissance patrol [khimicheskyi razvedivatel nyi otriad] movement support detachment [otriad obespecheniia dvizheniia - OOD]
Sentry Security	outpost detachment (pickets) [storozhevoi otriad]

The forward detachment, whose function this book will discuss, is a unique organization specifically designated to fulfill combat missions which, if successfully performed, contribute to the success of the force as a whole. It normally leads the march formation and will, in turn, field its own reconnaissance and advance, flank, and rear security elements.

The reconnaissance task of a force in march formation is fulfilled by one of several types of reconnaissance units, differentiated primarily by size. Combined arms formations or units employ a reconnaissance detachment (RO) to obtain information about the enemy and the terrain both on the march and in anticipation of a meeting engagement.² The reconnaissance detachment usually consists of a motorized rifle, tank, or reconnaissance company of a regiment or a motorized rifle or tank battalion of a division, reinforced by artillery, tanks, sappers, chemical reconnaissance forces, and other specialized units as required. A smaller version of the reconnaissance detachment is the reconnaissance group (RD) which is usually of reinforced company size.

Reconnaissance detachments can also form and employ reconnaissance patrols (RDs) in up to reinforced platoon strength operating at varying distances from their parent reconnaissance units. In addition, formations and units can employ separate reconnaissance patrols (ORD) in lieu of, or in addition to, regular reconnaissance detachments or groups. The separate reconnaissance patrols of up to reinforced platoon strength operate analogously to the other large reconnaissance units.³

The mission of reconnaissance units is clearly distinct from that of the forward detachment. The function of the latter is to conduct combat, while the former are expected to avoid combat.

While reconnaissance units act as the eyes and ears of a force on the march, other units provide protection for the main force. Protection is subdivided by area into front, flank, and rear and involves units which provide march security for the main force. The most important of these units is the advance guard, which deploys forward in anticipation of a clash with the enemy.⁴ The advance guard usually consists of a regiment (from a division) or a battalion (from a regiment). Its missions are to prevent an enemy surprise attack on the main force, forestall penetration by enemy reconnaissance into the vicinity of the main force, and create favorable conditions for the deployment of the main force and its introduction into battle. While performing its mission the advance guard can engage and destroy enemy units but only if that combat does not inhibit fulfillment of its primary task.

The advance party (GPZ), a smaller version of the advance guard, is used in lieu of an advance guard by regiments marching along separate routes or by advance guards and forward detachments.⁵ It normally consists of a motorized rifle or tank platoon or company which moves along the march route in advance of its parent unit. Its missions are similar to those of an advance guard.

Flank parties (BPZ) and rear parties (TPZ) complete the all-round security for a force on the march.⁶ The flank party, of reinforced motorized rifle or tank company size, is sent out a distance of up to five kilometers by forward detachments, advance guards, and main force regiments on the march to protect against enemy surprise attack, to frustrate enemy reconnaissance, and to facilitate deployment of its parent force. In turn, the BPZ dispatches security and reconnaissance patrol vehicles a distance of two kilometers. The rear party, in reinforced platoon or company strength, serves the same purposes as the flank parties.

These security forces protect both the forward detachment and main force column. In performing their functions they are subject to definite constraints, in particular regarding their involvement in any combat that would prevent accomplishment of their primary mission.

The Soviets employ other specialized elements during the conduct of a march. These include movement support detachments, chemical reconnaissance patrols, and outpost detachments. The movement support detachment (OOD) is a temporary formation of variable size, tailored to the situation. It normally consists of engineers, motorized rifle, tank, and other subunits and is tasked with preparing and maintaining march routes during all march situations.⁷ The OOD conducts route reconnaissance, builds and repairs routes, and prepares passages across manmade and natural obstacles. When conducting its missions, the OOD forms subgroups for reconnaissance, obstacle removal, road-bridge repairs, and combat security.

Chemical reconnaissance patrols (KhRD) supplement the action of regular reconnaissance units.⁸ They operate independently or as part of a reconnaissance or security element, a forward detachment, a movement support detachment, or a subunit tasked with securing or destroying nuclear or chemical stores. The KhRD detects radioactive, chemical, and bacteriological contamination; determines the level and type of contamination; designates the contamination area; and finds and marks routes through or around the contamination.

The least specialized of special march security elements is the outpost detachment which is used primarily during the positioning of forces - during halts or deployment in position.⁹ Outpost detachments of from company to battalion strength provide security, conduct reconnaissance, and defend in designated sectors. They employ outpost parties, observation posts, and patrols to a depth of 1,500 meters to protect the main force from surprise attack.

The diverse functional elements of the Soviet march formation are arrayed spatially to accomplish their primary task of ensuring the main force success (Figure 1). Reconnaissance elements lead, followed in turn by the forward detachment, an advance party and/or advance guard, the main force (usually organized in echelons), the rear party, and finally rear service units. The entire procession is flanked by security parties. Within this array ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Foreword
• Table of Contents
• Figures
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1. Definitions
• 2. Combat Missions and Functions
• 3. Offensive Use
• 4. The Meeting Engagement
• 5. Defensive Use
• 6. Evolution of the Forward Detachment Through 1945
• 7. The Post-War Years: 1946-1985
• 8. Conclusions
• Notes
• Index