Over the past eleven years since the first edition of this book (OPFOR3), the world has watched the Russian military transition from low-intensity conflicts (LIC) in Ukraine, the Middle East, and central Africa to large scale combat operations (LSCO) in Ukraine where subterranean trench warfare has become ubiquitous to the magnitude not seen since the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War.
While technology has produced impressive results, this outcome has not surprise military planners or leaders. What has caught military leadership off guard has been the emergent of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that were believed to have been rendered obsolete.
At the small unit level, LSCO and trench warfare has meant far less patrolling to seek out the enemy. Current TTP focus largely on defensive security that is broken only by deliberate attacks often sustained for durations of weeks or months to achieve objectives. LSCO is denoted by high casualties and battlefield losses suffered primarily by frontline troops.
The Deliberate Assault
While no formal designation of these unit types exists, as these tactics are emergent and not yet part of a specified doctrine. Additionally, it would be politically untenable to designate certain units as “disposable,” even in Russia. Still, by utilizing small group infiltration tactics with teams of what appear by Western standards to be disposable infantry, Russia seeks to preserve its remaining well-trained assault infantry. Though they are often described as human attack waves, in fact reconnaissance attack serves as the forward vanguard of the assault unit.
By repeating this cycle over and over, gradually the Russian commander will obtain a detailed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of Ukrainian positions. Furthermore, attack recon infantry gradually develop a series of protected dug-in positions with stocks of grenades, small arms ammunition, and water that are closer and closer to the Ukrainian line of defense.
Once the Russian commander identifies a weak point, he can call on his assault infantry and, if available, armored units to launch an attack. Assault infantry are well-trained Russian infantry units, usually formed from veterans. Armed with the best equipment, better training, and with a tank or IFV in support, assault infantry aim to penetrate Ukrainian defenses and overrun the enemy position with as few casualties as possible, forcing Ukrainian forces into retreat.
A. Deliberate Assault Task Organization
Russian battalion tactical groups (BTG) conducting assault of enemy fortified defenses organize their subordinate units into recon attack, line infantry, special infantry, and assault infantry roles.
Recon Attack Infantry
While the Recon Attack may be formed by convicted soldiers or civilians in times of manpower shortages, this phenomenon is far less common than reported. In most cases, Recon Attack units are comprised of the least experienced, least trained, and lightly armed Russian soldiers. Though this seems a harsh practice to Western sensibilities, there is a logic to this practice.
Russian soldiers assigned to Recon Attack units have not been trained to use the more advanced weapons of the Special Infantry or Assault Infantry. Moreover, by serving in the Recon Attack unit, they gain valuable experience and earn the respect of the experienced soldiers through battlefield action and gallantry. Those soldiers who show potential in the Recon Attack unit are subsequently recruited into Special Infantry or Assault Infantry units.
Recon Attack units are formed into sections of 15-20 soldiers. This breaks into five teams of 3-4 soldiers. These soldiers are armed with weapons appropriate for assaulting trenches such as Kalashnikov rifles and hand grenades at the minimum. Recon Attack units do not assault alone. They are part of a combined arms operation.
Line Infantry
The Line Infantry units remain on security in the Russian frontline trench. They do not advance, but provide a measure of security against enemy counterattack.
Line Infantry units are often comprised of wounded and recovering soldiers who are not yet fit to serve in the Recon Attack, Special Infantry, or Assault Infantry unit. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to rotate units of inexperienced Russian soldiers between Recon Attack and Line Infantry roles to allow for a reprieve from the stress and high casualty rates of the former.
Special Infantry
Russian soldiers who have been fully trained, or have shown potential while serving in Recon Attack units, serve in Special Infantry units. These units are formed as regular infantry squads and platoons. They are armed with sniper rifles, machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, rocket launchers, and trench mortars.
Special Infantry units are positioned during the assault to provide direct support and exploit the success of Recon Attack units as they move forward against enemy fortifications.
Assault Infantry
Assault Infantry are arguably the best trained soldiers. As the third echelon of the assault, they fight as platoons or entire companies in the assault in order to exploit breaches in enemy defenses made by the Recon Attack and Special Infantry.
Assault Infantry are mechanized or motorized formations. These units are often combined arms with tank support. Due to vehicle vulnerability to enemy drones and anti-tank weapons, Assault Infantry units are held back out of line of sight, although they often provide direct fire support from one or two kilometers behind the assault. When the enemy fortification is breached, the Assault Infantry advance quickly in armored vehicles to exploit the breach and envelop enemy forces through rapid flanking maneuver.
B. Conduct of the Deliberate Assault
1. Coordination of Integrated Fires
Planning of the deliberate assault includes the coordination of integrated fires by air, indirect fire weapons, and direct fire weapons in support of the BTG assaulting in predesignated lanes. Logistical resupply and casualty evacuation are also coordinated with supporting units.
Coordination of air assets for CAS is the responsibility of the BTG command staff. Situational awareness for the BTG command is achieved through ISR drones, which allow the BTG commander to leverage artillery in deep strike roles to disrupt enemy efforts behind the lines.
2. Line Infantry Occupies Frontline Trench
The forward line is occupied and local security is emplaced. Line Infantry units coordinate passage of lines for advancing units, as well as re-entry of the line for retreating units, casualty evacuation to collection areas, and enemy prisoner collection processing.
3. Special Infantry Takes Position
Special Infantry squads and platoons take position to provide direct fire support. Depending on terrain and proximity, Special Infantry units may assume any advantageous position along or behind the frontline trench. More commonly, Special Infantry units conduct passage of line to move forward of the frontline trench and assume positions typically within 200 to 600 meters of enemy defenses. Special Infantry leverage crew-served weapons and consider attack-by-fire angles suitable to support the Recon Attack during their probe of enemy fortifications.
Commanding officers of Special Infantry units are responsible for coordinating indirect fires against enemy defenses during the assault. Recon Attack units aren’t experienced enough to be trusted with this task, and Line Infantry seldom have any meaningful view of the battle.
4. Recon Attack Probes Enemy Defense
Recon Attack units conduct passage of line in company formations, and thereafter advance in sections to reduce their signature to enemy observation, particularly aerial drones. When these sections reach their designated assault position, they separate into small teams of typically three or four soldiers to advance in designated lanes to conduct probing attacks.
Recon Attack teams use micro terrain to maneuver forward. This use of terrain not only affords concealment from enemy observation, but if detected micro terrain provides cover from enemy fire. However, enemy artillery is a significant threat to Recon Attack soldiers. Survival often comes down to the ability to move quickly from one covered position to the next.
If the Recon Attack unit is repelled, soldiers use designated markers to indicate the location of enemy strongpoint positions and key weapons. These positions are reduced by artillery.
If the Recon Attack is stalled, they hold ground and wait for reinforcement. Each position held becomes a default assault position for the next phase of the attack. Alternatively, permission may be given for the Recon Attack to withdraw for the evacuation of Russian casualties.
If the Recon Attack breaches the enemy fortification, they conduct local security and call forward by designated signal the supporting Special Infantry units. With a breach of the enemy defenses secured, the Special Infantry commander calls forward the Assault Infantry.
5. Assault Infantry Moves Forward
The Assault Infantry company or platoon advances rapidly, mounted on armored vehicles to exploit the penetration of enemy defenses. Through violent fires and maneuver, Assault Infantry create a deeper, broader breach of enemy defenses. They may conduct a flanking maneuver to envelop enemy forces, targeted resources, or seize critical terrain.
The advancing and enveloping Assault Infantry force the enemy defense to collapse and retreat, yielding territory. The BTG then calls for reinforcement from internal reserve or another BTG held in reserve to hold newly gained territory, reduce enemy trapped in the envelopment, or to continue the momentum with additional attacks deeper into enemy territory.
This article, by Dr. Christopher E. Larsen, was written in support of “OPFOR SMARTbook 3-3: Russian Military (Forces, Operations & Tactics)” by The Lightning Press. See pp. 6-24 to 6-25 for associated content in OPFOR 3-3, as related to the Russian offensive operations (chap. 6). Download a free PDF sample and learn more at: OPFOR SMARTbook 3-3 – Russian Military, 3rd Ed.
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