Post by Diz on Sept 18, 2014 9:43:09 GMT -5
I keep alluding to these things so I wanted to formally list a few. What are the key differences between conventional light infantry units and UNconventional Self-Defense groups:
Conventional Units:
1) Essentially offensive in nature. Yes they can defend but their main mission is find, fix, and close with the enemy. Well at least it used to be.
2) Large units. Lots of overwhelming force. Organic (that is internal) fire support, including MG's, mortars, anti-armor, etc.
3) Supporting Arms. Lots of fire on call. Larger mortars, arty, tac air (helo gunships and fast movers). Even drones if you want to go there.
4) Logistic chain. Supplies out the ass. Re-supply on call.
5) Medical Support. Organic first responder support. Medevac on call.
6) Intelligence. All jokes aside, huge info resources.
Wow sounds pretty daunting. How would we ever stand up to all this. Hah. Ask any booger-eating goat-herder how it's done.
Unconventional Units:
1) Essentially defensive in nature. Capable of limited offensive action, but mainly concerned with defending ourselves.
2) Small units. It goes without saying, we will be in much smaller units. And No organic heavy weapons.
3) No supporting arms. Just you and your battle rifle. Maybe some with heavy bbls, and tripods.
4) Limited logistic chain. Just what you saved up. And possibly what you can grow or barter for.
5) Medical support. Limited. Some trained personnel if you're lucky.
6)Intell. Depends on your efforts to patrol and your contacts with surrounding folks.
Hmmm sounds kinda sucky. But wait, there is an up-side to all this.
But first, let's examine how all this effects how we decide what mil doctrine applies and doesn't apply to us.
1) Being essentially defensive in nature, examine any and all T,T,P's with an eye towards defending our retreat, not finding crap to get into. We are not force projection, as it were, we are trying to stay out of the way. This should be our over-arching, guiding principle. Breaking contact should be our default response.
2) Operating in small groups is different than running in large formations (duh). Again look for T,T,P's that apply to small units versus larger formations. Ignore references to crew-served heavy weapons and the like. Think in terms of small, 4-man teams. Look for info on recon teams that rely on stealth not superior fire power.
3) With no supporting arms, to speak of, you have to develop a high level of skill in fire and maneuver with your battle riles only. Again, look for T,T,P's that stress this over where to place your base of fire with MG teams and the like. Look for info on small, 4-man teams, and how they reacted to contact, versus the LI platoon. Lots of books out there on the SAS, SBS, SF teams, etc.
4) Logistic support is what you brought to the party. In other words local source. Really nothing you can learn here from mil sources. On the other hand, they have LONG lines of communication that supplies have to roll across. Very difficult to secure these every where, all the time.
5) Medical support is also very specialized to our terrain and situation. Perhaps lots to learned at the treatment level, but nothing in their overall system really applies to us. You're not going to be evac'd out to Germany. Again local source.
6) This could go either way. Depends on population. If they're in the mood to help, invaluable. If not, serious danger. Like the man said, the battle for the hearts and minds. Localized intell is up to you and your patrolling plan. There is good info out there on how conventional units do this. The new guerilla warfare manual spells it all out.
Bottom line here? At first glance, the conventional unit appears to have all the advantages, and none of the disadvantages we must operate under. However, the conventional unit has been shown to be very vulnerable to asymmetric attack. If you don't play his game, it's difficult for him to find and defeat you, without resorting to a scorched earth policy. (Not that it can't be done, but looking at the current political climate, it probably won't be.) Look for T,T,P's that exploit vulnerabilities to the max. For instance, a small, 4-man team is highly maneuverable against a larger force that takes more time to react and maneuver. Mobility should be your key attribute, not laying down massive firepower. How would this effect how you would equip and train? These are the kinds of things you need to ask yourself as you read through the manuals.
Conventional Units:
1) Essentially offensive in nature. Yes they can defend but their main mission is find, fix, and close with the enemy. Well at least it used to be.
2) Large units. Lots of overwhelming force. Organic (that is internal) fire support, including MG's, mortars, anti-armor, etc.
3) Supporting Arms. Lots of fire on call. Larger mortars, arty, tac air (helo gunships and fast movers). Even drones if you want to go there.
4) Logistic chain. Supplies out the ass. Re-supply on call.
5) Medical Support. Organic first responder support. Medevac on call.
6) Intelligence. All jokes aside, huge info resources.
Wow sounds pretty daunting. How would we ever stand up to all this. Hah. Ask any booger-eating goat-herder how it's done.
Unconventional Units:
1) Essentially defensive in nature. Capable of limited offensive action, but mainly concerned with defending ourselves.
2) Small units. It goes without saying, we will be in much smaller units. And No organic heavy weapons.
3) No supporting arms. Just you and your battle rifle. Maybe some with heavy bbls, and tripods.
4) Limited logistic chain. Just what you saved up. And possibly what you can grow or barter for.
5) Medical support. Limited. Some trained personnel if you're lucky.
6)Intell. Depends on your efforts to patrol and your contacts with surrounding folks.
Hmmm sounds kinda sucky. But wait, there is an up-side to all this.
But first, let's examine how all this effects how we decide what mil doctrine applies and doesn't apply to us.
1) Being essentially defensive in nature, examine any and all T,T,P's with an eye towards defending our retreat, not finding crap to get into. We are not force projection, as it were, we are trying to stay out of the way. This should be our over-arching, guiding principle. Breaking contact should be our default response.
2) Operating in small groups is different than running in large formations (duh). Again look for T,T,P's that apply to small units versus larger formations. Ignore references to crew-served heavy weapons and the like. Think in terms of small, 4-man teams. Look for info on recon teams that rely on stealth not superior fire power.
3) With no supporting arms, to speak of, you have to develop a high level of skill in fire and maneuver with your battle riles only. Again, look for T,T,P's that stress this over where to place your base of fire with MG teams and the like. Look for info on small, 4-man teams, and how they reacted to contact, versus the LI platoon. Lots of books out there on the SAS, SBS, SF teams, etc.
4) Logistic support is what you brought to the party. In other words local source. Really nothing you can learn here from mil sources. On the other hand, they have LONG lines of communication that supplies have to roll across. Very difficult to secure these every where, all the time.
5) Medical support is also very specialized to our terrain and situation. Perhaps lots to learned at the treatment level, but nothing in their overall system really applies to us. You're not going to be evac'd out to Germany. Again local source.
6) This could go either way. Depends on population. If they're in the mood to help, invaluable. If not, serious danger. Like the man said, the battle for the hearts and minds. Localized intell is up to you and your patrolling plan. There is good info out there on how conventional units do this. The new guerilla warfare manual spells it all out.
Bottom line here? At first glance, the conventional unit appears to have all the advantages, and none of the disadvantages we must operate under. However, the conventional unit has been shown to be very vulnerable to asymmetric attack. If you don't play his game, it's difficult for him to find and defeat you, without resorting to a scorched earth policy. (Not that it can't be done, but looking at the current political climate, it probably won't be.) Look for T,T,P's that exploit vulnerabilities to the max. For instance, a small, 4-man team is highly maneuverable against a larger force that takes more time to react and maneuver. Mobility should be your key attribute, not laying down massive firepower. How would this effect how you would equip and train? These are the kinds of things you need to ask yourself as you read through the manuals.
