British Army Desert Wargame (1978)

Sample pages

SECTION 10 BATTLES

General

1. There are three types of battle

(a) Quick

(b) Deliberate

2. Battles usually take place in two kilometre squares, and when battle is joined committed opposing units are placed in one square. Attacks may only take place from adjacent squares.

3. A defending unit, if ready to move, may withdraw without being committed to battle, see Section 8.

4. After the attack begins both sides will be informed of their own casualties and enemy battle intelligence casualties at the end of each cycle.

5. A defender may withdraw at any time during an attack. Casualties will be assessed as those sustained up to time of withdrawal plus 40% of the remaining casualties he would have suffered had he not withdrawn

e.g. Casualties up to time of withdrawal = 50%

Casualties for full battle = 70%

Therefore Total casualties = 50% + ((20* 4/) 10) 58%

6. Artillery or other indirect fire must be declared when battle is first joined.

7. Units halted by fire or by the presence of an enemy unit in the adjacent square may carry out a quick or deliberate attack.

8. Only minor units and above may plan attacks. Quick attacks will take less time to plan (Table 11) but attacking units will be downgraded to 70% of their normal battle value.

The Quick Attack

9. In Quick Attacks it is assumed that:

the initial contact has been reported,

that leading elements have attempted to infiltrate to force an enemy withdrawal and

that leading elements of Armour/ Infantry have secured the flank and RV and

that some armour is in a fire position at decision time.

10. A Quick Attack may be launched under the following conditions.

(a) Only artillery allocated to the unit or formation may be included. The artillery must be deployed for the second half of the planning time and may not engage other targets during this time.

(b) If H-hour and all Planning Time takes place in daylight then the battle values of units taking part in, or supporting the attack, will be reduced to 80%. If, however, H-hour and any of the Planning Time takes place at night battle values will be reduced to 60%.

The Deliberate Attack

11. The mounting of coordinated assault operations involves planning time to cover the delays involved in reconnaissance, fire-support co-ordination, operational planning, and movement of units to assembly and forming up areas. Table 11 defines the minimum planning times required at the various unit and formation levels for deliberate and quick attacks.

12. Planning starts from the time when unit or formation objectives are defined. Artillery support must be declared when planning starts. H-hour will be nominated by the attacker.

13. When more than one unit is used to attack the same objective square, the planning time will be determined from the timings applicable to the next higher unit or formation.

14. If a side is planning an attack and wishes to alter the objective, it may do so by accepting a further additional delay of the time consumed, or half the planning time, whichever is the lesser, (subject to being able to move to the new start line in time). A similar delay will be imposed when a commander wishes to effect a regrouping which involves one-third or more of the troops of any particular arm taking part.

15. The objectives for each major unit taking part in a brigade attack must be nominated.

16. Units, other than artillery, which are to be included in a deliberate attack, may not take part in activities other than movement, from the time planning starts. Not more than half the planning time for a deliberate attack may be taken up in moving units to the start line.

17. If an initial attack fails, a reserve battalion or brigade attack that has been planned may be launched as follows:

a) Battalion – after one hour, plus movement time.

b) Brigade – after two hours, plus movement time.

18. Normally 25% of the planning time for a deliberate attack should be in daylight. Should this provision be disregarded battle values will be reduced to 75%. Artillery must be deployed for the second half of the planning time and may not engage other targets during this time.

The Counter-attack

19. Counter attacks are classified as Quick or Deliberate. They may be launched under the following conditions:-

a) Any minor unit of infantry or armour which has deployed in a square neighbouring a battle square for at least 30 minutes of battle, may be assumed to have planned a counter attack, which may be launched not later than one BTI following the end of the battle.

b) Any unit or formation may pre-plan a counter¬attack onto any square provided that:

(i) The square is nominated before the battle starts, and it is reasonable under the Starting Conditions for the unit to have done this.

(ii) The unit or formation deploys in the square, or an adjacent square, for the normal length of planning time necessary. The objective square must be nominated at the beginning of this planning time. The attack may be mounted from a neighbouring square but must pass through the adjacent square .

c) Units may pre-plan counter attacks on two nominated squares.

d) They must be launched in the BTI following the end of the battle.

Planning Times

20. Table 11 shows the minimum planning times to be used:

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