Russian Battalion Mobile Groups

Introduction.

The new Russian tactical mobile groups respond to the new Russian military theories, notably of General Valeri Gerasimov, Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, of the modern hybrid war. These groups would be Russia’s response in the conventional military field, to intervene directly in the regular fighting.

Valeri Guerásimov - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
General Valeri Gerasimov

The «hard cores» of these modern Russian units are their «combined arms units«. That are perfectly coordinated to act in each different situation, employing and maintaining a «mix» of small units of different weapons or branches in each case.

They consist of a medium tank battalion with 40 vehicles, a 500-strong mechanized or motorized infantry battalion and a towed mixed artillery group. Receiving the organic support of an engineering company, a mechanized exploration company, a medium and heavy anti-tank company and a service, logistics and healthcare company.

Operational tactic.

Each mobile group or semi brigade is called to act on 1 to 2 Km of favorable «fighting interface» over the enemy. Depending on enemy conditions and intentions, the transitability or ongoing of the terrain and the mission itself received and the intention of the superior command. The width of the sector and the proper deployment would be established by the command of the group, according to the appreciated conditions of the «micro-terrain» of fighting and its mission.

Rusia concentra alrededor de 52 grupos tácticos de batallones cerca de la  frontera con Ucrania
More than 75 Russian battalion tactical groups were deployed at Ukraine frontier.

These ideas and methods eliminate and overcome the old rigidities that were established to the deployments of their small units from the highest level of command.

A corollary mission and consequence of this fighting form is the maintenance and permanent use of liaison and coordination with neighboring units. To react quickly with the changes of the «general situation» and the «situation of the enemy» and the opportunities that arise for the two rivals.

Battalion groups operate by widely breaking up a large sector of the enemy front. They are a perfection of the former Soviet attacks of shock forces (with abundant artillery and aviation) on an enemy defensive sector. And they called their immediate breaking forces, «advanced detachments«.

Battalion groups act on the modern terrain of fighting, probing and creating and taking advantage of «gaps» in enemy defense. Thus, these units better utilize the breaking forces of the first level of attack. Both systems of fight could be compared with the agile and maneuverable Roman maniples and the heavy Greek phalanges. Which fought only on open ground, and whose shock effort was made by the first rows of hoplites.

At the level of the motorized division the «conceptualization» of the battle will be created. To advance and fight in a «fighting interface» with the enemy 3 to 6 km wide. Where the mobile battalion groups of the division will operate in two or three echelons, including the reserve.

Rusia amenaza a Ucrania con maniobras navales y aéreas
Russian forces marching to their advance concentration area.

Division is the immediate and essential «repository» of «support and services». And, under its command are also its tactical reserves. That will distribute to the battalion groups as it sees fit, according to the development of the fighting of its «attack spears«. To be formed in all its sector or strip of action a «center of gravity» of the whole division effort. Seeking the «economic fulfillment» of their plans: adequate, timely, without waste.

Operational Strategy.

At the next level are the «mobile maneuver groups«, located at the assault echelon. And to be inserted after the breakthrouh, the main directions of exploitation of the enemy tactical and operational rear are outlined.

These directions of advance and combat will be better defined in function of the operational and strategic objectives already defined, of the advanced results of the intelligence and the immediate ones of the own tactical exploration and of the existing operational situation.

Cold War Gamer: July 2015

The «mobile maneuver groups» are composed of several mechanized and motorized divisions with the necessary supports. They will advance in their sector following a couple of parallel directions. To extend the «influence» or affectation and commotion of the enemy with its «passage and threat«. And to increase his uncertainty about the immediate intentions of the attacker.

The «influence» is exercised by the «mobile group» according to its possible distance of arrival with sufficient forces to the sensitive points of the enemy in its rear. The «mobile maneuver groups» prop up and secure their advance sector by carrying out lateral attacks from the sector towards secondary targets close to it.

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