MC NATO national army doctrine design question

[JDR Dragoon]

Panserbataljonen/The Armored Battalion will be built along the same lines, only it will not have a Motorized TOW Platoon, nor will it have a Heavy Mortar Platoon. It has a tank company instead of an armored infantry company. It is thus suitable for more mobile actions in more open terrain. In addition, the numbering is different (the tank companies are nr. 1-2 company, the armored infantry company nr. 3 and the motorized company nr. 4).

The first tactical example is the battalion in the mobile defense/delaying action:



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-The action starts with the armored battalion as the rearmost unit in the brigades sector, straddling two other battalions deployed in front.

-The battalion defends this large frontage with 2 infantry companies and a tank company deployed behind Phaseline Alma, which also constitutes the forward limit of the battalions defensive zone and the dividing line to the other battalions further forward (Sierra 1-3). Each of these companies has a platoon deployed forward of the dividing line in order to receive and channel the friendly units in front, as they fall back and pass through the battalion lines (Hotel 1-3). In addition the TOW platoon is in position (Sierra 4), and one tank company is in reserve, with two prepared counterattacks in support of the forward companies ("Kurt" and "Erik").

-So the forward battalions withdraw and make a passage of lines. The goal is now to buy time, so the initial positions around Phaseline Alma are maintained for as long as possible, evicting the enemy through counterattack if necessary. The forward deployed platoons fall back, possibly after having blunted the enemys forward units.

-But the spread out nature of the battalion coupled with the enemy pressure (if he has enough force to throw back the two battalions initially deployed in front, he will likely be able to generate enough force to overrun a spread out armor battalion) will likely mean we will have to fall back. So we do: The two tank companies and one of the infantry companies (likely the armored one) fall back to Lima 1-3, where we try to lure th enemy into a firesack (IKO=Ildkoncentrationsområde/Fire Concentration Area).

-Once the enemys presence becomes overwhelming here as well, the two tank companies fall slightly back to Golf 1-2 and the infantry hightails it, covered by the armor.

-The tank companies (plus TOW platoon) then bounds back to Victor 1-2.

-The final position before the rear limit of the battalions defensive zone (Bravo 1-3) is comprised of an infantry company (might be either, but likely the motorized one if the armored infantry company is the reserve slated for the planned counterattack) and the two tank companies. The TOW platoon is screening/guarding the flank (Bravo 4). Again the goal is to get the enemy to enter a firesack (presumably the terrain or engineering improvements serve to channel he enemy here) and then complete the destruction by using the battalion reserve (either an infantry company or one of the tank companies after it has relieved itself) to counterattack into the enemys flank. The enemy will now either have been stopped outright or at least delayed, hopefully without jeopardizing too much of the battalions combat strenght.





The last example is the armored battalion in a full blown (counter)attack:



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-The battalion crosses the Line of Departure w. a tank company and the armored infantry company in the lead, aiming for the next Phaseline and the objective "Sort 1" (Black 1). Presumably "Sort 1" will be in some kind of congested terrain, such as a small village or a forest, since the armored infantry company is in the lead and not the other tank company and because of the fact, that this location is supposed to house the battalion HQ later. The surveillance section screens one flank, while the TOW platoon screens the other (Golf 1).

-What happens between the next two phaselines is a bit unclear. Presumbaly the surveillance section and the motorized infantry company does a dismounted infiltration and thus secures the passage of the rest of the battalion to the next phaseline. Either that, or the magical wand of the exercise umpire appears and waves the entire caravan forwards ;)

-The next phase of the attack aims for Sort 2-3, again with two companies in the lead. Which companies depend on the terrain. If open, it will be the tank companies. If one or both axes is covered by congested terrain, it will be the infantry company(/ies). Again the surveillance section and the TOW platoon screen the flanks.

-The final attack, against "Sort 4" will be launched by the battalion reserve immediately following the taking of "Sort 2-3" and will be screened by the TOW platoon. Again, the type of company used will depend upon the terrain (and upon which units were in reserve).