Saturday, April 29, 2023, 08:58 (GMT+7)
On the fighting method of the armed forces of military regions in combined offensive operations

In a (potential) defensive war to protect the Motherland, there will be many types of operations, including combined offensive operations. This type of combat has a critical role which is to crush any domestic insurgent force and foreign intervention, defeating adversary forces’ plots to wage unconventional warfare in our country. Therefore, studying the combat method of the armed forces of military regions in a combined offensive operation is very important in both practice and theory, especially in the current situation.

In a defensive war to protect the Motherland, with a highly developed people’s warfare posture, a combined offensive operation at the military-region level will be implemented right from the beginning and throughout the conflict. It is the process of combining the armed struggle and the political, economic, and diplomatic struggles; and combat operations of the main force with military activities of contingents under the command of the defensive zone of provinces and cities; and utilising the total strength of different forces in a military region, with the armed force as the core. To successfully conduct this type of operation, it is necessary to study and address many issues of military art; in which the combat method is the key issue that needs to be thoroughly studied in both practice and theory. This article mainly discusses the combat method of military region units in a combined offensive operation on the following key issues:

First, identify targets, objectives, and areas of operation

This is the most important issue, and serves as the basis to determine the combat methods employed in a combined offensive operation of a military region; and to prepare for setting up the battle array, force organisation, technical and logistical supplies, and combat direction.

Firstly, regarding our main targets of combat, they include: rioters, domestic separatists, and foreign intervention forces. In which, the ”foreign” forces can be enemy special operations units, or land – air – naval invasion contingents in offensive or defensive stance; and fire support elements. These are the core of the enemy force. Defeating them will enable us to destroy the enemy’s ”unconventional warfare” plan and allow the armed forces of the military regions to succeed in their assigned tasks. Besides, we also need to pay attention to other hostile forces such as reactionary elements in local villages, hamlets, communes, wards, etc., dissidents and anti-government activists in religious dioceses and ethnic minority communities, and reactionists – in – exile, etc., which are conducting sabotaging activities in the area of operation of the military region.

Regarding the combat targets: usually the reactionary forces occupying or defending positions or manoeuvring; leaders or the headquarters of reactionary or separatist groups; foreign intervention forces such as enemy infantry and mechanised infantry divisions and brigades, and airbourne and marine contingents, etc. In which, the leaders and headquarters of reactionary and separatist groups are the main targets, but foreign intervention forces are also important objectives.

The area of operation: includes defensive zones, key defensive zones of cities and provinces; defensive areas along critical directions; areas where we plan to launch battles and operations to defeat the enemy forces, including rioters, subversive elements and foreign intervention echelons attacking via land, air, and sea routes; areas where we plan to coordinate with the forces of superior commands; areas where we implement political and economic warfare, etc. In which, we need to identify the main areas of operation that can bring about stability for our battle array, where we can focus our strength to successfully defeat the enemy and defend key targets and areas. At the same time, the military region command must also identify other important areas of operation in different localities related to the combined offensive operation.

Second, set up the battle array for the combined offensive operation

The battle array of a military region’s combined offensive operation includes the set-ups for non-combat struggles and the dispositions for military activities. In the set-ups for non-combat struggles, the set-up for political struggle is a very important issue. It is the deployment and organisation of Party cells, socio–political groups, civil groups and the people in political activities on the basis of the all-people great unity bloc under the leadership of the Party in each area and in the entire military region. This set-up must be comprehensive and robust, focused and associated with the characteristics of each area to allow working groups to effectively utilise necessary tools, means and methods in political activities in realising their goals and tasks in each phase of the operation. In which, we must pay special attention to the building of “people’s hearts and minds posture” and always consider it as a decisive factor in political struggle, contributing to the promotion of our total strength in combat. At the same time, it is necessary to closely combine the set-up for political struggle with the disposition for military operations of the military region’s armed forces, creating a continuous, extensive and in-depth battle array to protect the assigned areas and localities.

The military disposition is the most important issue, it is the deciding factor in the success of a combined offensive operation; it is the process of organising, arranging and deploying military forces and combat equipment to create favourable conditions and bring into full play the combat power of the military region’s armed forces. That disposition includes many components; in which the offensive posture is the most important element and organised and deployed in accordance with the combat plan of the military regions; creating a clever, mobile and continuous offensive array. It allows the concentration of our forces to key areas and locations to successfully launch engagements to eliminate the reactionary and separatist “authorities” and foreign intervention forces. Besides, the setting up of a battle array that aims to intercept, encircle and isolate the enemy also plays a very important role in a combined offensive operation. The military region must build this set-up in accordance with the combat situation, our forecast of the enemy, our fighting method, and our combat objectives and the scale of our combat force. Accordingly, the set-up needs to be built based on the battle array of the defensive zones of cities and provinces and pre-planned defensive posture of the military region adjusted during the course of combat; it is also necessary to rely on the widespread as well as focused offensive postures against the enemy in key areas and locations, and in important engagements and battles, etc to form battle arrays that can be employed in defensive stance, in holding positions, and in intercepting, encircling and isolating the enemy; creating favourable conditions for us to attack and destroy “domestic” reactionary and separatist elements and “foreign” intervention forces. In addition, we need to form a battle order of supporting services, arms, and branches in accordance with their functions and tasks; and the deployment of the reserve force must ensure operational secrecy, the element of surprise, and the ease of manoeuvrability to reinforce multiple areas and directions; and the construction of command posts of all level must also be focused. At the same time, it is necessary to make preparation for battlefield hardware, roads, obstacle systems and the hardware of supporting arms and services, etc.

Third, force organisation, deployment and utilisation

This is another critical issue in combat operations in general and combined offensive operations in particular. It allows us to effectively promote the capabilities and fortes of our forces, especially the main elements (political and military forces), creating the combined power for us to succeed in the operation. Accordingly, the combat force of the military region includes: elements defending critical targets, they are the armed forces of defensive zones of cities and provinces and sometimes, depending on the situation, regular troops of defending units and contingents in the main combat zones and directions. The mobile offensive force: organised into several infantry groups and infantry contingents of cities and provinces; coordinates with on-site units to launch engagements or offensives and counteroffensives to defeat and destroy the enemy in critical areas of the military region. Contingents of supporting arms, services and branches: consist of air-defence, armoured, artillery, combat engineer, signal, chemical warfare, commando, electronic warfare, etc. elements organised by the military region command and employed in combat in accordance with their functions and objectives; coordinate with forces under the command of the Ministry of National Defence (or theatre command) to play the assisting role in implementing tasks and objectives in the main combat directions or zones. The replacement force can be organised into 1 or 2 infantry contingents and several supporting arms elements. At the same time, it is necessary to assign the task of organising reserve forces to related units. In accordance with the assigned tasks, the military region should form several reserve units and promptly conduct training and equip these units to reinforce or replace active elements during combat if necessary.

Regarding the organisation of the political force, it is essential to organise this force based on the situation and the actual condition of the combat area and the combat plan. Accordingly, the military region command may form working groups to coordinate with the armed forces and the people of the defensive zones of provinces and cities to carry out propaganda and educational activities and mobilise manpower and materials to support the combat activities of the armed forces of the military regions. Political working groups, with their core role, must work closely with local agencies and organisations to step up the political struggle to weaken the enemy’s morale and suppress protests and riots; ensure political security and public order; protect important local targets; and maintain the stability of production and the people’s lives. The political force must also coordinate closely with other friendly forces, especially the combat forces to create a synergised strength to be successful in the combined offensive operation.

Besides, the armed forces of the military region also works in close coordination with the mobile force of the Ministry of National Defence (theatre command) to implement proper force deployment and utilisation to avoid overlapping and maximise our combat power.

Fourth, determine combat phases and forms of struggle, and apply combat methods and types of operation

A combined offensive operation in a military region is the combination of combat activities and various forms of struggle with complex developments on a large spatial scale and over a relatively long time, etc, therefore, the work of determining combat phases and applying fighting methods and forms of struggle is very important. In normal conditions, a combined offensive operation includes the following phases: fighting against riots and protests, the enemy’s aerial and naval blockades; avoiding and counter enemy strikes; fighting against “domestic” anti-government and separatist elements; fighting against “foreign” intervention force; respond to unexpected developments; and concluding the operation. In each phase, it is necessary to identify, conduct and closely combine forms of combat with various types of struggles such as political struggle, enemy troop conversion, diplomatic methods, economic sanctions, etc. Multiple combat methods need to be combined, including the following main types: camouflaging; avoiding and countering enemy strikes; widespread engagements to cut off, intercept, pin down and weaken the enemy’s formations; the concentration of force; defensive actions; offensive actions to destroy the entrenched enemy and in open grounds; and elite forces’ infiltration activities, etc.

During the operation, key battles, counteroffensive actions, offensives, and combined offensives of small scales should be the most form of combat; the opportunity arises, and the military region command should plan medium-scale activities. In addition, it should carry out activities such as: holding positions to defend against enemy attacks to protect key areas; attacking the enemy in defence and during their course of manoeuvring; attacking and destroying the reactionary and separatist “authorities”; attacking and destroying “foreign” intervention forces, etc. Depending on certain situations and conditions, the military region may conduct one or several counter-offensive, offensive, and combined offensive actions; in which, conducting battles and at the same time, launching military operations and other political activities are the common actions.

Fifth, seize the opportunity and make posture adjustments accordingly

The matter of opportunity is always one of the most important in any form and method of fighting, in certain situations, a good opportunity is a factor in deciding the outcome of the operation. Opportunities are often created by us, but they can also arise from the enemy’s mistakes. During a combined offensive operation, the military region must always create and seize opportunities to defeat the enemy’s subversion and secession plots. We must seize opportunities to hold and defend key positions to cut off, isolate and destroy the enemy; to conduct counter-offensive and offensive operations to eliminate “domestic” separatist and subversive elements, and defeat the “foreign” intervention force. The military region must also attach great importance to the creation of opportunities in political, economic and diplomatic struggles. In addition, it needs to firmly grasp favourable opportunities to flexibly and creatively transform its combat posture in a timely manner in accordance with its tasks and the developments of the operation, effectively exploiting the success of critical battles, activities, and previous phases to make suitable adjustments in its posture to fulfil the assigned task of the following phases, seizing and holding the initiative to force the enemy into a passive stance on the battlefield.

The actions of the armed forces of a military region in a combined offensive operation are often carried out quickly and aggressively with many complex and unexpected developments. Therefore, the firm grasp of the situation, the flexible and creative application of combat methods; the establishment of a robust combat posture; the rational force organisation, utilisation and disposition, and the close combination of military actions and non-combat activities will ensure the success of the military region in its combined offensive operations, contributing to the defeat of the enemy’s “unconventional warfare” plan and the firm defence of our Vietnam Socialist Motherland.

Lieutenant General NGUYEN HONG THAI, Commander of the 1st Military Region

 

 

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