The organization and use of force in operations constitute  overall activities carried out by commander and advisory organs, in order to successfully accomplish planned  operational task and intention. As for strategic defence, the organization and use of force is of crucial importance. If appropriate, it will promote combined strength of forces, focusing on main directions, areas, and battlefields to break down enemy’s strategic offense and firmly protect our disposition. In addition, it could prevent and annihilate each part of the enemy, defeating each offensive direction, weakening them, creating favourable conditions and opportunity to shift to strategic counter-attack.

Vietnam People's Navy exercising combat operations

To effectively organizing and using strategic defensive force to meet the requirements of operations in the new situation, we propose the following points for discussion:

First, on the organization of force  in strategic defensive operations. This is an important part of strategic defensive operations and a basis for commanders and advisory organs to effectively use operational force. To do this, first and foremost, commander and advisory organs must analyse and thoroughly grasp the situation in all aspects, particular the situation of the enemy and ours, intention of strategic defensive operations, and terrain of each battlefield. It is necessary to thoroughly grasp our forces, especially mobile combat forces of the High Command, military regions, services, and arms, logistic forces, and mobilization source for wars to organize force appropriately. Strategic defensive operational force could be organized in various scales; however, for any scale, commander and advisory organs should adhere to principles and requirements, flexibly and creatively apply them into each concrete direction and battlefield. On the basis of operational determination to protect the Homeland built in peacetime, commander would adjust mobile forces and forces on the spot, organizing them into groups of strategic forces, groups of campaign force, operational forces according to strategic operational task, fire and logistic forces, strategic reserve forces close to task and requirements.

Second, on the use of force in strategic defensive operations. First and foremost, for groups of strategic forces, these are the main forces to conduct campaigns and operational and strategic campaigns in the period the enemy is attacking on land, in order to change the face of battle beneficial to us and create opportunities to shift from defence to counter-attack for final victory. In each group of strategic forces, depending on characteristic, task and condition of concrete battlefield, we frequently use at least two infantry divisions or one corps, and a number of units from the High Command’s services, arms, sectors, and the military regions.

Groups of operational  forces play a decisive  role when we conduct a campaign in the area without groups of strategic forces. It aims to enhance the effectiveness of independent operations, create synergy in each area, and opportunely handle situations during operations. Using forces from groups of operational  forces must be based on the situation in all aspects, particularly the situation of the enemy and ours, our intention of strategic defensive operations in the battlefield, and our logistic capabilities. In each group of operational forces, there are frequently a number of divisions and units under services, arms, sectors, local regimes of a province or a city, or mobile forces of the military region in the area of operations.

Operational force according to strategic operational task could be used for independent operational task in division or intensified division level battles, destroying the enemy’s attacks on land, strategic airborne assaults, vehicle and fire-based offensives, diversion, and division; creating opportunities for groups of strategic and operational  forces to launch focal and decisive attacks.

Fire and logistic support forces are important ones, possibly using a number of intensified forces from services for groups of strategic and operational forces. Accordingly, air-defence and air forces, particular brigades and division under the High Command and air-defence forces of military regions and local defensive areas would be used to control airspace, opportunely detect the enemy in the air, inform and give alert to other forces to prevent and fight the enemy, protecting operational targets and forces. Besides, the forces could be used to assist the High Command and military region’s mobile forces to carry out attacks and campaigns in the important strategic direction.

Strategic reserve forces controlled by the High Command or Command of battlefield are frequently used to handle operational situations. When necessary they could be used to assist the inferiors for other operational task. These forces could include from 2 divisions to 1 corps and a number of units under services and combat or logistic arms.

In reality, situations of strategic defensive operations will vary dramatically. To promote strong points and combined strength of all forces, it is important for commander and advisory organs to thorough grasp the situation, organize and use force flexibly and appropriately for each battlefield.

Senior Colonel, Dr. Dang Quang Minh

Faculty of Defense Strategy, National Defence Academy