In the war to safeguard the Fatherland, the first battle of all types of operations in general, the offensive operations in particular, plays a vital role. It not only creates favourable posture and opportunities for the development of the operation but promotes soldiers’ fighting morale and resolution, thus generating motives and strength for the victory of the operation. This is not a new matter but both our side and the adversary have witnessed changes. Therefore, the research and theoretical development in fighting the first battle of an offensive operation under the condition of modern warfare are an urgent task.

In the war to safeguard the Fatherland (should it occur), we must confront an adversary who mostly uses high-tech weapons and many changes in the principles of war. Theory about fighting the first battle in an offensive operation, therefore, should be studied and developed as an objective inevitability to meet practical requirements. Usually, targets of this type of operation can be enemy (mechanised) infantry brigades and divisions in defensive posture and under robust fire support of air force, artillery, and missiles as well as widespread electronic warfare. As far as our forces are concerned, we conduct large-, medium-, and small-scale operations, in which the large and medium ones are normally launched by the Ministry of National Defence (MND) while the small ones are often the responsibility of military regions with the participation of armed forces in the areas. Our forces, weapons, equipment, and operation art have also witnessed many developments. Therefore, to win the operation in general, the first battle in particular, we need to conduct research into both theoretical and practical matters in a systematic, intensive, comprehensive manner. This article seeks to analyse and propose some initial solutions aimed for winning the first battle in an offensive operation.

1. Correct understanding of the position and role of the first battle of an operation. To win a victory in an offensive operation, we must achieve concentration of forces and weapon systems at the decisive time and window of opportunity in order to break the enemy’s stable, solid defensive posture and seize the ground, people, and initiative. The role of the first battle, therefore, is very important. Victory of the first battle will directly contribute to disruption of the enemy’s defence posture; creation of favourable opportunities for seizing initiative and advancing rapidly; establishment of confidence and inspiration for soldiers’ fighting spirit while driving the enemy into passivity, confusion, mistakes, hasty reaction, loss of direction, and failure. Conversely, if the operation is not successful at the onset, we may lose our initiative, affecting outcomes of the entire operation, or even exerting negative influence on the strategic context. Consequently, forces involving in the operation, especially those participating in fighting the first battle, need to grasp and understand the importance of that battle; foster a sense of responsibility and fighting spirit; keep secret and proactively attack the enemy according to plans.

2. Right selection of targets and areas for starting the operation. The selection of targets for starting the operation demonstrates the military thinking of the commander and operations directorate. The attack of any targets must guarantee disruption of the enemy’s stable defensive posture; force the enemy to react, thereby exposing their forces and intention; create favourable conditions for us to engage the enemy in various states, especially when they are outside their trenches. Therefore, when a target is chosen for launching the operation, it must be a sensitive, important place. The target is also not too difficult for us to achieve with few casualties. When we attack that place, the enemy’s defensive posture will be seriously threatened if they do not send in their reinforcements. The attack also facilitates developments of the operation. In an offensive operation, we can take initiative in forces, weapon systems, and fighting methods but have to cope with the adversary who is resorting to reinforced structures, robust fires, and widespread electronic warfare to defend their position. We may not have conditions for annihilate the key target right at the onset of the operation. So, we must select a proper target and fight the first battle with a view to creating posture and opportunities to destroy the key target.

Correct prediction of the area for fighting the first battle in an offensive operation provides a solid foundation for specifying a concept of operations and enabling the commander and operations directorate to organise, deploy, and use forces in an appropriate, effective manner. To anticipate where the first battle of the operation takes place correctly, the commander and operations directorate must scrutinise and be well aware of terrain in the operational area. More importantly, they must correctly assess advantages and disadvantages of the terrain and weather as well as their effects on operational activities of forces. It is necessary to correctly anticipate enemy forces deployed in each entrenched fortification and group of entrenched fortification; correctly predict their principles for defence, their capacity to respond to our first attack, and our overall power, which lays the basis for conducting combat preparations.

3. Correct selection of opportunity and combat method for the first battle of the operation. The opportunity for fighting the first battle of an operation appears and does not last long. It does not depend on wishes of the commander and operations directorate. The window of opportunity for fighting the first battle is usually when the enemy troops have just transferred into defence, are consolidating their fortifications, and rotating their forces. The enemy commits mistakes as a result of our feint attacks. Our forces participating in the first battle have been ready and established the offensive posture. They have received the order from the higher echelon. It has also been the planned time. Ideally, all the above-mentioned conditions are met, but on the basis of specific circumstances, the operations commander can decide to fight the first battle. He should avoid seeking perfection and passing up the opportunity.

The commander must base on the intention of the higher echelon as well as the enemy’s defensive aims, forces, and disposition of forces to determine the most appropriate method to fight the first battle. He may use part of his forces to destroy an important entrenched fortification of the enemy by applying various types of tactics such as attack at their defensive positions, assault, ambush, encirclement, and encroachment. The aim of this operational activity is to lure the enemy troops to come out of their trenches, thus becoming targets of our main force.

Conduct of reconnaissance to grasp situation in every aspect firmly. To have grounds for developing sound operational plans, the commander and operations directorate must be well aware of situation in all aspects, including the enemy, terrain, weather, and capacity of our forces, weapon systems, and friendly forces concerned. Reconnaissance must be conducted in order to get to know about targets of the first battle, the enemy’s defensive formations, and the enemy’s responses. Importance should be attached to detection of the enemy troops’ new tricks when we fight the first battle and reaction of other forces concerned such as land-based fires, attacking fires from the air, reinforcements, logistics support units, and so on. This will enable us to reach conclusions about strengths and weaknesses of the enemy, assess advantages and disadvantages directly affecting implementation of the operational plans, including the mission to fight the first battle; calculate the temporal and spatial dimensions of the operation and battles; propose the mechanism to mobilise and take advantage of the available logistical, technical resources to support other forces involving in the operation; work out measures to improve cooperation and coordination between the regular force, local armed forces, and forces of the masses, departments, branches, and unions.

Due to broad reconnaissance areas with the concurrent involvement of many agencies, levels, and forces and the enemy’s enhanced reconnaissance activities, the campaign commander must establish close, safe command and control to achieve his goals. There is a need to combine many reconnaissance forms, methods, and forces, including field reconnaissance, ground reconnaissance, aerial reconnaissance, intelligence sources, maps, diagrams, reports from lower echelons, information provided by prisoners of war, and so forth. The reconnaissance is carried out not only in the preparation period but is maintained regularly during the operation to satisfy the requirements of activeness, proactiveness, timeliness, accuracy, secrecy, and safety. The reconnaissance for the first battle must support the following battles according to a unified plan and be organised closely for each element of forces and in each direction, especially in the main direction of attack and for forces undertaking important missions.

5. Close cooperation and coordination between units participating in fighting the first battle of the operation and units and forces concerned. An offensive operation is carried out by means of many uninterrupted, interconnected battles, which have a strong mutual influence on one another and take place in many areas. Victory of the first battle create favourable conditions for subsequent battles. Outcomes of the following battles are reliant upon how we exploit developments of the previous battles. Those developments occur and evolve continually. Nevertheless, each battle has its own targets and operational objectives. Forces and weapon systems involved in the operation as well as characteristics of the terrain are also different. Thus, it is vital to establish close cooperation and coordination in a battle as well as among various battles. The determination of the first battle and coordination plans must be well suited for the division of operational phases and are anticipated in the preparatory stage of the operation. In an offensive operation, the primary objective is always to annihilate enemy troops outside their fortifications. Therefore, the first battle in the first phase of an operation only aims to create a diversion and bring about chances for subsequent battles, especially the key battle. Accordingly, the campaign commander needs to closely coordinate operations activities of each element and force in each combat phase and each specific situation. When fighting the first battle, everything can be done according to plan. However, some situations might not have been foreseen. The commander and operations directorate, therefore, must thoroughly grasp situations about the enemy and ourselves to timely adjust concept of operations and coordination plans to successfully respond to unforeseeable situations.

In the war to safeguard the Fatherland (should it occur), we are likely to confront an enemy with economic, military supremacy. As a result of employing modern, lethal, highly accurate weapon systems, mobility, and widespread electronic warfare on all terrain, the enemy can alter the balance of power in a short period of time. Events evolve rapidly and fiercely and are difficult to predict. If we do not have suitable measures, we will not be able to win the first battle. Thus, the campaign commander and operations directorate need to apply operational methods creatively and effectively at the operational level of war, including preparing for and fighting the first battle of an operation.

Senior Colonel, PhD. NGUYEN VAN HAU, Army Academy