"NATO Company and Battalion Level Tactics" Topic

Are there any good sources for NATO (UK/US/Germany) armor and mechanized infantry tactics in the 80s? The FM 100-2 series is great at giving all the details a wargamer could want about possible Soviet tactics and operations, but I can't find similar resources for the Nato countries.

I've got Armies of NATOs Central Front, so I'm not lacking organizational information, looking specifically for tactical and operational information. How attacks were carried out, recommended frontages in defense, how recon units operated, etc.

There is a M1 FM. This from Maneouvre Group as we do give a few hints on how the real world works.

"Fig 1 top Turret down, Bottom Hull Down (taken from US field manual 17-15)" Not read it for a long time, but it was key in shaping more sensible rules the the average war games fare. It does only cover tanks however.

Probably your best opinion there. I know I don't have the time to start to instruct combat arms/combined arms training online…

Macksey's First Clash is a fictional account of the 4th CMBG in the defensive against the Soviet Hordes.

It goes into the deployment and tactics which were fairly common across NATO at the time and should give you the basics.

The 4th CMBG were our OPFOR during REFORGER '88 !

Second call for First Clash. It was written as a training aid.

For the British, "The Dangerous World of Tommy Atkins" by Patrick Benham-Crosswell discusses tactics and equipment from Fire Team level up to a Company + armour defending a position. It's ultra-modern but very little has changed in Infantry tactics since the 80's.

"Infantry of the Line" by T J Gander has a chapter illustrating a Squadron/Company attack on a defensive position.

For the Americans, "The Combat Leaders field guide" is good but it's at Platoon level. "Dragons at War" by Daniel P Bolger follows a Task Force exercising against OPFOR at the National Training Centre.

The best guides were the magazine part-works published just after the 1st Gulf War in the early 90's which had illustrated articles on various tactics – defence, armoured assault, reconnaissance, FIBUA etc – "In Combat" and "Firepower". They may crop up on e-bay.

Unfortunately I've never come across anything below Brigade/Division level for West Germans and nothing for the Belgians or the Dutch.

I tried to get some West German info a while back, without success.

My guess is their tactics will be a mix of WWII German, and US doctrine.

Would love to get my hands on info about West Germany during the Cold War, preferably in English, but even German would be okay, especially if diagrams were included in the instruction, and/or historical publications.

I'd expect it would be some type of prepared withdrawal while striking the enemy columns to force them to deploy and slow down. Probably a lot of M-901 ITV and Cobra NOE pop up long-range fire.

Then fire FASCAM at the most expected choke points or right on top of assembly areas and be ready to take out the engineering units that will attempt to clear the mines and any AAA or C&C units.

I'd have Vulcan AA laying hidden in ambush waiting for a Hind or low flying aircraft to come by. Insert airmobile units behind the first wave to ambush and slow down the second wave. Have Special Ops units tracking down the Spetsnaz units that are behind NATO lines.

Of course, lots of EW, jamming and spoofing along with PsyOp bogus civilian radio and TV broadcasts and political comments. PsyOp should have film ready to broadcast showing Russians committing atrocities against local civilians.

I'd also get all of the heroin, cocaine and other drugs to leave along with the enemy advance as treats for the Soviets along with poisoned food stock of items they find hard to get back home. Booby-trapped porno VHS tapes would probably be a real killer.

When their advance finally gets bogged down counter-attack with combined arms.

If none of that works drop "Surrender Kits" that has a Green Card for US Permanent Residency Status, that all they have to do is fill in their name for them and their family. Also a Visa charge card along with an application to fill out for a convenience store franchise. For the officers throw in a date with Bo Derek. The US would save trillions of dollars if it works.

Wolfhag

And always call in CAS … Your radio is the most powerful "weapon" in your unit …

My guess is their tactics will be a mix of WWII German, and US doctrine.

Basic NATO doctrine …

I posted these comment before on TMP … may be of some use :

While on Active Duty, '79-'90, we knew the USSR & WP had massive amounts of AFVs, aircraft, etc. We believed that at that time they had the capabilities to "flood" across the IGB. And probably a few other places. We created such TTP as the JAAT. Which include combining Gunships & A-10s working together to help stem the "Red Tide".

We priority targeted their SPAAA/ADA AFVs. So as to give our air assets an "easier" taking out their MBTs, APCs, etc.
We knew we may not always have Air Superiority. But stive for Air Parity. And would try to get local Air Superiority to again take on the massive amounts of AFVs, etc.

We did know that they may have had resupply problems as they crossed deeper into Western Europe. So as always Supply and C3 were also priority targets for Air, FA, etc.

"JAAT" – Join Air Attack Tm". Where the AH-1s hovering behind cover, pop-up fire is ordinance, goes back down behind cover.

And quickly A-10s would swoop down, open with their weapons, then get out of the AO. Jinxing, flying behind any higher cover, etc.

The AH1s[later AH64s] would pop-up again, fire, go back behind cover. Note they would probably move to another cover & concealed position. So as not to draw FA, etc.

Then the A-10s would attack again …
Repeat until you run of ammo & ordinance …

The JAAT was designed to assist with stemming the tide of USSR/WP armor/mech forces. That was expected to flood across the IGB if WWIII broke out.

Both Infantry and Tanks Bn have a Hvy Mortar 4.2in Plt. So that may be your best quickest "instant" support. But limited in range and fire power. The 4.2in mortar only has 4 Tubes.

Where a 155mm Bn has 24 tubes. In either 4 Btys of 6 or later 3 Btys of 8.
A Bn may have a FA Battery or even Bn in Direct Support, or Direct Support Reinforcing or General Support.
An FA BN may also be tasked with supporting other units as well. Not just 1 Inf or Tank Bn. Or even just a Squad Patrol could have some FA e.g. a Gun Plt in Direct Support.

Also larger Heavier FA Bns e.g. 8in. would be Div or Crops Cdrs assets. So only a Bde or Div Cdr would use those thru the TAC/ to the FDC, to support a Maneuver Bn. Rarely if ever a Bn wll get those big guns in Direct Support.

Even as a Co Cdr sometimes I'd carry my own Radio/PRC-77.

Radios have a tenancy to not work all the time. I've even as an Air Op Ofc, have to relay messages for the BC in the air to the other units in the command as he could not talk to them directly. Didn't know why ?

Many times the message would come across the net, "You are coming in broken & distorted. Moving to higher ground Over…" Which in fact might only be 50-100yds/m away.
Terrain and weather, along with power of signal based on batteries, etc., all effect the both the transmitting and receiving stations/radios. Not to mention radios can be
jammed. It happened to my Inf Bn in Panama from Russian Spy Trawlers off the coast.
How low would/could they fly ? If the terrain allowed it … well … I was standing on the back of truck with my radio. And the one A-10, flew by close enough for me to see him waving at us …

I commanded an M113 Mech Co. '87-'89. We were often attached to an M60 MBT Bn.
Note each US Army Mech Co. has a Section of 2 M901 ITVs organic to it's TO&E. Along with the Bn had an AT Co. of 3-4 Plts of ITVs, with 4-6 M901s each[can't remember which] .
So yes you need ITVs !

Each Mech Plt had 3 – M47 Dragon MAW. And M72 LAWs would be issued liberally as need.

The Air Land Battle doctrine is very much combined arm mobile warfare. Integrating not just Tanks and Infantry with FA support. But also helicopter gunships [AH1s then AH64s] to hover behind cover, pop up and fire their AT missiles at the WP hordes. Along with A-10s to provide direct support at well.

Our priority target for the WP forces besides HQs, was AAA systems to make it easier for our gunships and CAS to attrite the flood from the East.

Tanks, Infantry and ITVs work in combined arms teams and TFs with heavy support from FA, gunships and CAS. Along with CE support to slow up, attrite[mines] and channelize movement of the WP Forces into Kill Zones. The MBTs, Infantry and ITVs set up.

Part 2

We read Dragons At War before we did a rotation at the NTC, my second. [It sucked, the NTC !]

During REFORGER '88 4CMMB were our OPFOR and vis versa, of course.

Details about Armor/Mech Co. Tm Ops.

My Mech Co had 14 M113s, 4 in each of the 3 Plts. Plus one for the Cdr and another for the XO. All had M2 .50 cals
We would cross-attach with a Tank Bn. I'd trade one of my mech Plts for an M60 MBT Plt of 4 tanks.

So my Mech Hvy Co Tm would consist of :
2 Mech Plts of 4 tracks each
1 M60 Plt of 4 MBTs

My organic 2 M901 ITVs.
2 Cmd Tracks – mine & my XOs
1 M35 Cgo Trk
1 HMMWV[unarmored] We had M151 Jeeps before that.

The Tank Heavy Co. Tm would be basically the opposite –
2 MBT Plts
1 M113 Mech Plt
NO ITVs

Mech and Tank Bns would routinely cross attach to create Combined Arms Co. Tms and Bn Task Forces. That is doctrine …

Our Mech Hvy Bde consisted of:
2 Mech Bns
1 Tank Bn
1 SPFA M109 155mm, 24 tubes
1 Armored Cav Troop
1 Armored CE Co.
1 MP Plt
And the Bde HQ.

Both the Tank & Armored Bns had Bn assets of :
1 Sct Plt – 3 M113s & 3 ITVs
1 M106 SP 4.2 in Mortar Plts, 4 tubes

Basically the big difference between the Tank and Mech Bn to their TOEs was the Mech Bn had an M901 ITV Co.

The Tank Bn had enough Tank killers with their MBTs and had on need for ITVs. But again they had 3 in their Sct Plt like the Mech Bn.

The .50 cal on the M113 which usually stayed mounted unless in a Deliberate Defense where it was dug in.
When the Troops dismounted a Driver and Track Cdr[TC] would stay with the M113. Those would come from the Fire Tms. So your dismount strength would be reduced to 9 of the 11 in the Sqd. And in many cases we rarely deployed full Sqds., with injuries, sickness, Leaves, etc. So in some cases Fire Tms were only 3 troops.

As a Mech Cdr I'd place my ITV Section as required. I was lucky to have a very good ITV Sec NCO. He would normally got to an overwatch position as the Co./Co. Tm moved/advanced. Or set to cover likely enemy Avenues of Approach. Or as I directed.
AT killing weapon of the Mech Hvy Co. Tm:

2 Mech Plts – 36 Troops each

6 M47s 3/Plt – Max Rg 1000m, Penetration about 460mm

4 M203s fired HEDP rounds that could penetrate about 2 inchs of armor. Rg about 300m at Area Target, 250 or less at Point Target.

Note the M2 .50 cals could take out light armor, e.g. BMPs, BTRs, BMDs, etc. from the flank or rear. At 600m Based on terrain, light & weather conditions.

1 M60 Plt[4 tanks] cross attached from Tank Bn. The 105mm gun generally could effectively engage targets at about 2500m.

Plus my 2 ITVs which have a Max Rg of 3750m again based on conditions.

The M72 LAWs were issued like ammo and could hit a target at about 100m + or – even if it is rated at 250m. Could take out most Light Vehicles. With penetration of 150mm to 350mm
depending on version.

But for an MBT your best shot was to hit the tracks/road wheels or in the rear[if you were real "lucky" ! We practiced that with an M60 driving over our foxhole, a concrete sewer pipe. And we'd pop up and take a shot with an expended LAW to the rear. [Fun!!!]

The Bn ITV AT Co was really at the Bn Cdrs disposal along with the 4.2 Mortar Plt and Sct Plt. The ITV Plts would be place in overwatch, to cover likely avenues of approach, strengthen a sector, etc. Very rarely was one of the ITVs Plts attached to a Mech Co. And again the Mech had an organic ITV Sec of 2.

I had time today … so you may be sorry you asked !

Thanks for all the info and details, Legion 4.

It's all very useful.

Also, thank you for your service!

Note the M2 .50 cals could take out light armor, e.g. BMPs, BTRs, BMDs, etc. from the flank or rear. At 600m Based on terrain, light & weather conditions.

Is that with the SLAP round?

Wolfhag

Thank you Thresher !

Wolf, yes just using standard .50 cal ammo. Of course using SLAP and other AP rounds you will have better penetration. We used to always fire at plywood side and rear outlines of the BMP on the .50 Cal Range.