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SOVIET VOROSHILOV ACADEMY LECTURES
ARMY OPERATIONS

 

SAMPLE OPERATIONS DIRECTIVE


 

OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE OF 8TH GUARDS ARMY


 
 

I Approve --/--/89
Commander Eighth Guards Army
Major General ____
Sig

Serial Number:
SECRET
Copy Number:


OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE OF The commander of the Eighth Guards Army for offensive operations.


Command Post at Wickerstedt,___________, (time) _______________
(date), Map 1:250,000 August 1983 ed.

 
 

I. ENEMY SITUATION:

As a result of the development of acute international tension NATO is secretly engaged in bringing its armed forces to the state of full combat readiness and intends to launch a surprise attack on the territories of Warsaw Pact countries.

Elements of the U.S V Corps are deployed directly against the forces of the Eighth Guards Army. The first echelon of the corps is composed of the 3rd Armored Division and 8th Mechanized Infantry Division with a total of ___ nuclear missile systems, ___ nuclear artillery pieces, ___tanks, ___ artillery pieces and mortars, ___SAM systems, ___helicopters, and ___ fixed wing aircraft.

In the second echelon of the V Corps is the ___ Infantry Division and probably elements of West German tank forces will operate in the area, composed of ___ nuclear missile systems, ___ nuclear artillery pieces, ___ artillery pieces and mortars, ___ tanks, ___ SAM systems, and ___ combat helicopters.

The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and border troops are deployed in front of the forward defense area in the security zone. During the operation the combat action of the enemy forces will be supported by ___ combat aircraft with nuclear capability from the U.S. and West German national air forces and the 4th ATAF of Central Army Group.

In general the enemy can launch ___ nuclear rocket strikes and aerial bombs in the area of operation of the Eighth Guards Army and against rear services installations of the army and the front during the conduct of his operation.

The West German III Corps in the north and U. S. VII Corps in the south are deployed on the flanks of the U. S. V Corps. Their operations can affect the forces of the Eighth Guards Army. Movement and arrival of strategic reserves composed of U. S. and French armed forces and mobilization reserves of West Germany are likely during the operation in the area of the Eighth Guards Army.

The enemy tries to inflict losses on and destroy the Warsaw Pact forces and seize vital territories by a surprise and decisive offensive operation. If the Warsaw Pact forces overtake the enemy in initiation of offensive operations, the forces of the U. S. V Corps are likely to hold a pre-prepared defensive line along the Bad Hersfeld, Hiedervaule, Schlitz, Fulda, Gersfeld and Bad Heustadt line, to inflict maximum losses on the Eighth Guards Army by defensive action, and then launch counter strikes by the second echelon forces from the line of Birstein - Gedern in the direction of Grekenhain, Lauerbach, BAd Hersfeld, and from the line of Neustadt - Homberg in the direction of Kirtarf, Alsfeld -Niederaula.

 
 

II. MISSION CONDUCTED BY FORCES AND MEANS OF THE FRONT AND ADJACENTS.

a. The following targets in the army's attack area are destroyed by the front's rocket troops and aviation forces during the initial nuclear strike:
----- - enemy's nuclear weapons and nuclear depots in the area ___, ___, ____, and ___.
----- - enemy's airfields in the areas ___, ___, ___, ___, and ___.
----- - command posts of the Central Army Group in the area ___ and command posts of the 4th ATAF of the Central Army Group in the area ___.
----- - enemy's reserves in area ___, ___, ___, and ___.
----- - enemy's rear service installations in the area ___, ___, ___, and ___.

Twenty regimental sorties of the front's fighter- bomber aviation are allocated to the army to support the army's action during the offensive operation and five regimental sorties of the front's helicopter aviation and one transport aviation division from the main command of the air force are allocated to support the airborne assaults. These sorties will be covered by the front's fighter aviation during their flight.

b. Adjacents:

On the right flank of the army the First Guards Tank Army attacks in the direction of Bebra, Marburg, Herborn, Lindlar. Its immediate mission is to seize the line of Marsburg, Medebach, Ballenberg, and Marburg An Der Lahn; and its long range mission is to seize the line of Leverkusen, Bornheim, Rheinbach, and Hill 1251. The boundary with the right adjacent passes through Eilenburt, Eisenach, Hill 1427, Neuwied, and HIll 1610. All points are included in the Eighth Guards Army's area.

On the left flank of the army the Twenty-eighth Combined Arms Army attacks in the direction of Schweinfurt, Wurzburg, Mosbach, Wiesloca and west of Kreuznach. The immediate mission of the Twenty-eighth CAA is to seize the line of Gelnhausen, Ashaffenburg, Michelstadt, and Mosbach and its long range mission is to seize the line of Kira, Enkenbach, and Hill 456. The boundary line with the left adjacent passes through Mittwelda, Kahla, Hill 2435, Gersfeld, Bad Vilbel, Bingen and Trier. All points are included in the Twenty-eighth CAA area.

 
 

III. CONCEPT OF THE OPERATION

In the initial nuclear strike, by using ( ) nuclear rockets with a total yield of ( ) kilotons. The enemy's nuclear rocket and artillery troops in areas ___, his air force in areas ____, his main infantry and tank forces in areas ___, and the enemy's command posts at ___ are destroyed and decisive losses are inflicted on the enemy's air defense troops in areas ___, and on his rear service installations in areas ___.

Exploiting the results of the initial strategic nuclear strike and nuclear strikes of the front and army means the army attacks the enemy along the line of Bad Hersfeld, Schlitz, Fulda, and Gersfeld and develops its attack by its main forces; i.e. the 16th, 18th and 19th Motorized Rifle Divisions in the direction of Bad Hersfeld, Alsfeld, and Wetzlar; and during the operation by employing additional ( ) rockets with a total yield of ( ) kilotons destroys the main forces of the U. S. V Corps in the area; Bad Hersfeld, Alsfeld, Giessen, Echzell, Gedern, and Fulda and seizes on the third day the line of Wettenberg, Butzbach, Bad Nauheim, and Nidderau. Subsequently by committing the second echelon forces into the engagement the army develops the attack in the direction of Wetzlar, Limburg, Boppord, and Simmern and during the conduct of the operation, by using ( ) nuclear rockets with a total yield of ( ) kilotons destroys newly detected enemy nuclear weapons, destroys the enemy's approaching reserves from the line of march, conducts assault crossing over the Rhine River and with the cooperation of and by exploiting the success of the Twenty-eighth CAA encircles and destroys the main forces of the U. S. Vth and VIIth Corps and approaching strategic reserves, and on the 7th day of the operation seizes the line of Boos, Gillenbeuren, Bullay and Sohren.

The army's operational formation is established in two echelons:
----- - in the first echelon: the 16th, 18th, 19th, and 21st Motorized Rifle Divisions;
----- - in the second echelon: the 17th and 20th Tank Divisions;
----- - the 31st Separate Tank Regiment is the army's reserve.

 
 

IV. I ORDER

a. The 16th Motorized Rifle Division with one brigade of artillery of the VGK reserve, one anti-tank battalion and one engineer battalion is to attack the enemy on the line: Ludwigsau - Eichhof, to develop the attack in the direction of Bad Hersfeld - Rockerod, to destroy the enemy in the area of Ludwigsau, Gittersd, Rockerod, and Eichhof and seize the line of immediate mission at Untergeis, Go Bmannsrode, and south of Kirchheim by H + 8 hours. Subsequently the division is to continue the attack in the direction of Go Bmannsrode - Ottrau, destroy the enemy's division reserves in the area of Willingshain, Schorbach, Ottrau, and Kemmerod and seize the line of the subsequent mission at Schorbach, Ottrau and north of Lingellach by H + 14.

Then the division is to develop the attack in the direction of Ottrau, Alsfeld and Hill 384 and at the end of the day seize the line of west of Anlrifttal, Heimertshausen, and the stretch of route 49 to the south.

The future attack direction of the division for the next day is Heimertshausen and Hill 322. The division is to assign one reinforced BMP motorized rifle regiment as the forward detachment to destroy from the line of march the enemy's covering forces and border troops in the enemy's security zone and facilitate quick advance of the division's main forces to the forward defense line of the enemy.

For the conduct of the division's attack 15 nuclear, 5 chemical and 15 conventional rockets are allocated to the division. The use of nuclear and chemical weapons will be conducted only at signal and command of the front for the initial nuclear strike.

The division conducts the breakthrough of the enemy's main defensive line, at a 4 km front and during the artillery preparatory fire destroys and suppresses the enemy's strong points on the forward line and in depth, command posts, artillery and mortar batteries and enemy's immediate reserves.

On the left the 18th Motorized Rifle Division attacks. The boundary line with that division passes through Mohara, Hill 366, road junction southeast of Bad Hersfeld, Kleba, Lingellach, and Nieder.

During the penetration (breakthrough) of the enemy's defense, the destruction of the enemy's brigade reserve, development of the attack in depth and destruction of the enemy's division reserves are conducted in interaction with the 18th Motorized Rifle Division.

The division's command post during the penetration of the enemy's defense is to deploy 3 km west of Fredewald road junction, and the rear service control point during this phase is to deploy in ___.


b. The 18th Motorized Rifle Division with one artillery brigade of VGK artillery division, one anti-tank battalion and engineer battalion attacks the enemy at the line ___ (As for the 16th Div).


c. The 19th Motorized Rifle Division with two artillery battalions of the army's artillery brigade, two anti-tank batteries and two engineer companies attacks the enemy at the line ___ (as for the 16th Div).


d. The 21st Motorized Rifle Division with two artillery battalions from the army's artillery brigade, two anti-tank batteries and two engineer companies is to attack the enemy from the line ___ ( as for the 16th Div).


e. The 17th Tank Division is in the army's second echelon. The division is to deploy in departure (assembly) area in Vogelsberg, north of Weimar, Pfiffelbach, Niedar, Hardislehen. During the operation the division is to follow the 16th MRD by bounds at a distance of 40 - 60 km on at least 3 routes and be prepared to be committed into battle from the line No 1. (Bieber - Grund) with the mission to destroy the enemy's advancing reserves from the line of march and seize the line of Mengers, Ober and Seelbach. The direction of its future attack is Ober- Hadamar, Nassau.

The line NO. 2 of commitment is the line of ___ with the immediate mission line at ___ and the direction of future development of the attack at ___.

At the time of commitment, the division is reinforced by 3 artillery battalions, one anti-tank battalion and one engineer road construction battalion.

In case of the use of nuclear weapons, the division is allocated 15 nuclear, 5 chemical, and 15 conventional rockets.

The area of responsibility of the division to fight enemy's airborne assaults and his reconnaissance groups includes ___.


f. The 20th Tank Division is in the army's second echelon. It is to deploy ___ (As for the 17th TAnk Div).


g. Army's rocket brigade is to accomplish the following tasks:
-----1. destroy the following targets during the initial nuclear strike of the front:
----- - enemy's nuclear rocket, target No. 302 in the area of ___ by a 20 kt warhead, air burst at H - 00.20 or at the front's signal.
----- - enemy's nuclear rocket, target No. 203 in ___, by a 20 kt warhead, air burst at H - 00:20 or at front's signal.
----- - enemy's V Corps command post, target No. 304 in ___ by a 100 kt warhead, ground burst at H - 00:2- or at the front's signal.
----- - enemy's rear command post, target NO. 305, in ___ by a 100 kt warhead, ground burst at H - 00:20 or at the front's signal.
----- - airfield, target NO. 306, in ___ by a 50 kt warhead, air burst, at H - 00:20 or at the front's signal.
----- - airfield, target No 307, in ___ by 50 kt warhead, air burst, at H - 00:20 or at the front's signal.
----- - enemy's second echelon division in the area ___, ___, ___, and ___; including the following targets:
----- --targets NO. 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, and 313 - each by a 20 kt warhead, air burst, at H - 00:20 or at the front's signal.

(Note: Targets for divisional rocket strikes are also designated in the same way)

-----2. Time of delivery of nuclear and chemical rockets to the troops is P - 6 hrs. Time of delivery of conventional rockets to the troops is D - 3 days.

-----3. The status and situation of planned targets for nuclear strike are to be continuously followed and necessary adjustment in the plan of the nuclear strikes is to be made according to the actual situation.

-----4. Preparation of rocket troops for launch is to be kept at the highest state and technical rocket support of the rocket troops is to be organized in detail.

-----5. Position areas of rockets are to be well prepared in terms of engineer work and well camouflaged. Alternate positions for rockets are to be established and their protection against mass destruction weapons as well as the security and defense of rocket positions and mobile rocket bases must be organized and established.

-----6. To maximize the range of fire and to launch timely strikes on designated targets, timely relocation of positions and movement of rocket troops during the conduct of the operation, are to be planned and executed.


h. Artillery

1. The following artillery groups are to be established in army's large units and units:
----- - army artillery group (AAG): 10 artillery battalions;
----- - army reactive artillery group (AGRA): 4 BM-27 Bns.
----- - in the 16th and 18th Motorized Rifle Divisions:
----- -divisional artillery groups (DAG) of 6 artillery battalions each
----- - regimental artillery groups (RAG) on the main direction of 3 artillery battalions each;
----- - in the 19th and 21st Motorized Rifle Divisions:
----- - DAG of up to 4 artillery battalions each
----- - RAG on the main direction of 3 artillery battalions each


2. Artillery missions:

During the preparation, initiation and conduct of the offensive operation, the artillery is to accomplish the following tasks:
----- - destruction and suppression of the enemy's nuclear weapons;
----- - inflicting losses on the enemy during his aggression in the army's area. At this phase in addition to the security zone's regimental artillery, part of the divisional artillery is also assigned;
----- - inflicting losses on the enemy during crossing the international border and during the battle in the enemy's security zone by artillery units of forward detachments of the first echelon divisions, and part of the artillery of the first echelon divisions:
----- -inflicting losses on the enemy during breakthrough of the enemy's prepared defense and particularly destruction of strong points, destruction of artillery and mortar batteries, and command posts, and suppression of the enemy's immediate reserves;
----- - destruction and suppression of the enemy and providing support for own troops during the assault support fire during the combat in the forward defense area of the first echelon brigades;
----- - providing fire support for attacking troops during the combat action in the depth of the enemy in the form of accompanying fire;
----- - inflicting losses on the enemy during his counter-attacks and counter- strikes;
----- - support of the army troops during assault river crossing;
----- - support and covering of open flanks and gaps between combat formations;
----- - struggle against enemy's artillery and mortars during the conduct of the offensive operation in the depth of the enemy's defense;
----- - support of the commitment of the second echelon troops and combined arms reserves into combat.


3. The density of the artillery for the breakthrough of the enemy's prepared defense during the preparatory fire is 100 - 120 guns and mortars per kilometer of front, duration of the preparatory fire is 30 - 40 minutes and the ammunition expenditure is 0.8 - 1.0 units of fire. the density of artillery during the commitment of the second echelon forces into combat is to be 40 - 60 guns and mortars per kilometer of front and the duration of artillery preparatory fire is 15 - 20 minutes with an expenditure of 0.6 - 0.8 units of fire.


4. The assault support fire is to be conducted in the form of successive concentration of fire on one or two lines, single or double attack moving barrage to the depth of the first echelon battalions i.e. 4 - 5 kms.


5. The accompanying fire is conducted by the method of concentration of fire and massive fire on individual targets.


I. Organic and attached aviation troops are to conduct the following missions during the preparation and conduct of the operation.
----- - participation in the preparatory fire and assault support and accompanying fire during the conduct of the operation to destroy nuclear weapons and nuclear depots, command posts, to destroy and suppress enemy's deep reserves, air defense and radar positions, rear service installations, signal centers, aircraft guidance points, as well as the command posts and positions of radio electronic warfare systems during the attack.
----- - conduct of air reconnaissance and air photography in support of the army's operation and reconnaissance for damage assessment of targets hit by friendly nuclear strikes. Up to the initiation of the attack, the reconnaissances to be conducted only by observation and aerial photography using fixed wing aircraft and helicopters along the state borders without crossing the border.
----- - support and covering of the troops and army's targets against enemy's air strikes during the preparation and conduct of the operation;
----- - the flight (sortie) resources are to be distributed as follows:
---------- --a. to the 16th and 18th MRD's 3 fighter - bomber aviation squadron sorties each per day;
---------- --b. to the 19th and 21st MRD's 2 fighter- bomber aviation squadron sorties each per day
----- - conduct struggle against the enemy tanks by combat helicopters;
----- - insert airborne assault troops (desants) by transport helicopters in the rear of the enemy in accordance with separate plans;


J. to Air defense troops;

The air defense troops are to conduct the following missions during the preparation and conduct of the operation:
----- - covering of the main combined arms and tank troops in the FUP areas, during the breakthrough of the enemy's prepared defense and in the depth of the enemy area;
----- - covering of rocket and artillery troops in the departure (FUP) area, during their firing and during the conduct of the operation;
----- - covering of command posts in the departure area and during the conduct of the operation;
----- - covering of rear service installations in the departure area and during the operation;
----- - covering of reserves and second echelon troops in the departure area, during their movement and their commitment into combat;
----- - covering of desants in their departure areas, during their flight, in their landing areas in the depth of the enemy's area, and during their combat actions;
----- - covering of the troops during the assault river crossing;
----- - covering the troops during the repulsion of the enemy's counter strikes.


2. The fire, reconnaissance and warning systems of the army's air defense troops are to be coordinated with the fire and reconnaissance systems of the front and divisions' air defense troops and fighter aviation of the front air army and national air defense forces as part of an integrated unified plan so that massive strikes of the enemy's air force can be effectively repelled.


3. During the preparation and conduct of the operation, all air defense troops of the army and lower echelons (troops) are to be brought to the state of full combat readiness so that they will be ready to repel the enemy's air strikes. In any situation one third of the air defense troops must be kept at combat duty status.


4. Appropriate positions for the air defense troops are to be prepared in terms of engineer work. In addition to the main positions, alternate positions are to be established as well.


5. The movement of the air defense troops during the preparation and conduct of the attack is conducted in a way so that at critical phases of the operation all or the bulk of the air defense troops of the army and the troops have occupied positions to repel the enemy's air strikes and they are ready for the execution of their mission.


k. Airborne Assault troops (Desant)

During the operation two airborne assaults are conducted:


1. A tactical airborne assault by a reinforced motorized rifle battalion from the 20th Tank Division with a mortar battery.
----- - The departure area for the Desant is ___ and it should be occupied at 0600 on the first day of the operation for a 24 hrs period of preparation for the Desant force.
----- - The desant is airlifted by the front's transport helicopter regiment and it is supported by two fighter aviation squadrons.
----- - The desant is landed in the enemy's rear in the area ___ at 0600 on the second day of the operation.
----- - The mission of the Desant is to destroy the enemy's nuclear depot and to seize and destroy the enemy's command post in ___.
----- - Prior to the landing, the enemy's reserves and other targets in the landing area are initially hit by front's fighter-bomber aviation and then by rocket troops using conventional warheads. Positions of the enemy's air defense means and airfields in the flight corridor of the helicopters are suppressed and destroyed by the air force.
----- - Planning of the airborne assault for movement and landing isto be worked out by the helicopter regiment commander in cooperation with the army's operations directorate and the commander of the airborne assault force.
----- - The troop control during the preparation for Desant is conducted from the command post of the helicopter regiment in the departure area for the Desant, and then during the operation it is conducted from the army's command post and the Desant Battalion's command/observation post.


2. Operational airborne assault (Desant) by an airborne assault regiment reinforced by one towed artillery battalion.
----- - The departure area for this Desant is ___ and it is to be occupied at 0800 on the fourth day of the operation for the preparation of the Desant.
----- - The Desant is air-lifted by an aviation transport division from the air force main command and one transport helicopter regiment and it is covered during the flight and landing by two fighter aviation regiments.
----- - The landing is in the rear of the enemy in area ___ at 0600 on the fifth day of the operation.
----- - The mission of the Desant is to seize a bridgehead on the Rhine River, destroy enemy logistic depots and to assist the army troops during the assault river crossing at the Rhein.
----- - Prior to the landing, the enemy's targets in the landing area and his close-by airfields are initially hit by fighter-bomber and bomber aviation and then by rocket troops using conventional warheads. Enemy's air defense means and radars located in the flight corridor of the Desant are destroyed by the air force, rocket troops and artillery.
----- - Planning of the Desant for movement and landing is to be worked out by the commander of the aviation transport division in cooperation with the army staff and airborne assault regiment.
----- - The troops control during the preparation for the Desant is conducted from the command p;ost of the aviation transport division and command post of the airborne assault regiment, while during the combat action it is conducted from the army's command post and the command post of the airborne assault regiment in the combat action area.


L. Combined Arms Reserve

The 91st Separate Rank Regiment is the combined arms reserve of the army and it is to deploy in area ___ and follow the 18th Motorized Rifle Division by bounds at a 30 - 40 km distance and be prepared for unexpected missions during the conduct of the operation.


M. Army's Anti-tank Reserve:

1. The army's artillery anti-tank reserve is the 51st Anti-tank Regiment from the VGK artillery division. It is to deploy in area ___ and conduct struggle against tanks on the army's main attack direction. The likely fire lines of the anti-tank reserve to repel the enemy's tank counter-attack during the operation are as follows:
----- Line NO 1: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.
----- Line NO 2: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.
----- Line NO 3: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.
----- Line NO 4: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.

The army's anti-tank reserve moves during the operation on the direction of the army's main attack following the 16th MRD.

2. The combat helicopter Regiment, in addition to support of the army troops during the operation, is to conduct struggle atgainst enemy tanks. It is to deploy in the area ___ and be prepared to fight the enemy tanks on the following lines:
----- Line NO 1: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.
----- Line NO 2: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.
----- Line NO 3: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.
----- Line NO 4: The line of ___ in the direction of ___.


N. Mobile Obstacle Detachment (POZ) is the first and second companies of the army's obstacle battalion. |It is to deploy in area ___ and move and operate with the anti-tank reserve to repel enemy tanks.


O. Engineer Reserve is the 1st Battalion of the Combat Engineer Regiment, the 1st Road and Bridge Battalion and the 1st Battalion of the Pontoon Bridge Regiment. After accomplishment of assigned misions during the preparation of the army's operation, the engineer reserve is to deploy in area ___ and be prepared to conduct unexpected missions during the operation. In the course of the conduct of the operation it is to follow the 18th Motorized Rifle Division.


P. Chemical Reserve:

The chemical reserve is composed of the army's separate chemical protection battalion. It is to be prepared to conduct unexpected missions in the course of the operation. The chemical reserve is to deploy in area ___ and move during the operation in the direction ___.


Q. Time of readiness of the troops for the operation is at 2400 hrs on ___.

The norms of mobile reserves of material means during the operation are to be kept as follows:
----- - 1. Infantry weapons - 1.15 units of fire
----- - 2. Arty and mortars - 1.3 units of fire
----- - 3. Reactive arty - 1.3 units of fire
----- - 4. Tanks ammunition - 2.6 units of fire
----- - 5. Air defense ammo - 2.5 units of fire
----- - 6. Auto gasoline - 2.6 refills
----- - 7. Diesel fuel - 3.1 refills
----- - 8. Foodstuffs - 15 daily rations


V. Control of army troops
------ The army CP is in Wickerstedt.
------ The army's rear control post is at Tumpling.
------ The army's FCP is at Walresleben.

The direction of relocation of the FCP, CP, and Rear CP during the operation, is the direction of Waldfisch, Schenklengsfeld, Grunberg, Weilmunster, Ober Dammerschausen.

The signal communication from army's CP to the front's commander and staff and with the subordinate, adjacent, and interacting troops is to beestablished by radio, radio-relay, telephone, and mobile communications means with strict observation of the rules of secrfecy of the troop control.

My deputies are:
The chief of Staff, first deputy army commander, chief of political affairs, and commander of the 16th MRD.

Chief of Operations Directorate:
(Signature)

Chief of Staff of the army
(Signature )