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The second echelon of the army as a rule is
entered into combat on the main axis to widen the offensive. Also the second
echelon is used to buildup the strength of the basic power of the strike of the
first ehcelon forces during the destruction of the enemy's reserves, during
changing the main forces from one axis to anotgher, and also for reenforceing
the forces of first echelon which have taken heavy losses. In the situation
when the army's second echelon is two divisions theintroduction of them into
the engagement isaccomplished one after the other or simultaneously bith
division on one axis or with them on two separate axes. thesecond echelon as a
rule is introduced into the egagement at the conclusion of accomplishment of
the army's immedtiate mission or at the beginning of the subsequent mission,
but in accordance with the situation the second echelon may enter combat on the
first day of the operation. The second echelon go into the engagement in a gap
in the enemy's combat formation and also on the axis which is weakly held by
the enemy. One of the most important missions of army troop control is the
organization and direction of the commitment into engagement of the second
echelon. The activities of the commander and staff and other organs of troop
control in organizing the commitment into engagement and support of the combat
actions of the second ehcleon are designated in accordance with the conditions
of the situation and the assigned missions of the army forces during the
commitment of the second ehcelon. the army commander during planning of the
operation designates the approximate lines on which the second ehcleon will be
committed, but during the time for the commitment of the second echelon the
army commander in accordance with the operational situation makes his decision
on the exact line for commitment. the staff and army troop control organs
receive the following information for making the decision report it to the army
commander:
the chief of reconnaissance explains the following:
----- location, character of actions, groupings, and composition of the enemy
forces;
----- regions weakly held by the enemy and dimensions of mine fields natural
obstacles;
----- enemy's close reserves and their capabilities during the commitment of
second echelon and the course of the operation;
----- possible concept of enemy's actions;
----- enemy strong and weak points;
----- most important reconnaissance missions during the commitment of the
second ehc leon and the available reconnaissance forces;
The chief of operations explains the following:
----- the location, character aof actions, and capabilities of own forces;
----- locations of the second echelon, most advantageous lines for the
commitment;
----- calculation of the correlation of the forces and means of the sides on
the entire width of the ofensive and on the width of the axisof commitment of
the second echelon, possible changes inthe correlation of forces during the
commitment;
----- best axis and movement routes fo the movement of the second wechelon ;
----- calculations on the march, deployment and commitment into action forthe
second echelon;
----- organization of command's service for hte march;
----- organization of troop control during the commitment;
----- inspection and rendering assistance to the forces;
The chief of artillery and rocket troops explains the following:
----- reenfocement of the second ehcleon with artillery and organizing the
divisional and regimental artillery groups during the commitment into engement
of the second echelon;
----- suppoprting the sechon echelon during commitment and missions for army
artillery and rocket forces, and adjacent divisions;
----- duration of the artillery fire preparation or fire strike, and resupply
of ammunition;
----- which artillery will be employed for support of the commitment and
density of artillery per kilometer of front;
----- methods for artillery assault support and accompanying fire;
----- covering dangerous flanks of the second echelon during its commitment by
the anti-tank reserves and mobile obstacle detachements;
the chief of army air defense explains the following:
----- covering the sechon echelon forces in their assembly areas, during their
movement forward, and on the line of commitment;
----- covering the secheon echelon forces during the operation;
----- reconnaissance of the enemy aerial threat and warning the sechon echelon
during movement and commitment;
the chief of engineer forces explains the following:
----- reenforcement of second echelon with engineer forces during commitment; |
----- providing engineer reconnaissance of the location and movmeent routes and
line of commitment of sechon ehcelon;
----- preparation of roads for movement and deployment of second echelon;
----- creation of lanes in enmey mine fields if there are any;
----- cover of sechon echelon flanks with the mobile obstacle detachements
during the threat of enemy counterattack in interaction with the anti-tank
reserves;
The chief of staff explains the following:
----- brief summary and assesment of the enmy:
----- location, character of actions, groupings of forces and possible concept
of operation of enemy;
----- best lines for commitment of secondecheonl;
----- immediate enemy reserves and their reaction and capabilities during the
time for commitment and course of the operation;
----- strong and weak aspects of enemy;
Suggestions on making the decision about commitment more precise :
------forces and means for reinforcement, line and best time for commitment of
sechon echelon, methods for destruction of enemy, axis for main attack,
immeidate mission, and axis for further attack;
----- axis and direction of movement for sechon echelon into commitment;
----- cover and support of second echelon during movement and at movemnt of
commitment into engagement;
----- most important questions about interaction;
The army commander as a result of the all around assxessment of the situation,
and suggestions of chief ofstaff and arms of services, makes his decision on
the commitment of the second echelon and issues his combat instructions on the
commitment, in which the following are ordered:
----- brief assessment of enemy forces;
----- forces and means for reenforcement of second ehcleon, line an time for
commitment, methods for destruction of enemy, axis for main attack, immeidate
mission, axis for further attack, and routes for movement to the line of
commitment;
----- missions for army arms and services in the interest of the commitment of
the second echelon, and also missions for first echelon divisions in support of
the commitment;
----- basic questions of interaction during this period;
----- time required to be ready for accomplishment of missions;
----- troop control, signal issues, and deputies.
The army staff in accordance with commander's decision, issuesmissions to the
forces, organizes and reenforces reconnaissance on the axis of commitment of
second echelon. The chief of engineer forces issues missions to engineer forces
for preparing the routes for movement and deployment of second echelon. The
army commander and staff with the aim of inflicting a defeat on the
opposingenemy grouping and successfuly commitment in the second echelon
orgnaizesinteraction between the rocket forces andartillery, air forces, PVO,
forces of the first ehcleon thatoperation on thataxis, and also direct the
strike ofrocket forces and artillery, air forces, and active actions of first
echelon against the opposing enemy. the army staff before time on the axis for
commitment deploys the forward command post in order tfor the army caommander
to be able to control the forces.
Forcing a water obstacle during the offensive
During offensive operations the army forces will be required to force several
rivers and canals. Forcing water obstacles is conducted suddenly, by surprise,
from the march, on a wide frontage and with great speed. The forcing forces
must develop the offensive cross the obstacle without an interruption. If the
attempt at a forced crossingfrom the march does not succeed, in this case
forcing the obstacle is organized in a brief time. Forcing narrower rivers, up
to 60 meterswide, is conducted by the division'sforces and means, andmedium
rivers (width from 60 - 150 meters) by the army forces, and wide rivers 9over
150 meters) by thefrontforces and means. The army commander makes his decision
on river crossingsbefore the arrival of the forces at theriver on the map. the
missions for forces are established in order for them to have the required time
to implement preparatory measures. the staff and troop control organs prepare
the required information formaking the decision for river crossing and report
it to the commander.
The chief of reconnaissance explains the following:
----- organization and conduct of required detailed and constant reconnaissance
on the enemy, the river crossing locations, and the far bank, and regions deep
on the far side.
----- forces and means of the retreating enemy and their possible actions;
----- forces and means and character of action of enemy forces that are
defending the water obstacle;
----- character of engineer defenses on the river and the quantity of mine
fields, forces and means and situation and possibilities of enemy reserves
accross the obstacle, and approaching enemy reserves;
----- quantity and capabilitiy of bridges and crossing sites and fords accross
the river;
----- designating the areas that are not occupies or are weakly head by the
enemy;
Chief of operations reports on the following:
----- location, composition, and capabilities of own forces;
----- designated sectors for crossing for each division of first echelon and
methods for movement to the river crossing;
----- mission for seizing bridges and crossing sites that may be possible and
sugggestions on conducting an aerial assault or landing or sending a forward
detachement and itsf orces and composition;
----- destruction or suppression of enemy defending the river;
----- protection of forces against weapons of mass destrucxtion in the river
crossing area;
----- organization of commandant's service in the crossing region in close
interaction with the chief of engineer forces;
----- conduct of measures for maskirovka during the movement, during the
crossing and in the crossing region, and inspection of maskirovka
measures, and creation of dummy (false) crossings;
The chief of ehgineers reports about the following:
----- conduct of detailed and active engineer reconnaissance of the water
obstacle and determination of its depth, width, velocity of flow, and condition
of banks andtype of bottom, and the quantity of hydro technical installations
(dams) and others;
----- conduct of calculationson the crossing;
----- designation of the location for crossing;
----- distribution of the crossing means between the formations and by crossing
sites;
----- making approach rotes to the crossings;
----- on time movement of crossing means to the crossing sites;
----- organization of rapid crossing areas and and maneuver of crossing means;
----- detailed organization of maskirovka of the crossing region and
creation of false crossing areas in interaction with the chief of the
operations directorate;
----- organization of commandant's service in the crossing areas in interaction
with the chief of operations;
----- protection of the crossing region against enemy floating mines and other
explosives in interaction with the chief of operations;
The chief of rocket forces an artillery explains the following:
----- support of the conduct of air assault and forward detachements by rocket
forces and artillery;
----- destruction and suppression of enemy which is defending the far bank of
the obstacle;
----- support of crossing area and conduct of the crossing by army forces by
rocket and artillery forces;
----- support of army actions on the far bank and during the development of the
offensive into the depth;
The chief of the center for control of the air army reports on the following:
----- organization of air reconnaissance on the enemy, the bridges and crossing
areas;
----- conduct of attack on the retreating enemy forces, especially while he is
assembling to cross;
----- conduct of destruction of enmey approaching reserves and interdiction so
he cannot reach the river;
----- destruction of enemy that is defending on the water obstacle;
----- support for the army forces during the approach march, the crossing
itself, and the battle on the far side;
----- cover for the army forces from enemy air strikes;
----- conduct of air assaults with the aim of siezing bridges or crossing
sites;
the chief of air defense reports on the following:
----- cover of forces during the approach to the obstacle;
----- required air defense in the crossing region for bridges and sites and
cover for forces during the crossing;
----- cover for army rear services;
----- cover for forces during the battle accross the river;
----- with the aim acting against enemy active air strikes employing fighter
aviation on duty in the air and at airfields;
----- reconnaissance against enemy air attacks and warning of forces of air
strikes;
The chief of staff discusses the following points:
----- with the aim of helping the army commander to make a trustworthy
decision, he reports on the following topics:
----- brief conclusions and estimate of the situation;
----- enemy forces:
----- composition, forces, character of actions of the retreating enemy, enemy
that is defending the obstacle line, and possible reserves accross the water
and approaching forces;
----- characteristics of the water crossing:
----- width, depth, velocity of water, and other characteristics of the water
obstacle and in accordance with these what kind of forces and means are needed
for forcing the crossing;
----- own forces:
----- location, composition |