| When making your plan,
consider these principles: |
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Objective
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Offensive
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Mass
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Economy
of Force
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Maneuver
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Unity
of Command
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Security
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Surprise
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Simplicity
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| Objective:
Direct all of your operations towards a defined, decisive, and
obtainable objective. Your objectives are selected based on the overall
criteria of the overall mission of your higher commanders. You must
understand their intent and ensure your subordinates understand your
intent. Do not get sidetracked performing other tasks that do not
support your objectives. Sometimes players like to make sure they
wipe out every last enemy on the map even if that has nothing to do with
the objective. (Say taking a terrain features or exiting friendly units
from the map). a good Mission commander sets goals, are they to
occupy a victory location are they to exit forces? Note that in these
two cases running around capturing or killing every enemy unit does not
necessarily get you any closer to your objective and may actually
prevent you from attaining it |
| Offensive:
Seize, retain and Exploit the initiative. An offensive spirit must be
maintained in the conduct of defensive operations The defense must be
active not passive. This is because offensive action, in whatever form,
maintains freedom of action and achieves results. Make the enemy react
to your moves not visa versa. The offensive permits you to capitalize on
the initiative and impose your will on the enemy, set the terms and pace
of the battle, exploit enemy vulnerabilities and react to rapidly
changing situations. Having identified what you objective is, maneuver
your forces to attain it. Force the enemy to react to you, sure he may
pull stuff but if he’s not directly threatening your main effort then
press on. |
|
Mass: Concentrate
combat power at the decisive place and time.
This superiority results from the proper combination of elements
of combat power placed at the right location and time of the commanders
choosing in order to retain the initiative. This is how you achieve
decisive results. Do not commit forces piecemeal when all out action are
called for. If there is no need for you to spread forces all over the
map then keep them together. Mass firepower is what will suppress enemy
units and win battles. Keep your forces together don’t water down your
main effort. |
| Economy of Force:
Allocate minimum combat power to secondary efforts. This allows you to
concentrate mass in vital sectors. Do not detract forces from the main
effort for secondary objectives. For example, can one squad suffice to
accomplish something instead of a whole platoon? If so you can attach
those extra squads to your company commander and use them as a reserve |
| Maneuver:
Place the enemy at a disadvantage through the flexible application of
combat power. The most successful battles are the ones you never have to
fight because you have forced the enemy to abandon or weaken his
position due to out maneuvering him. Otherwise similar results would
have to be attained by hard fighting and casualties. Maneuver sustains
the initiative, exploits success and maintains freedom of action.
Utilize cover and concealment to move your forces. If you run into an
obstacle (i.e. an enemy TA gun, look to maneuver around the kill zone
rather than engage in destroying it, unless it is vital to your
objective |
| Unity of Command:
For every objective ensure the unity of effort under one responsible
commander. While coordination can be achieved through cooperation, it is
best achieved by vesting responsibility in a single commander.
Many great military disasters have at their heart been caused by
a violation of this principle. |
| Security:
Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage. Security is
the protection of combat power. Security results from the measures taken
by a commander to protect his forces from surprise, observation,
detection, interference, espionage, sabotage or annoyance. Risk in an
inherent condition in war; application of the principle of security does
not suggest overcautiousness or the avoidance of calculated risk.
Develop a security plan for your operations. For instance, where can
enemy forces surprise me? What forces do I have to observe those avenues
of approach and react if necessary |
| Surprise:
Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he
is unprepared. This is the opposite or reciprocal.
Concealing your own intentions or forces allows you to strike the
enemy unawares. In a limited intelligence game like CM, make maximum use
of deadspace, concealed routs and cover when maneuvering. It is
essential that the enemy be taken unaware and in a manner that leaves
him too late to react effectively. Maintain an adequate reserve to deal
with threats and to have around for the end game when many of your units
will either be fought out or low on ammo. (So will the enemy). |
| Simplicity:
Prepare clear uncomplicated plans and clear concise orders in order to
ensure thorough understanding. Direct, simple plans and clear concise
orders are essential to reduce the chances of misunderstanding and
confusion. Other factors being equal the simplest plan executed promptly
is better then a complex plan executed later |
| In small unit tactics any thing can be done, as long as
the following four principles are not violated. Remember PRCS |
|
Planning:
Does everyone have a thorough understanding of what they are to do.
This can either be through detailed operations orders, rehearsal,
through Standard Operating procedures or immediate action drills.
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Reconnaissance:
This is a continual process. Are you aware of what lays ahead, what
the terrain situation is, what the enemy situation is? Do not move
into unknown areas blind as you most likely wont’ leave them in
one piece.
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Control:
At all times during the event or action you must maintain control
over your forces. If forces are out of your communication or
influence, then you have lost control or use of those forces, your
level of danger has increased.
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Security:
Always maintain 360 degree security at all times. Violation of this
principle leads unpleasant surprises at the hands of the enemy
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