Advance in General

Question 1

Reasons For Advance

Answer 1

1. The advance to contact.
2. The follow up of a planned strategic
   withdrawal.
3. Pursuit

Question 2

1. The Advance to Contact

Answer 2

a. Opposed by enemy unbeaten in
battle.
b. Enemy operating in coordinated plan.
c. Initiative on both sides.
d. Wide recce is a must.
e. Main force must be kept concentrated
in a fight.
f. Speedy action is required.

Question 3

2. The Follow up of a Planned Strategic Withdrawal

Answer 3

a. Enemy’s strategic withdrawal plan.
b. Capable of counter strike by the
enemy.
c. Maintain contact at all times.
d. Speed and bold action is necessary.
e. Retain balance at all times.
f. Exploit initiative.

Question 4

3. Pursuit

Answer 4

a. Follow the defeated enemy.
b. Enemy’s morale and resistance is
reduced.
c. Bold action, initiative, taking risks and
speed is necessary.
d. Pre-planned deep penetration is
necessary.
e. Some elements of security sacrificed
for need of speed and to maintain
contact.

Question 5

Basic Considerations of Advance
(CSM FLAG SD)

Answer 5

1. Combat intelligence
2. Seizure and maintenance of initiative
3. Maintenance of momentum
4. Security
5. Flexibility
6. Logistics
7. Adequate air support
8. Grouping and order of march
9. Deception

Question 6

1. Combat Intelligence

Answer 6

Detailed info about:

Question 7

2. Seizure and Maintenance of Initiative

Answer 7

a. Wrest the initiative from the very
beginning.
b. Never lose contact.
c. Maintain continued pressure by day
and night.
d. Never allow enemy to regain control.

Question 8

3. Maintenance of Momentum

Answer 8

a. Mental alertness of commanders and
continue relentless offensive action.
b. Never lose contact.
c. Correct grouping and OOM.
d. Adequate air support.
e. Continuous logistic support.
f. Containing or bypassing major
opposition.
g. Overcoming or destroying minor
opposition.
h. Ability of a force to move on difficult
terrain.
i. Employment of heliborne/airborne
troops to capture areas in depth.

Question 9

4. Security

Answer 9

a. Recce of front as far forward as
possible and recce of flank.
b. Adequate protection from front, flank
and rear.
c. Signal security.
d. Correct grouping and OOM.
e. Adequate air defense measures.
f. Strict control of movement and traffic
discipline.

Question 10

5. Flexibility

Answer 10

a. Decentralization
b. Advance in wide front.
c. Maintain adequate reserve.
d. Availability of laterals for switching of
forces from one axis to another.
e. Continuous signal communication.

Question 11

6. Logistics

Answer 11

a. Correct calculation and anticipation
of resources required.
b. Cutting down on non-essentials.
c. Maximum use of local resources.
d. Use of helicopters or air drop for
supplies and supply of ammunition.

Question 12

7. Grouping and Order of March

Answer 12

a. Mission.
b. Availability of resources.
c. Strength and likely pattern of
operations of the enemy.
d. Terrain.

Question 13

Planning Considerations of Advance

Answer 13

1. Mission
2. Enemy
3. Terrain
4. Time and Space
5. Weather
6. Air Support
7. Security
8. Surprise
9. Place and conduct of battle

Question 14

4. Time and Space

Answer 14

a. Time at which advance is to
commence.
b. Time by which advance is to complete.
c. Time and location where enemy is
likely to be encountered.
d. Time required for clearing the
opposition.

Question 15

8. Surprise

Answer 15

a. Simulate move of force backed by air
effort and radio deception.
b. Air and ground recce on as wide a
front as possible.
c. Raid on HQs and gun areas.
d. ECM and ECCM technology.
e. Switching of forces on alternative
axes.
f. Use of adverse weather conditions and
night.

Question 16

How is Command and Control achieved during Advance?

Answer 16

1. Briefing
2. Order
3. Position of commander
4. Communication
5. Good traffic control
6. Good battle procedure and
   deployment drill

Question 17

Tactical Grouping during Advance

Answer 17

1. Reconnaissance Element
2. Advance Guard
3. Flank Guard
4. Main Body
5. Rear Guard

Question 18

1. Reconnaissance Element

Answer 18

a. To locate the enemy delaying
positions.
b. Detect gaps or lightly held areas in the
enemy defensive system.
c. To obtain info on going and routes.

Question 19

Composition

Answer 19

Based on armor and/or mechanized infantry sub-unit strengthened with other supporting arms, composition depends on the frontage to be covered, likely enemy position and nature of the mission assigned.

Question 20

The extent of the frontage and the degree of search depends upon:

Answer 20

1. Terrain
2. Resources
3. Intercommunications

Question 21

Functions of Advance Guard

Answer 21

1. To prevent the main body from
   running blindly into the enemy.
2. To drive minor opposition or secure a
   firm base and cover the deployment of
   the main body if the opposition is too
   strong.
3. To give info about the enemy, ground,
   routes and obstacles.

Question 22

Composition of Advance Guard

Answer 22

1. An armored squadron
2. A platoon of ATGM, if available.
3. A forward battery and a troop light
   battery.
4. A platoon of engineers.
5. Medical detachment.
6. A tentacle with air control team.

Question 23

Composition of Van Guard

Answer 23

1. An armored squadron.
2. An infantry company with:
   a. MFC from mortar platoon.
   b. An assault team pioneer section.
   c. Detachment of Intelligence and
   surveillance section.
   d. Battlefield nursing assistant.
3. A detachment of ATGM, if available.
4. A section of engineers.
5. A FOO.

Question 24

Bypassing (Points to be considered)

Answer 24

1. Do not bypass strong points and
   conversely do not allow enemy to slip
   away.
2. Firm policy laid down.
3. During “break-out” operations bypass
   minor oppositions.

Question 25

Advance by Night (Factors to be Considered)

Answer 25

1. Need for maintaining continuous pressure on the enemy. 2. Suitability of terrain for cross country movement of vehicle. 3. Surprise 4. ECM capability of both. 5. Degree of air threat and visibility. 6. NVDs held by both. 7. Advance is slow.

Question 26

Maintenance of Momentum at Night

Answer 26

1. Self-contained. 2. Continued artillery support. 3. Use of fresh troops. 4. Evolve a good drill when contact with the enemy. 5. Bypass known enemy position. 6. Practice night movement and navigation. 7. Smooth passing through of follow-up force.

Question 27

Preliminary Operations (Preparations)

Answer 27

1. Establishment of concentration area, concentration of force, marrying up and combined training including rehearsal. 2. Detailed planning and order. 3. Coordination with all arms. 4. Deployment of guns to support the advancing column. 5. Ensure serviceability of all equipment, weapons and transport. 6. Ensure that the troops are self- contained for arms, ammunitions and POL for the required period.

Question 28

Preliminary Ops

Answer 28

1. Securing of Start Point 2. Securing of tactical features in close proximity from where enemy may interfere. 3. Containing/capturing BOPs. 4. Concentration of force across own obstacles on which own fdls may lie.

Question 29

Reasons for Night Advance

Answer 29

1. Combat is not restricted to day operations only. 2. More surprise is achieved. 3. Prevent enemy's readjustment and regrouping. 4. Problem of obtaining favorable air situation. 5. Availability of highly developed NVDs. 6. Ideal for deploying forces for first light attack.

Question 30

How is Maintenance of Momentum achieved during Advance? (Basic Consideration)

Answer 30

1. Mental alertness of commanders and relentless offensive action. 2. Never losing contact. 3. Overcoming and destroying minor opposition. 4. Containing and bypassing major opposition, provided it does not prejudice the security of rest of the force or hinder its forward build up. 5. Correct grouping and order of march, good signal communications, well- rehearsed deployment drills and commanders being well forward. 6. The ability of a force to move speedily over different types of terrain by different modes of transport and fight under all conditions. 7. Continuous logistic support. 8. Adequate air support. 9. Employment of airborne/heliborne force to capture objectives in depth.

Question 31

How can Security be achieved during Advance? (Basic Consideration)

Answer 31

1. Wide reconnaissance including air reconnaissance of the front and the flanks. 2. Adequate protection from the front, flanks and rear. 3. Correct grouping and order of march. 4. Strict control of movement and good traffic discipline. 5. Signal security. 6. Adequate air defense measures.

Question 32

How is Grouping and Order of March influenced during Advance? (Basic Consideration)

Answer 32

1. Mission 2. Strength and likely pattern of the operations of the enemy. 3. The terrain. 4. Additional resources available to the force.

Question 33

Combat Intelligence during Advance (Basic Consideration).

Answer 33

The success of an advance will depend on speedy acquisition of intelligence, both before and during the operation through all available sources. Detailed information about the enemy, terrain, obstacles and his likely pattern of operations forms the basis of the plan. As the advance progresses, ground reconnaissance on a wide front coupled with aerial reconnaissance will enable the commander to confirm or modify his initial plan and to exploit fleeting opportunities in battle, optimum use should be made of latest devices like RVPs, SLAR and surveillance radars to update the combat intelligence.

Question 34

Seizure and Maintenance of Initiative during Advance (Basic Consideration).

Answer 34

The commander must seize the initiative from the very start. He must clearly know what his aim is and take every step to maintain or regain the initiative throughout the operation. Once contact has been made with the enemy, it must never be lost. The enemy must be under constant pressure, both by day and night, and not allowed an opportunity to establish his position, to break contact or to regain initiative.

Question 35

Flexibility in Advance (Basic Consideration)

Answer 35

Decentralization is necessary to save time and attain speed. Commanders must not be tied down to specific lines of methods of advance. They should be given general directions, distant objectives and allowed sufficient latitude. The advance should be carried out on a broad front to detect and exploit weak points in the enemy's defensive system and not restricted to existing roads and tracks. An adequate reserve must be retained to force a decision, should the advance be held up, or to exploit success where enemy resistance is weak. The switching of forces from one axis to another and requirement of laterals when advancing on multiple axes on a broad front and artillery and signal communication support, which are essential ingredients of flexibility, are not discussed. Flexibility in advance on multiple axes on a broad front would be influenced by the following factors: 1. Availability of laterals for switching of forces. 2. Proximity of axes for mutual support with artillery. 3. Signal communications.

Question 36

Deception during Advance (Basic Consideration).

Answer 36

A plan should be formulated at the highest level to deceive the enemy regarding the objectives of the advance, number of axis and quantum of forces deployed on each axis which should be backed up by a well-conceived and skillfully executed electronic deception plan.

Question 37

Air Support during Advance (Basic Consideration).

Answer 37

Advance is essentially a land/air battle. A favorable air situation is essential for rapid success of an advance. Without this, advance by day will be slow and result in heavy casualties. Though the advance is possible even without a favorable air situation and may at times be carried out for gaining tactical surprise, the commander must carefully balance the risk involved. When operating under conditions of air parity, adequate air defense elements allotment will be essential. Combat air patrols may be necessary during critical stages of the advance. Besides this, the air force can assist the advancing force by carrying out tactical reconnaissance, providing close air support interdiction and attacking retreating enemy ground forces or his mobile reserves. Employment of armed helicopters will be of great value for successful advance. Heliborne and airborne troops employed in conjunction with mechanized elements to capture the objective in depth is likely to imbalance the enemy.

Question 38

Logistics in Advance (Basic Consideration)

Answer 38

The logistics problem in advance is to maintain a force which is moving away from its supporting installations and units. The commander must ensure that his logistics plan is compatible with the operational plan. By careful calculation and anticipation of requirements, ruthless cutting down of non-essentials and making use of all means of transport, momentum of advance can be maintained. Supply of ammunition and supplies by helicopters and airdrop should be planned in advance.