Defeating the Russian Tactical Battle Group (Page 1/1)
Zeb MAR 22, 03:06 PM
https://www.benning.army.mi.../spring/2Fiore17.pdf

Read it at your leisure. A rather long, involved, analysis of how an American Brigade Combat Team (BCT) can defeat a Russian Battalion Tactical Group (BTG). They seem to be employing the same structure and tactics in Ukraine this time around. I'm sure many lessons were gleaned from the last Ukrainian war, and the Ukrainians know all this. Probably the only reason they weren't stomped on Day One.
blackrams MAR 22, 06:14 PM
Yep, that was a long read. Woke up twice trying to get through.it.

Rams
randye MAR 23, 03:12 AM
Interesting read.

Captain Fiore is a US Cavalry Officer and he thinks and writes like one. (GO CAV ! )

His claims of Russian equipment technological superiority are fast being disproven though , and have been since the first Gulf War, but his assessment of the deficiencies of Russian C3, (which he oddly insists on calling "C2"), seems to still be valid. That problem is a hold over from the tightly centralized command structure and culture from the Soviet era.

Cpt. Fiore didn't discuss Russian logistics much, which are still just as bad as they have always been.

In another thread I had mentioned the continual problem Russian forces have with conscript troops vs kontractniki, (contract / professional) troops and the severe shortage the Russian forces have of NCO ranks to lead the enlisted. Capt. Fiore properly commented on that as well.

An important thing to remember is that there are still a lot of older Ukrainians that were trained in Soviet and modern RF order of battle and tactics so they know a helluva lot better than Captain Fiore how to conduct asymmetrical warfare against them.

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 03-23-2022).]

82-T/A [At Work] MAR 23, 08:20 AM

quote
Originally posted by Zeb:

https://www.benning.army.mi.../spring/2Fiore17.pdf

Read it at your leisure. A rather long, involved, analysis of how an American Brigade Combat Team (BCT) can defeat a Russian Battalion Tactical Group (BTG). They seem to be employing the same structure and tactics in Ukraine this time around. I'm sure many lessons were gleaned from the last Ukrainian war, and the Ukrainians know all this. Probably the only reason they weren't stomped on Day One.




LOL... document screams DOD minus any portion markings because it's totally unclassified. Love the acronym list at the bottom... just need a "BLUF" at the top.
randye MAR 24, 01:40 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
LOL... document screams DOD minus any portion markings because it's totally unclassified. Love the acronym list at the bottom... just need a "BLUF" at the top.





Todd, The document is pretty mundane stuff and it looks like a garden variety paper written by someone attending the C&GSC at Ft. Leavenworth or an article for "ARMOR" magazine or a similar civilian publication.

His inclusion of very public sources in his foot notes and his " Acronym Quick-Scan" list of military acronyms that are very familiar to any soldier make the document scream public to me.

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 03-24-2022).]

blackrams MAR 24, 05:14 AM

quote
Originally posted by randye:


Todd, The document is pretty mundane stuff and it looks like a garden variety paper written by someone attending the C&GSC at Ft. Leavenworth or an article for "ARMOR" magazine or a similar civilian publication.

His inclusion of very public sources in his foot notes and his " Acronym Quick-Scan" list of military acronyms that are very familiar to any soldier make the document scream public to me.




Agreed, although it made me think it was more likely from an Advance Course attendee, attended by Captains, Command and Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth is for Promotable Major and above.
I got tasked with assisting there as a young Artillery Officer once, never fetched coffee like that before.

Rams
82-T/A [At Work] MAR 24, 07:03 AM

quote
Originally posted by randye:

Todd, The document is pretty mundane stuff and it looks like a garden variety paper written by someone attending the C&GSC at Ft. Leavenworth or an article for "ARMOR" magazine or a similar civilian publication.

His inclusion of very public sources in his foot notes and his " Acronym Quick-Scan" list of military acronyms that are very familiar to any soldier make the document scream public to me.





Yeah, I know it's for public consumption, I just enjoyed the fact that it was unnecessarily long and yet still included the usual Government stuff in it. Would have been a much more "fun" read if it was in AMHS format with all the bull **** useless characters everywhere.
Zeb MAR 24, 08:57 AM
Yeah, not an easy read. The takeaway points I got from it are:

1] Russians will use locals rebels, separatists, or militias as outlying troops to guard and scout for their Armor Groups.

2] They still use Soviet type centralized command and control.

3] They will surround cities and shell them into submission. They (wisely) will not go in and fight door-to-door.

4] Their logistics are terrible.

Given these points, it's clear what tactics will be useful in defeating them, weather by an American Brigade, or smaller Ukrainian forces. And those tactics certainly seem to be working.

[This message has been edited by Zeb (edited 03-24-2022).]