Military Strategy: Isolation

Isolation

• Isolation is the act of cutting off all routes of ingress and egress to prevent the enemy from reinforcing or abandoning an area.
• It involves occupying a series of blocks with mechanized infantry, and cutting off objetives to dominate the area.
• The goal of isolation is to prevent the enemy from reacting or reinforcing, and to keep likely routes of retreat under effective surveillance.
• Isolation may or may not end in investment.

Method of Isolation

• The method of isolation involves occupying a series of blocks with mechanized infantry, and cutting off objectives to dominate the area.
• The process starts with decentralization of movement at the CCP (Command and Control Post), and then CGs (Command Groups) move to CGRP (Command Group Reference Point), and CTs ( Combat Teams) move to AOR (Area of Responsibility).
• The CTs then start closing in with the enemy by fire and movement, 4-5 km away from the periphery of the node.
• The CTs should comprise a squadron of armor, a mechanized infantry company, and a platoon of mechanized infantry.
• Recce and EW (Electronic Warfare) elements are deployed outward to gain information on the enemy's movement.

Investment

• Investment is the offensive movement to isolate and dominate an objective, to facilitate its capture.
• It involves driving in minor opposition, dominating the enemy's defenses by fire and observation, and tightening the noose around the enemy's defenses.
• The goal of investment is to degrade the enemy's defenses, restrict their movement, and gain information about their defense layouts and weapons.

Method of Investment

• The method of investment involves tightening the noose around the enemy's defenses by fire and movement from all directions.
• Gaps between own isolation positions are reduced, and the enemy's defenses are degraded by direct and indirect firing.
• The investing force closes in until they reach the last line of defense, and then provides a firm base for the attacking troops.
• The method also involves the use of artillery to carry out registration, and providing a firm base for the attacking troops.

Encounter XG

• Encounter XG involves crossing an obstacle, usually a water obstacle, lightly held by the enemy.
• The method involves maintaining momentum by forcing passage across the obstacle, and carrying out speedy reconnaissance and good engineering intelligence.
• The process involves the use of a squadron of armor, a mechanized infantry company, and one infantry battalion if available.
• The method also involves the use of bridging resources, and the deployment of trawls and FUs (Forward Units) to secure the area.

Recce Warriors

• Recce Warriors are elite troops based on special platoons that provide real-time and confirmed information.
• They consist of reconnaissance and surveillance assets of armor, infantry, mechanized infantry, artillery, AD (Air Defense), and engineers.
• Their capability is to operate ahead of parent units, and cater to the formation's intelligence requirements.
• They act as fingers, and do not get engaged in decisive combat.

Op Capb, Composn, and Method of Op

• Op Capb involves operating 72 to 96 hours ahead of the main force, and being self-contained.
• The composition of the force involves a combination of armor, infantry, mechanized infantry, artillery, AD, and engineers.
• The method of operation involves maintaining momentum, and using firepower, mobility, and protection to achieve shock action and flexibility.
• The method also involves the use of AFVs (Armored Fighting Vehicles) and ICVs (Infantry Combat Vehicles) to enhance firepower, and the deployment of trawls and FUs to secure the area.

Emp in Offn Ops

• The concept of employment in offensive operations involves capturing territory as a quid pro quo task in a short war.
• The goal is to force the enemy to recoil their offensive thrust in different sectors, and to occupy enemy territory to enable favorable terms in a quid pro quo situation.
• The method involves using mechanized forces to capture objectives, and to threaten the enemy's depth areas.
• The method also involves the use of armor to contest and defeat opposing mechanized forces, and to secure areas of operations.

Emp in Def Ops

• The concept of employment in defensive operations involves breaking the enemy's momentum, and thwarting their efforts to bypass and isolate locations.
• The goal is to empower the defender to choose the ground of their own choosing, and to break the enemy's momentum.
• The method involves using mechanized forces to defend locations, and to enhance defensive potential.
• The method also involves the use of firepower, mobility, and protection to achieve shock action and flexibility, and to prevent the enemy from applying their superior force.