Military

The objective of unit operations is to destroy the enemy. Since key terrain features are scarce in the desert, units rarely seize or retain them. Hot, barren mountains are not a good environment for tracks, because they can't maximize their mobility, flexibility and firepower. Your unit must maneuver at maximum tactical speed permitted by terrain and dust conditions. You may want surprise by maneuvering at night, behind smoke or during dust and sand storms.

to inspect the positions from the enemy's point of view to maximize cover and concealment.

When preparing your defensive positions, you need to inspect them from the enemy point of view to ensure that available cover and concealment are maximized. An OP on dominant terrain can see dust clouds from helicopters from 20-30 kilometers, and easily identify vehicle columns at more than five kilometers. Observation of direct fires may be difficult, since high-velocity direct fire can throw up considerable dust clouds. Forward observers should place initial rounds beyond a target because there may be dust hanging in the air following the impact of ranging rounds.

Your major reconnaissance means is air cavalry, although they must guard against being ambushed by ground troops located at their own altitude or even higher. Ground scouts normally move two to four kilometers to the front or flanks of leading teams. The distance allows time for squads to dismount observers. You drop off your OP at some distance from the designated position, preferably by helicopter at night. The observers go the rest of the way on foot to minimize enemy observation.

The gyro compass is an efficient gun azimuth stabilizer, because it's a gyroscope and can be used for maintaining direction on fairly flat ground. Radars can be used during midday heat haze on flat terrain if optical vision is hopelessly distorted. Sun compasses can be used on moving vehicles, whereas lensatic compasses are unreliable near metal, and almost impossible to use with accuracy on a vehicle. RF beacons and homers also can permit the enemy to locate friendly forces, so you may have to place them in wide open desert with unit locations marked by distances and bearings. A pocket altimeter measures your altitude.

Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) is a problem for ground troops and even more difficult for aircraft. National identifying marks are not sufficient, so you need to have a thorough knowledge of the vehicles used by both the enemy and allied forces. The force should have a standing IFF operating procedure that allows for daily changes. You can use systems that include:

You need to check communications from a newly selected position before you move headquarters. Liaison officers or messengers are used if units are stationary or under listening silence.

You can conceal operational plans from the enemy with dummy installations such as a POL supply point with dummy supply stocks and wheel tracks moved daily. You were warned not to emplace live mines in a phony mine field. You can construct field artillery decoys without simulators with various methods such as suspending explosive charges or using photoflash. Personnel can man dummy positions to simulate activity and to obtain counterfire intelligence. They should have foxholes for protection.

Engineers have the single most important mission of water supply in the desert. Field artillery pieces must be as mobile as the force they are supporting, and be proficient in direct fire. Air defense artillery must be located close to the units they are supporting so they can have ground defense. Military Police direct traffic at circulation control points increasingly required by the indefinite conditions and number of roadways.

Combat boots may be expected to last approximately two weeks in harsh rocky terrain. The minimum demand for water is approximately nine quarts per day per man. Air transportation may be limited by weather, enemy activity or scarcity of landing sites.

You should employ wheel vehicle transportation as far forward as possible. Medical evacuation can be complicated by long and limited routes, or lack of facilities or water. You may require teams of stretcher bearers to the nearest landing site.

The enemy uses smoke to confuse the defender. The enemy avoids frontal attacks. His forces operating in the desert are predominantly armored. A tank regiment is likely to be in the first echelon of a motorized rifle division attack. Enemy forces expect meeting engagements to be decisive, and uses breakthrough attacks against forces he cannot directly defeat.

An independent tank battalion operating 60 kilometers ahead of the main body has limited endurance and usually avoids sustained combat until reaching its designated objective. If used, nuclear or chemical strikes are made by the enemy immediately before conventional preparatory fires. The enemy does not often commit airborne troops within a brigade area except in support of nuclear strikes. They usually are used on much deeper objectives, for example, a lodgement area. The enemy will pursue any indication of retrograde operations and maintain pressure without further orders.

The enemy conducts a hasty defense when protecting the flanks of an advancing division. The enemy makes a deliberate defense when it is clear the attack cannot continue for several hours. A security zone extends forward of the main defense belt. Forward positions likely will retrograde if it looks like they will be encircled. The enemy defends at night, and will use white light freely when an attack has started.

You must move equipment as the sun moves. Scouts are not combat patrols, and should attempt reconnaissance information through stealth. Extended depth and dispersion will increase your chances of survival. Engineers should reconnoiter routes of march to avoid needless destruction of roadways, bridges, and pipelines. Everybody should know the commander's intent and rehearse battle drill, so everybody understands actions in the absence of good communications.