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SECTION IV

TACTICAL LOGISTICS LESSONS

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TF logisticians routinely apply, more or less, available battlefield data in developing logistics estimates without thinking of it as a formal process. By focusing on the components of tactical logistics while collecting, analyzing, and applying this critical information in planning, logisticians systematically help prepare the battlefield for their commanders. These lessons are offered to stimulate a reciprocal understanding among tacticians and logisticians of the interdependency that exists between maneuver and support in planning, preparing, and executing combat missions at the TF level.

TF logisticians should treat the components of tactical logistics as essential factors that should be assessed for each plan. By doing so, they bring a professional approach to the contributions they make in the planning process. The components are variables. Some are dynamic and change with METT-T so they should be validated daily, even hourly, if necessary.

TF commanders should appreciate the unique contributions their logisticians make in the planning process - when they've done a thorough job of collecting and analyzing pertinent battlefield data. Commanders must not accept less. The lessons that follow show how the components of tactical logistics relate to the sustainment imperatives of anticipation, integration, continuity, responsiveness and improvisation, stated in our doctrine. They also show how the components of tactical logistics are used in developing effective logistics estimates.

ANTICIPATION

The essence of all planning is to anticipate events. This includes sustainment planning. Anticipating support requirements means synchronizing support actions so that combat power is sustained or reconstituted in concert with the tactical plan. It is timing the tempo of support with the tempo of battle.

LESSONS:

• TF logisticians must be involved early in the planning process so they understand the plan, the commander's intent, and can assess those factors which facilitate, inhibit or deny support actions.
• Anticipate support tasks during planning and designate logistics triggering mechanisms (critical phases, times, or events) so that support is integrated with maneuver at the required times and places during the mission.
• During planning, it is critical for TF commanders to know the status of their units' primary weapons systems because it reflects the combat power of their company/teams.
• Commanders also need to know the duration of their units' sustained combat power for the mission at hand, as well as the projected profile of the unit's fighting strength on the objective and for the ``Be prepared...'' mission. They need to know how long fuel and ammunition supplies will allow them to fight - how and when combat power will be sustained or reconstituted.
• The following types of questions are helpful in gathering data against the components of tactical logistics. Logisticians should treat these points as essential factors when anticipating support requirements and preparing logistics estimates. [NOTE: No particular priority is intended in the order given to the following considerations since circumstances surrounding different missions may warrant emphasis on different factors.]
  • What are the specified and implied tasks for support?
  • What are the priorities for support (from the commander's planning guidance)?
  • How, when and where will combat power be reconstituted? How will support be synchronized with maneuver? Are support tasks triggered by phases (such as changing from offense to defense or pursuit), phase lines, specific times, or significant events?
  • What is the anticipated tempo of support? Based on the commander's intended tempo of battle, TF logisticians anticipate the intensity of demand and integrate required support tasks to sustain combat power.
  • What specific support actions will be conducted at night? Any support task, of course, may be required at night. However, since all activities are more difficult at night, it's important to anticipate which specific support tasks will be done at night. They can then be tested against their triggering mechanisms during rehearsal and refined in advance of the mission.
  • What control measures will be used to effect timely support, avoid enemy interdiction, and prevent fratricide? Will logistics support be part of the deception plan? If so, what is the impact on support? Will preliminary support actions expose the plan to the enemy?
  • What is the status of ammunition (or fuel) stocks? What will it be at some commonly understood, critical point in the unit's mission timeline (based on anticipated consumption or attrition rates)? Provide this information in terms which have meaning to the tactical planner, such as the number of rounds per weapon (or hours of fuel per vehicle), rather than a lump sum.
  • What is the mix of ammunition in unit basic loads, prestocked points or preconfigured log packs? Are changes needed?
  • What is the required mix of Class IV and V obstacle materials (wires, mines) or construction materials (lumber, concrete)? Who controls the issue of these supplies?
  • Which routes are available for resupply? Will they be passable for resupply vehicles at the logistics trigger points specified in the plan? Do new routes need to be constructed?
  • Are areas of defilade available to aid resupply?
  • How will actual or potential battlefield contamination affect support? Can contaminated areas be avoided? How is access controlled into and out of contaminated areas?
  • What level of MOPP is prescribed for support actions?
  • Are decontamination sites established? If so, where? Are decontamination supplies and equipment available?
  • Are mortuary affairs requirements planned and coordinated?
  • Is control of enemy prisoners planned and coordinated?
  • Are the assets available to effect resupply, recovery, maintenance, and medical evacuation at the times and places specified in the plan?
  • Are external resources available for support? If so, what coordination is required?
  • If the mission develops differently than planned, how will TF logisiticians and the commander, improvise to sustain or reconstitute combat power?
• It is essential that support be integrated into the tactical plan during planning so that support is anticipated and synchronized. Assimilate, analyze, and integrate critical, logistical concerns as early as possible to ensure continuity and responsiveness of tactical logistics support.

INTEGRATION

Integrating logistics into the decisionmaking process combines support actions with maneuver to ensure unity of effort. Support is organized to give the TF commander the greatest possible freedom of action. By integrating support with maneuver, logisticians and the commander anticipate the TF's combat power at key points in the battle. Sustainment actions are then incorporated in the plan so that support is synchronized at decisive times and locations during the mission.

LESSONS:

• Integrate staff actions to avoid the "we-they" syndrome which occurs all too often because tactical and logistical planning are done separately. Integrate logistics resources, capabilities, capacities and stocks, and synchronize maneuver and sustainment with time and space factors to ensure responsive support. This is done by anticipating support requirements and transferring critical information during planning.
• TF logisticians must understand the tactical plan and its ramifications for support. Involve them early in the planning process so they know the maneuver, obstacle and fire support plans. By being involved early in the planning process, they develop a better understanding of unit tasks and do a better job of integrating the required support. For example:
  • If the TF mission is to conduct a deliberate attack, the infantry may be committed early and sent out dismounted. TF logisticians need to know this up front so that support plans, such as the medical plan, are structured to provide essential support in advance of the task force's attack.
  • In a defense, if the support plan is developed separately from the TF's repositioning plan, the aid station or a maintenance collection point may be situated right on the site of a company/team's alternate position.
  • In addition, the combat trains needs current maneuver, obstacle, and fire support graphics and overlays not only to provide effective support but also to track the battle and perform its secondary function as alternate tactical operations center (TOC), if required.
• A helpful training technique is to switch the responsibilities of the TOC and the combat trains command post: After two or three exercises, reverse the roles of these activities during a command post exercise. This enlightens personnel on the information requirements and operations of the other activity. It's an effective cross-training tool.

CONTINUITY

Continuity of support is essential to sustaining the momentum of the force. Its purpose is to eliminate pauses in thebattle to restore combat power. TF commanders and logisticians must ensure that logistic resources are available and integrated into the plan.

LESSON:

• Build in continuity when developing TF support plans. Assigning light units the responsibility of providing CSS to heavy units, such as when a heavy unit conducts a passage of lines through a light unit, can't be fulfilled. For example:
  • Heavy units that are attached to, or pass through, light units will not find the CSS they require in those light units. This is especially true of recovery support, maintenance expertise, and supplies in Classes III(P), V, and IX.
  • CSS for heavy units must come from the heavy unit's habitual (or a designated) support system that has the logistic resources to support heavy unit operations and equipment.

RESPONSIVENESS

Responsiveness is the ability to meet the needs of a task-organized force or its changing requirements on short notice. Responsive support gives the commander flexibility.

LESSONS:

• TF logisticians must track the battle to ensure that support is triggered in concert with the plan. They must also discern when changes in support are warranted and seize fleeting support opportunities so that momentum is sustained.
• TF logisticians must understand the characteristics of the task-organized force with its unique support requirements and assets. Determine the characteristics of the task-organized forces by studying their MTOEs and readiness reports.
• Ensure the support slice is sufficient. The differences in light and heavy unit logistics requirements are significant and require planning and coordination during combined arms operations to assure adequate support. For example:
  • The logistic requirements of light teams may permit resupply on a timed basis rather than as required. However, in a light/heavy TF, the light unit staff should anticipate that support requirements for heavy elements will be greater than normally experienced with light units. (Light units have limited carrying capacity so resupply is normally pushed at regular intervals. Heavy units can carry more so they tend to be resupplied less regularly as their needs dictate.)
  • When task organizing, it's important to include an adequate slice of logistic resources and capabilities. On one occasion, in a light/heavy mix, "...a heavy team was 'chopped' to a light TF without a turret mechanic, PLL [prescribed load list] or tool truck. As a result, the team's combat power dwindled rapidly."
  • On another occasion, in a heavy/light mix, a light unit was issued two days of rations, but only had the capacity to pick up and move one day's supply.

IMPROVISATION

Logisticians must seek innovative ways to provide support. Traditional methods of support are discarded if they fail to solve the problem at hand; extraordinary methods may be required to sustain the force. For example:

During a light infantry combat operation, an innovative means was used to provide emergency resupply of water. With no landing zone available near the fighting unit, and no time to cut one out of the dense jungle, rubber bags were inserted into 155mm shell casings, partially filled with water and tied off at the top. The casings were then dropped from a helicopter through the jungle canopy within recovery distance of the unit on the ground.

LESSONS:

• Apply ingenuity and innovation to overcome time and space restrictions of the battlefield.
• To improvise effectively, TF logisticians must understand the tactical plan, the commander's intent, and track the battle as it develops.

Table of Contents
Section III - The Training Challenge: Integrating Logistics
Conclusions