army doctrine publication land operations army doctrine publication land operations

212 Pages·2005·4.96 MB·English

AACC 7711881199
A D P
A D P
RMY OCTRINE UBLICATION
RMY OCTRINE UBLICATION
L O
L O
AND PERATIONS
AND PERATIONS
DDIIRREECCTTOORRAATTEE GGEENNEERRAALL DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT AANNDD DDOOCCTTRRIINNEE
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CONDITIONS OF RELEASE
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lication belong exclusively to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). No material or
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Authority This publication is issued under the overall direction of the CGS.
Status The contents provide clear military information concerning the most up to
date experience and best practice available for commanders and troops to
use in their operations and training.
Distribution As directed by DGD&D, who is the sponsor and to whom comments and que-
ries concerning this publication should be addressed.
This publication replaces:
AC 71451 Design for Military Operations. The British Military Doctrine
AC 71565 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 1 Operations
AC 71564 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 2 Command
AC 71566 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 3 Logistics
AC 71700 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 3 Logistics – Medical Supplement
AC 71621 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 4 Training
AC 71642 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 5 Soldiering
ARMY DOCTRINE PUBLICATION
‘LAND OPERATIONS’
PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
THE CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF
DIRECTORATE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT AND DOCTRINE
MAY 2005

FOREWORD
The publication of British Military Doctrine in 1989 broke new ground in the British Army’s under-
standing of its profession. For the first time the Army had an explicit description of the overall
philosophy and principles by which it should operate. The subsequent publication of the Army
Doctrine Publication (ADP) series in the mid-1990s provided a broadly complete, coherent and
consistent understanding of land operations, linking philosophy and principles to the practices
and procedures that had been (and still are) contained in tactical handbooks and pamphlets.
Much has changed over the last 10 to15 years. We have learned lessons from operations in the
Middle East; the Balkans; and elsewhere, including those against international terrorism. A body
of United Kingdom joint doctrine now exists, reflecting a greater emphasis on joint and multina-
tional expeditionary operations. In addition, the Army can benefit from insights into the dynamics
of land operations from analysis not previously available.
ADP Land Operations describes how the British Army operates and fights. It provides the phi-
losophy and principles for land operations. It is intrinsically linked to high-level joint doctrine. It
provides the authoritative guidance and framework for practices and procedures described in
other Army doctrinal publications. It concentrates on land tactical operations, since strategic
and operational doctrine are described in Joint publications. It is intended to be read as a single,
continuous narrative.
Much of its contents is enduring and will be familiar from previous publications. The warfighting
ethos, the manoeuvrist approach and mission command remain keystones of our doctrine. What
is new is a description of how and why that body of doctrine is important, and particularly the
stress on the importance of shock and surprise in attacking the enemy’s will and cohesion in land
combat.
Fundamentally, doctrine is ‘what is taught’, and is not a matter of personal opinion. However, to
be effective doctrine needs to be read, understood and adhered to. Judgement and skill are re-
quired in its application. Above all, a pragmatic approach needs to be taken on operations. Com-
manders, staff officers and those dealing with the profession of arms should all become familiar
with the contents of ADP Land Operations, which I commend warmly.
General Sir Michael Jackson
May 2005 Chief of the General Staff
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PREFACE
“The central idea and purpose for an army is its doctrine, which has to be based on the principles
of war, and which to be effective has to be elastic enough to admit of mutation in accordance with
change in circumstance. In its ultimate relationship to the human understanding this central idea
or doctrine is nothing else than common sense – that is, action adapted to circumstance.”
Major General J F C Fuller1
1. This Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) is the primary source of United Kingdom land force
doctrine. It provides philosophical guidance and the principles required to plan and conduct
operations in a joint and multinational framework. Its approach and terminology are consistent
with its sister NATO publication Allied Joint Publication (AJP) 3.2 Allied Land Operations and joint
publications, particularly Joint Warfare Publication (JWP) 0-01 British Defence Doctrine and Joint
Doctrine Publication (JDP) 01 Joint Operations. Unless otherwise specified, all definitions used
in ADP Land Operations are derived from AAP-6 NATO Glossary of Terms.
2. The ADP examines the dynamic of land conflict in accordance with the following struc-
ture:
Chapter 1 describes the purpose, functions and levels of doctrine, establishing a frame-
work of understanding linked to the conceptual component of fighting power. It considers
the levels of warfare, analyses the nature of land combat and then describes military activ-
ity within the continuum of operations.
Chapter 2 describes the British approach to the conduct of land operations considering
victory, success and end-states including the limitations on the application of armed force.
It explains the application of the Manoeuvrist Approach to land operations, focusing on at-
tacking an enemy’s understanding, will and cohesion.
Chapter 3 describes the main aspects of British land force doctrine. It considers in turn,
the functions in combat, the core functions, the operational framework and types of land
operation.
Chapter 4 examines the place of land forces in the joint campaign. It considers air/land
and maritime/land operations as well as other elements and enablers. It then looks at the
nature of multinational and coalition operations and their impact on command, and the
inter-agency dimension.
Chapter 5 considers the sustainment of land operations. It articulates the principles be-
fore examining each of the functional areas involved. It then considers the factors involved
in sustaining land operations.
Chapter 6 describes the philosophy and principles of command of land forces. It consid-
ers Mission Command, the role of the commander, and how command is exercised and
supported.
Chapter 7 considers the moral component of Fighting Power. It examines the ethical base
on which the Army operates, considering moral and legal considerations which underpin
the decision to employ military force. It then looks at motivation and how it is sustained
1 Major General J F C Fuller, The Foundations of the Science of War (London: Hutchinson & Co, 1926).
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through leadership, man-management and discipline. Finally it considers the question of
cohesion, values and standards, loyalty and comradeship.
Chapter 8 examines how fighting power is prepared and generated. It describes the path
between those activities and describes the factors which contribute to their success.
3. A number of historical illustrations are included within yellow boxes. In addition a small
number of topics are considered in blue boxes. They cover issues which are the subject of con-
ceptual discussion at time of publication. Neither the historical illustrations nor the conceptual
material are intended to have the authority of doctrine.
4. ADP Land Operations replaces the following publications:
AC 71451 Design for Military Operations. The British Military Doctrine.
AC 71565 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 1 Operations
AC 71564 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 2 Command
AC 71566 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 3 Logistics
AC 71700 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 3 Logistics – Medical Supplement
AC 71621 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 4 Training
AC 71642 Army Doctrine Publication Volume 5 Soldiering
5. Army Doctrine Publications are published and distributed by DGD&D on behalf of CGS.
All doctrine publications may be found on the British Army Army Electronic Battle Box (AC 71632
[CD ROM version] AC 71632Z [DVD version] ) and on the DGD&D website (which should always
be checked for the most up to date versions) at http://www.baebb.mod.uk.
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CONTENTS
Page
Foreword i
Preface iii
The Principles of War viii
Chapter 1 The Employment of Military Force 1
1.1 Doctrine 1
1.2 Fighting Power 2
1.3 The Levels of Warfare 4
1.4 The Contribution of Land Forces to the Joint Campaign 6
1.5 The Nature of Land Combat 8
1.6 The Continuum of Operations 11
1.7 Campaign Themes 16
Annex A Joint and Multinational Land Force Doctrine 25
Annex B The Role and Composition of Land Forces 27
Chapter 2 The Approach to the Conduct of Land Operations 31
2.1 Success and End States 31
2.2 The Manoeuvrist Approach 33
2.3 Attacking the Enemy’s Understanding, Will and Cohesion 36
2.4 Ways and Means of Attack 41
2.5 Simplicity and Flexibility 45
Chapter 3 The Fundamentals of land Force Doctrine 47
3.1 The Functions in Combat 47
3.2 The Core Functions 51
3.3 The Operational Framework 57
3.4 Types of Land Tactical Operations 59
Annex A Forms of Manoeuvre 67
Chapter 4 Land Forces in the Joint Campaign 73
4.1 The Joint Campaign 73
4.2 Joint Air/Land Operations 76
4.3 Maritime/Land Operations 83
4.4 Other Components and Enablers 84
4.5 Operating in Alliances and Coalitions 85
Annex A Command of the Land Component 89
Chapter 5 The Sustainment of Land Operations 95
5.1 Context 95
5.2 Definitions 96
5.3 Principles 96
5.4 Functional Groupings 98
5.5 Sustainment of Operations 104
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Chapter 6 The Command of Land Forces 113
6.1 The Nature of Command 113
6.2 Mission Command 115
6.3 The Role of the Commander 122
6.4 The Exercise of Command 127
6.5 Command Support 131
Annex A Formulating Concepts of Operations and Mission Statements 133
Annex B Qualities of Commanders 137
Chapter 7 The Moral Component 143
7.1 Introduction 143
7.2 Ethical Base 143
7.3 Motivation 145
7.4 Moral Cohesion 149
Chapter 8 Developing Fighting Power 155
8.1 Introduction 155
8.2 Developing Fighting Power 156
8.3 The Path to Force Generation 162
Essay - Doctrine and Command in the British Army: An Historical Overview 165
Glossary 183
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