The Art of Maneuver by Robert Leonhard

Author:Robert Leonhard [Leonhard, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-51327-4
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2012-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

EXTENDED CLOSE COMBAT (ECC)

Not to be confused with deep operations is extended close combat (ECC), called for by ALB-F(H). An innovative approach to the tactical level of war, the extended close fight specifically seeks to engage the enemy throughout his tactical depth. In terms of enemy units, this translates into extending the tactical fight to the rear boundary of the enemy division.

Whereas deep battle is fought by corps and echelons above corps, extended close operations are fought by corps, divisions, and below. Geared toward achieving depth on the enemy side of the FLOT, ECC imposes bold new challenges on commanders at all levels. Not only must they employ new weapons against targets at previously unreachable ranges (up to fifty kilometers from the FLOT, for example), they must also devise ways to project their eyes and ears that far. The second task is proving to be the toughest challenge, particularly at the lower levels of command (brigade, battalion, company).

The purpose of ECC is to refuse to allow the enemy to unfold his attack or defense in the sequence he is attempting to achieve. Rather, by attacking throughout the enemy depth and at times of the friendly commander’s own choosing, the friendly force seeks to throw the enemy commander out of his reckoning.

While there is some merit to this idea, there are problems with this new approach to the tactical planning level. First, of course, is the obvious point that extended close combat is difficult to do! For the U.S. Army, both industry and army personnel have performed magnificently in developing weapons, sensors, and doctrine for executing ECC. But the challenge still looms large, and many obstacles have yet to be surmounted. As would be expected, the most critical area of concern is command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I).

Another problem with ECC is the danger (as in deep battle) that the friendly force will simply fragment his assets in the name of fighting deeper. Whatever effect is thought to be gained through extending the tactical fight, there remains the indisputable fact that the doctrine is taking finite assets and seeking to spread them over a vastly bigger battlefield. The question then emerges: Is ECC a violation of mass? Certainly there is the danger that it could become so. Again, leadership will decide the issue.

Finally, there is the question of timing. I shall address this issue under “simultaneity” below.

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