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Subject: Organization for Guerrilla Warfare
Roman    3/25/2007 9:59:25 AM
How should the armed forces be organized and equipped if they expect to fight a guerrilla war against an occupying power. Suppose the armed forces need only put up a token resistance against an invading force and are expected to transition to a guerrilla style war almost immediately. I think a company of light infantry designed to conduct guerrilla warfare would have to have most assets pushed down to platoon level and the platoons would have to be designed to operate autonomously as cells for long stretches of time.
 
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Roman       3/25/2007 10:01:19 AM
Also, I think such a force should be heavy on snipers, explosive experts and medical staff - all of which might have to be pushed down to company or even a platoon level.
 
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Roman       3/25/2007 10:26:27 AM
Sorry for not including everything in post 1, but ideas are still in the process of formation...
 
In any case, it appears to me more and more, that truly as many assets as possible should be pushed down to platoon level for a guerrilla war. I would probably give each platoon a mortar (60mm to 82mm) that would be pushed down from company level and also an A/T team. Ergo, I would also push down MANPAD teams to company level, as they are probably unfeasible to push down to platoon level.
 
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Yimmy       3/25/2007 4:42:26 PM
I don't think I would organise units past section strength, with the odd occasion of platoon strength, for certain operations.
 
I would cache up AK's, RPG's, 82mm mortars, 14.5mm HMG's, mines, radios and medical supplies all over the place.
 
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AdvanceAustralia       3/25/2007 5:14:48 PM
Two principles I can think of off the top of my head:

1. Maintain organisation at a small unit level to optimise concealment and avoid set piece battles with larger, better equipped formations (in the early to middle stages, at least),
2. Possess equipment that is easily carried without motorised transport and is readily re-armed/replenished/refuelled (again, early in the conflict until you build up levels of support from external sources that can be maintained).

You are on the right track with light infantry.

Good question. Cheers.

 
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Jeff_F_F       3/25/2007 6:20:30 PM
The big problem with light infantry is tactical mobility. It doesn't matter how hard you are to find if any time you are found you are destroyed because you can't get away. If you are fighting in a developed area where civilian vehicles are common, they can be used to provide vital tactical and operational mobility while still blending into the population.
 
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Roman       3/26/2007 9:21:40 AM
Alright, let me try to cobble something more concrete together.
 
I would probably try to organize my light infantry force on the basis of companies. The company-level of organization would be very loose and would essentially serve as an umbrella organization for the various local cells. I think the density of forces would probably run at approximately one guerrilla company per district (?40000? - ?80000? people? --> just guessing the numbers here). Companies would not have any regular contacts with one another to prevent them being rolled-up by uncovering one, though ad hoc contacts may be possible. Although initially based in a local district each, to get the insurgency going, they would not actually have an artificial geographical limit imposed on their operations and could expand their activities to other districts if the situation so enabled or required.
 
 
Company: 305 men
 
1 x HQ Cell/Coordination Cell --> 25 men
4 x  Platoon Cell --> 4 x 70 men --> 280 men
 
 
HQ Cell/Coordination Cell: 31 men
 
1 x Company HQ/Coordination Sub-Cell --> 14 men
3 x Medical Sub-Cell --> 2 x 4 men --> 8 men
3 x MANPAD Sub-Cell --> 3 men and 1 MANPAD launcher each --> 9 men
 
 
Company HQ/Coordination Sub-Cell: 1 CO, 1 XO, 1 Sgt, 1 Recruitment/Civilian Support Officer, 1 Recruitement/Civilian Support NCO, 1 Intelligence Officer, 1 Intelligence NCO, 1 Spokesman/Media Specialist and 6 Runners; function is to recruit people to support the guerrilla war materially, shelter-wise, etc and to outright join the guerrillas, to form new cells in order to maintain/intensify operations or expand their geographical area and scope, to acquire actionable intelligence and pass it on to operational cells and sometimes to coordinate cell attacks for greater effect (though this is rare, as minimization of contact is necessary for security reasons);
 
Medical Sub-Cell: 1 doctor (preferably surgeon) and three medics living among the population of the city/town/villages; basic surgical tools and medical supplies hidden in caches in homes, basements, schools, countryside hideouts, etc.; mission is to provide care to wounded an sick guerrillas that cannot be admitted to hospitals; additional mission is to recruit other doctors and medical personnel to the fight and to make them abbett/cover or at least turn a blind eye to guerrillas in hospitals; another mission is to provide hearts and minds healthcare for the population and thus maintain support for the guerrilla war and perhaps recruit further guerrillas
 
MANPAD Sub-Cell: 1 team leader, 1 gunner and 1 assistant gunner; 1 MANPAD launcher and MANPAD missiles and batteries/parts hidden in caches; mission is to shoot down aircraft to cause casualties and material losses to the enemy; side mission is to protect other guerrilla operations against being hampered by air cover;
 
 
Platoon Cell: 70 men
 
1 x Platoon Cell HQ --> 18 men
4 x Squad Cell --> 4 x 13 men --> 52 men
 
 
Platoon Cell HQ: 18 men
 
1 x Platoon HQ Sub-Cell: 7 men
1 x Platoon Medical Sub-Cell: 2 men
1 x Platoon Explosives Workshop: 2 men
2 x Platoon Sniper Team: 2 men each --> 4 men
1 x Platoon Mortar Team: 3 men
 
Platoon HQ Sub Cell: CO, Sgt, 2 Runners, Recruitment NCO, Trainer NCO, Intelligence NCO
Platoon Medical Sub-Cell: 2 medics
Platoon Explosives Workshop: 2 explosives experts
Platoon Sniper Team: 2 men
Platoon Mortar Team: 3 men with a 60mm mortar
 
 
Squad Cell: 13 men
 
1 x Squad Leader
2 x Sharpshooter
2 x LAW/RPG Gunner (1 LAW/RPG Team of 2 men)
4 x Machine Gunner (2 MG Teams of 2 men each)
2 x Grenadier (Riflemen with grenade launchers)
2 x Automatic Rifle Gunner
 
Obviously, as the guerrilla war would progress and more people are recruited and others die, some cells are destroyed and others spread, the structure would evolve and adapt, but this was meant as the starting point.
 
Anyway, do you think this would be a feasible and effective military organization if the country expected to transit to guerrilla warfare very quickly after any signi
 
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Roman       3/29/2007 5:55:27 AM
Any comments?
 
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murabit821       3/29/2007 4:01:36 PM
Hello
I have question
this organization is designed for profesional or militia troops ?
 
and second question  this companies will fight indenpendly ?
 
PS: Skus sem supnut aj ten nas navrh (do inej kapitoly ze co na to povedia)
 
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murabit821       3/29/2007 4:06:30 PM
Hello
I have question
this organization is designed for profesional or militia troops ?
 
and second question  this companies will fight indenpendly ?
 
PS: Skus sem supnut aj ten nas navrh (do inej kapitoly ze co na to povedia)
 
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murabit821       3/29/2007 4:09:54 PM
here is some info about free militia organization
 
  • Command cells. Command cells consist of the leadership of the Free Militia and provide the plans and orders to be implemented or carried out by all other elements. As a headquarters unit, they include their own minimal combat element for self-defense and move frequently to undisclosed locations, often secret even to other command cells. They provide training for future cell and platoon leaders. They are the "mind" of the Free Militia.

     

  • Combat cells. Combat cells provide the patrolling and fighting capability of the Free Militia. Each cell consists of about eight able-bodied "minutemen" with its own leader, communications, rendezvous points, staging areas, and standing orders. They execute the orders of their command cells and do all their own training within the combat cell itself. They are the "arms" of the Free Militia.

     

  • Support cells. Support cells consist of sympathetic men and/or women who are unable, unwilling, or ill-equipped for combat. Their task is to provide whatever non-combatant support is needed by the combat cells. Supply cells acquire ammunition and provisions for other cells. Medical cells set up aid stations for companies and/or battalions. Vehicle maintenance, messengers, construction, etc. are provided by support cells. They are the "arteries" of the Free Militia.

     

  • Communique cells. Communique cells consist of bright, capable, and convincing men and women who communicate with and influence the public. Their duties include rhetoric to and fostering resistance, reconnaissance and recruiting among the community. They are the "mouth" of the Free Militia.
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