ARMY DOCTRINE PUBLICATION Operations This publication is available on the Internet at: www.mod.uk/dcdc. It will be included in the British Army’s Electronic Battle Box (Army Code 71632) and can be found at a number of Army online locations, including through the Army Knowledge Exchange. Conditions of Release This information is Crown Copyright and the intellectual property rights for this publication belong exclusively to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). No material or information contained in this publication should be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form outside MOD establishments except as authorised by either the sponsor or the MOD. This information may be subject to privately owned rights. Authorisation The Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC) is responsible for publishing Joint Doctrine Publications (JDPs) within a hierarchy of similar publications, which can include single-Service material, subject to the terms of Service Delivery Agreements (SDAs) between ACDS (DC&D) and ACNS, ACGS and ACAS. This Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) is written by DCDC according to such an SDA. Readers wishing to quote this ADP as reference material in other work should confirm with the DCDC Doctrine Editor that it remains authoritative. Comments on factual accuracy or proposals for amendment are welcomed by the Doctrine Editor at: Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre Ministry of Defence, Shrivenham SWINDON, Wiltshire, SN6 8RF Telephone number: 01793 314216/7 Military Network: 96161 4216/4217 Facsimile number: 01793 314232 Military Network: 96161 4232 E-mail: [email protected] Distribution Distribution of JDPs and ADPs is managed by the Forms and Publications Section, DSDA Operations Centre, C16 Site, Ploughley Road, Arncott, Bicester, OX25 1LP. Requests for issue of this publication, or amendments to its distribution, should be referred to the DSDA Operations Centre. All other DCDC publications, including a regularly updated CD Joint Doctrine Disk (containing both JDPs and Allied Joint Publications (AJPs)), can also be demanded from the DSDA Operations Centre: DSDA Help Desk: 01869 256052 Military Network: 94240 2052 All publications are available to view and download on the Defence Intranet (RLI) at: www.dcdc.dii.r.mil.uk i Record of Amendments Amendment Number Detail of Amendment Initials and Date ii Foreword This is the British Army’s capstone doctrine, containing the enduring philosophy and principles for our approach to operations. It reflects the rapidly evolving dynamics of the contemporary operating environment, but also recognises that many things endure, not least the nature of conflict. It is impossible to know what the future holds, but it is safe to assume a complex mixture of competition and threat. In recent operations we have learned and re-learned many lessons, alongside our sister Services, our allies and our partners. It is the aim of this doctrine to capture those lessons, without reinventing the wheel or inventing unnecessary new labels. At the heart of this doctrine are two central ideas: the Manoeuvrist Approach and Mission Command. These tenets are as useful now as they were when first articulated in the Army’s doctrine in 1989; although it has been necessary to update the way they are described. There is a fresh look at the context within which operations take place, a greater emphasis on understanding, on influence and on how force is applied alongside other levers of power. But there is also a reaffirmation of the British Army’s identity: derived from the three components of its fighting power, its ethos and its expertise as a force whose primary purpose is to fight. Many of you will share my concern about the reluctance of some to read and apply doctrine. You will see from the essay at the end of this publication that this is not a new problem. But there is no place in today’s Army for the gifted amateur. We must get better at studying the profession of arms and establishing greater coherence and consistency in how we operate, across our activities. While this doctrine emphasises the importance of minimising prescription, the land operating environment is just too dangerous and complicated to make it up as we go along. I see the chain of command at both formation and regimental level playing a key role in educating subordinates in the importance and application of the key tenets of doctrine. This is a habit we must all acquire. This capstone doctrine drives our tactical doctrine and its practices. It also helps to explain what the Army is for. There is a professional obligation on you to read, to understand, and to be guided by this book and to ensure that those under your command do the same. Chief of the General Staff November 2010 iii Operations | Contents Contents Foreword iii Contents iv Chapter 1 — Introduction Purpose 1-2 Audience 1-2 Structure 1-2 Four Unifying Themes 1-3 Integrity of Purpose 1-3 The Application and Threat of Force 1-4 The Nature and Character of Conflict 1-4 An Enduring Philosophy and Principles 1-4 Chapter 2 — Fighting Power Fighting Power 2-2 The Conceptual Component 2-3 Doctrine 2-3 Understanding of Conflict and Context 2-9 Education, Innovation and Lessons 2-9 The Moral Component 2-10 Ethical Foundations 2-11 Moral Cohesion 2-15 Motivation 2-26 The Physical Component 2-31 Force Preparation 2-31 Force Generation 2-34 Annex A - The Principles of War 2A-1 Chapter 3 — Conflict and the Application of Force The Nature of Conflict 3-2 The Character of Conflict 3-7 The Application of Force 3-12 The Nature of the Application of Force 3-12 The Character of the Application of Force 3-15 The Levels of Warfare 3-17 The Strategic Level 3-17 The Operational Level 3-19 The Tactical Level 3-19 iv Chapter 4 — The Joint Operation Contributions of Land Forces 4-4 Tasks for Land Forces 4-4 Organisation of Land Forces 4-5 The Contribution of Land Forces to the Joint Campaign 4-9 Air-Land Integration 4-10 Air Power 4-10 Air-Land Integration 4-11 Space and Cyberspace 4-14 Space 4-14 Cyberspace 4-14 Maritime-Land Integration 4-15 Strategic Deployment 4-17 Other Military Components 4-18 Logistics Component 4-18 Special Forces Component 4-18 A Comprehensive Approach 4-18 The Inter-agency Dimension of Operations 4-19 The Multinational Dimension of Operations 4-20 Command of Multinational Operations 4-22 National Command 4-22 Multinational Command 4-22 Frictions between National and Multinational Command 4-22 UK National Contingent Command 4-24 Multinational Cooperation 4-24 Multinational Staff Interoperability 4-26 Chapter 5 — The Manoeuvrist Approach to Operations Introduction 5-2 Fundamentals of the Manoeuvrist Approach 5-2 Application 5-3 Understanding the Situation 5-3 Influencing Perceptions 5-9 Seizing and Holding the Initiative 5-14 Breaking Cohesion and Will 5-15 Protecting Cohesion and Will 5-21 Enhancing the Manoeuvrist Approach 5-23 Chapter 6 — Command of Operations Making Decisions 6-2 Taking Risks 6-5 The Nature of Risk 6-5 Dealing with Risks 6-7 v Operations | Contents Force Protection and Risks 6-9 Mission Command 6-9 The Nature of Command 6-10 A Philosophy of Command 6-11 Principles of Mission Command 6-12 Making Plans and Giving Orders 6-15 Estimates 6-15 Plans and Orders 6-18 Formulating Concepts of Operation and Mission Statements 6-19 Chains of Command 6-22 Control of Operations 6-23 Control 6-23 Decentralisation 6-24 Control of the Battlespace 6-26 Chapter 7 — Orchestrating Operations Operational Art 7-2 Commander’s Skill 7-3 Campaign Design 7-6 Campaign Management 7-6 Tactical Planning Concepts 7-6 The Doctrinal Frameworks 7-8 The Operational Framework 7-9 The Tactical Framework 7-11 The Geographic Framework 7-14 The Tactical Functions 7-14 Chapter 8 — Executing Operations Military Activities in the Land Environment 8-2 The Primary Purpose - Combat 8-2 Deliberate and Focussed Intervention 8-3 Military Assistance to Security and Development 8-4 Counter-Insurgency 8-6 Peace Support 8-7 Peacetime Military Engagement and Conflict Prevention 8-8 Home Defence and Military Aid to the Civil Authorities 8-8 Tactical Actions in the Land Environment 8-10 Offensive Actions 8-10 Defensive Actions 8-12 Stabilising Actions 8-14 Enabling Actions 8-16 Forms of Manoeuvre 8-18 vi Chapter 9 — Sustaining Operations Sustainment Fundamentals 9-2 Philosophy of Sustainment 9-2 Terminology 9-4 Principles of Logistics 9-6 Functional Groupings 9-7 Sustainment Planning 9-12 Sustainment Execution 9-14 Levels of Sustainment 9-14 Command and Control of Sustainment 9-17 Recuperation after Operations 9-18 Essay — Doctrine and Command in the British Army: E-1 An Historical Overview by Professor Gary Sheffield (2010 Version) Index I-1 vii Operations Chapter 1 This photograph features Sgt Paul Fox RE, a member of a Brigade Reconnaissance Force, who was later killed in action on 26 February 2010 at Nad ‘Ali. Introduction Chapter 1 describes the purpose, audience, structure and the four unifying themes of this doctrine publication. 1-1 Operations | 1 — Introduction With 2000 years of examples behind us, we have no excuse, when fighting, for not fighting well. TE Lawrence, quoted in BH Liddell Hart, Memoirs, in 2 volumes (London: Cassell, 1965) Purpose 0101. This Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) builds on foundations laid by the highest Defence doctrine to provide the philosophy and principles for the British Army’s approach to operations. The philosophy and principles guide the practices and procedures that are found in tactical field manuals and other subordinate doctrine.