[المنتصر]

MARCH FORMATIONS

Generally, nKPA units move during darkness or under conditions of limited visibility. Forces move in a safe and expedient manner. Columns are supported by antitank and air defense forces. Battalions maintain 500 meters between each other and artillery marches to the rear of the column along a parallel route. For the sake of speed, the march formation is the preferred method of troop movement. A march formation usually consists of the following elements:

Reconnaissance

Advance guard

Flank security

Regiment main body

Rear security element

The focus of march planning is security of the main force and the creation of conditions for its successful commitment to battle.

The advance guard precedes the main force on the same route as the reconnaissance unit and provides movement security and warning. It normally consists of approximately one third of the total combat power of the main force. The advance guard of an infantry regiment is normally an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, engineers, and anti-armor equipment. The division may employ a regiment as an advance guard.

The advance guard will dispatch to its front a forward security element (FSE) also consisting of one third of its combat power. The FSE element is a reinforced company. Preceding the FSE is the combat reconnaissance element. This element is normally a platoon reinforced with engineer and NBC reconnaissance elements. It reports intelligence information and makes the initial contact with any enemy forces. Flank and rear security for a regiment on the march is conducted by platoon size units.

Each element of the march formation is responsible for destroying enemy forces before they can slow the main body. If the unit is unable clear the way for the main body, they fix and hold the enemy force until the next unit in the column can join the fight. Figure #6, shown on the next page, is a picture of a typical nKPA infantry regiment in march formation.

PREBATTLE FORMATION

Due to the type of terrain typical to Korea, it is likely you will encounter a north Korean unit still in its march column. Despite the normally narrow terrain, there are places where units can deploy forces into formations which place more combat forces in front.

From the march formation, a unit deploys into the pre-battle formation. A unit disperses abreast by increasing space between vehicles. This formation is used when approaching the battlefield, moving in the depths of a defending enemy’s rear area, and attacking enemy defenses when preparatory fires have significantly reduced enemy resistance. Pre-battle formations minimize troop vulnerabilities to collation air and artillery strikes. It facilitates rapid maneuver as well as quick deployment into attack formation. Units in pre-battle formation either deploy into attack formation or return to the march formation, depending on the tactical situation.

In a pre-battle formation, a battalion advances with its companies deployed in column; deployed in a forward or reverse wedge, or echeloned left or right. Each company moves in march column within the formation. A tank platoon is attached to reinforce the battalion. The pre-battle formation does not deploy beyond platoon formations. Dispersal and speed of separate column formations are what makes them less vulnerable. Figure 8, shown on the next page, is a picture of a battalion in pre-battle formation.

ATTACK FORMATION

If time and terrain permits, a unit moves into an attack formation approximately 1,000 meters before enemy positions. Tanks on line normally lead dismounted infantry by 100 to 200 meters. Often, the infantry forces will remain in column behind the tanks for protection from direct fire weapons. The infantry will deploy when they are within effective range of their weapons. In the attack formation, platoons disperse laterally into a line formation.

BATTALION ATTACK

A battalion normally attacks as part of its parent regiment. A battalion does not have the organic support elements needed for an independent attack. Its likely mission is to attack through strong points of the defending enemy and to continue the attack in an assigned direction. The mission of these elements is similar to the missions of the division and regiment elements, but it is on a smaller scale. Subunits normally do not stop on objectives and consolidate, but continue the attack deeper into the enemy rear area.

The battalion’s zone of attack can vary from 1 to 2 kilometers with a depth of up to 3 kilometers. The battalion will attempt to create a breakthrough zone 500 to 1,000 meters wide. Follow-on forces, 3-5 km behind, will attempt to exploit the breakthrough.

An infantry battalion does not have an organic reconnaissance element. However, a surveillance patrol is composed and trained to act in a manner similar to an American scout platoon. This scout element advances 2-3 kilometers forward of the battalion sector and provides intelligence information to the unit headquarters.

The first echelon of the attack battalion will consist of two infantry companies supported by artillery from the regimental artillery group (RAG) composed of three artillery battalions (122mm, 152mm, and 107mm MRL), which is located 3-5 km from the front line. This artillery operates under control of the regimental commander. Placing the artillery under the control of the regiment, combined with the older generation of north Korean radios, causes a longer turn around in calls for fire then in the Dragon Force. The division artillery group, comprised of 152mm and MRL, is located 7-9 km behind the front line and supports the division’s main attack. The infantry soldiers are usually reinforced with tanks from the infantry division’s armor battalion.

The second echelon of the attack is formed by the remaining infantry company. Its primary mission is to exploit success of the lead companies. Usually this company detaches a platoon size element to act as the battalion reserve. The reserve is placed in an area which provides rapid deployment against developing threats or reinforcement of the first echelon, if needed. Anti-armor assets are usually placed in ambush sites or in assembly areas along mechanized/armor avenues of attack.

COMPANY ATTACK

A typical infantry company attack frontage is from 500 to 800 meters (as you can see in the above graphic). Platoons normally attack on a frontage of 150 to 200 meters. Within this sector, the nKPA may deploy armor, antitank guns, and artillery in a direct fire mode supporting the attack. Also, crew served weapons such as mortars and heavy machine guns are pushed forward providing support to areas of success.