<XMP><BODY></xmp> Brigade Combat Teams
Brigade Combat teams.


        This page is now a little outdated, but worth keeping up for the links if nothing else.


        The US army establishment has recently stated an interest in medium armoured forces, the stated intention being to form an independent Brigade Combat Team (BCT) that can be deployed anywhere in the world within 96 hours. The basic idea is detailed in the introduction on this FAS page.
        Since this document was published, it has been announced that the brigade should be formed from three mechanised infantry battalions, a reconnaissance batalion and a howitzer battalion and that the intermim combat vehicle will be the LAV III.
        There is some speculation that what the army is really intends to create a Middle East Rapid reaction force, but for the purposes of this article we'll go along with the stated aim of a force that can be deployed anywhere in the world.
        This article is intended to offer some thoughts on such a force.

        Personnel.
        The personnel of a BCT might be posted anywhere in the world at short notice, in climates ranging from tropical jungle to sub-arctic tundra. Servicemen in BCTs should be issued BDUs in both woodland and desert patterns when they join a unit. These items will be tropical weight so they can be worn in all temperatures. If the climate is colder extra garments are worn beneath. These two patterns should handle most eventualities. For special requirements such as snow, nightfighting or urban combat lightweight coveralls can be used.
        Items such as ponchos could have one pattern on each side. Alternately troops could retain the issue woodland pattern poncho and be issued with a grey and brown basha sheet (tarp). This would have a bold jagged pattern to break up the flatness of the sheet. In temperate climates or jungle the poncho is used as a shelter and the basha as a groundsheet. In deserts, mountains or ruined buildings this is reversed. In the desert the poncho may be rigged beneath the basha to trap a layer of insulating air.
        Webbing equipment could be brown, but for large items such as rucksacs and buttpacks this may create too large an area of uniform colour. I suggest these items be given a dual-purpose pattern composed of neutral grey, khaki, red-brown and chocolate. The shape of the items that this would be used on suggests that a pattern of horizontal stripes and blobs be used. This pattern can be customised with white tape for snow operations, green for jungle or black for night operations.
        Although the intention is to create a mounted force, in certain situations and environments large scale vehicle use may not be possible so the BCT should have a sufficient number of man-portable systems.

Vehicle requirements (General).
        While the intention seems to be to develop a family of new vehicles, many of these roles can be met by systems already available in the international market place.
        Such a force could be deployed anywhere from jungles to the snowfields of northern Europe or Asia. For a formation that will be deployed anywhere in the world, and usually at short notice, it is only logical that the majority of vehicles should be equipped with light tracks. This allows the formation to operate in the broadest range of terrains and climates with the minimum of preparation.
        The merits of light tracked systems have been amply detailed by Mike Sparks in the November issue of G2mil. (2). At the time of writing, the stated intention is to adopt the wheeled LAV III as the Interim MAV. This has caused some controversy.
        The LAV is in fact a lightly armoured vehicle with little potential for protection upgrades. It has an inferior cross country performance to tracked vehicles such as the M113A3 and it is too heavy to be transported by C-130. The M113A3, on the other hand, can be moved by both C130 and CH-47 helicopters and has a wide range of combat proven add on armour. Each LAV would have to be brought new, while large numbers of M113A3s are already owned by the US Army.

Mechanised Infantry.
        If we read the document at (1) on the proposed MAV/BCT requirements, it is obvious that the author(s) are expecting most of the brigade's operations to involve large bodies of dismounted infantry supported by armour and artillery.
        While this is a very effective tactic in an appropriate situation, it is more likely that many operations will be of a smaller scale.
        Many situations in modern warfare such as MOUT, small unit patrols or convoy escort may result in a unit only having available the weapons that it carries with it. For this reason it is important that many of the unit's Infantry Carrying Vehicle's should have a potent and versatile range of weaponry. In other words, be Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV).
        A IFV should have weaponry sufficient to give it an anti-tank/vehicle, anti-personnel and demolition capability. A heavy machine gun and automatic grenade launcher, or even a 25mm cannon do not fulfil this requirement.
        There are several alternate armament options, but one of the simplest is to arm the vehicle with a light cannon, machine gun(s), ATGW and a pod of unguided rockets. This armament configuration is described in more detail in my article on Modern Armoured Vehicles. (4)

        Armour.
        The Infantry are intended to be supported by a Mobile Gun System (MGS) -essentially a light/medium tank probably armed with a 105mm gun. The LAV option is a wheeled tank destroyer which is too heavy and will not physically fit inside a C-130.
        The potential of such a vehicle could be enhanced if the vehicle was fitted with ATGW capability for distant or difficult targets, and a light cannon (30mm) to conserve main gun ammo.

        The currently proposed IBCT does not have an armour battalion, three LAV-105s being assigned to each infantry company. This policy may change and a future BCT will prossibly have two Mechanised Infantry battalions and one Tank Battalion. Since a brigade may have to operate without divisional support, I suggest that the strength of the Tank Battalion be increased to four companies. This gives the commander the option of:-

High Mobility battalion.
        In addition to the two Mechanised Infantry battalions the brigade should also have a battalion made up from a mix of Escort and Patrol companies and conventional (non-mechanised) Infantry. Such a unit could be airlifted with far less assets than a Mechanised battalion.
        Escort and Patrol companies are mainly used for road security and convoy protection duties. They are equipped with combat vehicles that will not slow a convoy down by their presence. Usually they will consist of several infantry platoons, each mounted on 6 armed and armoured HMMWVs. Some units may be mounted on wheeled IFVs, although the only type I have seen that comes close to the necessary level of armament and protection at present is the BTR-90, or possibly certain South African Mine-Protected AFVs.
        The support platoon includes:-        The Escort and Patrol companies are armed and configured so that they can be easily converted to dismounted infantry.

        The High Mobility battalion would be responsible for rear area security, protection of MSRs and convoys, manning of defensive positions and checkpoints and the garrisoning of urban areas. The availability of the High Mobility battalion for these duties frees Mechanised infantry for more appropriate tasks.
        The High mobility battalion also provides additional manpower for infantry intensive operations such as MOUT, mountain or jungle warfare.
        The High Mobility battalion is also the unit most likely to be used for vertical envelopment missions, either as infantry or air-motorised formations.

Reconnaissance.
        Part of the concept of the BCT is that it should be capable of operating as a independent force. It will therefore need larger support elements than brigades that are fielded as part of a division. The reconnaissance element of the brigade is envisioned as being of battalion (US squadron) size. One imagines that individual battalions will also have their own reconnaissance element. When the presence of US forces increases to Divisional level or greater such large reconnaissance formations may not be needed and will probably end up being used in a more aggressive role. The formation should therefore have sufficient armament for this possibility and have its own organic tank platoons.

Combat Engineer Vehicles (CEV).
        Good engineering support can be a key element in the success of military operations. A possible armament for a CEV is the 152mm Gun-Launcher of the M551, equipping the CEV with a potent demolition weapon with anti-tank capabilities.

Anti-Tank.
        As well as anti-armour systems mounting conventional TOW missiles, the antitank elements of the brigade should also have an EFOG-M capability, as is used by the 82nd airborne. The EFOGMs are the brigade's "mini-cruise missiles" to take out key enemy targets at 15km+. The LOSAT system may also be useful.

Air Defence.
        Air defence vehicles are not mentioned among the proposed variants of the MAV(1). One can only assume that the author(s) have an unshakeable faith in the ability of the USAF to maintain total and absolute air superiority!
        Short range ADA vehicles should mount guns as well as SAMs, and have sufficient armour, secondary armament and defensive systems to allow them to operate as infantry support platforms. Such vehicles will prove useful for convoy escort, urban operations or many other situations where targets may be found at high elevations.
        The battery of Gun/SAM vehicles could be supplemented by a battery of ADATs which have surface to surface as well as surface to air capability.
        In a situation where the enemy does not have a strong air capability the air defence forces will therefore have a ground role.

Artillery.
        It appears from the proposed vehicle type requirements that the BCT will have its own organic battalion of 155mm SPHs. In certain situations it may not be possible to deploy such vehicles, so it may be prudent for the artillerymen of the brigade to be cross trained as mortar crews. This could be easily done by using mortars as training weapons for rookie artillery crews.
        Even with a "lightweight" Howitzer a SPH is still a heavy piece of equipment, so the indirect fire capability of the brigade should be supplemented by 155mm Self propelled mortars, preferably mounted on light tracked chassis such as the M113. 160mm mortars mounted on Sherman chassis have proved to be very effective in Israeli Rapid Reaction forces. An M113 based system would be even more effective since it can also be helicopter transported.
        The Brigade should also have some form of medium range MBRL system. This would offer a commander a choice of either saturation or sustained indirect fire. "Off the Shelf" options include the Russian BM-21 122mm system, the South African Valkiri or the Brazilian Astros SS-30.
        The Helicopter mounted Indirect fire Airborne Rocket Artillery proposed in the March edition of G2mil might also be a useful system for a BCT.

Helicopters.
        Although nothing is mentioned at (1), there can be little doubt that the BCT will have an allocation of attack, reconnaissance and lift helicopters.

120mm Mortar Carriers.
        The proposed BCT structure places great emphasis on the 120mm mortar, even suggesting it as a company level weapon when self propelled.
        A vehicle mounting a 120mm breech-loading mortar has the capability to be a useful direct fire vehicle too. Such a vehicle should therefore be fitted with suitable armour, secondary weapons and defensive systems to exploit this potential. I term a vehicle so configured as an "Assault Mortar".
        Such vehicles could serve as either artillery or armour. Certain Russian formations already use 120mm SP "combination guns" in exactly such a role.

81mm Mortar Carrier.
        Although the 120mm mortar is a potent weapon and very much in vogue, the 81mm mortar will remain an essential system.
        In certain environments the Medium armoured force will have no choice but to conduct missions on foot, and in such situations the 81mm mortar is ideal. The 81mm also has a shorter minimum range for indirect fire, making it more suitable for company support operations.
        It has been suggested that 120mm SP-Mortars should carry 81mm or even 60mm tubes for dismounted use, but the wisdom of having two different calibres of ammo on the same vehicle is questionable. More sensible is to have dedicated 81mm mortar carriers, possibly equipped with both muzzle loaded tubes and turreted gun-mortars. As well as having potential as a direct fire vehicle such a configuration offers other possibilities. If the tactical situation allows and manpower is available, the M252 mortar can be set up along side the vehicle and both mortars fired at once. A three vehicle platoon could therefore bring six mortars to bear on a target, with a rate of fire in excess of 160 rounds per minute

Logistics
        The use of trailers to carry some of the Brigades immediate supplies will greatly reduce the number of vehicles that need to be airlifted.

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Ref.

(1) MAV http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/mav.htm
(1a) http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/tanklessarmy.htm
http://www.lewis.army.mil/transformation/
Gr. Shinseki on the BCT
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/archives/2000Apr/data/2000Apr2114/
http://www.army.mil/armyvision/transform.htm
http://www.gordon.army.mil/symp/cuviello/
(2) www.G2mil.com -Member's Library-Future Weapons-Wheels vs Tracks vs Bands
(3) LAV
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/lav.htm
http://www.udlp.com/issues/vehicles.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/wheeledbooboo.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/lavfiredeath.htm
(4) Modern Armour
http://www.g2mil.com -Member's Library-modern weapons-modern combat vehicles.
Short-comings of the 25mm cannon.
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/popguns.htm
LAV-105
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/lav-105.htm
HMMWV
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m998.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/hmmwv.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/afvfieldphones.htm
BTR-90
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/btr-90.htm
http://www.milparade.com/1999/35/006.htm
Wheeled Gun Carriers.
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/asv90.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/aml.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/eland.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/erc-90.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/vextra.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/centauro.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/rooikat.htm
Avenger and Blazer Air defence turrets.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/avenger.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/ch2.pdf
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/lav-ad.htm
Avenger Ground Attack Capability
http://147.71.210.21/spring98/opinion.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7963/avenger.htm
http://www.g2mil.com -Member's Library-future weapons-heat seeking anti-armour weapons
Air Motorised formations
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/airmotorized.htm
152mm Gun-Launcher.
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/lightcev.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m551a1.htm
EFOG-M
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/efogm.htm
http://efogm.redstone.army.mil/index.html
http://www.g2mil.com/members/fweap.htm
http://www.g2mil.com -Member's Library-future weapons-EFOG-M
LOSAT
http://www.missilesandfirecontrol.com/products/Anti-Armor/losat/LOSAT.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/losat.htm
ADAT
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/adats.htm
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/adats/index.html
http://www.g2mil.com -Member's Library-future weapons-ADATS
Heavy Mortars
http://www.g2mil.com -Member's Library-future weapons-155mm Mortars
http://www.g2mil.com - Member's Library - future warfare-Infantry Guns
Infantry Guns and Heavy mortars
M113.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m113.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/5265/M113A3.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/airbornem113a3.htm
http://www.m113.com/m113_vehicles.html
MBRL systems
BM-21 http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/bm-21.htm
Valkiri http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/valkiri.htm
Astros http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/astros.htm
Indirect ARA
"letters", http://www.g2mil.com/Mar2001.htm
Addition ideas on indirect ARA
120mm mortars.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m120.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/120mortars.htm
http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/popguns2.htm
120mm Combination guns
Assault Gun-Mortars
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/2s9.htm
http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/Arms_systems/Land/Artillery/Self_Propelled/Self_Prop_Art_Mortars.htm#2s9
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/2s23.htm
http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/Arms_systems/Land/Artillery/Self_Propelled/Self_Prop_Art_Mortars.htm#2s23
M252/L16 mortar
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m252.htm
http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/pw/pw_81m.html-ssi

By the Author of the Scrapboard :

Blog of the Books.

Attack, Avoid, Survive: Essential Principles of Self Defence

Available in Handy A5 and US Trade Formats.

Survival Weapons: Optimizing Your Arsenal

Crash Combat Fourth Edition
Epub edition Fourth Edition.
Anatopismo: An Underrealm Novella
Hell-Ay: Angel Town
Back to the Scrapboard