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Chapter 3: Guerrillas

This page is a section of TC 7-100.3 Irregular Opposing Forces.

This chapter presents an overview of guerrilla organizations and actions as part of the irregular OPFOR for training U.S. forces. Training conditions presented by this type of OPFOR are a composite of real-world guerrilla forces and indicate guerrilla capabilities and limitations that may be present in actual operational environments (OEs). Guerrilla combat power can be enhanced by possible affiliations with other combatants such as insurgents, criminal elements, special-purpose forces (SPF), or regular military forces. Passive or active civilian supporters can expand guerrilla capabilities.

Contents

General Characteristics

A guerrilla force is a group of irregular, predominantly indigenous personnel organized along military lines to conduct military and paramilitary operations in enemy-held, hostile, or denied territory (JP 3-05). Thus, guerrilla units are an irregular force, but structured similar to regular military forces. They resemble military forces in their command and control (C2) and can use military-like tactics and techniques. Guerrillas normally operate in areas occupied by an enemy or where a hostile actor threatens their intended purpose and objectives. Therefore, guerrilla units adapt to circumstances and available resources in order to sustain or improve their combat power. Guerrillas do not necessarily comply with international law or conventions on the conduct of armed conflict between and among declared belligerents.

Scope and Duration of Operations

The area of operations (AOR) for guerrilla units may be quite large in relation to the size of the force. The reason for this is that a large number of small guerrilla units can be widely dispersed. Guerrilla operations may occur as independent squad or team actions. In other cases, operations could involve a guerrilla brigade and/or independent units at battalion, company, and platoon levels. A guerrilla unit can be an independent paramilitary organization and/or a military-like component of an insurgency. Guerrilla actions focus on the tactical level of conflict and its operational impacts. Guerrilla units can operate at various levels of local, regional, or international reach. In some cases, transnational affiliations can provide significant support to guerrilla operations.

Guerrilla forces are adaptive, flexible, and agile in quickly changing their composition to optimize organizational capabilities against known or perceived vulnerabilities of an enemy. Guerrillas exploit familiarity with their physical environment and the ability to blend into the local populace. Small guerrilla units have great mobility and ability to move throughout enemy-occupied areas.

Guerrillas seek to gain small psychological victories. These victories do not need to be significant in terms of material damage to the enemy. These tactical victories only need to show that a small guerrilla force can defeat [at least parts of] a much larger enemy force.

Guerrilla forces take prudent risks when an expectation exists for successful attack on an enemy, but may also make significant practical sacrifices in individuals and materiel in order to achieve a major psychological impact on an enemy. Guerrillas also apply information warfare (INFOWAR) capabilities to weaken or exhaust enemy resolve.

Ultimately, the resolve of guerrilla leaders and members of guerrilla organizations determines how long to continue guerrilla operations. Time is a key factor that guerrilla forces use as a combat multiplier in a long-term commitment to degrade and eventually defeat the will of an enemy. The goal is not necessarily to defeat enemy forces but to outlast them. This long-term struggle includes a full range of actions that range from espionage and media manipulation to more violent actions such as sabotage, assassination, bombing, ambushes, and raids. Guerrillas can use acts of terrorism to achieve either selective or random psychological stress and physical damage or destruction. Actions are typically quick and violent, followed by rapid dispersal of assembled guerrilla forces.

Factors that affect the scope and duration of guerrilla operations include—

  • The level of sympathetic support from an indigenous relevant population.
  • Regional sociological demographics and ethnic-racial relationships and tensions.
  • Governance actions and support services to a relevant population by a civil or military authority in a contested region.
  • Economic stability and disproportionate distribution of benefits to a relevant population.
  • Physical and seasonal aspects of topography and climate.
  • The amount of covert or overt support from organizations or states with interests in a contested region.

Note. TC 7-100.2 complements this publication in regard to tactics, and FM 7-100.4 provides details of organization, manning, weapons, and equipment. For weapons and equipment data, see the Worldwide Equipment Guide.

Relationships With Other Organizations and Actors

Guerrillas can act separately from other groups, organizations, and/or activities in conflict with the same enemy or act in conjunction with them to pursue common objectives. Depending on local or regional conditions, some guerrilla units may be affiliated with or subordinate to regular forces or an insurgent organization, or they may operate as independent of such organizations. Regular forces can provide overt and covert support for guerrilla operations, including the expertise of advisors, liaison teams, and SPF. Guerrilla units can be associated with regular forces on a temporary basis for particular missions, but would be incorporated into regular forces only when their capabilities are similar to those of the regular forces operating in the same geographic area.

Note. Affiliated organizations are those operating in another organization’s AOR that the latter organization may be able to sufficiently influence to act in concert with it for a limited time. No command relationship exists between an affiliated organization and the organization in whose AOR it operates.

Guerrillas are more likely to be incorporated in and subordinate to an insurgent organization when both are parts of the irregular OPFOR. A guerrilla organization that is affiliated with or subordinate to an insurgent organization may also be affiliated with SPF, other regular military forces, and/or criminal elements. Guerrillas will generally accept help from any other organization as long as it meets a need and is compatible with the guerrilla force’s interests and objectives.

Guerrillas can be part of the Hybrid Threat (HT). The HT can be any combination of two or more of the following components: regular forces, irregular forces (such as guerrillas and/or insurgents), and/or criminal elements. Possible HT combinations include guerrillas operating openly with regular military forces or various forms of covert cooperation or support. (See TC 7-100 for detailed discussion on the HT.)

Guerrilla associations with other actors in a contested region can vary, and relationships may change periodically during a long-term conflict. Guerrillas may have relationships with local or higher-level insurgent organizations or criminal organizations. If a standing relationship does exist among guerrillas and other irregular OPFOR or HT actors, any allegiance or affiliation may be focused on single-issue agreements or a mutual ideological commitment. Affiliation with criminal organizations is dependent upon the mutual needs of a criminal organization and a guerrilla unit or may be a contractual arrangement for specific tasks. Guerrilla activities often overlap with criminal activities.

In addition to possible affiliations with insurgent, criminal, or regular military organizations, guerrilla units may also be affiliated with supportive civilians, perhaps covert informal support networks acting with a façade such as a charitable organization. The support provided by different categories of civilians can include—

  • Coerced support of guerrilla actions.
  • Passive support by people sympathetic to the goals of the guerrillas.
  • Actors actively supporting and engaging in combat support or sustainment of the guerrillas.

Guerrillas may depend heavily on the active and passive support from the local population (see chapter 1).

Note. Active sympathizers may provide important logistics services but not directly participate in combat operations. If they participate in guerrilla activities, they become guerrillas.

Affiliation With Special-purpose Forces

When guerrilla organizations are affiliated with the military forces of an external nation-state, they are most likely to be associated with special-purpose forces (SPF). SPF carry out operations either independently or in coordination with regular and/or irregular forces (such as guerrillas). In some cases, SPF can provide funding for specific guerrilla activities or for the entire guerrilla organization. (See chapter 15 of TC 7-100.2 for more information on SPF.)

The nature of shared goals or interests determines the tenure and type of relationship and the degree of affiliation between SPF and guerrillas. For example, the affiliation of an SPF detachment with guerrilla organizations is dependent only on the needs of the guerrilla organization or on the needs of the SPF at a particular time. The relational dynamics of SPF units are very fluid and apt to change from one day to the next. For example, if an SPF mission requires close cooperation with guerrilla forces, those guerrilla units can be included in the SPF task organization with the appropriate command and support relationships.

SPF can recruit, organize, train, advise, and support guerrillas and conduct (or lead) operations in conjunction with them. SPF personnel may fight alongside such affiliates or assist them to prepare for offensive actions, diversionary measures, or other missions. In some cases, the SPF will not only advise and assist but actually control (command) the guerrilla units as a surrogate force. When guerrilla forces support SPF teams, the SPF teams can serve as the planning and command element for these forces.

SPF sappers can accompany and/or augment guerrilla units. SPF sappers can train affiliated guerrillas as sappers. SPF battalions using sappers in an assault and/or demolition role may need to form several sapper platoons. In that case, the additional sapper platoons may be manned by affiliated guerrillas or may be a mixture of SPF and guerrillas. SPF sappers can guide guerrillas through enemy lines and obstacles to perform their missions (or guerrilla sappers can do the same for SPF teams). An SPF sapper team may serve with and train guerrillas on how to infiltrate, set demolitions, and assault enemy installations. In some cases, the SPF sappers may train guerillas in the manufacture and employment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and signal flares. In other cases, an SPF sapper team may manufacture the IEDs and signal flares and then give them to guerrillas to emplace and/or detonate.

The deep attack and reconnaissance platoon of an SPF battalion typically operates in enemy-held territory. Its missions can include assisting guerrillas in offensive actions or providing communications, liaison, and support to stay-behind guerrillas and guerrilla activities in the defense. Almost any type of SPF unit can do the same.

The long-range signal platoon of an SPF battalion or a signal team from an SPF company can assist in training affiliated guerrillas on how to set up, operate, maintain, and transport communications equipment. SPF signal teams may accompany and/or augment guerrilla units and support guerrilla operations. A single small SPF signal team can provide long-range communications support for guerrilla units up to battalion size. A full SPF signal team can do the same for a brigade-size unit. This team may also serve in a signals reconnaissance collection role.

Various other types of SPF teams may accompany and/or augment guerrilla units and provide them with support whenever necessary. Such teams include the following:

  • SPF sniper teams, who may serve as part of a stay-behind element or a hunter-killer (HK) team. SPF snipers can also train guerrillas to serve as snipers or marksmen.
  • SPF mortar teams, who may provide mortar support to guerrilla forces. They can also provide mortars to the guerillas and train them in the proper use and maintenance of mortars.
  • SPF air defense teams, who may provide air defense support to guerrilla forces. They can also provide air defense weapons to the guerillas and train them in the proper use and maintenance of those weapons.
  • SPF medical teams, who may provide medical supplies and medical support to guerrilla forces. Each SPF medical team is designed to provide medical support for guerrilla units up to brigade size. A small medical team can support a battalion-size force. These teams can also train guerrilla forces on how to perform emergency medicine, battlefield medical procedures, and evacuation.
  • SPF unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) teams, who may provide UAV support to guerrilla forces, including the acquisition of reconnaissance information on targets or facilities.
  • SPF diver teams, who may provide diving support to guerrilla forces, including water infiltration, reconnaissance, and demolition. These teams can also provide diving equipment to guerrilla forces and train them in its use.

Note. In some instances, SPF can provide guerrilla units with new or high-technology niche weapons and equipment and train them to use it.

When SPF are to be air-dropped into an area known to contain a guerrilla force of sufficient size and nature to warrant cultivating as an affiliated force, the guerrilla force, in all probability, will be receptive to outside support. Other SPF or regular military forces may have trained the guerrilla force as drop zone reception personnel. Once on the ground, the SPF team or detachment attempts to make contact with the guerrilla forces.

Logistics

Because guerrillas typically operate in enemy-held, hostile, or denied territory, they must acquire a self-sustaining capability. Although they typically rely on some support from the local population, they need to avoid enemy retribution on the population and/or dissatisfaction of the population with the demands of supporting a guerrilla force. One example of self-sustainment is to acquire weapons, ammunition, supplies, transportation assets, and other commodities by raiding or ambushing enemy forces, locations, and installations. In another example of self-sustainment, civilian medical facilities may be used to treat guerrillas on a case-by-case clandestine basis, but a preferred capability is to develop medical treatment stations and convalescence sites integral to guerrilla safe havens or complex battle positions.

Guerrilla units normally have sufficient assets to transport munitions and materiel for the immediate short-term fight. Organic transportation and use of available resources of the local area provide the guerrillas a degree of autonomy and freedom of action. For a sustained fight, however, guerrillas normally require additional support and sources to transport or stage materiel. Such sources can include transport assets from higher guerrilla organizations to transport materiel or preposition items in caches for resupply. For example, a guerrilla battalion might depend on support from the brigade’s transport company, or a guerrilla company might receive support from the battalion’s transport platoon. Other external sources may include civilian augmentation.

A guerrilla brigade or its subordinates may be augmented by military or civilian vehicles (motorcycles, trucks, cars, bicycles, carts, or high-mobility/all terrain vehicles) or personnel depending on the mission. Local sympathizers may volunteer their equipment and services. The guerrilla commander may requisition or confiscate local civilian transportation assets and materiel. This includes the use of civilian personnel for porters. Vehicles are a mix of military and civilian. The guerrillas may have no vehicles at all and depend completely on caches, porters, or other transportation or supply means.

Requirements for obtaining supplies and services from a local population are evaluated in conjunction with the sustainment needs of the population. Support to guerrillas from communities is coordinated with a willing population, but is sometimes coerced due to tactical needs of the guerrilla force. Guerrillas recognize that recurring requisition or confiscation of materiel may alienate the population. Therefore, the guerrillas may institute a system for receipts and eventual compensation of the citizenry.

Sustained combat and/or participation in a fight by guerrilla units may require significant operational, administrative, and logistics support from regular military forces operating in the same geographic area. This type of regular forces support complements the significant sustainment that guerrillas require from a local or regional populace. As a basic level of logistics support, guerrillas subsist primarily from locally available resources. This limitation influences the size of a guerrilla unit and its proximity to other guerrilla units.

Personnel

Guerrillas often come from impoverished backgrounds and are used to hardships. Typically, they are young and in good physical condition. They can make do with less by both design and background.

The military-like organizational structure and intent of a guerrilla unit is often accompanied by a military style of clothing or uniform, equipment and weapons, and distinctive badges or insignia. However, a guerrilla may not always wear a military-like uniform. They may wear civilian clothing and be indistinguishable from the local population (other than weaponry, which they may conceal or discard). Although most guerrillas are armed, they may seek to avoid being identified as guerrillas by giving the appearance that their weapons are part of their normal civilian occupation or activities. Weapons and other materiel may be concealed until they are needed for a guerrilla action.

Some, or all, guerrillas may be part-time fighters and melt back into the civilian population when not assembled to conduct operations. Guerrillas may continue their normal positions in society and lead clandestine lives as members of a guerrilla organization. They may be a local resident one moment and a guerrilla the next.

Guerrillas may be a mixture of men, women, and children. Women and children may be used as runners, messengers, scouts, guides, suicide bombers, drivers, porters, snipers, lookouts, or in other roles. They may also emplace and/or detonate IEDs, signal flares, and mines. Women (and possibly children) may be fighters and participate in drive-by shootings, assassinations, and/or assaults.

Since most guerrillas are indigenous to the area in which they are fighting, their knowledge of the local population, customs, issues, language, and terrain are first hand. They use this understanding to develop working relationships with the populace. They can apply this knowledge to win support, develop intelligence networks, gain new recruits, and/or develop effective propaganda. If the guerrillas are not able to persuade the local populace to provide support, they have the force to coerce them.

Note. Members of a guerilla force are predominantly indigenous to the region but may include personnel who are not indigenous to a particular guerrilla unit’s AOR and may have characteristics significantly different from most of the guerrilla force or the local population.

Base Camps and Training Camps

Like any other armed force, guerrillas have requirements for C2, rest, resupply, refit, and training. The larger the guerrilla force and the more active they are, the more they will need established bases, both semipermanent and temporary.

Guerrillas who are part-time fighters may prefer to continue to live in their own homes. They would assemble into guerrilla units only for the time necessary to carry out a mission and then return to their homes. They would establish and occupy base camps only if security does not permit them to live at home or in order to prepare for actions involving more than just a few squads or HK teams. Platoon and larger organizations typically operate out of a base camp.

Guerrilla forces may need to avoid large concentrations of troops in camps. Even though logistics conditions may permit large troop concentrations, commands normally are broken up into small camps and widely dispersed. Dispersion facilitates concealment, mobility, and security. Large forces may be concentrated to perform specific operations. On completing the operation, the force is dispersed quickly into small units.

Base camps must be relatively safe and secure in areas where guerrillas can rest, eat, and plan. More sophisticated guerrilla base camps have command posts, training areas, communications facilities, medical stations, and logistics centers. These base camps, however, are not the same as bases of regular military forces. They are usually small in overall scope, spread out, and sometimes underground. Guerrillas try to locate base camps within guerrilla-controlled areas where cover and concealment provide security against detection. In rural areas, base camps tend to be in areas where the guerrillas have popular support. Urban guerrillas may rent or confiscate houses for use as temporary bases for small guerrilla forces, such as HK teams. Guerrillas will normally avoid battling over their base camp. If the site is discovered, the guerrillas will abandon it and move to another location. Routes into a base camp will be constantly observed for security. Mines, signal flares, IEDs, and ambushes are used as standard security enhancements. If surprised or cornered, guerrillas will vigorously defend themselves with a delaying action while evacuating key personnel and equipment.

Common characteristics of guerrilla base camps are—

  • Covered and concealed.
  • Located on remote, rough, and inaccessible terrain.
  • Suitable for bivouac.
  • Well defined and defended perimeter.
  • Planned escape routes.

Guerrilla base camps are temporary or semipermanent and depend on secrecy for their existence. These bases are kept small, and usually there is more than one base in the guerrilla unit’s AOR. Guerrillas typically use four types of base camps:

  • The main camp.
  • Reserve camps that are in a preselected location and would be occupied if the main camp must be permanently evacuated.
  • Temporary camps located close to current combat operations and occupied only during those operations.
  • False camps located away from main and reserve camps to deceive enemy forces.

Guerrillas favor level, well-drained campsites with good water supply, natural fuel, cover, and adequate vegetation to provide concealment from visual observation. The preferred camps are also chosen with a view toward easy access to the target population, access to a friendly or neutral border, good escape routes, and good observation of approach routes for enemy forces. When enemy operations force the guerrillas out of their preferred base camps, they tend to establish camps in rugged, inhospitable areas not easily penetrated by enemy forces.

Base Camp Security

To provide security against detection, guerrillas attempt to locate base camps in areas with cover and concealment. Usually, the rougher the terrain, the less likely is the chance of being surprised by enemy forces. While guerrillas avoid defensive combat, they emphasize short-term defensive action in the base camp vicinity to aid evacuation, if necessary.

Base camps are usually in relatively remote areas for security. To preclude accidental discovery, base camps are not usually near inhabited areas. However, because the guerrillas must be able to fulfill their logistics needs, their base camp usually will not be more than a day’s march from a village or town.

Guerrilla camps are normally located away from roads, main trails, and civilian communities. The surrounding terrain should obstruct rapid enemy approach into the area. The site of the camp should provide concealed evacuation routes. The camp is surrounded by guard and warning systems. Prepared positions are organized to delay or destroy enemy forces when this action becomes necessary or desirable. Almost every base camp is surrounded by observation posts, preferably located on hilltops. From these posts, an early alert is passed enabling timely evacuation of the area.

Training Camps

Guerrilla training camps may be established in both urban and rural environments. While some training is accomplished in urban safe houses or rural guerrilla base camps, most training is accomplished at locations focused on training. This may be a special urban safe house, a remote guerilla base camp, or a training center in another country.

Guerrilla Organizations

Guerrillas use a military-like organizational structure for C2 and conduct of operations. For example, the basic building block of a guerrilla organization may be a squad consisting of two fire teams. Such squads are the basis for building guerrilla platoons, companies, battalions, and brigades. However, guerrilla commanders can task-organize these units for specific actions. Even prior to specific actions, whole guerrilla companies may already be restructured (task-organized) as hunter-killer (HK) companies, made up HK groups, HK sections and HK teams. When a guerrilla battalion consists predominantly of HK companies, it may be called a guerrilla HK battalion. When a guerrilla brigade consists predominantly of HK battalions (or conceivably of multiple separate HK companies), it may be called a guerrilla HK brigade.

Note. Although this chapter and FM 7-100.4 present typical structures of guerrilla units, these forces are also irregular in the sense that individual units can vary in manning, weapons, and materiel.

Guerrilla organizations may be as large as several brigades or as small as a platoon and/or independent HK teams. Often a brigade-size guerrilla force may not be appropriate for a particular mission or area AOR. It may be too large, and a task-organized guerrilla battalion may be sufficient. An example task-organized battalion might have four or five HK companies, organic battalion units, a weapons battery (with a composite of mortar, rocket launcher, and antitank platoons) from brigade, and possibly intelligence and INFOWAR augmentations.

The hierarchy of military-like terms for guerrilla units (from the bottom up) is as follows:

  • Team or HK team.
  • Squad or HK section.
  • Platoon or HK group.
  • Company or HK company.
  • Battalion (or HK battalion).
  • Brigade (or HK brigade.)
    Figure 3-1. Guerrilla organization symbols: brigade to team level
    Figure 3-1. Guerrilla organization symbols: brigade to team level

Note. Some guerrilla organizations may have honorific titles that do not reflect their true nature or size. For example, a guerrilla force that is actually of no more than battalion size may call itself a “brigade,” a “corps,” or an “army.” A guerrilla organization may also refer to itself as a “militia.” This is a loose usage of the term militia, which generally refers to citizens trained as soldiers (as opposed to professional soldiers), but applies more specifically to a state-sponsored militia that is part of the state’s armed forces but subject to call only in emergency. To avoid confusion, the TC 7-100 series uses militia only in the latter sense.

Guerrilla units can be independent units or can be associated with insurgent organizations at local, regional, provincial, national, or transnational levels. Organizational relationships between guerrillas and insurgents can fluctuate and be mission dependent, event-oriented, mutually coordinated, and/or coerced for a specific temporary purpose. The relationship may be one of loose affiliation or involve a more formal command relationship. When an insurgency includes guerrilla units, the units may be under the C2 of a local insurgent organization or of a higher insurgent organization. The relationships may be temporary and remain in effect only as long as the both insurgent organization and guerrilla unit mutually benefit.

Note. The guerrilla organization diagrams of FM 7-100.4 (on which examples in this chapter are based) and the personnel and equipment lists that accompany them are a baseline that U.S. Army trainers can modify to provide the appropriate level of combat power as part of the conditions required for a particular training exercise and/or training task. The organizational directories of FM 7-100.4 provide detailed information on manning, weapons, and equipment for a typical guerrilla brigade and its subordinate units, which represent a composite of actual guerrilla forces.

FM 7-100.4 provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to construct a task organization based on the training requirements. FM 7-100.4 also describes how to select equipment options. See also, TC 7-101 for guidance on creating the appropriate OPFOR order of battle during exercise design.

Guerrilla Brigade

The composition of a guerrilla brigade may vary. The structure depends on several factors, including the physical environment, sociological demographics and relationships, economics, and support available from external organizations and/or countries. A guerrilla brigade may have over 4,000 guerrillas or may have specified units significantly reduced in strength. Figure 3-2 shows an example of such a brigade.

Figure 3-2. Guerrilla brigade (example)
Figure 3-2. Guerrilla brigade (example)

The typical composition of a full-strength guerrilla brigade may be as follows:

  • Brigade headquarters.
  • Three or more guerrilla battalions.
  • Weapons battalion.
  • Reconnaissance company.
  • Sapper company.
  • Transport company.
  • Signal platoon.
  • Medical platoon.

Guerrilla units are tailored organizational structures based on the conditions of a particular OE and available manning, weapons, and equipment. The following are some examples of such tailoring:

  • In a particular OE, a guerrilla brigade could be a multi-battalion combat force operating in several AORs, with a full range of combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units (as in figure 3-2) and possibly affiliated with regular military forces.
  • In mountainous or forested areas with no major population centers, a guerrilla brigade might have only one or two battalions (or five or six separate companies) with little or no additional CS or CSS. Options could include widely dispersed companies depending on sustainment from local resources in a rural context or materiel obtained from defeated enemy forces and isolated enemy installations.
  • A guerrilla brigade based in a major urban-industrial center or a megalopolis would probably have a distinctly different structure of combat, CS, and CSS capabilities, tailored to readily available resources within a densely packed population and urban terrain.

Guerrilla Brigade Headquarters

The guerrilla brigade headquarters consists of the brigade command group, brigade staff, and a headquarters and service section. The personnel and functions of these organizations are described below.

Brigade Command Group

The brigade command group includes the brigade commander and deputy commander (DC). Guerrilla commanders have complete authority over their subordinates and overall responsibility for those subordinates’ actions. In the event the commander is killed or incapacitated, the DC assumes command. The brigade chief of staff (COS) is considered part of the command group but actually heads the brigade staff.

Brigade Staff

The brigade COS exercises direct control over the brigade staff and is in charge of the main command post (CP) in the absence of the brigade commander. His role is to direct staff planning and coordinate all staff inputs that assist the commander’s decisionmaking. He is the commander’s and DC’s focal point for knowledge about the friendly and enemy situation.

The brigade staff has three primary staff officers: operations officer, intelligence officer, and officer. Each of these heads one the following staff sections:

  • Operations section.
  • Intelligence and information section.
  • Resources section.
Operations Section

The brigade operations section is the basis of the main CP. The brigade COS normally resides with this section. Operational signature is small. Whenever possible, staff functions are performed in tents, tunnels, caves, or local accommodations. When mounted, the main CP usually operates from command and staff vehicles. The brigade commander determines how to organize C2 of the brigade and how many CPs will be activated. The operations section is structured to simultaneously support a main CP and an auxiliary CP. A forward CP may also be required.

Note. Guerrilla brigades and battalions may not have all the types of CPs discussed here. However, specific situations may require various types.

The brigade operations section includes the operations officer (who also serves as the deputy COS), the chief of current operations (who also serves as assistant operations officer), and the chief of future operations. The latter two officers each head subsections.

Current Operations Subsection. The chief of current operations serves as the representative of the commander, COS, or operations officer in their absence and has the authority to control forces in accordance with the commander’s intent.

Future Operations Subsection. The chief of future operations monitors the friendly and enemy situations and their implications for future actions. He advised the commander on how to make adjustments to the battle plan during the fight.

Functional Staff. Functional staff elements may augment the brigade operations section when required. These experts in particular functions (such as fire support) advise the brigade command group and staff on issues pertaining to their individual areas of expertise.

Liaison Teams. The operations section may also receive liaison teams from subordinate and affiliated units that perform tasks in support of those. Liaison teams are not a permanent part of the brigade staff structure. They support the brigade staff with detailed expertise in particular functional areas and provide direct communications to their parent organizations. SPF advisors and liaison personnel from regular military forces may operate from the brigade headquarters or may be located at lower echelons. The brigade staff may also receive liaison and advisory teams from organizations covertly or overtly supporting guerrilla operations. Their purpose may be based on functional military expertise for guerrilla unit operations or may support selected political, economic, social, or INFOWAR tasks. If the guerrilla brigade is affiliated with or subordinate to an insurgent organization, a political advisor may also be present.

Intelligence and Information Section

The intelligence and information section provides intelligence on the current and future OE. It also provides insights on opportunities for ongoing and future operations and windows of opportunity. At least one representative from the intelligence and information section is part of, and accompanies, each auxiliary or forward CP. This section has three subsections: reconnaissance, INFOWAR, and communications.

Reconnaissance Subsection. The chief of reconnaissance, who heads this subsection, develops reconnaissance plans, gathers information, and evaluates data on the OE. He supervises the efforts of subordinate reconnaissance units.

INFOWAR Subsection. The chief of INFOWAR, who heads this subsection, coordinates the employment of INFOWAR assets, both at brigade level and in subordinate units. This subsection oversees the planning and execution of all elements of INFOWAR (see appendix A).

Communications Subsection. The chief of communications and his subsection plan the use of all forms of communication and communications security. The subsection may be augmented by personnel from the brigade’s signal platoon when necessary.

Resources Section

The resources officer is responsible for the acquisition, distribution, and care of all the brigade’s resources, both human and materiel. He is also in charge of the brigade’s sustainment CP and may establish multiple sustainment CPs. The resources section may be augmented from the brigade’s transport company when necessary. The section is also structured to accommodate augmentation from the functional staff and liaison teams. It consists of two subsections: logistics and administration.

Logistics Subsection. The chief of logistics heads the brigade logistics system. He supervises transportation support. He is responsible for the acquisition and distribution of supplies to sustain the brigade. He is also responsible for the all armament accountability, readiness, supply, utilization, repair, and evacuation.

Administration Subsection. The chief of administration supervises all personnel actions and transactions. This subsection assigns personnel and records losses.

Headquarters and Service Section

The headquarters and service section provides supply and transportation support to the brigade headquarters. It includes a command team, a support team, and a supply and transport team.

Weapons Battalion

The weapons battalion of a guerrilla brigade typically consists of the following units:

  • Battalion headquarters.
  • Towed mortar battery.
  • Rocket launcher battery.
  • Antitank battery.
  • Signal section.
  • Transport section.

This battalion provides fire support to any other subordinate units of the guerrilla brigade as necessary. In some instances, due to the dispersed nature of guerrilla operations, a battery or parts thereof may be allocated to a particular guerrilla battalion.

Battalion Headquarters

The battalion headquarters consists of a command section and a staff section. The weapons battalion commander locates where he can best support the brigade operations and is often positioned in the vicinity of the brigade commander. The command section also includes the battalion’s deputy commander, who would be in charge of a forward or auxiliary CP, if necessary. The chief of staff (COS) is part of the command group and staff. However, he is usually located with the staff on the battlefield, because he exercises direct control over the battalion staff. He is also in direct charge of the battalion’s main CP in the absence of the commander.

The battalion staff consists of the operations officer (who also serves as the deputy COS), the assistant operations officer (battalion fire direction officer), the intelligence officer, and the resources officer. The COS also serves as the chief of fire support. The signal section leader also serves as the battalion communications officer. The transport section leader serves as the battalion logistics officer. The staff section operates the main CP. During static operations, staff functions are performed in tents, tunnels, caves, or local accommodations. The command and staff vehicles are then dispersed and camouflaged.

Towed Mortar Battery

The towed mortar battery normally consists of—

  • Headquarters and service section.
  • Fire coordination platoon.
  • Two towed mortar platoons.
  • Supply and transportation section.

The headquarters and service section consists of a command team, a support team, and a supply and transport team. The battery deputy commander (in the support team) normally is also the battery fire direction officer. The fire direction chief (in the fire control section of the fire coordination platoon) assumes the duties of the fire direction officer in the battery deputy commanders’ absence. Depending on mission requirements, either the battery commander or deputy commander remains with the weapons battalion commander to facilitate fire support.

When required, an observation team (from the observation section of the fire coordination platoon) accompanies a guerrilla unit. In this case, the observation section vehicle drops the team off and returns to the section headquarters. Supported units also provide additional observers.

The towed mortar battery normally has six 120-mm mortars—two platoons of three mortar sections each. However, some batteries may have six 100-mm mortars. For normal travel, the light truck (prime mover) of each mortar section carries the mortar crew and ammunition for the immediate fire support mission. For movement over short distances, the 100- or 120-mm mortar can be dismantled into three parts: barrel, bipod, and baseplate. Animals or carts can pack the mortar in its three parts. Additional ammunition bearers may be used when required. Civilians or draft animals may also be used as bearers or porters. The guerrillas may have no vehicles at all and depend on caches, porters, draft animals, or other transportation or resupply means.

Note. Another alternative is for the battery to have nine 81- or 82-mm mortars (not towed), by adding a third mortar platoon.

Rocket Launcher Battery

The rocket launcher battery of the weapons battalion typically consists of—

  • Headquarters and service section.
  • Fire coordination platoon.
  • One multiple rocket launcher (MRL) platoon.
  • One rocket launcher platoon.

The headquarters and service section and the fire coordination platoon have the same structure and functions as in the towed mortar battery (see above). The MRL and rocket launcher platoons may receive additional transportation support from the weapons battalion headquarters or the brigade transport company.

Multiple Rocket Launcher Platoon

The MRL platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters and three MRL sections with one 107- mm launcher each. The platoon can be employed as a platoon or broken into separate sections to support guerrilla or HK companies. The 107-mm MRL on a wheeled carriage can be towed by almost any vehicle or pulled by personnel or a yoked animal. Several versions can be broken down into man-packable loads. When moving dismounted for any distance, an MRL section may require augmentation of other guerrillas or civilian personnel to serve as additional ammunition bearers and to move the MRLs.

Single-tube, man-portable, tripod-mounted launchers are also available. Twelve single-tube 107-mm rocket launchers may replace each 12-tube MRL. When using single-tube rocket launchers, a vehicle is not required. However, extra porters and ammunition bearers are then required. Improvised 107-mm rocket firing pads can be constructed using materials such as dirt, bamboo frames, pipes, or crossed stakes.

Rocket Launcher Platoon

The rocket launcher platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters and six rocket launcher sections. Each section operates two 122-mm single-tube rocket launchers. This provides a total of 12 single-tube rocket launchers in the platoon. When moving dismounted for any distance, a rocket launcher section requires augmentation of other guerrillas or civilian personnel to serve as bearers to transport the launchers and additional rockets.

Typically, each rocket launcher section has one light truck. The truck can carry one or both launchers close to the firing point. The firing team dismounts, transports the launcher to the firing position and prepares it to fire. The team then fires several rockets, probably no more than five, before detection probability is high. Each launcher can fire on individual targets or it can fire preplanned volley fires with other launchers against a single target. The truck (whenever possible) will return and pick up the firing team and launcher. If the truck cannot retrieve the team and launcher, they either join up with another guerrilla unit or exfiltrate to another possible pickup point.

The 122-mm launcher can be broken into two-one man loads for transport. The 122-mm rocket can also be broken into two-one man loads. Improvised 122-mm. rocket firing pads can be constructed using materials such as dirt, bamboo frames, pipes, or crossed stakes. Caches of rockets may be used for resupply.

Antitank Battery

The antitank (AT) battery of the weapons battalion typically consists of a headquarters and service section, three antitank platoons, and one antitank hunter-killer (AT HK) platoon. These platoons can be broken down to support guerrilla or HK companies or their subordinates. The headquarters and service section has the same structure and functions as in the towed mortar battery and rocket launcher battery (see above).

Antitank Platoon

Each AT platoon typically has a platoon headquarters, an antitank guided missile (ATGM) section, and a recoilless gun section. The AT platoon receives transportation support from the battery headquarters and service section or the battalion transport section. Some ATGM and recoilless gun sections may have additional ammunition bearers. Civilians, draft animals, carts, bicycles, and bearers/porters may also be used to assist in transporting the weapons and munitions.

ATGM Section. The ATGM section of the AT platoon typically consists of a section headquarters and four ATGM teams. It may be employed as a section or allocated by team to guerrilla or HK companies. They may also be integrated into AT HK teams at company level. Each ATGM team has one ATGM launcher and carries four ATGMs for its launcher. These and/or additional ATGM launchers may also be dispersed among guerrilla HK teams.

Each ATGM team of the AT battery’s AT platoon typically has four members. This organization is different from an ATGM team in the guerrilla battalion’s weapons company, which has three members. The difference is the addition of one grenadier and his ATGL to the team, and the team may be reconfigured based on the available ATGM system.

Recoilless Gun Section. The recoilless gun section of the AT platoon typically consists of a section headquarters and three recoilless gun teams, each with one recoilless gun. It may be employed as a section or allocated by team to guerrilla or HK companies. When towed, a recoilless gun requires a crew of three. When transported solely by the crew, it requires a crew of at least four. Some recoilless gun sections may have additional ammunition bearers.

Antitank Hunter-Killer Platoon

The AT HK platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters and three AT HK sections. It may be employed as a platoon or by sections. It may also be broken up into teams and allocated to support separate guerrilla or guerrilla HK units. The platoon’s primary weaponry is 18 84-mm recoilless rifles.

Each AT HK section typically consists of a section headquarters and three AT HK teams. The senior team leader also serves as the assistant section leader. The AT HK section may be employed as a section of six recoilless rifles or allocated by team to guerrilla or HK companies. Teams may also be integrated into AT HK teams at company level.

Each team of six guerrillas operates two recoilless rifles, which typically are used together for maximum effectiveness. Each AT recoilless rifle gunner carries three rounds (one round in the weapon and two carried on load bearing equipment). The team leader, assistant gunner, and ammunition bearer all carry at least six rounds each and may carry more depending on the type of ammunition. Additional ammunition bearers may be used when required.

Signal Section

The signal section of the weapons battalion typically consists of a section headquarters, a courier squad, a voice squad, a digital team, and a wire team. The structure and capabilities of this section are likely to be quite similar to those of the signal section in a guerrilla battalion (see below). The signal section leader also serves as the battalion signal officer.

Transport Section

The transport section of the weapons battalion is likely to be quite similar to one of the transport sections in the transport platoon of a guerrilla battalion. (See below.)

Reconnaissance Company

The reconnaissance company of a guerrilla brigade typically has a company headquarters and service section, three reconnaissance platoons, and one intelligence and electronic warfare (EW) platoon. This company may be augmented by other guerrilla units, HK teams, or local sympathizers. Members of this company (and augmentees) may be in civilian clothes, in which case they may not have a weapon or radio and would appear to be noncombatants.

Reconnaissance Platoon

The reconnaissance platoon typically has a platoon headquarters and three reconnaissance squads. A reconnaissance squad can break down into three or four teams. The platoon may be mounted in light trucks or on motorcycles, or may be dismounted based on the tactical situation. Since there are typically not enough vehicles to transport all the teams simultaneously, a squad or team may be dropped off at a point at least part way to the location for its reconnaissance mission and perhaps picked up later at a designated location. Motorcycles can be used to support their individual squad, or they can be grouped together to serve as a high-mobility reconnaissance squad. Squads may be augmented by military or civilian vehicles (motorcycles, trucks, cars, bicycles, carts, or high-mobility all-terrain vehicles) or personnel depending on the mission. Local sympathizers may provide assistance and information.

Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Platoon

The intelligence and EW platoon typically has a platoon headquarters, a signals reconnaissance section, a global positioning system (GPS) jamming section, an EW squad, and an integration squad. Whenever possible, the intelligence and EW platoon operates out of tents, tunnels, caves, or local accommodations. Its activities are always covered, camouflaged, and concealed.

Signals Reconnaissance Section

The signals reconnaissance section conducts radio intercept or direction finding (DF) tasks. The section typically consists of a section headquarters, a signal intercept and exploitation squad, and a radio DF squad. Each of the squads consists of an (intercept or DF) base vehicle, a mobile (intercept or DF) position, and three or more dismounted (intercept or DF) teams. The dismounted teams generally accompany guerrilla units and report back to their squad leader.

The signal intercept and exploitation squad coordinates all intercept and DF operations based on guidance received from the platoon’s integration squad, which receives its guidance from the intelligence and EW platoon leader. The platoon leader, in turn, receives his guidance from the reconnaissance company operations officer. The signal intercept and exploitation squad tasks the DF squad by providing target technical data and priority of location. The effectiveness of intercept (HF/VHF/digital) capabilities and/or radio DF depends on how the enemy uses his electronic systems.

Global Positioning System Jamming Section

The GPS jamming section disrupts enemy GPS receivers. The section typically has two GPS jamming squads. Each squad has a mobile, trailer-mounted GPS jammer. The trailer-mounted jammers are employed separately. Due to their high level of vulnerability, one may be held back for later use. Man- portable GPS jammers are dispersed via two-man teams in civilian clothes and using motorcycles, bicycles, or other civilian vehicles. These teams either transmit while on the move or emplace and operate the jammers. In order to survive when dismounted, however, they must make frequent moves when transmitting (jamming). Another way to increase survivability is to employ the jammers in areas of high civilian density. Additional man-portable jammers can be distributed to other guerrilla units with instructions on how, where, and when to use them. Sappers can infiltrate enemy compounds and surreptitiously emplace man-portable jammers.

Integration Squad

The integration squad performs signals intelligence (SIGINT) analysis, collection management, and reporting for the intelligence and EW platoon. It receives guidance from the reconnaissance company operations officer through the platoon leader. This squad also disseminates intelligence information based on the analysis of intercepted data and emitter locations.

Sapper Company

Sappers are guerrillas trained to perform some functions typically associated with raiders, engineers, or rangers. Sappers are not engineers. The sapper company of a guerrilla brigade typically consists of—

  • A headquarters and service section.
  • Three sapper platoons.
  • A transport section.

A guerrilla brigade can form more than one sapper company.

The structure and capabilities of the sapper platoons are likely to be quite similar to those of the sapper platoon in a guerrilla battalion. (See Sapper Platoon under Guerrilla Battalion, below, for more detail on the nature of sappers and the types of functions they can perform.) The main difference may be in the scope of sapper activities. Sapper platoons, particularly those of a guerrilla brigade, can serve as an independent combat force making deep thrusts from different directions simultaneously. However, a sapper platoon or individual squads may also be allocated to accompany and support a guerrilla battalion, guerrilla company, or HK company. The sappers may also augment other sapper squads, HK teams, and other guerrilla units as necessary.

Sappers can perform the following functions:

  • Infiltrate enemy installations and areas.
  • Scout (making accurate diagrams for future attacks).
  • Guide other sappers or guerrillas (or affiliated SPF) through enemy lines and obstacles to perform their missions.
  • Conduct route reconnaissance.
  • Conduct mine warfare.
  • Breach obstacles.
  • Emplace mines (especially nuisance minefield, IEDs and signal flares).
  • Conduct general demolition.
  • Emplace field expedient fortifications and obstacles (such as cratering).
  • Set side-attack mines.
  • Support antitank and countermobility operations.
  • Conduct and/or assist in ambushes.
  • Employ limited smoke or expedient obscurants.
  • Provide general engineer-like support.

See Sapper Platoon under Guerrilla Battalion, below, for more detail on which squad(s) within a sapper platoon typically perform each of these functions. However, all squad members are cross-trained to perform all sapper functions.

The transport section of a sapper company transports equipment and a basic load of mines and demolition materiel. It includes support personnel armed with light machineguns, who are dispersed among the trucks while moving.

Transport Company

The transport company of the guerrilla brigade typically consists of a headquarters and service section and three transport platoons. The structure and capabilities of these platoons are likely to be quite similar to those of the transport platoon of a guerrilla battalion (see below). Some guerrilla brigades may not require a full transport company. Only one or two platoons may suffice.

Signal Platoon

The signal platoon of a guerrilla brigade typically consists of a platoon headquarters and two signal sections. Each signal section typically has a section headquarters, a courier squad, voice squad, digital team, and wire team. The structure and capabilities of these sections are likely to be quite similar to those of the signal section of a guerrilla battalion (see below for details). A designated signal platoon truck primarily supports operations conducted in a main CP. It is equipped with a small satellite communications (SATCOM) antenna, digital, and secure communications. Depending on mission requirements, other light trucks and trailers provide the mobility for the platoon and its squads or teams.

Medical Platoon

The medical platoon of a guerrilla brigade typically consists of a platoon headquarters and two medical sections. These sections have the same structure and capabilities as the medical section of a guerrilla battalion (see below). The platoon provides immediate medical care, trauma stabilization, and minor surgical actions. An officer (physician) or medical assistant (physician’s assistant) and senior noncommissioned officers provide limited medical intervention, minor surgery, and treatment. Guerrilla commanders may mobilize local medical personnel from the population to treat their ill and wounded. The guerrilla force has a limited inpatient capability. Whenever possible, medical functions are performed in tents, tunnels, caves, or local accommodations. Severe and longer-term care relies on evacuation to civilian, military, or other medical facilities. More routine and excess ill and wounded are backhauled in general- purpose cargo vehicles.

Guerrilla medical support is coupled with local medical assets in the area when available. Maximum use is made of local medical assistance and facilities regardless of capability. In some instances, the brigade medical platoon may attempt to operate in conjunction with the assets of a village clinic. Local sympathizers may volunteer their homes, equipment, vehicles, and services. They may also assist in the evacuation of wounded guerrillas to civilian facilities.

Medical vehicles may be a mix of military and civilian, or all civilian. Carts may also be used to transport wounded. Cargo trailers transport medical equipment and supplies, and in emergencies may transport wounded. Supported guerrilla units receive liters from the medical section to transport wounded. The guerrilla unit provides its own liter bearers.

Guerrilla medics are combatants, trained to fight as guerrillas. They fight when necessary to support the guerrilla mission. A medical aid station is usually set up at battalion level while other medics accompany guerrillas in the fight. Medical platoon personnel may be a mixture of men and women. Women may comprise at least 50 percent or more of the medical platoon strength.

Guerrilla Battalion

The composition of a typical guerrilla battalion is as follows:

  • Battalion headquarters.
  • Guerrilla companies or guerrilla HK companies.
  • Weapons company.
  • Reconnaissance platoon.
  • Sapper platoon.
  • Transport platoon.
  • Signal section.
  • Medical section.

Figure 3-3 shows an example of a guerrilla battalion with two task-organized HK companies.

Figure 3-3. Guerrilla battalion (example)
Figure 3-3. Guerrilla battalion (example)

Note. HK company organizations configured from subordinate units of a guerrilla battalion are discussed later in this chapter.

A guerrilla battalion may have as many as 1,000 guerrillas, but could be considerably smaller. Each guerrilla battalion differs in capability, but all battalions have a similar structure of a battalion headquarters and combat, CS, and CSS units. Depending on the number of guerrilla and/or HK companies, the size and strengths of support units can also vary.

Often a battalion-size guerrilla unit will be tailored for a particular OE or mission. If task-organized, capabilities may include four or five guerrilla or guerrilla HK companies, some organic battalion units, a task-organized, composite weapons battery from a guerrilla brigade, and possibly intelligence and EW support. A composite weapons battery could have a mix of mortar, rocket launcher, and antitank platoons. Guerrillas can also coordinate and act in concert with local insurgent and/or higher insurgent organizations.

A guerrilla battalion may be any combination of guerrilla companies or guerrilla HK companies. When a battalion consists predominantly of guerrilla HK companies, its designation is a guerrilla HK battalion. The HK company is especially effective in close environments such as urban, forest, or swamp terrain that offers opportunities to canalize the enemy into preplanned kill zones. The HK company fights as HK groups, sections, and teams. The guerrilla company fights as platoons, squads, and fire teams. With sufficient equipment and resources, it can conduct sustained company-level actions.

Guerrilla Battalion Headquarters

The guerrilla battalion headquarters consists of a command section and a staff section. During static operations, command and staff functions may be performed in tents, tunnels, caves, or temporary and/or permanent local accommodations.

Command Section

The command section comprises the battalion commander, deputy commander, and the immediate support personnel. The deputy commander’s light truck may be used as a CP.

Staff Section, Guerrilla

The battalion chief of staff (COS) is part of the command group and staff, but is normally located with the staff section in order to exercise direct control over the staff. He also controls the main CP in the absence of the commander. The battalion staff consists of the operations officer (who also serves as the deputy COS), the assistant operations officer, the intelligence officer, and the resources officer. Each of these primary staff members heads a small staff section consisting of himself and one or two other staff personnel.

The commander of the weapons company also serves as the chief of fire support. The signal section leader also serves as the battalion communications officer. The platoon leader of the reconnaissance platoon serves as the battalion chief of reconnaissance. The platoon leader of the transport platoon serves as the battalion logistics officer. When the guerrilla battalion is affiliated with or subordinate to an insurgent organization, the staff section may also have a political advisor.

Any liaison teams attached to the battalion would be under the operations officer. Liaison may include SPF personnel for particular missions or training. Liaison may also be present from regular force units operating in coordination with the guerrilla force.

Weapons Company

The weapons company of a typical guerrilla battalion consists of the following:

  • Headquarters and service section.
  • Fire coordination platoon.
  • Mortar platoon.
  • Multiple rocket launcher (MRL) platoon.
  • Antitank platoon.
  • Man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) squad.

Headquarters and Service Section

The headquarters and service section of the weapons company is very similar to that of the guerrilla company, but with some additional transport and communications equipment. It typically consists of a command team, a support team, and a supply and transport team. The weapons company commander locates where he can best assist the battalion commander, which may often mean being colocated with the battalion commander. The deputy commander of the weapons company (in the support team) normally is the fire direction officer.

Fire Control Coordination Platoon

The fire coordination platoon typically consists of the platoon headquarters, a fire control section, and an observation section. The fire control section serves as the company fire direction center. The fire direction chief (in the fire control section) assumes the duties of the fire direction officer in the absence of the company deputy commander. The fire control section may have a laptop-based automated fire control system (AFCS). When available, the AFCS provides fast and accurate ballistic computations of artillery and rocket launcher weapons, fire support coordination, message transfer in digital format and ammunition accounting at the weapons company level. When required, an observation team accompanies a guerrilla unit. Supported units also provide additional observers.

Mortar Platoon

The mortar platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters and three mortar sections. The sections normally consist of a section headquarters and two mortar squads, each with one 82-mm (or 81-mm) mortar. A mortar squad normally consists of a squad leader, a gunner, an assistant gunner, and four ammunition bearers. When moving dismounted, the section may require augmentation to serve as additional ammunition bearers. The mortar section may be augmented with high-mobility all-terrain vehicles, depending on the mission. 82-mm mortars can fire 82-mm and 81-mm ammunition including extended-range munitions. However, this platoon may substitute 100- or 120-mm mortars for the 81- or 82- mm mortars. As with its 81- and 82-mm counterparts, the 100-mm mortar, when broken down in three parts, can be man-packed or animal-carried, or the complete weapon can be carried on a light vehicle. The 120-mm mortars may also be substituted; however, this heavy mortar requires a tactical vehicle or light truck to transport each mortar.

Some mortar platoons may have only four mortars, consisting of two mortar sections of two mortars each. The mortar platoon receives transportation support from the either the headquarters and service company or the battalion transport platoon. Additional ammunition bearers may be used when required.

Multiple Rocket Launcher Platoon

The MRL platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters and three MRL sections, with one MRL per section. It can be employed as a platoon or broken down into separate sections to support subordinate companies or HK groups. The platoon receives transportation support from the either the battery’s headquarters and service company or the battalion transport platoon. The wheeled MRL carriage can be towed by almost any vehicle or pulled by personnel or a yoked animal. In some cases, the MRL can be mounted on a vehicle. When moving dismounted for any distance, an MRL section may require augmentation of personnel to serve as additional ammunition bearers or to move the MRL. Some versions of the 107-mm MRL can be broken down into man-packable loads. Light trucks that serve as prime movers for the towed MRLs may also transport other assets of the weapons company, such as mortars or recoilless guns.

In lieu of MRLs, some platoons may have single-tube rocket launchers. In that case, 12 single-tube launchers replace each 12-tube MRL, and extra porters or ammunition bearers are required. Improvised 107-mm rocket firing pads can be constructed using dirt, bamboo frames, or crossed stakes.

Antitank Platoon

The AT platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters, an antitank guided missile (ATGM) section, and a recoilless gun section. The AT platoon normally has no vehicles. The ATGM section and recoilless gun section may receive transportation support from the weapons company’s headquarters and service section or the battalion transport platoon. They may also be transported on the vehicles belonging to the MRL platoon.

The ATGM section typically consists of a section headquarters and three ATGM teams. It may be employed as a section or allocated by team to guerrilla or HK companies. These teams may also be integrated into HK teams throughout the battalion. One person can fire the man-portable ATGM; however, the crew normally consists of an ATGM gunner (team leader) and assistant gunner. The team may also include one or more riflemen to provide security and/or carry additional missiles.

The recoilless gun section typically consists of a section headquarters and three recoilless gun teams. It may be employed as a section or allocated by team to guerrilla or HK companies. A team normally consists of a gunner (team leader), an assistant gunner, and a varying number of ammunition bearers. A 73-mm recoilless gun is man-portable, but is usually carried in a vehicle or cart. Some versions may have removable wheels; when towed, it requires a crew of three. When transported only by the crew, the weapon requires a crew of at least four, including an additional ammunition bearer. Some recoilless gun teams may use civilian personnel and vehicles from the local population to assist in transporting the weapon and ammunition.

MANPADS Squad

The MANPADS squad typically has two MANPADS launchers and one heavy machinegun. The entire MANPADS squad may be employed together, or it can be broken down into three teams. In the latter option, two teams with a single MANPADS launcher each and one team with the heavy machinegun can be deployed with guerrilla or HK companies.

If the squad has a light truck, the vehicle can carry up to five missiles for each MANPADS launcher. When dismounted, each MANPADS gunner carries a gripstock launcher and one missile. The MANPADS assistant gunner carries one additional missile; he also carries the electronic plotting board and enters location and direction data of approaching targets. Local civilian personnel and vehicles may transport additional missiles. The senior MANPADS gunner is the assistant squad leader.

Reconnaissance Platoon

The reconnaissance platoon of a guerrilla battalion typically consists of a platoon headquarters and three reconnaissance squads. Each squad can break down into two or three teams. One scout per squad is designated as the sniper (or marksman) and uses a sniper rifle.

Based on the situation, the platoon may be dismounted or mounted in light trucks or on motorcycles. Surveillance and communications equipment is man-portable, but some equipment may require vehicle support. Some scouts may be assigned additional duty as a motorcycle or light truck drivers. The reconnaissance squads may not be able to lift all their personnel and equipment at one time without augmentation. The squads may be carried part way on a patrol and dismounted. They are then picked up on the way back. Depending on the mission, the platoon may also be augmented with military or civilian vehicles (trucks, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, carts, or high-mobility all-terrain vehicles) or with additional personnel and equipment from guerrilla companies.

Each reconnaissance squad normally has a motorcycle, which extends the range of the squad. Motorcycles can be used to support their individual squad, or they can be grouped together to serve as a high-mobility reconnaissance squad. For longer patrols, the motorcycles can be loaded into a light truck.

Each reconnaissance squad is equipped with long-range cordless telephones (LRCTs). The LRCT base station remains with the squad vehicle and serves as a retransmission station for the patrols. Digital cameras, camcorders, or computers may be linked to the LRCTs for transmittal to the platoon headquarters or battalion via the squad base station. The LRCT base station vehicle must remain within range of the LRCTs used by the squad or by teams within the squad.

Reconnaissance personnel may wear civilian clothes and use common civilian model trucks, cars, motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, or bicycles. In this case, the guerrilla would probably not have an overt weapon or radio and would appear to be a noncombatant. Local sympathizers may provide assistance and information.

Sapper Platoon

Sappers are guerrillas trained to perform some functions typically associated with raiders, engineers, or rangers. Sappers are not engineers. Guerrilla battalions may use sappers in an assault and/or demolition role. In a raider role, sappers are the lead or primary (assault) element in an assault on fixed installations or military field positions. Armed primarily with explosives charges, sappers breach the defensive perimeter and neutralize designated positions in advance of the attacking main body. The sapper unit can serve as an independent combat force making deep thrusts from different directions in the enemy- held region. At other times, they can accompany and support guerrilla and HK missions throughout an AOR. The sappers also augment other sapper squads, HK teams, and other guerrilla units as necessary. Sappers may also serve as a stay-behind or independent unit to conduct disruption operations. The sapper platoon also coordinates suicide bombings.

Guerrilla sappers (or their SPF advisors from a regular military force) can also train local civilians to be sappers. The sappers may be a mix of men, women, and children. Women and children may be used as runners, messengers, scouts, guides, drivers, porters, fighters, suicide bombers, lookouts, or in several other roles.

A guerrilla battalion may form more than one sapper platoon. A sapper platoon typically is organized as—

  • A platoon headquarters.
  • An infiltration and scout squad.
  • A mine warfare and demolition squad.
  • An improvised explosives and signal flares squad.
  • A general support squad.

Text below outlines the functions normally associated with each of these squads. However, all squad members are trained to perform all sapper functions. Each squad normally carries a mix of mines and demolitions. The mix varies according to the mission. A trailer may transport equipment and a basic load of mines and demolitions and may be dropped off to be recovered later.

Infiltration and Scout Squad

The infiltration and scout squad serves as a sapper/raider element and may—

  • Infiltrate enemy installations and areas.
  • Serve as the lead or primary (assault) element in an assault on a fixed installation or a military field position.
  • Set demolitions and side-attack mines.
  • Serve as scouts (making accurate diagrams for future attacks).
  • Conduct route reconnaissance.
  • Guide other sappers or guerrillas (or affiliated SPF) through enemy lines and obstacles to perform their missions.
  • Conduct and/or assist in ambushes.

A truck may transport squad personnel to an appropriate dismount point and return to the platoon.

Mine Warfare and Demolition Squad

The mine warfare and demolition squad may—

  • Conduct mine warfare.
  • Breach obstacles.
  • Emplace mines (especially nuisance minefield, IEDs and signal flares).
  • Support antitank and countermobility operations.
  • Scatter mines using a man-portable mine-scattering system.
  • Lay controlled minefields.
  • Serve as the lead or primary (assault) element in an assault on a fixed installation or a military field position.
  • Infiltrate enemy installations and areas.

A trailer typically transports equipment and a basic load of mines and demolitions. It may be dropped to be recovered later. Minelaying operations may require a truck on-site to off-load the mines.

Improvised Explosives and Signal Flares Squad

The improvised explosives and signal flares squad may—

  • Manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and signal flares. (Signal flares are actually a subcategory of IEDs.)
  • Emplace and/or detonate the IEDs. (Signal flares are triggered by the unsuspecting.)
  • Provide IEDs (or signal flares) to other trained sappers or guerrillas to emplace and/or detonate.
  • Serve as the lead or primary (assault) element in an assault on a fixed installation or a military field position.
  • Infiltrate enemy installations and areas.
  • Augment other sapper squads and HK teams as necessary.
  • Coordinate suicide bombings.

Note. Guerrillas (and other irregular OPFOR) commonly use IEDs as secondary devices to detonate on the arrival of responding personnel. IEDs can be detonated by a variety of means, including remote, command, electrical trip wire, pressure, time, and others.

General Support Squad

The general support squad may—

  • Provide general engineer-like support to the sapper platoon or the guerrilla battalion.
  • Employ limited smoke or expedient obscurants.
  • Provide water purification and minor construction.
  • Emplace field expedient fortifications and obstacles (such as cratering).
  • Conduct general demolition.
  • Conduct assault breaching.
  • Emplace anti-vehicle wire obstacles.
  • Augment other sapper squads and HK teams as necessary.
  • Serve as the lead or primary (assault) element in an assault on a fixed installation or a military field position.
  • Infiltrate enemy installations and areas.

Transport Platoon

The transport platoon of a guerrilla battalion typically has a platoon headquarters and two transport sections. The platoon leader serves as the battalion logistics officer.

Each transport section operates with three light trucks and five medium trucks. Single- and two- axle trailers provide additional cargo capacity. Water and POL trailers are augmented with flexible storage bladders for both water and fuel. The transport platoon assists in transporting assets of the battalion’s weapons company (mortars, rocket launchers, antitank weapons, and munitions) whenever necessary. Whenever possible, corner-mounted mechanical hoists are used to load and unload the vehicles.

Vehicles are generally a mix of older civilianized military and civilian models, or all civilian models. They will not appear to be or look like military vehicles and are intended to be indistinguishable from civilian vehicles. The vehicles are kept as dispersed as possible, in order to prevent detection and destruction by enemy forces. Rarely, if ever, will all vehicles in the transport platoon be colocated. Vehicles may be dispersed for use by locals as commercial, delivery, agricultural, general cargo, construction, militia, or general-purpose vehicles in everyday life. When required, the transport platoon leader (battalion logistics officer) or the battalion resources officer will assemble the appropriate mix of vehicles to transport specific items to a specific location. The vehicles can then melt back into the civilian population when not assembled to support guerrilla operations. Guerrillas do not use static truck parks or assembly areas for vehicles.

The cargo trucks normally carry materiel to meet only the immediate combat needs of the guerrilla battalion. At other times, they may transport materiel for caches and prepositioning. When necessary, additional transportation support may be received from higher headquarters or external sources. Transportation can be augmented with vehicles, draft animals, or bearers/porters requisitioned or confiscated from the local citizenry. Local sympathizers may volunteer their equipment and services. Local civilian mechanics service and/or repair the vehicles when required.

Signal Section

The signal section of a guerrilla battalion typically consists of a section headquarters, a courier squad, a voice squad, a digital team, and a wire team. The signal section leader also serves as the battalion communications officer.

The courier squad typically uses motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, or bicycles of the same types commonly used by the local population. High-mobility or all terrain vehicles may be substituted for motorcycles. The courier may be a male or female in civilian clothes. In this case, the courier probably will not have an overt weapon or radio and will appear to be a noncombatant. Another guerrilla may ride with the courier as a lookout or to provide security. (In the latter case, the additional rider could have a rifle or light machinegun.) Depending on the circumstances, some couriers may not use vehicles at all. Message transmission can be written, digital, or memorized and presented orally to a designated recipient. The courier squad can also conduct drive-by shootings or attacks.

The voice squad supports operations conducted in the battalion headquarters. A signal truck primarily supports the battalion main CP. It is equipped with a small SATCOM antenna and can provide digital and secure communications. Depending on mission requirements, organization, and terrain, two light trucks may be substituted for the signal truck. Some staff communications are remoted back to the signal section.

The digital team is responsible for all digital communications between the battalion command section and staff, to other battalion subordinates, and to higher headquarters. It also provides a remote communications capability. The team is equipped with a small SATCOM antenna and long-range cordless telephones, and provides secure communications.

The wire team is responsible for all wire (landline) communications between the battalion command section and staff and the subordinate units. It also provides a remote communications capability. Landline communications are used whenever possible.

Medical Section

The medical section of a guerrilla battalion is responsible for temporary medical treatment. A medical aid station is usually established at battalion level with a number of medics directly supporting guerrillas in the fight. Supported guerrilla units receive liters from the medical section to transport wounded. The guerrilla unit provides its own liter bearers. Cargo trailers transport medical equipment and supplies. In emergencies, the trailers may transport wounded. These trailers may be dropped at the aid station when light trucks serve as ambulances. Evacuation and transportation may be a mix of military and civilian vehicles, wagons, or carts. Whenever possible, medical functions are performed in tents, tunnels, caves, or local accommodations. Local medical support may be available. Civilian sympathizers may volunteer use of their facilities, vehicles, and services, or may be coerced into providing temporary medical assistance. (For additional information on medical support, see the Medical Platoon under Guerrilla Brigade, above.)

Note. Guerrilla medics are combatants, trained to fight as guerrillas. They fight when necessary to support the guerrilla mission.

Guerrilla Company

A typical guerrilla company consists of—

  • Headquarters and service section.
  • Three guerrilla platoons.
  • Weapons platoon.

Headquarters and Service Section

The headquarters and service section of the company has a command team, support team, and supply and transport team. The command team consists of the company commander, a radio telephone operator (RTO) and a messenger-runner. The support team is the deputy commander, first sergeant, an RTO, and a medic. The supply and transport team consists of the supply sergeant, drivers, and trucks that provide the company a degree of autonomy from the guerrilla battalion.

Figure 3-4 shows an example of such a company. A guerrilla company fights as platoons, squads, and fire teams (see Guerrilla Company, below).

Figure 3-4. Guerrilla company (example)
Figure 3-4. Guerrilla company (example)

Weapons Platoon

The weapons platoon of a guerrilla company typically consists of a platoon headquarters, a mortar section, a recoilless gun section, a machinegun section, and a sniper section. Weapons of this platoon provide a heavy volume of fires and extend the range of weapons effects beyond the range of guerrilla platoon weapons. The platoon receives additional transportation support from the supply and transport team of the company’s headquarters and service section. Unless vehicles are available, ammunition for the platoon’s mortars and recoilless guns may require additional ammunition bearers and may be distributed among members of the company. This platoon may also allocate weapons to individual guerrilla platoons. When a guerrilla company is task-organized into an HK company, the weapons platoon typically ceases to exist as a separate unit. Its weapons are then redistributed among various parts of the HK company.

Mortar Section

The mortar section typically consists of three mortar squads. The mortar section leader serves as the squad leader of one of the three motor squads. The mortar section may be employed as a section or allocated by squad to guerrilla platoons.

Recoilless Gun Section

The recoilless gun section typically consists of a section headquarters and three recoilless gun teams. It may be employed as a section or allocated by team to guerrilla platoons.

Machinegun Section

The machinegun section typically consists of a section headquarters and three machinegun teams. It may be employed as a section, or it may be allocated to support separate guerrilla platoons, in addition to their own machinegun sections. Depending on the tactical circumstances, some machinegun sections may have additional ammunition bearers.

Sniper Section

The sniper section typically consists of two sniper teams. The section leader serves as the team leader of one sniper team. Each sniper team consists of a team leader/observer (spotter), a sniper (shooter)/ target designator, and an assistant sniper. The assistant sniper provides additional security, transports equipment, and may serve as a backup for the sniper or observer. See chapter 16 of TC 7-100.2 for the differences between snipers and marksmen and between snipers (or marksmen) in guerrilla forces and those found in regular military forces.

The primary mission of the sniper section is to serve in a sniper-countersniper role. Depending on mission requirements, a sniper team may also serve as a reconnaissance element, stay-behind element, or part of an HK team.

Note. When a guerilla company is restructured into an HK company, the whole sniper section typically becomes part of the HK company’s headquarters and command section (a section within a section). However, the section may allocate some or all of its snipers to be part of HK teams.

Guerrilla Platoon

A guerrilla platoon typically consists of a platoon headquarters, three guerrilla squads, and a machinegun section. Figure 3-5 shows an example of such a platoon. The size of the guerrilla platoon can vary, and its weapons, equipment, and manning can be tailored for specific missions. One guerrilla in each platoon is typically cross-trained as a medic in addition to primary duty as a rifleman.

Figure 3-5. Guerrilla platoon (example)
Figure 3-5. Guerrilla platoon (example)

Guerrilla Squad

The guerrilla squad consists of at least two maneuver fire teams (or HK teams). The squad leader normally commands one fire team while the assistant squad leader commands a second fire team. Each team typically consists of the leader, a machinegunner, a grenadier, an assistant grenadier, and either two rifleman or one rifleman and a guerrilla designated as a sniper or marksman. (See chapter 16 of TC 7-100.2 for the differences between snipers and marksmen and between snipers [or marksmen] in guerrilla forces and those found in regular military forces.) The squad may be augmented by elements from the machinegun section to create three or possibly four maneuver fire teams or HK teams.

Fire teams structure around one machinegun with remaining team members normally equipped with assault rifles. The riflemen support squad members with other weapons, including the machinegunner, the grenadier, a sniper or marksman, or augmentation from the guerrilla platoon’s machinegun section or the company’s weapons platoon.

Machinegun Section

The machinegun section, consisting of three teams. It may be employed as a section, or it may be allocated to support separate guerrilla squads. This tailoring of capability enables a guerrilla squad to operate with three or possibly four maneuver fire teams or HK teams. When a guerrilla platoon is restructured as an HK group, the personnel and equipment of the machinegun section typically are dispersed among HK sections and teams.

Guerrilla Hunter-killer Company

The guerrilla company can be augmented and restructured into a guerrilla hunter-killer (HK) company made up of numerous small HK teams. Those teams are typically organized into HK sections and the sections into HK groups. The HK team structure is ideal for dispersed combat such as fighting in urban areas and can provide similar capabilities in rural terrain when cover and concealment and channelized avenues favor the guerrilla. Tailored HK units are usually a company-level configuration; however, complete battalions and brigades can be organized for combat as HK units.

An HK company is based on the personnel and equipment originally found in a guerrilla company. However, the HK company may have additional equipment due to the dispersed nature of HK team employment. For example, it typically would have additional antitank disposable launchers and flame weapons. It may also have three additional 60-mm mortars, possibly dispersed to one team in each HK group. These additional weapons do not necessarily require additional personnel.

The guerrilla company task-organized as an HK company typically consists of a headquarters and command section and three HK groups. Typically, each HK group has four HK sections, and each HK section has three HK teams. Figure 3-6 shows an example of such a company.

Figure 3-6. Guerrilla hunter-killer company (example)
Figure 3-6. Guerrilla hunter-killer company (example)

An HK company structured as in figure 3-6 can contain a total of 36 HK teams. If the two sniper teams and the company scouts in the headquarters and command section are counted, the HK company can have a total of 39 HK teams.

Note. When a guerrilla platoon is task-organized into an HK group, its machinegun section ceases to exist as a separate unit. Its personnel and equipment are distributed among HK sections and teams. Likewise, when a guerrilla company is restructured into an HK company, the weapons platoon typically ceases to exist as a separate unit. Its weapons are then redistributed among various parts of the HK company.

Headquarters and Command Section

The headquarters and command section of an HK company typically comprises the command team, company trains, a sniper section, and company scouts. The company commander and the rest of the command team locate with HK fighting elements. The deputy commander remains in charge of the company trains. The former weapons platoon sergeant now serves as the senior sergeant in the trains. The former weapons platoon leader now performs as a “deputy commander for tactics,” as part of the command team. When required, the sniper section and company scouts provide flexible capabilities for additional HK teams.

Sniper Section

The primary mission of the sniper section is to serve in a sniper-countersniper role. The sniper section consists of two sniper teams. Each sniper team has three members. The section leader serves as the team leader of one sniper team, and each team leader also acts as the observer/spotter. Other team members are a sniper (shooter)/target designator and an assistant sniper. The assistant sniper provides additional security, transports equipment, and may serve as backup for other team members. A sniper team may also serve as a reconnaissance element, a stay-behind element, or as part of an HK team.

Note. When a guerrilla company is restructured into an HK company, the sniper section of the former weapons platoon typically becomes part of the HK company’s headquarters and command section (therefore a section within a section).

Company Scouts

The company scouts typically comprise one team of four members, three of whom normally come from the former weapons platoon of a guerrilla company. The scout team leader and senior scout is the former recoilless gun section leader. The assistant team leader is the former machinegun section leader. The scout who acts as radio telephone operator (RTO) is the former RTO for the weapons platoon. The remaining scout is a former supply specialist with the headquarters and services section of the guerrilla company.

Hunter-killer Group

An HK group is basically a task-organized guerrilla platoon. The HK group typically has a group headquarters and four HK sections, each with three HK teams. (See figure 3-6 on page 3-26.) HK teams in each HK section may vary in their manning, weapons, and equipment. Equipment may be transferred among HK sections and teams. As in the guerrilla platoon, one of the guerrillas in the group is cross-trained as a medic.

Sections One, Two, and Three

Sections one, two, and three are typically formed by augmenting the three squads of a guerrilla platoon with personnel and equipment from that platoon’s machinegun section. Each of these three sections has three teams, designated as HK teams one, two, and three. Each of the subordinate teams may differ, as in the following examples:

  • The section leader also serves as team leader of team one.
  • Team one has a designated sniper or marksman.
  • Teams one and two each have a grenadier and assistant grenadier.
  • All three teams have a machinegunner, and team three, based on a machinegun team from the machinegun section, also has an assistant machinegunner for its crew-served weapon.
  • Teams two and three have other riflemen who also have duties as ammunition bearers or operators of antitank disposable launchers or flame weapons.

Section Four

Section four has a different task-organized HK structure because it comes from the guerrilla company’s weapons platoon. The weapons platoon had three machineguns, three mortars, and three recoilless guns. One of each of these weapons goes to the section four of each of the three HK groups in the HK company. In section four, these weapons form the basis for team one (machinegun), team two (mortar), and team three (recoilless gun). The teams may receive additional transportation support from the company trains in the headquarters and command section of the HK company.

Tactics and Techniques

Functional tactics (see chapter 7) are characteristic of a guerrilla force. However, guerrillas may also use terrorism tactics and techniques (see chapter 6). Functional tactics and terrorism are not mutually exclusive. Guerrillas can use both forms of violent action simultaneously. Guerrillas also apply a full range of information warfare (INFOWAR) capabilities to exhaust enemy resolve (see appendix A).

Flexibility

Depending on conditions, guerrilla actions can include a wide spectrum of offensive and defensive actions. Guerrilla organizations are capable of independent actions or may be affiliated with regular military forces and/or insurgent organizations. Actions may be conducted in close coordination with regular military forces when such support is available. In a long-term conflict, this close association with regular military forces can lead to integration of highly trained guerrilla forces into the regular military forces. Specific weapons, equipment, manning, and materiel provide the level of combat power or sophistication required for a particular situation. Guerrilla actions are characterized by elusiveness, surprise, and brief, violent action. Guerrillas can use a broad range of tactics, from terrorism and sabotage through functional tactics similar to those used by regular military forces. This enables them to escalate or deescalate activity almost at will. They apply whatever tactics and techniques best fit the specific situation.

Guerrilla unit actions may be as large as several brigade-level operations or be as small as a platoon raid or independent HK team ambush. Guerrilla organizations and capabilities can be tailored for brigade, battalion, company, platoon, and squad or team levels of action. The objective of guerrilla actions by small independent forces is often to harass, delay, or disrupt enemy operations. The objective of small forces may be to inflict casualties and damage on the enemy rather than to seize and defend terrain. In the latter case, operations are characterized by the extensive use of surprise.

Functional Tactics

Guerrillas, as part of the irregular OPFOR, use variants of the same functional tactics described in TC 7-100.2 for smaller regular military units or SPF. (See chapter 7 for more detail on these functional tactics and examples of how guerrillas can use them.)

When guerrilla forces first become operational, they usually engage in limited or small-scale activities and operations. If they reach more sophisticated levels of organization, equipment, and training, then they may conduct larger operations using more complex forms of functional tactics, perhaps in conjunction with regular military forces.

Offensive Action

Guerrillas typically use hit-and-run attacks by lightly armed, small forces. Their tactics emphasize ambushes, raids, snipers, rocket and mortar attacks, and the use of explosive devices. Guerrilla actions are generally offensive, not defensive, and are often harassing in nature. Guerrillas seldom attempt to seize and defend physical objectives and, in general, avoid decisive engagement, unless they know they can win. Their overall aim is often to cause confusion, to destroy infrastructure or security forces, and to lower enemy morale. Guerrilla harassment attempts to keep enemy forces on the defensive and weaken them, which can include destroying resources and disrupting lines of communication (LOCs). One advantage of harassment is that it may create the perception that the guerrillas can strike anywhere and that the enemy cannot prevent it. In rural areas, guerrillas may seize a remote area or conduct raids and small-scale attacks on remote targets and LOCs.

Even when small guerrilla units are under the command of a guerrilla battalion or brigade, this does not necessarily mean a mass concentration of personnel. On the contrary, small units remain dispersed throughout the area. When enemy forces outnumber the guerrillas, the guerrillas seek to attain local numerical superiority. If guerrillas can successfully concentrate, they can attain victory over small elements of enemy forces. Guerrillas often use simple techniques of speed, surprise, maneuver, and especially infiltration. (See Infiltration, below.)

Guerrillas use dispersion during their movements. However, near the target area, small guerrilla units mass and then conduct offensive actions. (See Swarming, below.) While the guerrillas are outnumbered by enemy forces, they seek to attain local numerical superiority. In this way, they can attain victory over small elements of enemy forces. The most common techniques employed by guerrillas are the ambush, raid, and small-scale assaults or reconnaissance attacks. These techniques usually target security posts, small forces, facilities, and LOCs. These tactics, if successful, may compel enemy forces to commit larger elements to defensive tasks. Guerrillas can employ some of the types of offensive action also used by smaller tactical units of the regular OPFOR. (See chapter 7 for basic discussion of these offensive actions.) Such actions can include—

  • Ambush.
  • Assault.
  • Raid.
  • Reconnaissance attack.

Defensive Action

Guerrilla strength, equipment, and training is almost always inferior to that of the enemy. Therefore, unless forced to do otherwise by the enemy, guerrilla forces hold defensive positions only for brief periods in support of other actions by guerrilla or affiliated regular forces. Guerrilla forces usually defend themselves by flight or dispersion, by withdrawals, or by creating diversions. Whenever possible, defensive actions are accomplished by offensive raids and ambushes against the enemy’s flanks and rear. Guerrillas may also try to ambush the initial enemy attack force to inflict maximum casualties.

When faced with a large-scale enemy offensive action, a guerrilla commander may chose to—

  • Defend the area against attack.
  • Disperse units or individuals until the enemy offensive is over.
  • Conduct diversionary activities in other areas.
  • Withdraw into another area not likely to be included in the enemy offensive.
  • Withdraw in a wide, circling movement and then attack against the enemy’s rear and base installations.

The object of the defense may be to make the attack so expensive for the enemy that he will soon abandon it and will not wish to try it again. The guerrilla force seeks to avoid being pinned down so that it can be encircled and destroyed. As the enemy overcomes various defensive positions, the defenders withdraw to subsequent defensive positions or break up and infiltrate through the enemy’s lines and attack his rear, flanks, and supply installations. The principles of guerrilla defense of fixed positions are the same as those applicable to regular forces, except that there are fewer supporting fires and that counterattacks are not practicable. Maximum use is made of complex terrain, defensive works, and mines.

Guerrillas can employ some of the types of defensive action also used by smaller tactical units of the regular OPFOR. (See chapter 7 for basic discussion of these defensive actions.) Such actions can include defense of a simple battle position and/or defense of a complex battle position.

Terrorism

Guerrillas can also use terrorism achieve psychological impact. See chapter 6 for terrorism tactics and techniques that guerrillas can use.

Infiltration

Land infiltration involves the use of various modes of transportation or techniques such as commercial vehicles, railway trains, or infiltration on foot, possibly along with refugees. Before the mission, the guerrilla unit is briefed on the known locations of selected individuals who will furnish assistance and on the established means of contacting them. These individuals may be used as local guides and sources of information, food, and shelter. Since there are local sources for survival items, the unit can restrict the equipment and supplies to be carried to mission-essential items (individual arms, equipment, and communications gear).

A very successful infiltration method used by guerrillas (and/or affiliated SPF) is to infiltrate under the guise of reconnaissance probes. This is especially successful when the SPF are either guiding or using affiliated guerrilla forces, from a team of three to four men to a squad, or a platoon, or even a company. The guerrilla forces and/or SPF conduct small probes along the enemy defensive positions. If the enemy does not respond to these probes, the guerrilla forces and/or SPF infiltrate in small numbers and spread out. This permits larger numbers to penetrate. Once behind enemy lines, one team may cut off the escape route of the enemy, while the other units conduct a coordinated assault on both the front and flanks. The attacks will continue on all sides until the defenders are destroyed or forced to withdraw. The guerrilla forces and/or SPF will then move stealthily forward to the open flank of the next enemy position and repeat the tactics.

The OPFOR also conducts another very successful variation of this infiltration and subsequent action. Another very successful variant is that the guerrilla forces and/or SPF do not immediately attack as soon as they are successfully behind enemy lines. Once behind the enemy, they may wait a few hours or up to 3 days or more and may number as much as a full guerrilla company or even a battalion, depending on the circumstances. Once emplaced either behind the enemy or more likely behind and on both flanks of the enemy, the infiltrated force then waits for the main attack. If the main attack is successful, the enemy will either retreat or fall back. At that time, the infiltrated guerrilla forces and/or SPF will ambush and destroy the remaining enemy forces. If the main attack is faltering or appears as if it may fail, the infiltrated guerrilla forces and/or SPF simultaneously attack from both the rear and flanks, ensuring victory.

Swarming

Swarming is a tactic that results in the convergent attack(s), from multiple directions, and possibly multiple dimensions, by numerous elements on a single target(s). Guerrillas can use this type of attack, especially when accompanied by affiliated SPF. SPF teams can plan or otherwise facilitate the attack and may or may not accompany their surrogate forces conducting the swarming attack.

There are two basic types of swarming: the massed swarm and the dispersed swarm. In the massed swarm, the elements begin as a massed (assembled) unit. On command, the elements then disassemble and conduct a convergent attack(s) to swarm the enemy from numerous directions. In the dispersed swarm, the elements are geographically dispersed from the beginning. On command, the elements infiltrate. Once prepared, they attack (from their respective directions), converging on the enemy without forming a single massed unit. Swarms are equally effective in both the offense and the defense.

Of the two types of swarming, the dispersed swarm is the most difficult to defend against because the attacking elements never present a massed target. Guerrillas prefer to use the dispersed swarm attack where the attackers are initially dispersed, then converge on the target(s). It is more appropriate to the dispersed fight that guerrillas, and affiliated SPF, prefer. Once the attack is complete, the attacking elements can either dissipate into the local population, exfiltrate back to where they came from, or move to hide positions or sanctuary (possibly cross-border).

Stay-behind

Guerrilla forces, usually HK teams, may remain in areas formerly under guerrilla (or other Hybrid Threat component) control, or areas not previously occupied by the enemy. If SPF teams are also present in such areas, they can help organize the guerrilla force to conduct surveillance or direct action. Stringent precautions are taken to preserve security, particularly that of the refuge areas or other safe sites to be used during the initial period of enemy occupation. Information concerning locations and identities within the indigenous guerrilla organization is kept on a need-to-know basis. Contacts among various elements use clandestine communications. Dispersed caches, to include radio equipment, are pre-positioned when possible. SPF can provide communications, liaison, and support to guerrilla stay-behind activities.

Guerrillas (and associated SPF personnel) have a better chance of survival in small towns, villages, and rural areas. However, when stay-behind operations are attempted in heavily populated urban areas, the SPF teams may be completely dependent upon the indigenous guerrilla organization for security, the contacts required for expansion, and the buildup effort.

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