The Art of Advance and Secure
From Special Boat Service
Cool Box of the Special Boat Service said: I have studied Advance and Secure, and I have written down what I have learned. It is a complex game, but if you can master it, you can soon be victorious at many other game types. Now read on, I will tell you what I know.
Contents |
I. On Strategy
Superior strategy brings victory against an equal opponent, and totally destroys an inferior force. Vary your tactics. Through this you may probe your enemy's strengths and weaknesses. Choose carefully when to switch between stealthy and aggressive tactics; this will be the turning point of a battle.
Know the capabilities of your own forces. Aggression is wasted without speed. Stealth is wasted without timing.
In both attack and defence, consider adjacent objectives at the same time. Thus part of your force is already advancing whilst the remainder are securing. When the enemy is in retreat, a small force is enough to cause chaos at their regrouping point. When you are in retreat, consider where you can make a stand and halt the enemy advance.
Do not over-extend your forces and be wary of counter-attack when your forces are deep in enemy territory. If you are unable to advance further because the enemy position is too strong, still do not stop your attack. Instead confront the enemy as they travel toward your camp. Otherwise you leave your enemy free to advance according to any plan; he will be well co-ordinated, and will flush you from your position.
II. On Attack
There are five tactics to seize an enemy camp, and two sorts of character to an attack. The aggressive attack through numbers, bombardment or speed. The stealthy attack by ambush or suprise.
Attack by numbers if your forces around the camp perimeter are greater in number than the enemy's. When you enter their circle in numbers they must bring re-inforcements from afar. Engage and destroy their defenders: trade a kill for a kill between infantry; if they have armour be patient and wait, you may tempt them to panic. An APC defender will fear footsteps close by, an emplaced gunner will fear snipers.
Attack by bombardment if you can. Your forces must be in position at the perimeter but may be equal or inferior in number. Seize the numerical advantage as soon as it is gained. Cease fire early. A lengthy bombardment frustrates the enemy, he may change to a new strategy unknown to you, thus you lose control of the conflict.
Attack by speed when the enemy is weak or dispersed. The enemy disperses to survive bombardment and to detect stealthy attack. Even a large enemy force is weak when their rocket and stinger ammunition is spent. In these circumstances advance: be bold and direct using fast helicopters or jeeps. Seize a central position with cover, and try to keep control of the armoury.
So much for aggression.
Attack by suprise if you can approach undetected. Use the terrain to make your approach. Do not engage until you have located some of the enemy defenders. Make your first shots kill, then move in swiftly whilst the remaining enemy are still trying to locate the direction of attack. Approach from two sides of the camp, or by two different methods of transport.
Attack by ambush if the enemy leaves their camp poorly defended. Observe carefully how the numbers at the enemy camp vary, so as to detect when the attackers leave camp. Approach with the utmost stealth. Seize unmanned armour but remain stationary. You must wait until the enemy has committed himself. Attack too soon and the enemy may double back to reinforce, too late and the respawning attackers will expel you. Meanwhile, the courageous defender assists the ambush by dividing the enemy's attacking force. He leaves some enemy alive, who will be reluctant to fall back to defeat the ambush while the prospect of making good their attack remains.
So much for stealth.
III. On Defence
Most of all, the strength of your defence relies on the location of the camp and the nature of the terrain around it. This you cannot control. Secondly your defence is limited by the skill of your defenders handling arms and armour. Tactics are but the third consideration, and you can defend your camp using four principles.
The best defence is by perimeter. Create a wide, outward-facing circle and destroy approaching vehicles and helicopters while they are still far from your camp. Use light and heavy armour. Take the high ground, and observe carefully, for you must be wary of stealthy attack. When you destroy vehicles you must account for all the survivors. Patrol the perimeter using helicopters or jeeps. If a commander establishes a strong defensive perimeter his force will defeat a dozen attacks, but beware, his luck will eventually run out.
The second best defence is by lure. First of all, set traps at the camp. Then leave the camp to make it appear poorly defended, and the enemy will be lured. Create an inward-facing circle at the perimiter, dig in and hide. When the enemy approaches, first locate all of his number, then engage him as he crosses the most open ground. Stay hidden. Do not let the enemy reach central cover or you must leave your position to engage him; better then for you to spring the trap too early than too late.
When you defend with armour you protect only against aggressive tactics. Choose a safe central position for your armour where enemy infantry must get close to have line of sight. When the enemy attacks, destroy him. For each soldier manning armour, have another on foot to watch over him in case he is attacked at close range. With armour you can make an effective defence against an equally-sized attacking force.
To defend by numbers your force must be strong, you must have six men to the enemy's four. Defend this way only briefly, and as a last resort, for with all your forces within the camp circle, the enemy knows exactly where you are; they will have freedom to plan a devious attack. The camp circle must be large with many hiding places, otherwise you will give way to bombardment or armour attack.
IV. On Terrain
Wise use of terrain is most important. Understand the uses of differing types of terrain, and the landscape of the maps themselves.
Infantry must hold the high ground. Defend high ground with grenade launchers, machine guns and rockets. Heavy armour should stay on plains or in valleys where it remains hidden and can bring its guns to bear.
For travel, advance hidden along the length of a ridge. Engage an enemy from the crest of a ridge so that you may retreat if injured and re-appear.
In forest you may advance rapidly in any direction undetected. If discovered, the trees give good cover -- you can survive armour and emplaced weapon attack.
Do not cross open ground without superior firepower. Throwing smoke ahead changes the terrain to your advantage, and can force the enemy to abandon emplaced weapons. Advance around the smoke, not through it.
In grass, hide. Choose open flat ground, away from obstacles (for the enemy will search around them). On a plateau you remain invisible unless the enemy is upon you. Hide in pairs so that you may watch over each other.
In water be patient. Swim to the best location on the shore, not the closest. Dive deep, use all oxygen, surface rapidly then dive deep again.
Study the terrain of the battlefield to find routes to approach an enemy camp undetected. Find overwatch locations to defend your own camp. Find places to hide in your camp and theirs, then you may practice guerilla warfare. Such is the art of advance and secure.
V. On Arms and Armour
Consider your attack plans, consider the tactics of the enemy, then choose your arms to match your needs. A skilled commander supervises his forces when they select arms; a skilled force is ready to fight with any weapons. The key classes are riflemen, engineers and medics.
The rifleman is the most versatile as he can engage infantry at all ranges and can destroy armour with satchels. He may also set traps using satchels/clays. The rifleman is strong when dug in and hidden away from a camp because his grenade launcher ammunition is generous, and he can detonate traps remotely.
The engineer destroys armour and air transport. In defence he should remain close to an armoury. In attack he must use his rockets sparingly. He is impotent once his ammunition is spent.
The medic must know the revive tactics. There are four: first, engage then revive; second, revive then engage; third, wait then revive; fourth, smoke then revive. The skilled medic knows the nature of the conflict ahead and chooses the right revive tactic. Know the conflict ahead by sight, but stay hidden. Know the conflict through sound: the sounds of rifle, machine gun, APC, .50 cal, rocket, satchel and claymore are all distinguishable. Finally, know the conflict ahead through the words of the dead.
The classes of gunner and sniper remain. If a soldier must remain at range, he snipes, if he must remain at close quarters he guns. Both classes are neither versatile nor vital. But they have their uses. So much for arms.
The APC acts alone to defend, and works in concert to attack. Do not defend with multiple APCs, your defenders are prisoners within them, and the enemy may turn one against you. Do not attack with a single APC, the enemy will concentrate their fire upon it.
The jeep is your friend and should be used. In defence stay away from the perimeter, you will be sniped before you locate the enemy. In attack move swiftly, lure and avoid rocket fire, then run your enemy down.
Use of helicopters is truly an art, there are many ways. You can fly both low and high, you can be quick and direct or can be slow and devious. A good pilot does three things: he plans ahead so the terrain conceals him, he reacts to attack so that the terrain may shield him, and he chooses a safe landing spot without hesitation. The topic of helicopters deserves full and separate consideration. So much for armour.
VI. On Men and Leaders
Your men are few and their talents and experiences are different. Make your own judgements on the capabilities of your soldiers because even honest people may unwittingly deceive themselves. If you do this, talented men will not go overlooked, and reckless men will not continue unchecked. Judge a soldier first by his survival instinct -- that is, his awareness of the battlefield around him, and how he moves within it. Judge him second by his teamwork, and third by his skills with a rifle.
Train your men to be flexible both in weaponry and in tactics. Do not encourage specialisation. But recognise a soldier with a rare skill when he appears, and be flexible yourself to take advantage of it.
Move amongst your men during battle so that you see the whole of the battlefield first hand. If you devise an attack strategy, lead by action where possible, rather than instructions. Pilot the helicopter yourself, drive the jeep, and take point in formation so long as you do not expect trouble straight ahead.
As your force gains experience, your men benefit from familiarity with each other and they can begin to move in formation. Those who use terrain wisely and are deadly with a rifle should take point. The others should follow them, and their skills will improve over time.
Do not force a specific formation shape: it must flow and change to adapt to the landscape. A good formation has three goals. First, it brings two guns to bear for the enemy's one. Second it has view of all angles, so that the enemy may be detected. Third, it protects the medics and puts all possible revival tactics at their disposal.
There is much to say about the making of a good leader. Be patient, your men are volunteers. Motivate them and they will want to follow your commands. Be careful about discipline because morale falls when your force is disordered. Pay attention carefully to those who remain silent, the loud man's opinion is already known. A good leader is not made by reading books, though study he must.
Now you know the art of Advance and Secure. Think carefully about what you have read, learn in turn as I have learned from my leaders. Study, draw on your own experience, then you are on the path to victory.
