Land Operations - GOV.UK

1 Land Warfare Development Centre Army Doctrine Publication AC 71940 Land Operations HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS & CONDITIONS Of ReLeASe COPYRIGHT This publication is British Ministry of Defence Crown copyright. Material and information contained in this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system and transmitted for MOD use only, except where authority for use by other organisations or individuals has been authorised by a Patent Officer of the Defence Intellectual Property Rights whose details appear below. Crown copyright and Merchandise Licensing, Defence Intellectual Property rights, Central Legal Services, MOD Abbeywood South, Poplar 2 #2214, Bristol BS34 8JH, email: STATUS This publication has been produced under the direction and authority of the Chief of the General Staff by ACOS Warfare branch in his capacity as sponsor of Army Doctrine.

2 It is the individual s responsibility to ensure that he or she is using the latest version of this publication. If in doubt the individual should contact the Warfare Branch of HQ field Army (details below). The contents constitute mandatory regulations or an MOD Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and provide clear military information concerning the most up to date experience and best practice available for commanders and troops to use for Operations and training. To avoid criminal liability and prosecution for a breach of health and safety law, you must follow the relevant provisions of the ACOP. Breaches or omissions could result in disciplinary action under the provisions of the Armed forces Act.

3 DISTRIBUTION As directed by ACOS Warfare. CONTACT DeTAILS Suggestions for change or queries are welcomed and should be sent to Warfare Branch editor, Headquarters field Army, Land Warfare Development Centre, Imber Road, Warminster BA12 0DJ | i Foreword CGS foreword to ADP Land Operations ADP Land Operations is the British Army s core doctrine. It provides the framework of understanding for our approach to combat and to Operations . It is the foundation for all of our tactical doctrine. It recognises that the nature of warfare remains constant: it remains visceral and violent, characterised by friction, in which the simplest things become difficult; its outcomes are more often about the effects on peoples minds than they are about physical effects; and it is always about politics.

4 This new edition is necessary because the character of conflict has evolved significantly due to the pervasiveness of information. The context is complex and dynamic. We live and fight in a goldfish bowl. There are few secrets any longer. We have access to multiple audiences and they have access to us. No longer is there a clear distinction between war and peace. We live in an era of constant competition and confrontation in which our adversaries exploit the grey area short of combat Operations to seek advantage. There is no boundary between what happens abroad and what happens at home. Success is more likely to be achieved through non-military or non-lethal means, and invariably it is the triumph of the narrative that is decisive, not necessarily the facts on the ground.

5 The battlefield is increasingly decentralized with a premium placed on the talent of low level leadership and its understanding of the strategic context. And the expectations of military restraint, as well as the complexity of the legal context, constrain commanders as never before. The two central ideas in British Doctrine remain constant. The requirement for Mission Command and the Manoeuvrist Approach has not changed, however the latter is focused on the enemy and in this complex and dynamic environment manoeuvre has to take account of a much broader audience than simply the enemy . A new idea is therefore required - this is called Integrated Action.

6 It is a unifying doctrine that requires commanders first to identify their outcome; second to study all of the audiences that are relevant to the attainment of the outcome; third to analyse the effects that need to be imparted on the relevant audience; before determining the best mix of capabilities, from soft through to hard power, required to impart effect onto those audiences to achieve the outcome. Put simply, doctrine is not just what is taught, it also captures a set of beliefs the beliefs that underpin how we practise our profession. ADP Land Operations should be read by all, applied at the appropriate level, and used intelligently as the framework of understanding to inform our Army s development in this increasingly complex and dynamic context.

7 CGS ii | Preface Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) Land Operations is the primary source of doctrine for UK land Operations . Building on the foundations laid by higher-level North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Defence doctrine, it provides the philosophy and principles that guide land forces approach to Operations . As the capstone doctrine of UK land forces, its philosophy and principles inform the practices and procedures in the Army field Manual (AfM) series, handbooks and aides-memoire. ADP Land Operations is required reading for all land force commanders from sub-unit upwards and for staff officers working in the land environment.

8 They must explain the doctrine to their subordinates and so ensure that the whole land force operates in accordance with its principles. It is also useful for allies, joint staffs, civil servants and civilians working alongside land forces. Unless otherwise specified, all definitions used in ADP Land Operations are consistent with those of NATO Allied Administrative Publication (AAP) 06, NATO Glossary of Terms. ADP Land Operations has three parts. Part 1 establishes the context which informs the fundamentals of land doctrine. Chapter 1 describes the nature of conflict, of the land environment and of land forces, how the character of conflict changes, and key aspects of contemporary conflict.

9 It identifies important implications for land forces. Chapter 2 examines the UK national context and describes the NATO framework of Operations and relationships within which Operations are conducted. Chapter 3 describes the three components of land forces fighting Power: conceptual, moral and physical. Part 2 describes the fundamentals of land doctrine. Chapter 4 explains Integrated Action, a unifying doctrine, which guides the orchestration and execution of Operations whether the task is any combination of fighting, engagement, security or support. Chapter 5 describes the Manoeuvrist Approach, the British Army s fighting doctrine for the tactical level, specifically focused on the enemy.

10 Chapter 6 is concerned with Mission Command, the command philosophy of the British Army. | iii ii|Part 3 introduces how Operations are conducted. These subjects are covered in greater detail in the AfM series. Chapter 7 explains interoperability, how land forces organise for Operations , and how they support and are supported by other components. Chapter 8 provides general guidance on how Operations are planned and conducted to achieve Integrated Action. It explains the tactical functions, operational art, various doctrinal frameworks and provides a summary of the tactical activities that contribute to Integrated Action. Chapter 9 describes wider aspects of command (in the context of Mission Command), the characteristics of the commander and staff, how Operations are controlled and the Operations process.