Timetime training

polska-zbrojna.pl 11 months ago

New training centers, drones and laser fire simulators and more exercises – so the Polish army prepares its soldiers to fight in the city. The war in Ukraine has shown that large battles about urbanised centres are inactive possible. They play a key function in maintaining control of a region and frequently the full country.

There's mail, a museum, a restaurant. Streets have their names – Cisowa, Dębowa, Sosnowa. Although the city is mostly vibrant, it is vain to look for people among the buildings. But you gotta admit, in an different way. Military vehicles rotation along the roads, soldiers enter buildings, sound of gunshots and a bang of grenades. This is the Center for Urbanization “New Wall” in Wędrzyn – the largest facility of this kind in Polish fields. This is where soldiers grind. black tactics. In another words, they train a fight in the city. For years, both Poles and abroad allies practiced in the centre of Hungary. For many, the visit was an essential part of preparing for abroad missions. But now the training has taken on a fresh dimension. In their background the names of Ukrainian cities began to resonate – Mariupol, Bachmut, Awdijiwka...

RECLAMA

Sword and shield

– The Russian-Ukrainian War is simply a kind of mix erstwhile it comes to tactics. So we have a fight in trenches, dams and dams so characteristic of planet War I. At the same time, the ability to influence the opponent far beyond the front line, which in turn was typical of planet War II. The only difference is that then the main weapon was bombers, and now they're rocket missiles and unmanned ships. Finally, we have elements from the 21st century: the usage of satellites, drones – both reconnaissance and combat – is calculated by the Brig-Gen. Piotr Fajkowski, commander of the 11th Lubuskie Division of Armored Cavalry, and at the same time CAT-C – EU Command, which is liable for training Ukrainian soldiers.

This diagram besides fits perfectly in the battles in the east with larger and smaller urban centres. – strategy specialists are happy to repeat: avoid fighting in the city, due to the fact that it will exploit your potential. The urban struggles usually origin immense losses both in humans and in equipment. In addition, they slow down the pace of action – emphasised Dr. Paweł Makowiec, lecturer at the Territorial Defence Department of the Academy of Land Forces in Wrocław. Yet the war in Ukraine one more time showed that specified struggles could not be avoided. Cities are centres of power and communication nodes that usually turn into fortresses during armed action. They play a key function in maintaining control of the region and frequently the full country. frequently control takes on a symbolic, political and moral dimension. So it's not much to miss them. Theoretically, the city can be surrounded by a tight cordon, cut off from supplies and await its surrender. But this kind of maneuver requires a immense number of troops and... time.

Therefore, the commanders usually choose another option. Either they're trying to take the city from the march, or they're focusing their efforts on breaking down organized defence and bringing their troops into it. This is usually associated with the quest to destruct the defending opponent, as well as the village itself. – The war in Ukraine shows the viability of the classical model. Combats for individual cities are high-intensity battles utilizing artillery and to a lesser degree aviation. This was written by the strategists, even during the Cold War. small of that, if Gen. Stefan Grot-Rowecki's work on street fighting was opened, 1 can see that the instructions there are inactive valid, even in the context of Ukraine," noted Dr. Makowiec.

All this makes NATO return to its roots – both in terms of reasoning and training its own soldiers. In fresh years, Americans have encountered akin fighting in the city respective times. This happened in Iraqi Fallujah and Mosul. The strength of these measures was large and the resources utilized were very diverse. Nevertheless, sub-units of the U.S. Army [terrestrial troops] did not fight regular troops there, but muslim militants," says Dr. Makowiec.

The proposed return to the roots should be subject to many reservations. And these are related to method progress. For example, the introduction of drones was a real revolution. – Unmanned aircraft have changed the way of command from the level of plutonium. The commander sees his soldiers from the air, which makes it easier for him to direct their actions. Drones besides aid in conducting the diagnosis – recalls Brig. Gen. Piotr Fajkowski. In a sense, however, they are double-edged weapons. They're besides utilized by an opponent. He can besides track the positions of our sub-chapters, and even launch an attack from above, dropping a grenade from the drone," says CAT-C commander.

In all of this, 1 vital item must be kept in mind. The modern battlefield besides extends to cyberspace. On the front, the opponent constantly tries to disrupt the operation of electronic devices. If he can do that, the drones are grounded. And then the soldiers are reliant on conventional fighting methods. It's a well-known regulation of sword and shield for centuries. The construction of 1 kind of weapon automatically involves the invention of a countermeasure. In the war, this process is inactive accelerating – emphasised Brig. Gen. Fajkowski.

Black Challenge

The situation in Ukraine is very dynamic in all respect. “There is something fresh about tactics or the usage of equipment. We're trying to find out as much as we can. We are talking to Ukrainian instructors who accompany our training units. Their cognition is not only useful in designing scenarios for mission purposes. It is besides crucial for our soldiers – noted Brig. Gen. Fajkowski. These repeat that while the training related to black tactics is more intense and varied than ever, their number has not increased. Soon, however, this may change.

– On the basis of the conclusions of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, we conducted a review of the training programmes. We have increased the number of hours for training with assault troops, says Colonel Marek Pawlak, Press spokesperson of the General Command of Armed Forces. As part of exercises and trainings, episodes related to the recovery of the lost urban area will be carried out.

– Black tactics are the most hard component of the soldier's craft – there is no uncertainty young chor. Adrian Maciejak, deputy platoon commander from the 12th Mechanized Brigade. First of all, due to the fact that the fight takes place in close contact, practically face to face with the opponent. Although that's not precisely precise, due to the fact that you don't usually see an opponent. He's lurking around, behind the wall, in the basement, behind a pile of rubble. It can appear at any moment, out of surprise, and then the time to respond counts in seconds. That's why erstwhile you operate in the city, you gotta keep your eyes around your head. Pay attention to the top floors of buildings, while not forgetting cellars or canals. This is polarally far from the linear fight in the trenches – says Mateusz [at the request of the unit we do not give a name], the commander of the reconnaissance company from the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade. "Moreover, 1 must number on the fact that the fighting environment will change constantly. The bridge we crossed the day before will collapse under the influence of the bombing, the road will become impenetrable, the level of the building will disappear. The opponent will lose any of the old hideouts, but will gain at least a fewer fresh opportunities. And we will be forced to revise any of the plans," he adds.

This, of course, is not the end. The burden of fighting in the city is always on the infantry. “The years go by, the planet changes, and in this area no 1 has invented anything new.” In the labyrinths of streets and buildings, the usage of armored vehicles, let alone tanks, does not make much sense. They are besides easy a target. They can only be introduced to this 4th or another after it has been mastered. Theoretically, infantry is not entirely alone. – Subdivisions operating in urbanized areas should be provided with fire support of artillery, aviation or increasingly common hit unmanneds, but this is not always possible – admits Colonel Robert Salagan, commander of the Battalion of the 12th Mechanized Brigade. In the built-up area, tiny dispersed formations should be operated.

– The starting point is simply a squad which, in addition to the vehicle crew, consists of a commander and only 4 soldiers. Of these 2 teams we make 1 – explains young people. Maciejak. It's different in the US Army. There the squad is simply a closed whole. It consists of 2 four-man teams and a commander. And that gives you more opportunities – admits the CO. Of course, depending on the tasks assigned, the subdivisions can be combined and the formations enlarged. “A minimum platoon must be active in the mastery of a peculiar building,” emphasises Mr Maciejak. And so any soldiers form a subdivision providing fire support. Their task is to bind the enemy with fire. Another division is liable for making the transition. – Entering the building, you should avoid doors and windows, due to the fact that these opponents could have previously additionally secured – for example by leaving improvised explosives. It is better to break the gap in the wall – the officer explains.

There's an assault unit entering the building. Its task is to search individual rooms. There may besides be any unfortunate surprises: the opponent hidden behind the furniture, stretched by the ground the links that activate the Aydika [IED, or improvised explosive device], a grenade in a glass placed at the top of the locked door, which, after pushing them, falls right on the soldier's head. – In this case, the hazard should be minimised. For example, drones – these miniature ones can fly even inside the room, giving us a live signal – admits young chor. Maciejak.

And here again we come to the possibilities of modern technology. Drones are 1 thing. Another issue is communication. erstwhile the commands were issued by radio. Now soldiers can use, for example, the ATAK (Android Tactical Awareness Kit) system. It's software to track another users' positions. Thanks to him, the platoon commander knows where his soldiers are at the moment. He can besides give them appropriate instructions. This is important, for example, due to the fact that it allows to minimize the risks associated with alleged friendly fire. Activities in the city are usually very dynamic, and tension is huge. In specified a situation it is easier to make a mistake – emphasizes Mr. Maciej.

The ATAK is simply a civilian version that can be downloaded to a mobile phone, but besides military. Then soldiers have peculiar devices at their disposal. Software has been utilized in the American Army for years. “In the Polish army, we are inactive waiting for specified solutions to be disseminated, although we usage civilian versions for the exercise,” noted the officer from 12 BZ. Of course, specified devices, like drones, can besides be disrupted by cyber attack. And if that happens, we're back to square one. Rifle, cool head, steel nerves...

Defence at price

– Preparing soldiers to fight in the city is an highly hard matter,” admits Mateusz of the exploratory company 17 BZ. "There are fewer ready schemes here, and the existing ones include only the simplest procedures. The commanders frequently gotta improvise, trust on their experience, but besides intuition – he adds. The war in Ukraine posed further challenges for soldiers. "Many heads contain a image of soldiers entering the building, and moments later they bring distant captured opponents from it. Meanwhile, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has shown that the issue is far more complicated,” noted the officer. On the 1 hand, fighting in urbanised areas requires tremendous dynamics and mobility. Soldiers must change positions due to enemy drones, while searching for roads invisible from the air: through buildings, cellars, canals... On the another hand, frequently even fighting over 1 building is long-lasting and tedious.

Meanwhile, fighting in an urbanized area is not just attacking the enemy's position. Soldiers must besides be ready to defend the territory or the city. – I saw this kind of action trained in Britain. I took part twice in the "Cambrian Patrol" exercises, which in the script had this kind of episode," says an officer from 17 BZ. “There is an outdoor hotel in Sennabridge, a bit akin to COZ in Hungary. However, any buildings were prepared to defend themselves. Additional passages were created in the rooms, reflection and shooting points in the windows, and in any rooms... monitors were besides installed. Looking at them, defenders see, for example, a tank that they gotta shoot. It is simply a perfect connection between the real planet and simulation – he adds.

The Polish army does not have specified opportunities yet, but it does not intend to waste time. At the Territorial Defence Military Training Centre a fewer weeks ago, he moved on. pilot course on defending the city. “The programme was arranged on the basis of an analysis of events from the war in Ukraine and experiences of armed conflicts over the last 3 decades,” explains Colonel Przemysław Żukowski, Commandant of CSWOT. – The course was attended by platoon and section commanders. There were dozens of them. They first learned about the explanation of fighting in urbanized areas, then carried out applicable tasks – he adds. The first was to make a concept of defence of plutonium and to test it during tactical simulation. The students utilized models of faithfully mapping training buildings located on CSWOT. – During the preparation of the opposition points, the commander had at their disposal specialist equipment and equipment of light infantry sub-chapters – explains Colonel Żukowski. Then the soldiers operated on the field. – The usefulness of the course will be analysed by the WOT Command. If the evaluation is good, it is likely to be introduced into the training strategy permanently. I hope that in the future our work will be utilized not only by the light infantry units, but besides by soldiers of another types of armed forces – concludes Colonel Żukowski.

No more contract.

Training programs are 1 thing. Equally crucial is the base that Polish soldiers can use. And this 1 is slow expanding. The largest centre for fighting training in the city remains the already mentioned Hungarian COZ. “It enables training to the battalion level with support and reinforcement measures,” says Colonel Pawlak of DGRSZ. The centre, as the soldiers admit, requires a lift. But in its present form, it has many advantages. – The Ukrainians who come here under CAT-C have noticed this. Buildings don't have windows and doors, which makes the hotel look a bit like a city ravaged by war... This strengthens the realism of the training – noted Brig. Gen. Fajkowski. However, the hotel will change in the coming years. – The Ministry reserved money for its modernization. presently we are at the phase of updating earlier concepts – informs Major Marcin Ciszewski, press spokesperson of the Police Training Centre of the Land Forces in Wędrzyn.

In fresh times, the army has besides enriched itself with a facility that was built at the Orish camp. Its construction was funded by NATO. The complex consists of nearly 20 different buildings, streets, intersections, and even underground culverts. Its part is simply a hall with an interior divided walls. Above them, a platform was installed from which the teacher can observe soldiers. It assesses whether they are entering and moving correctly into the rooms. “Here, in turn, you can train troops to the company level,” says Colonel Pawlak.

The conflict Training Centre in Drawsko Pomorski awaits in line for changes. Soldiers practicing at the largest Polish camp utilized a tiny complex, commonly called Mogadisz. A larger facility was to be built in his place. For now, the buildings have been demolished and the area temporarily excluded from use.

However, the most crucial novelty on Polish fields is late purchased Saab laser shooting simulators (LSS). They consist of weapon overlays, sensors, which are worn by soldiers and vehicles, and antennas utilized to transmit signals. erstwhile the exerciser presses the trigger, it activates the laser beam emitting mechanism. And if this 1 hits the enemy, the transmitter will choice her up, and the strategy will evidence the hit. “This solution allowed to rise the realism of the training to an unprecedented level,” said Colonel Salagan of 12 BZ. Simulators are utilized by soldiers trained in Hungary and Orise. Additionally, the first of the centers has a strategy of urban combat simulation. It's besides a Saaba product. – It allows to track and analyse the actions of soldiers inside buildings. For now, we can cover 3 facilities, but the request is greater – says Major Ciszewski and adds that the Hungarian OSDPWL has already made appropriate proposals on this issue.

However, training to prepare for combat in the city is not limited to training courses. Soldiers besides effort to go beyond these centres. – Useful in training are the alleged kill houses, which can be arranged on a cross-country exercise belt, groundwalls, and even in convenient areas. frequently it is adequate to arrange an abandoned building – says Colonel Salagan.

I'm sick. Maciejak adds: – We had the chance to train in the authentic town. In Novgorod, Podlasie, we have obtained approval from local authorities, we have reached agreement with residents. Soldiers moved on the streets, courtyards, entering farm buildings, and even any houses. Of course, they did not usage ammunition – even the blind one. But they could practice the elements of tactics, and in the natural environment, according to maxima: “Train as you fight.”

The fight in the city is 1 of many elements of the soldier's craft, the importance of which has late been highlighted by the war in Ukraine. possibly Polish soldiers will never gotta usage their skills. However, be ready for any eventuality. Especially in specified uncertain times.

Łukasz Zalesinski
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