Facebook Post: The Issue of Operational Depth in Ukraine
2015-08-16
Posted by: badanov
A Business Insider article which tried in June to describe what Putin would do next, the article's author said that the northern Donetsk town of Artemovsk was next.
My critique of the contention that Artemovsk was next was: Artemovsk is a huge bite, and with available forces the rebels cannot take it with any operational maneuver. I submit that the operational depth both Ukrainian and rebel forces are capable of without air cover and without professional artillery spotters limits their depth to about 10 miles, max.
Artemovsk is a central supply hub for Ukrainian forces in northern and if captured or invested by rebel forces would be a significant loss for the Ukrainians. Artemovsk is a tempting target and explains in some ways why the town is under rebel artillery fire as this post is being posted. Artemovsk is a prize, but without the basics of modern maneuver warfare, the town may as well be London.
Russian journalist Boris Rozhin confirmed that the operational depth of the Ukrainian Army was limited, not by the lack of a hard core, professionally drawn up operational plan, but the lack of vehicles for troops transport. That operational limit, according to Rozhin, is 20 kilometers.
What Rozhin doesn't say is that even with vehicles, the depth is still limited to about 10 miles, or 16 kilometers, and that limit applies to both the rebels as well as the Ukrainian forces.
Why is operational depth so important in modern warfare?
If you crack an enemy's line, and open the breach, the first thing you can do is to move mobile forces through the break and into the depth of the enemy's defenses.
The problem with that is that modern forces are extremely supply intensive, especially ammunition. Depending on the amount of resistance the offensive force faces while in the depth of their enemy's rear, a force could run out of ammunition within a few hours. If the fighting is round the clock, ammunition resupply problems will multiply. Without constant resupply, an attack can fizzle quickly. If you create a break in the enemy's defenses, the width of the break becomes an issue as well. Too narrow and your supply and logistical units could come under enemy fire. Too wide and without sufficient troops to guard the break, the defending enemy could filter forces back into the break. The only part of a modern military force that can reliably remedy either of the problems, and ensure rapid resupply, is air cover.
Without air cover, a break in the enemy's lines becomes a rallying point, and forces which rely on resupply coming through the break will face some difficult choices, including withdrawing and total destruction.
Both sides have the capability to move large forces tremendous distances, but the key is for those forces to be able to resupply. Ten miles, or 16 kilometers is about the maximum either force can move without risking being out of supply.
Just my two kopeks...
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