Teamwork strategy: A key component in PA's 'air-land battle doctrine' (Feature)

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Teamwork strategy: A key component in PA's 'air-land battle doctrine' (Feature)

Even in the battlefield, teamwork is also a key in fending off attacks by enemy forces.

This was illustrated by the fact that the Philippine Army, which is currently mustering 10 divisions, a mechanized infantry division with anti-aircraft and anti-tank attachments, and fielding 273 artillery pieces, has an "air-land battle doctrine" which calls for close coordination with land units and the Air Force in beating off the enemy or any hostile threat.

"Basically, this fighting doctrine employs a 'main effort unit' and 'supporting units' in the conduct of operations," Army spokesperson Capt. Anthony Bacus said.

In layman's terms, this simply means that the PA will try to defeat an enemy formation with attacks conducted by the infantry, artillery, armor and air units in a coordinated manner.

"In the conduct of these operations, the PA will apply the fire and maneuver techniques. Speed is one of the characteristics of offensive operation while firepower is one of the elements of combat power," he emphasized.

Combat power is a military tactic that uses suppressive fire to decrease the enemy's ability to return fire, its organization unit cohesion, and morale.

The tactic is used by small unit commanders on the modern battlefield.

The movement part of the action consists of a separate organizational unit moving forward in greater safety afforded by the suppressive fire laid down on the enemy.

Bacus said that constant training and close coordination with the different military units is needed to maximize this tactic to the utmost.

The PA's ability to deliver devastating power against enemy positions is getting a much-needed boost with the signing and impending delivery of 28 brand-new armored fighting vehicles, 14 of which are armed with automatic 76mm cannons.

Contract for these armored units, which is worth P888 million, was awarded to one of Israel's leading defense manufacturers, Elbit Systems Land and C4I, only last week.

Aside from "fire support units," six of the Israeli-built armored vehicles are classified as the "armored personnel carrier" models, four as "infantry fighting vehicles" and the remaining four as "recovery and repair" units.

Full delivery of these vehicles is expected within a year or around January 2015.

Department of National Defense Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez said that these armored vehicles are very capable.

Once in service, 14 armored vehicles armed with 76mm cannons will act as the mobile artillery units of the PA which at the moment is armed with 273 units of heavy guns.

Of these weapons, 24 are of the class heavy 155mm howitzers, with the remaining guns consisting of various models of the 105mm howitzer, an artillery piece capable of being towed or tracked into combat.

These weapons are constantly being maintained and modernized to provide Army units with a relatively heavy punch.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=10&sid=&nid=10&rid=609311