Murakhovsky told what the Russian army needs to break through the front

Much depends on reconnaissance, tanks, artillery, rear and … baths

The infantry can solve the tasks of breaking through the enemy defenses only in cooperation with other branches of the armed forces, including tanks, artillery, and aviation. This is the opinion of a well-known military expert, editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Viktor Murakhovsky.

“Breakthrough of the front. Interaction is not only the task of the infantry. All other types of troops are working in the interests of the infantry,” Murakhovsky wrote in his Telegram channel. He listed the tasks facing other branches of the military.

So reconnaissance “should reveal all the goals and means of the enemy to the depth of the further task and provide for further actions of the enemy.” At the same time, artillery reconnaissance faces its own tasks. It must open all enemy targets to a given depth and prepare barrage fire and fire on individual targets. In turn, the advanced aviation gunner must know all the targets and landmarks for getting out of them.

The main task of the tank units when breaking through the front, according to Murakhovsky, is not to break away from the infantry. Tanks operate in battle formation with the infantry and destroy targets that are dangerous for the infantry.

The main task of artillery in the offensive is to provide support for the infantry by means of a barrage of fire. And it does not act on its own and not on command from above. “The transfer of fire along the lines of the fire shaft is carried out on the orders of the battalion commander. And nothing else,” said Murakhovsky, hinting that the battalion commander on the front line knows better than anyone what targets the artillery should hit first.

According to the expert, a separate division should be allocated for counter-battery combat.

Military air defense must “demolish everything that flies” over our troops on the front line. And she must interact with the advanced aircraft controller, who is in the combat formations of the infantry or at the forward command post. Only the air controller determines “when and where the military air defense does not work” so as not to shoot down their planes and helicopters.

The main task of aviation in breaking through the front is “to prevent the enemy’s counterattacking reserves from reaching their starting lines.” The solution to this problem depends on the degree of interaction with the aircraft controller and military air defense.

In the interests of the infantry, sappers should act, who prepare the exit routes for all equipment to the line of transition to the attack. They make passages in the minefield in front of the front line of the enemy and ensure the advance of the main forces in the battle in depth. Before the battle, military engineers provide shelter for equipment and personnel.

The troops of radiation, chemical and biological protection have heavy flamethrower systems and aerosol units for camouflage. They are also necessary for a breakthrough.

The suppression of satellite navigation, space and air reconnaissance of the enemy, as well as the suppression of all enemy communications depends on the electronic warfare troops (EW).

Communication is a key element in supporting infantry operations. At the same time, according to Murakhovsky, “the lack of communication is not the reason for the failure to complete the task.” “Unfortunately, Andromeda-D and Constellation-2015 did not lead to the digitalization of the troops,” the expert stated.

Equally important are technical and logistical support.

“The infantry is very hard. Therefore, it is important for her to provide bathing in the bath once a week, with a change of underwear. Our doctors do an excellent job. 97% of the wounded return to duty,” Murakhovsky concluded.