Main points of the draft field manual of the ground forces.

Chapter One

Principles of Combined-arms Combat

1. Combined-arms Combat, Its Nature, Modes of Conduct and Weapons

1. Combat--a form of tactical actions of troops-consists in strikes, fire and maneuver by combined units, (units, subunits) organized and coordinated in objective, place and time for the purpose of destroying (routing) the enemy, repulsing its strikes and performing other missions within a limited area and in the course of a short period of time.

There can be a combined-arms, air defense, air and naval combats.

Fire is an effective engagement of the enemy by firing (launching) of various types of weapons with the aim of causing damage to enemy installations and force groupings. It varies with: (tactical) missions--destruction, suppression, harassment, demolition, smokescreening (blinding) and other types; types of weapons--small arms, grenade launchers, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles (armored personnel carriers), artillery, mortars, antitank missile systems, antiaircraft weapons and so on; mode of fire--direct fire, semi-direct fire, indirect fire; rate of fire--single-shot fire, short and long bursts of fire, sustained fire, surprise close-range concentrated fire, volley fire, salvo fire and so on; direction of fire--frontal fire, flanking fire, interlocking fire; methods of fire--fire from the halt, fire from short halts, firing on the move, from onboard vehicle, sweeping fire, searching fire, target-area fire; types of fire-fixed fire, concentrated fire, barrage fire, multi-layer fire, multitier fire, etc.

6. Unconventional (special) weapons are combat assets whose damage and casualty effect is based on using the properties of special-action substances (laser, accelerating, superhigh-frequency and radio-frequency effects).

7. The types of tactical actions are classified as follows: main types--defense, offensive; supporting--movement, deployment of troops on location, reconnaissance, security; special types--diversionary, blocking, relief, protection, localization, restriction; supporting types--preparation of areas of operation, laying in of resources.

Defense is undertaken with the main purpose--to repulse assaults of superior enemy forces, inflict on the enemy maximal casualties and losses, hold important areas of terrain and thereby create favorable conditions for subsequent actions. Varieties of defense are combat in encirclement and breaking out of encirclement.

Offensive is carried out with the aim of routing (destroying) the enemy and gaining control of important areas (lines, installations) of terrain. It consists of effectively engaging the enemy with all available resources, determined assault, resolute forward movement of troops deep into its dispositions, destroying and taking prisoner its personnel, seizing its weapons and equipment, various installations and planned areas (objectives) of terrain. Varieties of offensive are meeting engagements, pursuit, and raiding operations.

Defense and offensive are closely interrelated. Any defense has elements of offensive, and any offensive has elements of defense.

19. Protection of troops is aimed at weakening the effects of weapons (conventional, nuclear, chemical, biological, incendiary, precision and other types of weapons), the hazardous elements of technogenic, electronic, informational, psychological, ecological and other nature with the aim to preserve the combat effectiveness of subunits and create conditions for fulfilling assigned missions.

The main tasks of protecting troops in combat are: to rule out strikes and fire at the friendly troops; to rule out surprise massive enemy strikes and effects of hazardous elements; to reduce the effectiveness of enemy weapon strikes and weaken the effects of the hazardous elements; detection and elimination of the aftermath of enemy strikes and the effects of hazardous elements; to reduce and eliminate the aftereffects of the negative informational-psychological enemy pressure; to timely restore subunits to a battleworthy state.

Timely restoration of subunits to a battleworthy state includes: the restoration of disrupted command and control; determining casualties and losses and updating the missions assigned to subunits that remain battleworthy; withdrawing to safe areas those subunits that lost their battleworthiness; adding replacement personnel, weapons, equipment and other materiel; restoring morale. The first to be restored is the battleworthiness of subunits that continue to fulfill their combat missions.

2. Principles of Employing Combined-arms Subunits, Subunits of Branches of Service and Support

20. Motorized rifle and tank battalions are the main combined-arms tactical subunits, and motorized rifle and tank companies are tactical subunits of the Ground Forces. They are intended for tactical missions both on their own and in cooperation with subunits of combat branches and support and logistic subunits, subunits of other branches of the Armed Forces, troops, force elements and organs of the Russian Federation, or they are attached to them for the performance of special missions.

A motorized rifle (tank) battalion (company) is intended for tackling the following missions: in defense--to hold onto the areas, lines and positions they occupy, repulse enemy offensive activities and defeat its advancing forces; in offensive--to penetrate the enemy's defense, rout its defending subunits, seize important areas, lines and installations, force water obstacles, pursue the retreating enemy and conduct meeting engagements.

A motorized rifle battalion (company) can be assigned for activities in a tactical airborne assault of a division and, sometimes, of a brigade (regiment).

The employment of a motorized rifle (tank) battalion (company) placed under operational command of other troops, force elements and organs of the Russian Federation is effected in accordance with their main tasking designations, operational tactics and combat capabilities.

21. A machinegun-artillery battalion is a combined-arms tactical subunit with a special organization designed for the protection and defense of important sections of the state border, individual interior areas as well as coastal installations and islands with the use of fortification structures of fortified areas.

29. Army aviation subunits are a highly maneuverable multirole branch of service, one of the main assets for effective engagement of the enemy by fire in combined-arms combat.

Army aviation consists of individual units and subunits of (combat, transport- attack, assault-transport, special-designation) helicopters and drones (reconnaissance drones remotely piloted vehicles).

They are intended for air support of combined-arms subunits, for increasing their mobility and supporting their combat operations, and destroying low-speed air targets.

The main missions of army aviation subunits are:

Fire missions--the destruction of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and other armored enemy targets; group strikes at assigned targets; enabling transit of tactical air assault forces and support of their combat activities; effective engagement of assault and raid forces; destruction of low-speed air targets; air support to subunits and transport columns on march; sealing off areas where enemy aerial reconnaissance is active;

Reconnaissance missions: aerial terrain reconnaissance; aerial radiological monitoring and survey, chemical and biological reconnaissance of terrain; battlefield observation;

Transport-assault missions: drop-zone delivery of airborne assault forces; landing (recovery) of reconnaissance subunits; maneuver support during combat; delivery of weapons, ammunition and other material to subunits operation behind enemy lines; airlifting subunits and cargoes and evacuation of the wounded;

Special missions: adjustment of artillery fire, command and control and communication support, laying down mine obstacles and smokescreens; electronic disablement of enemy command and control assets; support for psychological warfare; search and rescue of crews in distress, and other missions.

Chapter Two

Control of Subunits and Fire

1. Basic Points

37. Controlling a subunit consists of purposeful activities of the commander of a battalion (company), his deputies, battalion staff to maintain constant battle readiness of subordinated subunits, their timely training for tactical activities (combat), firm and continual control over them in tackling assigned missions.

The objective of control is reached through fulfilling a number of tasks, the main of which are: continuous efforts to obtain, collect, examine, represent and analyse the situation data; decision making; communication of assignments to the subordinated subunits; organization and maintenance of continuous cooperation; organization and the carrying out of activities aimed at achieving all-round support; training subunits for action and direct control of them; organization of verification and help to subordinate commanders and subunits.

Battalions shall create command and control systems to fulfil command and control tasks.

38. Command and control of subunits should be stable, prompt, continuous and secure.

Stability of command and control consists of preserving promptness, continuity and security in conditions of impacts by the elements of operational-tactical situations. It shall be achieved through organization and implementation of activities aimed for enhancing its protection and restorability; careful camouflaging and concealment and fortification of command and control elements; creation of reserves of force and command and control assets.

Promptness of command and control consists of getting ahead of the enemy in making and implementing decisions in accordance with prevailing situations. It is achieved by virtue of constant readiness for combat of command and control elements; a high standard of their professional training; effective functioning of the command and control system (communications system); timely decision making in accordance with prevailing situations and organization of activities.

Continuity of command and control consists of the ability of the commander to be constantly in control of combat activities: to timely assign missions to subordinate subunits, receive from them information on the situation. It is achieved through battalion (company) and battalion staff commanders' being in control of the situation, serviceable communications facilities, and familiarity of the personnel with prearranged command signal.

Security of command and control consists of concealing from the enemy the location of subunits' commanders in the force disposition and the control signals. It is achieved through careful camouflaging and concealing battalion (company) control stations, comprehensive employment of radio and wire communications assets, able control of subordinates using signal facilities in conditions of direct fire contact with the enemy.

2. Command and Control System

(40.) Command and control system of a battalion comprises the organization-technical framework of command and control of subunits and includes a command and observation post with officers of the battalion command and control element working there and command and control facilities.

(41.) The command and control system should have a high state of combat readiness, be stable and provide effective control over the organic and attached subunits, and it should be reliably protected from enemy information effects.

A high degree of combat readiness of the command and control system consists of constant readiness of its elements and control facilities to operate under all conditions. It is achieved through a high-standard professional training of the command and control elements personnel and technical reliability of command and control facilities.

Stability of the command and control system consists of the ability to effectively function in difficult conditions.

Protection from information attacks of the enemy consists of a set of activities aimed at forestalling enemy efforts to distort information in the process of its reception and transmission.

(42.) Command and observation post of a battalion (company) is a place specially equipped and fitted out with technical facilities to control subunits in preparation for and during combat operations. The command and observation post should be highly mobile, have reliable communications facilities and able to control subunits in any environment in fixed position or on the move.

It is deployed in places affording the best opportunity to observe the terrain, enemy, operation of friendly subunits, adjacent units and to ensure continuous command and control. The command and observation post should not be conspicuous in the tactical order of battle, and it is necessary to skillfully use, in deploying and moving it around, protecting and camouflaging characteristics of terrain and terrain features.

Battalions (companies) of machinegun-artillery regiments should in advance prepare several places for the deployment of their command and observation posts.

The command and observation post of a battalion (company) shall accommodate the battalion (company) commander, its deputies (with the exception of deputies for weapons and rear services), assistant commander for artillery, staff officers, chief of battalion communications as well as commanders of the attached and supporting subunits, and the artillery observer. The command and observation posts of first-echelon battalions (operating in separate sectors) can deploy control posts of forward air controllers.

In order to control subunits, the battalion commander can move forward to different positions in the tactical order, for which purpose the command and observation post shall designate an armored command control vehicle to carry, together with the commander, deputy (assistant) to the chief of staff, commanders of the mortar battery and of the supporting artillery subunit (artillery observer) and a forward air controller.

Command and observation posts can change positions only with permission from senior commanders (higher headquarters) and do it quickly, unobserved, in an organized manner and this should not coincide in time with crucial developments in the course of fulfilling assigned missions.

In the event the battalion (company) command and observation post gets knocked out of action, the command and control of the subunit is carried out, as a rule, from the command and observation post of a second-echelon company (one of the company's platoons). The commander, who assumes command and control of the battalion (company), shall report this to a senior commander and communicate this to the subordinates, cooperating subunits and adjacent units.

43. Command and control elements of a battalion (command structure of a company) are organic organizational units and assigned personnel vested with appropriate rights and duties to control the organic and attached subunits.

Control elements are headed by the battalion (company) commander and include deputies and the staff (deputies to the company commander).

The staff of the battalion is the main element of control. It operates on the basis of the commander's decision and instructions and directives of a higher-echelon staff.

The main task of the staff consists of communicating to subordinated commanders orders and instructions in a timely and full manner; timely collecting, summing up and analyzing situation data, reporting them to the battalion commander and communicating situation data to the higher-echelon staff.

The staff is tasked with: ensuring combat readiness of subunits; continuous obtaining, gathering, examining and appraising situation data; preparing necessary calculations and proposals for the commander for making decisions; the processing and execution of field orders and instructions; organization of cooperation and its maintenance in the course of performance of missions assigned; organization of operations support and protection of troops; verification of the fulfilment by subunits their assigned missions; keeping records of the personnel, weaponry and military equipment, missiles and ammunition of all types, fuel and other resources; bringing up to full strength subordinated subunits with regard to personnel, weapons and military equipment, replenishment and keeping records of radiation doses received by the personnel; informing the commanders of subordinated, cooperating subunits and adjacent units about new situation data; organization of the command and control system, seeing to its stable functioning; organization and monitoring secure command and control and keeping secret planned activities; studying, summing up and communicating to subordinated subunits combat experience and methods of controlling units (subunits).

3. Principles of Work by Commanders and the Staff to Control Subunits and Fire

45. Preparation for combat (action) of a battalion (company) includes: organization of combat (action); preparation of the battalion's staff and subunits for the performance of the mission assigned; taking the designated area and other activities preparing the battalion (company) for action.

46. Organization of combat (action) consists of making a decision, assigning missions to subunits, organizing effective engagement of the enemy by fire, cooperation, command and control and all types of support of the combat (action); detailed development of the sequence, timeframes and methods of operation of forces and fires taking part in it on the basis of the decision taken, development, processing and execution of combat documents and the making of appropriate calculations.

47. As a rule, the battalion commander begins work to organize for combat (action) having received a preliminary instruction with a briefing on impending operations.

Getting the preliminary instruction with a briefing on impending operations, the battalion commander determines activities that should be carried out immediately to prepare the battalion for upcoming operations, briefs on the upcoming operations his deputies, assistant for artillery and commanders of subunits, and gives them appropriate instructions with regard to organization of command and control, reconnaissance and support.

Getting the combat directive, the battalion commander shall gain a clear understanding of the mission, do time calculations, brief his deputies, the assistant for artillery and commanders of subunits on the assigned mission, instruct the chief of staff to prepare data and calculations necessary for decision making, preparation of the subunits for the performance of the combat mission, on the time and procedure of organizing cooperation and work on terrain, clear up questions of organizing command and control, reconnaissance and all-round support, appraise the situation, formulate tactical intentions and report it to the brigade (regiment) commander and issue preliminary field instructions.

Getting the field instructions, the battalion commander shall wind up the decision making process, report the decision to the brigade (regiment) commander, issue a verbal combat order, carry out reconnoitering in the course of which he updates the missions to subunits, organizes cooperation and issues instructions with regard to organizing combat (action) and command and control support.

In the event the receipt of the briefing instructions is directly followed by combat instructions, the battalion commander shall gain a clearer understanding of the mission, do time calculations, brief his deputies, the assistant for artillery and commanders of subunits on the assigned mission, instruct the chief of staff to prepare data and calculations necessary for decision making, the timeframe and procedure of work on location, update questions related to organization of command and control, reconnaissance and all-round support, appraise the situation, make his decision, report it to the regiment commander, issue verbal combat order, carry out reconnoitering in the course of which he updates the missions to subunits, organizes cooperation and issues instructions with regard to organizing combat (action) and command and control support.

53. Decisions shall be made by the commander individually on the basis of gaining a clearer understanding of the mission assigned, assessment of the situation and proposals of his deputies. Incompleteness of data on the situation shall not excuse the commander from making a timely decision.

In his decisions the commander specifies:

-- concepts of tactical activities;

-- combat missions to subunits;

-- the main questions of cooperation, command and control and all-round support.

Concepts of tactical activities shall be formulated depending on the latter's type, form, the mission assigned, the place of the battalion (company) in the combat formation of the brigade (regiment, battalion) and consist of determining methods of performing the mission assigned.

In the main questions of cooperation, the battalion (company) commander shall specify the method of cooperation with organic, attached and cooperating subunits in performing the missions assigned in accordance with the lines, the areas of activities and periods of time.

In the main questions of command and control, the battalion (company) commander shall fine-adjust the place and time of deploying the command and observation post, the sector and the method of moving it and determine the method of controlling subunits during preparation for and conduct of combat (actions), the missions and methods of work of command and control elements, measures ensuring stability and continuity of command and control.

The decision (concept) shall be plotted on operation maps supplied with explanatory texts and reported to the brigade (regiment, battalion) commander, and announced directly to the subordinated assigned personnel.

The battle decision (concept) shall be reported by the battalion (company) commander to the senior-level commander in the course of the latter's practical work.

54. Combat missions to subunits shall be usually assigned by field orders (preliminary field instructions).

In the combat order the battalion (company) commander shall include:

In point one--brief conclusions from evaluation of the enemy.

In point two--installations and targets to be engaged by weapons under the senior commander in the area of forthcoming actions, as well as missions set to the adjacent units and the boundaries between them.

In point three--the combat mission to the battalion (company) and the concept of combat (actions).

In point four--the words "I thereby order" shall be followed by combat missions to organic, attached subunits and elements of the tactical order of battle.

In point five--consumption of missiles and ammunition in the performance of combat missions.

In point six--time of readiness for the performance of the mission.

In point seven--the place and time of deploying the command and observation post and direction of its movements as well as the names of commanders of companies (platoons) who shall take over control of the battalion (company) in the event the command and observation post becomes disabled.

In the preliminary field instruction the battalion (company) commander shall usually state: information about the enemy; targets to be effectively engaged in the interest of the company (platoon) by weapons under the senior commander; the combat mission assigned to the company (platoon) with the degree of specification corresponding to the decision taken at the time of issuing the preliminary field instructions; the time of readiness and the main activities in preparation for combat (actions); the time and methods of communicating missions and other data.

All orders, instructions and directives of the battalion commander shall be entered by the chief of staff in the log of issued and received instructions.

(55.) Cooperation shall be organized by the battalion (company) commander with the participation of his deputies (deputy), assistant for artillery, commanders of companies (platoons), separate, attached and supporting (cooperating) subunits. It shall be usually organized to a depth limited to visibility on location, to the entire depth of the combat mission on the map (terrain model).

In organizing cooperation, the commander should: coordinate the efforts of organic, attached and supporting subunits in the performance of the assigned mission; achieve a uniform understanding by all commanders of the objective of the engagement (actions), combat missions and methods of their performance; outline and coordinate variants of actions by subunits and measures of deceiving the enemy based on the character of its possible activities, as well as provide them with the warning, command and control and cooperation signals.

The organization of cooperation can be effected using a method of instructions from the battalion (company) commander or a method of reports from the commanders of subordinated subunits with subsequent rehearsal of actions by friendly subunits in accordance with the missions, time, place and conduct of mock-ups of the main tactical events and possible variants of operations. When there is a time constraint, cooperation shall be organized using the method of directives.

Hostile aircraft, threat warning, radioactive, chemical and biological contamination alert shall be effected using unified and permanent signals. They should be familiar to all personnel.

To organize practical cooperation, the staff shall notify the commanders of subordinated and supporting subunits of the place and time of work on location (terrain model, maps).

(56.) Organization of command and control consists of setting up a command and control system, maintaining it in high operational readiness and ensuring its stable functioning during actions. In organizing command and control, the battalion (company) commander shall specify: the places and time of deploying command and observation posts of companies (platoons) and attached subunits, methods of their movement in the course of combat (actions); the method of communications and radio traffic; methods and deadlines of delivering reports; the degree of engineer preparation of command and observation posts and methods of their protection; activities aimed at restoring disrupted command and control (methods of drawing up command and control documents and transfer of command and control in the event of disabling of command and observation posts).

The chief of staff shall be responsible for the organization and regime of work of the battalion command and observation post during preparations for and during combat, and for stable functioning of the command and control system.

(57.) In organizing combat support, the battalion (company) commander should specify the main activities, methods and timeframe of carrying them into effect, the enlisted personnel and weapons. Some other information can be supplied when necessary.

(58.) In organizing for combat (actions) the battalions (companies) shall: do time calculations; draft field orders (orders); combat instructions (preliminary combat instructions) to subunits; draw up the battalion (company) commanders operation maps; draft instructions (directives) with regard to all-round support (to be entered in the log of issued and received instructions); reports on effective combat and numerical strength and, in a battalion, additionally--requests for the provision of materiel to subunits; reports on provision of logistic support, provision of equipment and dozes of radioactive irradiation of the personnel.

Battalions (companies) shall keep logs of issued and received instructions for entering all received instructions (directives) of senior commanders (staffs), instructions of battalion (company) commanders issued during preparations for combat (actions) and during the performance of assigned missions. In organizing for more complicated types of combat (actions), battalions can develop organization of cooperation diagrams.

Battalion (company) commanders operation maps shall reflect: the position and strength of the enemy; the mission of the battalion (company); the missions of the adjacent units and boundaries with them (sectors of operation); missions performed by personnel and weapons under the senior commander in the interest of the company (platoon); concept of combat (actions); missions assigned to subunits; places and time of deployment of command and observation posts; the main questions of cooperation and other questions.

The battalion (company) commander's decision shall be represented on the operation maps of his deputies (assistant for artillery) to an extent necessary for the performance of their job-related duties.

59. Cooperation diagrams shall represent: missions performed by subunits; personnel and weapons called upon for the performance of these missions; the sequence of coordinated actions by subunits of the first and second echelons (of the combined-arms reserve) and artillery in accordance with their missions, place and time; missions performed by adjacent units and supporting subunits; command and control and cooperation signals.

60. Preparation for effective engagement (fire) is the most important component part of the battalion (company) commander's work in command and control of subunits.

Preparation for effective engagement (fire) shall include the organization of effective engagement (fire) and preparation for the performance of fire missions. The senior commander shall assign to the battalion the zone of responsibility for reconnaissance activities and effective engagement.

Organization of effective engagement (fire) shall include: determination of methods of effective engagement of enemy in combat (in action); the assignment of missions with regard to effective engagement; coordination of actions by personnel and weapons in the course of organizing teamwork; determination of activities ensuring effective engagement.

In gaining a clearer idea of the mission assigned and assessing the situation, the battalion (company) commander should: study the unified reference points and signals designated by the senior-level commander; installations, targets to be engaged by the senior-level commander in the interest of the battalion (company); assess the impact of the terrain, weather and time of day on the performance of fire missions, as well as determine activities necessary for preparing weapons and equipment for combat employment.

For the purposes of controlling subunits and fire, it shall be necessary to designate unified points of reference, encrypt topographical maps and ground objects, inform the commanders of the radio operating data and signals, mark pieces of weapons and equipment with identification symbols and conventional numbers.

It shall be required to select as reference points those ground objects that are clearly visible in daytime and nighttime and hard to knock out. Reference points shall be numbered from right to left, line by line and moving away from you toward the enemy. One reference point shall be designated as the main one.

The numbers of reference points and signals designated by senior commanders cannot be changed. When necessary, the battalion (platoon) commanders can designate additional reference points and signals. Battalion (company) commanders, as a rule, shall designate not more than five additional reference points (in the sectors and within the limits of actions of companies (platoons), on the boundaries of the zones and additional sectors of fire). It shall be possible to use in fire control clearly visible ground objects, in addition to reference points.

In making decisions, determining the methods of performing the assigned missions and missions assigned to companies (platoons), mortar batteries and attached subunits, battalion (company) commanders shall delineate the methods of effective engagement of the enemy in accordance with the missions, types of weapons and fire, methods of fire, directions, intensity and modes of firing.

In organizing for cooperation and command and control, battalion (company) commanders shall coordinate the efforts of organic and attached weapon assets with regard to sequence of performing fire missions and destroying the most important targets; determine methods of target designation and adjustment of fire; designate signals (commands) for opening, lifting and suspension of fire.

61. Preparation of subunits for combat (actions) shall consist of bringing them to the prescribed strength level with regard to personnel, weapons and equipment; provision to them all the necessary materiel; preparing commanders, staffs and personnel for the performance of missions and preparing weapons and equipment for combat employment; carrying out combat teamwork training, participation of battalion (company) subunits in tactical exercises with reference to the character of forthcoming operations; carrying out activities enhancing all-round support.

62. Verification of readiness of subunits for combat (actions) shall be effected by battalion (company) commanders, their deputies, staffs and consists of detailed verification of readiness of subunits for the performance of assigned missions and rendering necessary assistance. At the same time they shall evaluate the accuracy of carrying out operation orders, knowledge by the subordinates of the enemy opposing them, and their missions; they shall determine the correspondence of decisions made by company (platoon) commanders with the overall concept of combat (actions) and the assigned combat missions; they shall examine, together with the subordinates, appropriate methods to perform the missions; they shall organize and hold activities with regard to preparation for combat (actions); they shall verify compliance with activities aimed to organize effective engagement, cooperation, command and control and all-round support, to boost morale of the personnel and readiness of subunits to start performing combat m issions at precisely scheduled time; they shall render assistance in providing the subordinates with all essential supplies. The problems and shortcomings revealed shall be eliminated right there and then.

63. Command and control of battalions (companies) in the performance of assigned missions shall consist of observing the results of actions and fire, making decisions in accordance with prevailing situation, assigning (refining) missions to subunits (subordinates) in weapon assets.

The work of battalion (company) commanders during the performance of assigned missions shall aim primarily at implementing the decisions made. It shall include: constant gathering of information about the situation and its appraisal, timely refining of the decisions as the situation changes, communication of refined missions to the subordinates; the maintenance of continuous cooperation and all-round support of combat (actions); keeping tabs on the compliance with orders by subunits and provision to them necessary assistance.

As assigned missions are performed, it is possible to refine some of the questions of the concept, combat missions to subunits, questions of cooperation, command and control and all-round support.

Battalion (company) commanders shall refine (assign) combat missions to the subordinate and attached subunits during combat by issuing combat instructions by word of mouth or via communications assets.

Combat instructions issued during the performance of assigned missions shall, as a rule, carry new information about the enemy; targets to be engaged by senior commanders in the interest of battalions (companies); the missions of companies (platoons); the main questions of cooperation; timeframes for the performance of combat missions.

In the course of the performance of assigned missions, staffs should constantly keep in a combat-ready state all communications (automated command and control) assets. Every staff officer shall be required to know how to conduct person-to-person conversations with authorized persons of subordinated and cooperating subunits, know precisely the situation in the line of duty, be ready to report it supplied with necessary explanations, calculations and conclusions. During the course of combat, the situation shall be represented on the operation maps of battalion (company) commanders, their deputies, chiefs of staff and other authorized persons. Operation maps should reflect the position of subunits of the friendly forces and that of the enemy forces, the dynamics of combat and have appropriate explanatory texts. Situations on the maps should lend themselves to easy interpretation.

To maintain continuous cooperation between subunits, the staff shall brief the subordinated and attached subunits on the situation; communicate to them refined missions and directives on methods of their performance; ensure timely transmission of signals and command-and-control and cooperation commands; verify the accuracy of the performance by the subordinated subunits the assigned (refined) missions and directives of commanders.

64. Fire control during the performance of missions shall include: ground and air target reconnaissance, the appraisal of their importance, prioritizing them and designating weapons; assigning fire missions; observing the results of fire and its adjustment; keeping tabs on the consumption of ammunition.

The first to be destroyed shall be enemy command and control posts, command and control vehicles, antitank weapons, machinegun and mortar crews, snipers, artillery observers and forward air controllers. The choice of weapons should ensure reliable destruction of reconnoitered targets.

In assigning (refining) missions, commanders shall specify: to whom (which subunit), where (target designation), what (name of target) and missions (destruction, suppression, demolition, or other).

Target designation can be effected using reference points (ground objects) and axis of movement (attack), azimuth markers, tracer bullets (rounds), bursts of projectiles, signaling devices and aiming instruments and weapons at targets.

Adjustment of tire shall be effected using reference points (ground objects) and bursts of projectiles by indicating the values of range and direction errors.

65. Request for and adjustment of fire of attached artillery subunits shall be effected via their commanders, and those of supporting subunits, via artillery observers or by battalion (company) commanders personally. In making requests for fire, battalion (company) commanders shall specify: types of fire (engagement of single targets, massed fire, fixed barrage); objective of tire (to suppress, destroy, demolish, illuminate, smokescreen); the character and location (number) of target; timeframes for the performance of fire missions. In adjusting fire, the commanders shall specify the character and location (number) of targets; the values of range and direction errors.

Target designation for the benefit of helicopter (plane) crews shall be effected via forward air controllers and direct target designation shall be effected on instructions from senior commanders by marking targets' locations by fire of small arms and weapons of fighting vehicles using tracer bullets (rounds). Target marking missions shall be assigned in the same way as fire missions with specifying the time of opening fire.

66. In the event of sharp change in situations, battalion (company) commanders shall be required on their own initiative to make new decisions within the limits of the general concept of senior-level commanders and at the first opportunity to report the situation and the decision made to their immediate superiors.

In the immediate presence of threatened use of nuclear weapons by the enemy, battalion (company) commanders shall warn about it the subunits and, without stopping the performance of combat missions, take measures to protect and disperse them, carry out activities related to engineering support and radiation, chemical and biological protection.

67. Battalion (company) commanders shall be required to timely report to commanders of brigades (regiments, battalions) the reception of combat missions, decisions made, the effects caused by the employment by the enemy of weapons of mass destruction and precision weapon systems, fulfilling their missions, new information about the enemy and on the employment by it of new methods and means of combat, as well as sharp situation changes and considerable casualties and losses amongst the friendly forces, including psychogenic casualties.

The reports shall specify: the extent of fulfilling missions assigned; the positions, character of actions and the state of organic and attached subunits; information about the enemy active across the frontline and on the flanks of battalions (companies); decisions made proceeding from the prevailing situation (if they were made) and other questions. Furthermore, the reports can include requests to senior-level commanders for supporting actions of battalions (companies). Reporting on the fulfilment of missions in correspondence with earlier approved decisions can be effected via prearranged signals.