Mountain Warfare—the need for specialized training

Military Review, Sept-Oct, 2004 by Muhammad Asim Malik

Offensive operations require meticulous planning and preparation because of the inherent strength mountainous terrain provides to the defender. Training plays a vital role in ensuring an edge for the attackers. Since the defender has an advantage, successful attacks should isolate the defender and keep him under constant pressure. The Soviets laid great emphasis on junior leaders and company-level mountain operations, advocating envelopment by smaller, autonomous groups.

During Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, U.S. forces used more decentralized combat than on normal terrain. Junior leaders' initiative and skill is vital to the mission's success, especially in security and reconnaissance missions. Mountainous terrain and bad weather provide opportunities for small forces to concentrate and achieve surprise. Russian and Afghan government forces suffered heavily when they neglected this aspect of the battlefield environment. (27)

The Soviets used helicopters in Afghanistan to airlift troops and supplies into battle. (28) Helicopter gunships effectively supported ground operations until the Mujahideen obtained Stinger missiles, which tilted the situation in their favor.

U.S. forces also rely on helicopters for transportation and movement in the mountains, requiring aviation planners to be involved in the planning process early. With beyond-line-of-sight and precision-guided munitions, aviation and air assets have neutralized many inherent problems in mountain warfare, but they have not eliminated the need for specialized training. Because mountain combat tends to be decentralized, control of supporting fire is more difficult. Tight control of jet aircraft and helicopter gunships is necessary to avoid fratricide.

Logistics. Logistics support in the mountains is difficult and time-consuming. In Kashmir, a variety of transport is used for logistical support, road transport being the most reliable and cost-effective. At higher altitudes where tracks cannot be maintained because of snow and difficult terrain, mules are a preferred means of transport. (29) At altitudes where even mules cannot go, porters can. Porters are local people capable of carrying heavy loads across difficult terrain.

In the Caucasus Campaign, the German army used sleds, mules, and horses in addition to trucks. (30) Recently, despite technological advances, the U.S. Army had to use horses and mules in Afghanistan. Helicopters are a quick, versatile means of transportation, but at higher altitudes their lift capability is severely limited. The French Alouette helicopter can fly higher than U.S helicopters can, but even it can deliver only about 180 pounds above 20,000 feet. Because helicopters cannot be used in adverse weather, a mixture of resources is necessary to ensure reliability and flexibility. (31)

The road network in the mountains is generally a logistician's nightmare. Main supply routes are limited and often do not support vehicles that require large turning radii. Many roads do not permit two-way traffic.