Battle Group Research Articles

“Canada is a Big Deal Here”: The eFP Battle Group and Host Nation Public Opinion

Does personal contact between allied service members and local citizens result in greater public acceptance of foreign military presence? To what extent do members of the host nation's domestic society assess favorably the forward deployment of allied military personnel on their own national territory? Substantial scholarly literature has probed these types of questions in the context of US globe-spanning military deployments. This study, however, departs from the US-centric approach and focuses on the deployment of a middle power. In the presented analysis, we examine the Canadian approach to “winning hearts and minds” in Latvia. In 2023, upwards of 800 Canadian troops were stationed in Latvia. Using original survey data, we measure local citizens' attitudes towards the Canadian-led battlegroup. Our results speak to the fact that Canadian and other foreign armed forces' presence in Latvia is generally accepted by the wider society. Despite Moscow's active attempts to cultivate anti-NATO sentiments, the Latvian public welcomes the stationing of Canadian troops on the country's soil.

Research on optimal allocation of surface ship formation based on index method and multi-objective programming

In recent times, marine engineers have progressively turned to collaborative efforts involving multiple ships to accomplish intricate tasks at sea and enhance the efficacy of maritime transportation. This trend is also observed in the context of surface ships, where coordinated actions among multiple vessels can enhance combat capabilities. Nevertheless, the assessment of ship formation coordination’s effectiveness has emerged as a significant challenge. Consequently, this research paper presents a quantitative evaluation framework for ship performance indicators and develops a ship formation model grounded in multi-objective constraints that account for the complexities of the marine environment. This paper presents the establishment of a ship evaluation system that encompasses the impact of auxiliary equipment, the ship’s platform, and trained personnel. The study utilizes aircraft carrier battle groups from four distinct countries as case examples to obtain quantitative evaluation results regarding combat performance. Furthermore, the analysis examines the effects of two extreme marine environments on surface ships. The organization of new surface ship formations is conducted based on a multi-objective planning model that is tailored to specific surface ship formations. All kinds of combat performance indexes are better than the formation of this particular surface ship. The experimental results show that the model can integrate different kinds of equipment performance parameters into a unified system and consider the comprehensive factors of equipment, platform and people. According to the requirements of task formation and the limitations of the actual Marine environment, a stable formation can be formed quickly, which can be superior to a specific formation in all aspects. Good results are obtained and the effectiveness of the model is verified.

The Contribution of Naval Diplomacy to Regional Maritime Security

In the context of the military conflict in the Black Sea region, with implications for regional security, the approach proposes a solution to strengthen international relations by capitalising on the non-coercive potential of the naval presence on the maritime communication routes in the Black Sea, starting from the premise that the Romanian Navy is the military instrument of power through which the state projects its naval diplomacy, a mission manifested under the auspices of ways of asserting national maritime and fluvial interests. With a wide range of diplomatic instruments through which the Romanian state manifests and consolidates its geopolitical position and interests in the Black Sea and the Danube River, at the political-military level there is the possibility of using specific ways of contributing to the consolidation of regional maritime security. Practically, the proposal to carry out a regional cooperation initiative in the Black Sea, by establishing an air-land-naval battle group, under the auspices of the collaboration of allied partners, candidates, and the riverine countries of the Black Sea Extended Area. Punctually, through this approach, a solution is presented regarding the contribution of the Romanian Navy to the consolidation of regional, maritime, and fluvial security, through simple steps, resuming a previously applied model, and effectively using military instruments through regional cooperation.

Contribuția diplomației navale la securitatea maritimă regională

In the context of the military conflict in the Black Sea region, with implications for regional security, the approach proposes a solution to strengthen international relations by capitalising on the non-coercive potential of the naval presence on the maritime communication routes in the Black Sea, starting from the premise that the Romanian Navy is the military instrument of power through which the state projects its naval diplomacy, a mission manifested under the auspices of ways of asserting national maritime and fluvial interests. With a wide range of diplomatic instruments through which the Romanian state manifests and consolidates its geopolitical position and interests in the Black Sea and the Danube River, at the political-military level there is the possibility of using specific ways of contributing to the consolidation of regional maritime security. Practically, the proposal to carry out a regional cooperation initiative in the Black Sea, by establishing an air-land-naval battle group, under the auspices of the collaboration of allied partners, candidates, and the riverine countries of the Black Sea Extended Area. Punctually, through this approach, a solution is presented regarding the contribution of the Romanian Navy to the consolidation of regional, maritime, and fluvial security, through simple steps, resuming a previously applied model, and effectively using military instruments through regional cooperation.

Uprising in Kukavka, August 1918: course of events

The article is devoted to a major anti-government armed uprising in the Podolsk province of the Ukrainian State in August 1918. The aim of the research is to determine the number of the participants in the uprising and to restore its course. The organizers of the uprising were former functionaries of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Their goals included the removal of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky from power, the restoration of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, and the expulsion of the troops of the Central Powers from Ukraine. The rebels sought to conduct land socialization, begun by the leadership of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and canceled by the hetman. They also intended to destroy all major landowners and hetman officials who came into their hands. The uprising began on August 14 in the village of Kukavka, Mogilev district. Part of the pre-formed battle groups united into a large detachment. Coming out of Kukavka, the rebels moved towards Mogilev- Podilsky, but then changed their original plan and rejected the assault of the county center. Subsequently, the rebel army raided the territory of Mogilev, Yampol and Bratslav districts, absorbing the rest of the previously prepared battle groups. The actions of the rebels were reduced to a number of clashes with the Austro- Hungarian units and several cruel reprisals against the hetman’s officials and employees of the landowners’ households. The total number of participants in the uprising, obviously, ranged from two to three thousand people. The rebels failed to provoke a mass anti-government movement because the population of the villages did not support them. Having been defeated several times by the Austro-Hungarian troops, the rebel army returned to the Kukavka region. On August 25, it was finally defeated in a battle near the village of Rovno. By the end of the month, the last small groups of rebels had been eliminated. After the suppression of the uprising, its participants were subjected to severe repression.

Considerations regarding Logistic Support for a European Union Battle Group

The requirements of the current security environment have significant effects not only in all social domains but also at all levels of decision-making. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges caused by the conflict in Ukraine, and the ongoing technological transformations compel the involved actors to identify measures to adapt to current situations and increase their level of resilience. The deadlines for the crisis responses and for the potential military conflicts reactions become vital factors in reducing costs, decreasing consumption, and saving human lives. As the primary actor in region, the European Union is re-evaluating its available tools in order to be capable to anticipate, deter, and provide a rapid response to current security threats and challenges. In this context, this article aims to analyse, from a logistical perspective, one of the military instruments of the European Union – the EU Battle Group. Even if it was conceptualized over two decades ago, it regained relevance in the new security context.

Considerații privind sprijinul logistic al structurilor militare de tip grup de luptă constituit la nivelul Uniunii Europene

The requirements of the current security environment have significant effects not only in all social domains but also at all levels of decision-making. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges caused by the conflict in Ukraine, and the ongoing technological transformations compel the involved actors to identify measures to adapt to current situations and increase their level of resilience. The deadlines for the crisis responses and for the potential military conflicts reactions become vital factors in reducing costs, decreasing consumption, and saving human lives. As the primary actor in region, the European Union is re-evaluating its available tools in order to be capable to anticipate, deter, and provide a rapid response to current security threats and challenges. In this context, this article aims to analyse, from a logistical perspective, one of the military instruments of the European Union – the EU Battle Group. Even if it was conceptualized over two decades ago, it regained relevance in the new security context.

Гэсэрийн туужийн өгүүлэмжийг бүтцийн онолын үүднээс задлан шинжлэх нь

The renowned “Epic of Geser Khan” is a vital part of Mongolian cultural heritage, woven with captivating folklore and legends. When it gained popularity in Mongolia, it led to various versions like “Peking woodblock printed Geser,” “Nomch Khatan’s Geser,” “Monk Zaya Pandita’s Geser,” “Zamlin Senchin’s Biography,” “Mongolian Lin Geser,” “Story of Tseveen’s Geser,” and “Geser in clear script.” In 1959 and 1960, B. Renchin and Ts. Damdinsuren contributed introductions and published these versions in the ‘Mongolian Memorial Writing Conference’ series, providing concise and detailed summaries in terms of content and size.
 Scholars believe that the narrative structures of the versions of “Peking woodblock printed Geser,” “Monk Zaya Pandita’s Geser,” “Nomch Khatan’s Geser,” and “Story of Tseveen’s Geser” share the similarity. It is suggested that “Yun Fu Se’s Geser,” published in 1716, is considered the subsequent volume of the “Peking woodblock printed Geser.” Hence, the objective is to scrutinize the narrative patterns within the novels “Yun Fu Se’s Geser” and “Peking woodblock printed Geser”, aiming to clarify and explain the interrelationship between these versions.
 It is a method of imagining epic events without a specific sequence. When comparing the two volumes, Firstly, it follows a common sequence in Mongolian epics. Time is often emphasized at the start, detailing the hero, his loyal companion, the assisting knight, and sworn oaths. Various obstacles are then introduced in diverse ways.
 Secondly, despite the Hero’s triumph, a contradiction arises as the seeds of suffering ripen within him. In Geser’s youth, an archenemy seizes his possessions and robs his parents, leading to Geser’s growth into a hero. This recurring pattern shapes the overall structure of the novel. The ensuing analysis employs structural theory to explicate internal connections, detailing how a fixed typology was utilized to iterate and elaborate upon the content of Geser’s novel.
 Thirdly, the queen gets captured, the hero’s home faces an invasion, and the hero chases and rescues, restores order, defeats enemies, and gains glory. The story of the Mongolian epic revolves around two main themes: the adventure of the hero’s wedding, and the battle against the monster, witch, or the other tribes. Based on these two themes, the new chapters of Geser’s novel, enriched with stories of heroes’ adventures, and heroic battles were created in interaction with oral and written traditions.
 Chapters XII and XIII of “Yun Fu Se’s Geser” exhibit a similar syntagmatic structure to the battle group featuring Sharaygol’s three kings in “Beijing Tiger’s Geser.” However, in “Yun Fu Se’s Geser” the events unfold on a grand scale, characterized by a high narrative frequency and a rich linguistic composition. Notably, these chapters align more with the tradition of written literature, preserving a distinct emphasis on detailed character descriptions and pronounced event depictions, in contrast to the oral tradition.

A Novel High Efficiency Synthetic Fire Strike System

A new type of multi-artillery, multi-functional, multi-purpose synthetically-arranged battle group with high-efficiency fire strike system is constructed. The hierarchical structure and weight relationship of the system are determined by the AHP analytic hierarchy process, and then the inherent ability of each performance index is calculated by the fuzzy membership degree theory. These methods are used to establish the combat effectiveness evaluation model of high-efficiency fire strike system. The analysis shows that, for different damage targets, the deployment method of the efficient fire strike battalion has significantly improved the combat effectiveness of the traditional howitzer battalion. The research results have certain reference value for other arms to improve their weapon combat capabilities, conduct joint weapon operations and evaluate system combat effectiveness.

THE ROLE OF THE BUCHAREST NINE ON THE EASTERN FLANK OF NATO

The article examines the evolution both on a pan-European and regional scale of one of the most frequently mentioned associations of the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe in connection with the conflict in Ukraine – the «Bucharest Nine» (Bucharest Format). Comparing two militarized regional organizations – the Visegrad Battle Group (VBG) and the «Bucharest Nine», the author comes to the conclusion that the latter has actually replaced the Visegrad countries as a military structure in a specific geopolitical situation (in one region there cannot be two structures duplicating each other under the auspices of Poland), and the political activity of Trimorye. The «Nine» in a specific historical period is much more in line with the strategic goals of Poland than any other of the structures existing in the region, especially since it is developing against the backdrop of a general trend towards rapprochement between Central Europe and the Western Balkans. At the same time, there is also a «division of labor» between the «Visegrad Four» and the «Bucharest Nine». If the first structure took over, among others, the functions of the coordinator of the positions of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic on the eve of the EU summits, then the second – the tasks of the regional coordinator of NATO. However, its functions do not yet include the establishment of specific military interaction, as in the case of the AFG. Its goals at this stage are rather military-political.

India’s new Land Warfare Doctrine: Implications for the South Asian Region

South Asian security architecture has always faced instability because of the hegemonic ambitions of India and the ever-present rivalry between India and Pakistan. Add Afghanistan’s instability into the mix and the region has become a veritable volcano that can erupt at any time, impacting the entire world. More recently, driven by its ambitious agenda, the Indian military has unveiled a military doctrine by the name of “Land Warfare Doctrine 2018” which is based on a proactive and pre-emptive approach toward any conflict. The doctrine has declared Pakistan to be the primary focus and China to be the secondary focus. It encompasses the geo-strategic environment, future security challenges, environmental realities, and hybrid warfare. With a greater emphasis on the rearrangement of the strike formations into the IBGs or the Integrated Battle Groups, the LWD aims to equip the offensive components for shallow incursions in rapid combat situations. Such an agenda has the potential to thrust the South Asian region into a never-ending arms race, security dilemma, and stability-instability paradox.

Awareness on Heart Diseases among Bangladesh Army Personnel

Introduction: Heart diseases are global public health problem. In 2015, 14.31% of total death in Bangladesh was due to coronary heart disease. Moreover in 2016, 2(two) recruits and 1(one) officer of Bangladesh army encountered sudden death due to cardiac arrest. Objective: To ascertain the level of knowledge, awareness and health practice regarding the threat of cardiovascular diseases among Bangladesh Army personnel. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 242 members of Bangladesh Army in different training centers and school under Army training and doctrine command (ARTDOC), units of 19 infantry division, Battle group of ARTDOC and Head quarter (HQ) ARTDOC, from February to July 2017. Results: Among the respondents, 56.2%, 45% and 44.6% respectively mentioned tobacco smoking, obesity and sedentary life style are the causes of heart disease and 62%, 42%, 31%, 10% and 2% mentioned that chest pain, shortness of breathing, sweating, radiating pain in jaw and extremity and snoring-sleep apnea are the symptoms and signs of heart disease. Conclusion: From the study it was revealed that, majority of the respondents had poor level of knowledge on awareness of heart disease. Adequate effort may be taken to increase the awareness by expert professionals and social media. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 16, No 2 (December) 2020: 47-50

REORGANIZING THE TACTICAL MILITARY STRUCTURES UNDER FORMULA OF THE BATTLE GROUPS

Abstract: The accentuated dynamics of the operational environments, with direct impact on the areas of responsibilities (AOR) and areas of operations (AO), determines the need for the Land Forces to adapt operationally, having profound implications on their task organizations’ adjustment. For these reasons, the paper sets out the principles for reconfiguring the tactical structures from Land Forces under the umbrella of battle groups (BGs), to meet current and future operational challenges. Also, the main analysis is pointed at determining the organizational formulas of the BGs, configured on the battalion task organizations, suitable for full spectrum operations (FSO), imprinting the staff, as well as the combat, combat support (CS), and combat service support forces (CSS).

État des lieux et horizon du soin psychique des blessés de guerre

ObjectivesThe changing nature of armed conflicts lead the defence community to confront new challenges. Deployed in either internal or external missions, soldiers are subjects to many constraints which test their mental and physical limits, and are exposed to unsafe situations which can become potentially traumatic. This psychological impact is a constant concern for Army's Health Service as well as for Commandment. Mental health specialists’ intervention in military environment had to adapt to soldiers and battle group's needs in accordance with the evolution of conflicts themselves. Patients or materials and methodsLessons learned from armed conflicts participated in structuring of medical and psychological support, forming part of a continuum before, during and after the mission. In that context, battlefield psychiatric care's doctrine has been developed around the following founding principles: immediacy, proximity, simplicity, expectative, and non-obligation to return to battle. Classically, immediate phase is time for first aid, which is the only possible on the full forward war zone. Then, when fighting time is over and soldiers are in a secure space, the defusing, literally “psychological shock treatment”, engages in first dialogue after an experience which can be assimilated to a subjective disaster. This dialogue can re-establish a link of humanity with persons whose world perception might have been devastated. À few days after the potentially traumatic event, the post-immediate phase urges the caregivers in identifying disorders to provide a more structured care. It's the time of medico-psychological debriefing which can be either individual or collective. Beyond this phase, care is organized according to a coherent healthcare system, from the operational theatre to mainland, based on a network of mental health actors. ResultsIn this way, psychiatrists on mission provide an approachable and receptive presence which allows soldiers to express their pain in an individual or collective address, and therefore permit engagement on battlefield. The main risk for soldiers is to be injured, whether physically or psychologically, and justify a constant attention from health-care providers towards them. ConclusionsIndeed, we can see that battle wound has an influence on relationships between an individual and his environment which highlights one of the main challenges in mental healthcare, that in addition to the identification of postraumatic suffering involves in therapeutic continuity of the relationship with individual. Finally, consistency of care is organized around a multidisciplinary which requires an institutional work of rehabilitation fully participating in supporting injured persons.

Кукавское восстание, август 1918 года: украинские гетманские власти, антигетманская оппозиция, австро-венгерские войска

The study of the official documentation of the Ukrainian State authorities (the Ukrainian state headed by Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskiy) and the Austro-Hungarian troops command of stationed in Ukraine makes it possible to determine the goals, nature and staff of the participants in the uprising in Kukavka (Podolia) in August 1918 and to reconstruct the sequence of events connected with this uprising.
 The uprising was organized by former executives of the Ukrainian People's Republic. It was conceived as part of a public uprising. Its programme provided for liquidation of the hetman state, restoration of the Ukrainian People's Republic, expulsion of the German and Austro-Hungarian troops supporting the hetman, destruction of large landholdings in Ukraine and distribution of landowners’ land among the peasants. Probably, following the example of the participants in the anti-government movement in Ukraine in 1768 (Koliivshchyna), the rebels of Kukavka intended to exterminate those who were considered as the oppressors of the Ukrainian people, especially the of estate owners.
 The uprising was preceded by thorough preparation. The members were well armed and had a considered plan of action. The battle groups formed in the villages consisted mainly of former military men of the Russian tsarist army, the veterans of World War I.
 On August 14, in Kukavka, the part of the combat groups united into a large detachment. In the following days, the detachment raided the territory of Mogilev, Yampolsky and Bratslav districts, absorbing the rest of the battle groups and trying to raise wide circles of population to fight.
 The plan of involving of a large number of peasants into the uprising failed. The movement did not become widespread. The total number of the participants, did not exceed three thousand people. By the end of August, the rebel army had been eliminated after a series of clashes with Austro-Hungarian military units.

Activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs against the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists-Ukrainian Insurgent Army in postwar years on the territory of Western Ukraine

The research object is the history of the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs. The research subject is the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and its battle group - the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The article studies the experience of the Internal Affairs bodies’ struggle against the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which became a symbol of the national-separatist movement in postwar regions of Western Ukraine.  The purpose of the research was to analyze the practice of the Internal Affairs bodies’ struggle against the nationalist armed groups of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in 1944 - 1955. The research task was to consider various measures aimed at the extermination of nationalist armed groups in postwar Western Ukraine.  The research methodology is based on analysis and synthesis, and the historical-legal analysis of events. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the need for a comprehensive study of the experience of struggle against armed national-separatist groups in the context of complicated Russia-Ukraine relations after the 2014 armed coup in Kyiv which resulted in radicals coming to power, who use the ideas of the OUN-UIA and the postwar experience of struggle against official authorities. The topicality of the research consists in the fact that the experience of military and ideological struggle against the Internal Affairs bodies of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic has been actively used by the modern Security Service of Ukraine. Territorial claims to Russia’s south-western areas are expanding, which are believed to belong to the Ukrainian Republic by Ukrainian radicals. The author’s contribution to the research of the topic is the definition of the strategy and tactics of internal affairs and security bodies of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic aimed at the elimination of nationalist armed groups. The author defines the reasons which impeded the work of internal affairs bodies during the suppression of armed separatism.   

Lasers for Satellite Uplinks and Downlinks

The use of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (i.e., LASERs or lasers) by the U.S. Department of Defense is not new and includes laser weapons guidance, laser-aided measurements, and even lasers as weapons (e.g., Airborne Laser). Lasers in the support of telecommunications is also not new. The use of laser light in fiber optics has shattered thoughts on communications bandwidth and throughput. Even the use of lasers in space is no longer new. Lasers are being used for satellite-to-satellite crosslinking. Laser communication can transmit orders-of-magnitude more data using orders-of-magnitude less power and can do so with minimal risk of exposure to the sending and receiving terminals. What is new is using lasers as the uplink and downlink between the terrestrial segment and the space segment of satellite systems. More so, the use of lasers to transmit and receive data between moving terrestrial segments (e.g., ships at sea, airplanes in flight) and geosynchronous satellites is burgeoning. This manuscript examines the technological maturation of employing lasers as the signal carrier for satellite communications linking terrestrial and space systems. The purpose of the manuscript is to develop key performance parameters (KPPs) to inform the U.S. Department of Defense initial capabilities documents (ICDs) for near-future satellite acquisition and development. By appreciating the history and technological challenges of employing lasers, rather than traditional radio frequency sources for satellite uplink and downlink signal carriers, this manuscript recommends ways for the U.S. Department of Defense to employ lasers to transmit and receive high bandwidth, and large-throughput data from moving platforms that need to retain low probabilities of detection, intercept, and exploit (e.g., carrier battle group transiting to a hostile area of operations, unmanned aerial vehicle collecting over adversary areas). The manuscript also intends to identify commercial sector early-adopter fields and those fields likely to adapt to laser employment for transmission and receipt.

Analysis of the operational characteristics of the US Aircraft Carrier Battle Group

According to the operational requirements of attacking the US Aircraft Carrier Battle Group, its defense capabilities are analyzed in this paper. Furtherly, the disadvantages of the defense capabilities are studied, and the effective means of defensive counterattack against the US Aircraft Carrier Battle Group are raised, which can be utilized to guide the operational applications of airborne weapons.

Bataljonske taktičke grupe Oružanih snaga Ruske Federacije u izmenjenoj fizionomiji savremenih sukoba

The altered setting of current conflicts, its hybridity and nonlinearity affect the justification of the assumption that operations in several domains will become a new method of conducting operations of the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian Armed Forces battle groups are in practice known as battalion tactical groups (BTG). They have arisen in response to the problems regarding the deployment of the Russian Armed Forces units in local and small wars, and within the general transformation of the Russian Armed Forces, based on altered geopolitical and strategic circumstances. The basis of BTG consists of units from active brigades of the Russian Armed Forces, which are established modularly in accordance with the expressed needs and expected characteristics of operations. The first deployment of the Russian Armed Forces BTG was in the conflict in Ukraine, which has significantly improved their organization and deployment following the experiences from the mentioned conflict. The current deployment in the conflict in Syria greatly contributes to the maturing of the concept of BTG implementation in the expeditionary operations of the Russian Armed Forces. It can be expected that the Russian Armed Forces BTG will also play an increasingly important role in the future hotspots, in response to practical demands of modern hybrid wars.

Strategic Communication of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Lithuania by Assessment of the Parties Involved in the Process

Strategic Communication of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Lithuania by Assessment of the Parties Involved in the Process