Dark Earth: Exercise Warhammer

Warhammer Lessons Learned:


Exercise Warhammer was the largest British Army exercise since the war. It showed a number of areas where our tactics, equipment, preparations and general strategy were efficient and highlighted a number of areas of need for improvement.

The central problem explored in Warhammer was the defence of the British sector of the front along the Oder-Neisse Line, better known as the Iron Wall. At present, this comprises 50 of the 470 total miles of the border, located in West Pomerania and Mecklenburg. To its north, the Benelux sector along the coast covers 25 miles inland and to the south are the sectors held by the German 1st and 2nd Field Armies. Two corps (each with two forward divisions and one reserve division, providing for a divisional frontage of 12 miles) are to deploy along the front, supported by one corps each in immediate reserve and a further corps held in reserve in the rear. The first 15 miles is designated the covering force area, followed by the 60 mile thick main battle area and the 50 miles of the rear battle area; beyond this lies the rear support zone in Hanover and the LOC/supply zone in the Low Countries. The force concentration deployed is seen as sufficient to prevent being overrun by superior enemy numbers, but short of strategic reserves for a decisive counterattack; this was the role played in part by the Guards Division in Warhammer.

The main type of operations trained and prepared for are quite naturally heavy armoured warfare. The Chieftain was the best tank in the world five years ago but new Soviet developments threaten to change that status. Additionally, the tanks of our allies have caught up and we can no longer rest on our laurels. To this end, we need upgraded faster tanks with improved fire control and new ammunition. Increased armoured regimental strength is but part of the overall solution.

To screen the border and forward area of the battle zone, we used lighter armour based around the armoured reconnaissance forces from each corps. It is recommended that this capacity be doubled and supported by reserve units so that it is not eliminated in the early stage of any engagement.

Infantry cannot fight from the Saxon to their full capacity. It’s gun cannot counter an MBT and it is lightly protected. The MICV is needed to restore a heavier edge to the infantry and give them greater firepower. Extra ‘leg infantry’ worked very well. There can never really be enough of it, particularly when properly armed and mobile. It permits defence in depth and proper rear area security. With the exception of screening forces and units attached to the heavier divisions, no higher echelon infantry forces should be fielded.

More reserve forces will allow for flexibility and immediate reinforcement of beleaguered units. This should take the form of combined arms regiments and brigades at a minimum and preferably be based on integrated battle groups for defence and armour heavy task forces for offence.It is envisaged that this force would be that which is deployed by sea from the British Isles and assigned to BAOR level command so that it could be used as necessary. This central reserve would be the equivalent of 20-24 battalion sized units.

The utilisation of modernised cavalry for rear area security saw mixed results. Ultimately, there were limited locations in Northern Germany where motorised forces could not operate or patrol. No significant advantage in capabilities was derived from mounted forces, nor was there any clear benefit derived from forces being deployed to other roles. Given the particular nature of the geography of Mecklenburg, there are certain constraints on the use of mechanised and motorised forces, but the postulated solution of cavalry does not appear to have been a panacea.

Divisional artillery should be concentrated on the 6” heavier weapons for weight of fire and impact. The 125mm Light Gun worked well and has a role to play. Field artillery units routinely conducted fire missions at a range of 25 miles and beyond, whilst heavier guns and rockets achieved ranges more than double that. Improvements in engagement of enemy armour at long range would add to the capacity of artillery units. Finally, the introduction of improved conventional munitions should be prioritised.

The entire scenario and indeed British strategy is built on the capacity to reinforce over time, requiring strategic warning. Without that, we would be fighting with I and II Corps and the Canadians for a difficult period of up to 5 days whilst the remaining two corps and round out units are deployed. It is considered that the minimum warning would be 48-72 hours using Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces already across the Elbe in Poland, but that is not viewed as likely. Therefore, there would be some capacity to reinforce, but potentially not enough.

The key bottlenecks that constrain our deployment are the ports of the Low Countries and the bridges over the Rhine.
These represent the key nodes in the flow of troops and supplies and require greater defence. This particularly takes the form of air defences, but also ground troops to cover the threat of enemy commando and special forces attacks. Use of French Channel ports as well as Dutch and Belgian ones would be advantageous. Existing logistical stockpiles of fuel, oil and lubricants, missiles, ammunition and medical supplies in Germany and Europe should be tripled at a minimum. There is a need for the prepositioning of divisional unit sets in Germany that can be rapidly combined with troops flown in from Britain. If equipment for 4-6 heavy divisions could be preplaced, then the logistical bottleneck in the Low Countries could be eased.

Construction of further air bases in Western Germany would allow for the flow of reinforcements and materiel whilst not impeding the operations of RAF Germany tactical aircraft nor those of German and other Allied air forces. These would need to be positioned and coordinated with the road and rail supply network. Development of satellite airfields for the dispersal of RAF Germany fighters is also recommended to complicate enemy targeting requirements. These would need to camouflaged and disguised appropriately. They would be in addition with the use of small airfields and general aviation facilities.

The Harrier performed extremely effectively both in terms of general close air support and the circumstance of their forward operating bases in the field. Losses were not as high as anticipated, but this would be different against an enemy with different air defence capabilities and strategies. It is recommended that additional planes be assigned to RAF Germany and that [REDACTED].

Close air support demonstrated the ability to counter tactical disadvantage in numbers on the ground and provide flexible firepower beyond the range of most conventional artillery. The experimental employment of armed helicopters equipped with autocannon, air to ground rockets and anti-tank guided missiles was judged as a general success; extended range weapons, electronic jamming and other defensive measures are judged as vital to allow operations against light AAA and SAGWs.

RMF Germany is currently envisaged as a covering force for the juncture between the Benelux Army in Pomerania and Allied Forces in Schleswig-Holstein. It’s use as a mobile offensive force as in Warhammer is not considered a likely contingency, but the mobility of RMFG is considered necessary to respond to Warsaw Pact amphibious and airborne threats. In order to break open the Baltic, the enemy must neutralise Southern Sweden and Pomerania and then seize Jutland; the presence of the Royal Marines considerably complicates this task.

Canadian troops did not take part in Warhammer, yet provide the largest Commonwealth contingent of the BAOR. It is recommended that they be fully integrated into future exercises, regardless of the perceived political cost and potential for Soviet misinterpretation. Brigade sized forces for other Commonwealth armies acquitted themselves admirably but ultimately provide only a token commitment that lies beyond their ideal operational area. It is understood that this is a political matter, but a token force does not present more than a minor gain in capacity at this time.

There was not a huge opportunity for fighting in built up areas during Warhammer, but Northern Germany remains an area of some civil density in the form of villages, towns and moderate-sized cities. Additional infantry forces and appropriate equipment should be allotted to the BAOR for such operations, but the provision of entire light-medium infantry divisions is not seen as necessary. It is further not thought of as advisable to deploy airborne or air assault forces in large numbers in Northern Germany due to the heavily mechanised nature of the enemy and our own forces.