Posted on Jul 8, 2017
What's the best book or manual on unsupported small unit tactics?
10.9K
37
15
6
6
0
By unsupported, I mean a fire team to squad sized unit, operating independently, without support from a gun team, mortars, artillery, air support, or any other such thing. Just pure tactics, the way soldiers in a very poor military might have to operate.
Tactics
Reading
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
5
5
0
Ranger Handbook all the way. When I was still in the Infantry as a squad leader and acting platoon sergeant, whenever I would do any hip-pocket training or actually wanted to teach younger grunts any type of infantry/small-unit tactics, its the first book I went to.
(5)
(0)
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
Is there anything else you could recommend, CW3 (Join to see)? I'm looking for something more understandable to someone who is completely inexperienced in Infantry tactics.
(1)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
Honestly the only other thing I could suggest is the infantry field manual. It used to be FM 7-8 but I believe it is an ATP now since I left the infantry. The being said, even the old manual was pretty good at basic infantry tactics. Beyond that, I am not sure how much more basic you can get.
(2)
(0)
4
4
0
This is a great question and I'm going to lurk while the responses come in before I post my response. I have read several and it's difficult to pin it down to one, but it's a challenge I will enjoy considering.
(4)
(0)
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
CPT Jack Durish The comments have slowed down, but I'm really interested to hear your recommendation.
(0)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA - I wish that I could respond with my favorite. Sadly, it doesn't exist any longer, at least not that I can find. It was written by a former Nazi warrior fighting as a soldier of fortune in the Philippines following WWII. Granted, it focused on jungle warfare but, inasmuch as I was then preparing to go to Vietnam, it seemed most applicable to my needs. Sorry, I can't remember the title or author. However, in my search I stumbled on something else that sounds very interesting. I think I'll have to get a copy of this for myself. The premise of invisible armies of small units striking unexpectedly and withdrawing before accumulating casualties seems to be the premise of the German's I mentioned who fought as soldiers of fortune in the Philippines
http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-way-we-fight-max-boots-invisible-armies
http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-way-we-fight-max-boots-invisible-armies
The Way We Fight: Max Boot’s ‘Invisible Armies’
From ancient times to Afghanistan today, guerilla warfare, terrorism, and insurgencies have been the way that we make war. Michael Korda salutes a brilliant and important new book, Max Boot’s Invisible Armies, that tells that story.
(1)
(0)
3
3
0
Ranger handbook is what I used. It is the best source for infantry tactics.
(3)
(0)
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
It's good, but it's very difficult to read. Even when I was getting Ranger School classes from Tabbed Team Leaders in 3rd Batt, I couldn't get anything out of the book itself. It wasn't until I got to Ranger school that I was able to 'get it.' I'm looking for something more accessible to the uninitiated.
(1)
(0)
CPT Lawrence Cable
I would also include Small Unit Tactics Handbook and probably the Guerrilla Warfare Handbook.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
2
2
0
FM 7-8, SH 21-76 Ranger Handbook, http://www.survivalschool.us/wp-content/uploads/Small-Unit-Night-Fighter-Manual.pdf
Small-Unit-Night-Fighter-Manual.pdf
c"ª4Ê ,CØDtPMô[ÐÐ^ÙHRãûÐíWÚRC`éÝgå Àöú#§JA¶ðzVÏ¡8ÐI}ÛHeArqË¡á/ì3"8rH8âee2CPÄEZnéi&A@àÿ!xI/Ϊ")åxÂû(2Z(ôÆI}6bs-Ò\ãÛÁàKì¡3H^¡ì`(Î$Ã|¡ÈqË*ûdUÈl;4DqÅÅFFØKíâ(ºHñÈeC@ü öØ2dÉA0áñXYC:#áI3A}JÎ!ÒÆKKád«#é_5_aã¡DnA"8Ê ePr(w;'laðÙXpèØLr xÒvK:Ê9AÈÂö;5 wÑÄò}ÚøfßPL«@" àû@KpÃ;N VÃìl5Ø3æÙ)¡àW5ËÅã#éÞKlÿGqG Áÿ ÁÂc#|Að·Áö~ýà\m§ÿÿîJä¡ñKNü}aø"ýô("?¿Ûd l?úÞÞSïÿû~àvÉkå?Å?þûµ~/âi[!F#ZþP^T/E9Qì0a$5öÕÿ/Õw"ªB!DÂVÁq]ïÐQQ v JÙÞv"VÚVÝaÎø06v |À4ACíTâ¡(m(`ÁAC ÃÚPdV]9Á(2Kð(0fF...
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
1
1
0
"Small Unit Leadership" by COL (R) Dan Malone, and "The Last 100 Yards" by H.J. Poole.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Conventional warfare: There may be more current changes but the basics are all in this.
Marine Rifle Squad MCWP 3-11.2 w/Ch.1 & Erratum
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCWP%203-11.2%20Marine%20Rifle%20Squad.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-164048-590
Marine Rifle Squad MCWP 3-11.2 w/Ch.1 & Erratum
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCWP%203-11.2%20Marine%20Rifle%20Squad.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-164048-590
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google