Deep Fighting Tactic

[Aussie Trotskyist]

I've been interested in the Deep Fighting Tactic, devised by soviet tactician Mikhail Tukhachevsky.

So far, I think it relies upon bashing the hell out of the enemies rear (with long range artillery and/or airstrikes), then breaking through the enemies front lines, and pushing deep into enemy territory.

However, in my research, the issue of surrounding the enemy came up. Then talk of pushing far into enemy territory. Is this a case of breaking through the enemies defenses and pushing far into enemy territory, while avoiding direct contact with enemy troops? If that is the case, then it would be necessary to keep a sizeable force behind the advance in order to properly surround the enemy?


If I've gotten this completely wrong, please correct me where appropriate, perhaps with diagrams or videos if possible.

[kashkin]

David Glantz's book, Soviet Military Operational Art: in pursuit of Deep Battle is extremely good, it provides a good summary of operational theory and what deep battle is.


I've been interested in the Deep Fighting Tactic, devised by soviet tactician Mikhail Tukhachevsky.

So far, I think it relies upon bashing the hell out of the enemies rear (with long range artillery and/or airstrikes), then breaking through the enemies front lines, and pushing deep into enemy territory.

The idea is that infantry with artillery, aircraft and support tanks break through enemy front lines, then armoured/mechanised troops with infantry, airborne/long range artillery and aircraft support push into the enemy rear, destroying their logistical base and cutting supply and communication routes.


However, in my research, the issue of surrounding the enemy came up. Then talk of pushing far into enemy territory. Is this a case of breaking through the enemies defenses and pushing far into enemy territory, while avoiding direct contact with enemy troops? If that is the case, then it would be necessary to keep a sizeable force behind the advance in order to properly surround the enemy?

This has always been a problem when surrounding soldiers, many Soviet soldiers escaped German kessels in WW2 due to the fact that German armour had to wait for its infantry to catch up.

[Art Vandelay]

I've been interested in the Deep Fighting Tactic, devised by soviet tactician Mikhail Tukhachevsky.

So far, I think it relies upon bashing the hell out of the enemies rear (with long range artillery and/or airstrikes), then breaking through the enemies front lines, and pushing deep into enemy territory.

However, in my research, the issue of surrounding the enemy came up. Then talk of pushing far into enemy territory. Is this a case of breaking through the enemies defenses and pushing far into enemy territory, while avoiding direct contact with enemy troops? If that is the case, then it would be necessary to keep a sizeable force behind the advance in order to properly surround the enemy?


If I've gotten this completely wrong, please correct me where appropriate, perhaps with diagrams or videos if possible.



While I am no expert on military theory, I feel that the part that I bolded is fairly accurate; at least from a common sense position.

[Lensky]

Examples of Deep Fighting can be seen in Operation Bagration and Operation Uranus. The purpose is not to batter the enemy lines until a breakthrough is achieved (although this is a means), it's to infiltrate the most vulnerable point with overwhelming combined arms usually in a pincer manner to cut off front line units with their supplies and communications. In short, it's most effective in creating pockets and annihilating them.