jhungary
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What is Force Multiplication??
Force Multiplication is a factor that increase one force effectiveness on warfighting directly. The factor can be of anything, physical object, tactics or even morale . It could be alter by human or of natual feature. But any factor that can increase the effectiveness of warfighting of a Unit would be considered a Force Multiplier
For example, a simple binocular and a rifle scope would increase a rifle range from 200 mter to 400 meter, then the scope itself is a force multiplier, as they increase the combat effectiveness by 2.
However, a new weapon platform may not automatiically be a force multiplier as they can or cannot increase the combat effectiveness of a unit directly. For example The invention of Tank does not count as a force multiplier, but the invention of APC does (While Armour branch out to individual warfare and APC carry troop, thus increase their ability to travel by a factor , directly)
In some definition, the ability to decrease enemy combat effectiveness (ie enhance one's own combat effectiveness), would also be considered a Force Multiplier. E.g. A ECM aircraft jam enemy radar detection ability, that allow an increased efficiency on aircraft on your own side
Why Force Multiplication is important for Modern warfare?
In the term of conventional war, when one side is expected to face a numerical superior enemy, force multiplier can increase troop effectiveness and fill the gap of the numerical difference. It also increase the sustainability of a force as smaller force is a lot easier to support than a larger force.
Another advantage is the effective inject in an overall battlefield elsewhere, with troop fighting on their maximum effectiveness, you can literally spill the follow on force and have them engage in another corner of the battlefield, of course, this does not apply to the do or die last stance situation.
Type of Multiplication
Not only hardware or software upgrade are force multiplication factors. But indeed a wide range of attribute can increase the combat effectiveness of a Unit.
Natural Attribute - factors such as geographical location, topological location, weather and even day/night contribute to combat effectiveness. For example, defending a hillside would give the defender natural advantages with views and position, therefore greatly increase the combat power of the defender. On the other hand, fighting alongside a deep river, or cliff would give a natural combat power boost by number, because a cliff or any "Blocking Feature" are not accessible to troop, that menas you have one less side to defend.
Battlefield Psychology - factors such as morale, fear and espirit-de-corp. Often proved to be a Multiplication factor.
New Technology and Upgrade - factor such as Rifle Scope, AEWS aircraft, Armoured Personnel Carrier, Radars, Bomber Design, Stealth and Precision Weaponry. Modern Technology that replace existing technology usually comes with a combat effectiveness boost. A scoped rifle allow soldier to engage their enemy with a further range, AEW increase radar detectability for allied combat aircraft, APC allow further and faster travel then nominal troop, Radar Technology increase range and dimension of scan, where bomber with heavier payload reduce number o sorties. Stealth aircrarft decrease the need of number for penetration and precision strike capability allow less bomb to score on target.
Training and Doctrine - Factor such as indifference of training, doctrine development also contribute to the factor of multiplication, basically, the more training one country provided their soldier with, the more effective they get, and doctrine such as network centric warfare doctrine, mobile warfare doctrine, or combine warfare doctrine also increase maximum effectiveness of a group of unit.
Strategy and Tactics - Factors such as Defliade tactics, force concentration would increase combat effectiveness of a Unit
How Force Multiplication wins number war?
When a commander presented with a number of challenge, if one of them is a inferiority of number, the issue then would become, how to close the gap.
If they were an inferior army attacking, then the commander needs to decide, if the objective are wide enough to expand the war, the battlefield. The single answer when you face with a numerical superior defender is, they cannot simply defend one side and if they don't know where the enemy is coming from, they would have to spread their defender wide. Take Battle of singapore for an example. Where the Brits technically outnumber the Japanese 3 to 1, but the need to defend all 4 side of Singapore means only 1/4 of the troop is facing where the enemy actually coming from. Which bring the number down to about even which favor the Japanese.
Mobility is the key, and when the Japanese have the Brits keep on guessing where they are coming from, they shredded 3/4 of all effective defence and that's a force multiplication of 75%. And hence they won the war.
Then how about if you are the one defending with an inferior army? The key will then turn into force concentration. Which you pick one spot, a single spot and pour all your resource into that spot and try to defend it, and if you can repell sucessive enemy offensive, then you can have a chance to break through, many war won like this throughout history, with the most famous one being Ceaser verus Pompy
If that does not work, then the next thing will be the fabian strategy, where you do not engage with the enemy but shadow it, that way you avoid a set piece fight, a decisive battle at all cost, and you worn down your enemy, it will take a long time, but if you got the population on your side, you can always sit it out.
How does that related to the current defence situation of Pakistan?
The effect would be immense, as we probably figured out already, the Pakistani defence are naturally focus on more of a Easterly Apporach. Estimates give a high 60 to low 70 percentage of force concentration on the Eastern Border, the border with India. While only leave a certain amount of regular force and getting depends on a paramilitary force on the western border (FATA and Balochristan)
The problem does not lies in the paramilitary force itself, but for the support the Frontier Corps enjoys by the Regular Forces. At this moment, the Western Border are seriously infected with Terrorist group, TTP, LeI and different AQ factions. With the war actually happening in North/West Pakistan, the Military Asset were deployed majority with the Eastern Border, but cannot be moved due to the threat presented by India.
THe solution could perhaps comes in the form of Force Multiplication with the Eastern Border and thus spare resource and support to the western border for the terrorist operation. However, to do that, Pakistan must, in theory, not to diminish the defence power of the Eastern border.
One thing the Pakistan Army can do is to make the unit more organic and more independent. Currently, the Pakistan Army followed a British Commonwealth Combat Doctrine which Combines arms are only happened in Corps Level. Where as a Corps, depends on their role and location, were organically distributed to several Infantry Division and a few Armoured Division.
That do make sense if you are in the offensive or being organised into counter offensive, but that would not have any value for a defensive warfare. Why? In an offensive, what you want to achieve is you want to use your infantry to probe the line and exploit it with your fast moving unit (ie your armour) Hence it make sense and always good to group all your unit the same type together. So it will be easier to manage, and so you react faster.
However, in an defense orientated gesture, what you need is combined support, when you positioned your tank and artillery all in the same place, you cannot possible support all the unit within the same corp at the same time. As different unit would have a different distant between them and the support element. And what if some element does not require support at all? Then you will be wasting all the asset in one place with nothing better to do.
You will still need a reserve force that can mobilise quickly, so as to capitalize the situation, but then the defence should be dynamic. Then you will get a balanced defence strength. What's more? By organise your froce organically and dynamically. You eliminate wastage, which mean each unit is seperated and not tied together and if you no longer require a certain unit on the same force, those can be plug in/out at will.
What also be important is the use of other force multiplier, things such as AEW aircraft and sensor and special force, they will give you an early warning on things about to hit the fan (I know it was supposed to be sxxt)
So, by doing that, you now can effectively defence the Eastern Border with India, whille still have the organicity on fighting a supported and combined effort on the western threater.That is what force multiplication can contribute to Pakistan.
Force Multiplication is a factor that increase one force effectiveness on warfighting directly. The factor can be of anything, physical object, tactics or even morale . It could be alter by human or of natual feature. But any factor that can increase the effectiveness of warfighting of a Unit would be considered a Force Multiplier
For example, a simple binocular and a rifle scope would increase a rifle range from 200 mter to 400 meter, then the scope itself is a force multiplier, as they increase the combat effectiveness by 2.
However, a new weapon platform may not automatiically be a force multiplier as they can or cannot increase the combat effectiveness of a unit directly. For example The invention of Tank does not count as a force multiplier, but the invention of APC does (While Armour branch out to individual warfare and APC carry troop, thus increase their ability to travel by a factor , directly)
In some definition, the ability to decrease enemy combat effectiveness (ie enhance one's own combat effectiveness), would also be considered a Force Multiplier. E.g. A ECM aircraft jam enemy radar detection ability, that allow an increased efficiency on aircraft on your own side
Why Force Multiplication is important for Modern warfare?
In the term of conventional war, when one side is expected to face a numerical superior enemy, force multiplier can increase troop effectiveness and fill the gap of the numerical difference. It also increase the sustainability of a force as smaller force is a lot easier to support than a larger force.
Another advantage is the effective inject in an overall battlefield elsewhere, with troop fighting on their maximum effectiveness, you can literally spill the follow on force and have them engage in another corner of the battlefield, of course, this does not apply to the do or die last stance situation.
Type of Multiplication
Not only hardware or software upgrade are force multiplication factors. But indeed a wide range of attribute can increase the combat effectiveness of a Unit.
Natural Attribute - factors such as geographical location, topological location, weather and even day/night contribute to combat effectiveness. For example, defending a hillside would give the defender natural advantages with views and position, therefore greatly increase the combat power of the defender. On the other hand, fighting alongside a deep river, or cliff would give a natural combat power boost by number, because a cliff or any "Blocking Feature" are not accessible to troop, that menas you have one less side to defend.
Battlefield Psychology - factors such as morale, fear and espirit-de-corp. Often proved to be a Multiplication factor.
New Technology and Upgrade - factor such as Rifle Scope, AEWS aircraft, Armoured Personnel Carrier, Radars, Bomber Design, Stealth and Precision Weaponry. Modern Technology that replace existing technology usually comes with a combat effectiveness boost. A scoped rifle allow soldier to engage their enemy with a further range, AEW increase radar detectability for allied combat aircraft, APC allow further and faster travel then nominal troop, Radar Technology increase range and dimension of scan, where bomber with heavier payload reduce number o sorties. Stealth aircrarft decrease the need of number for penetration and precision strike capability allow less bomb to score on target.
Training and Doctrine - Factor such as indifference of training, doctrine development also contribute to the factor of multiplication, basically, the more training one country provided their soldier with, the more effective they get, and doctrine such as network centric warfare doctrine, mobile warfare doctrine, or combine warfare doctrine also increase maximum effectiveness of a group of unit.
Strategy and Tactics - Factors such as Defliade tactics, force concentration would increase combat effectiveness of a Unit
How Force Multiplication wins number war?
When a commander presented with a number of challenge, if one of them is a inferiority of number, the issue then would become, how to close the gap.
If they were an inferior army attacking, then the commander needs to decide, if the objective are wide enough to expand the war, the battlefield. The single answer when you face with a numerical superior defender is, they cannot simply defend one side and if they don't know where the enemy is coming from, they would have to spread their defender wide. Take Battle of singapore for an example. Where the Brits technically outnumber the Japanese 3 to 1, but the need to defend all 4 side of Singapore means only 1/4 of the troop is facing where the enemy actually coming from. Which bring the number down to about even which favor the Japanese.
Mobility is the key, and when the Japanese have the Brits keep on guessing where they are coming from, they shredded 3/4 of all effective defence and that's a force multiplication of 75%. And hence they won the war.
Then how about if you are the one defending with an inferior army? The key will then turn into force concentration. Which you pick one spot, a single spot and pour all your resource into that spot and try to defend it, and if you can repell sucessive enemy offensive, then you can have a chance to break through, many war won like this throughout history, with the most famous one being Ceaser verus Pompy
If that does not work, then the next thing will be the fabian strategy, where you do not engage with the enemy but shadow it, that way you avoid a set piece fight, a decisive battle at all cost, and you worn down your enemy, it will take a long time, but if you got the population on your side, you can always sit it out.
How does that related to the current defence situation of Pakistan?
The effect would be immense, as we probably figured out already, the Pakistani defence are naturally focus on more of a Easterly Apporach. Estimates give a high 60 to low 70 percentage of force concentration on the Eastern Border, the border with India. While only leave a certain amount of regular force and getting depends on a paramilitary force on the western border (FATA and Balochristan)
The problem does not lies in the paramilitary force itself, but for the support the Frontier Corps enjoys by the Regular Forces. At this moment, the Western Border are seriously infected with Terrorist group, TTP, LeI and different AQ factions. With the war actually happening in North/West Pakistan, the Military Asset were deployed majority with the Eastern Border, but cannot be moved due to the threat presented by India.
THe solution could perhaps comes in the form of Force Multiplication with the Eastern Border and thus spare resource and support to the western border for the terrorist operation. However, to do that, Pakistan must, in theory, not to diminish the defence power of the Eastern border.
One thing the Pakistan Army can do is to make the unit more organic and more independent. Currently, the Pakistan Army followed a British Commonwealth Combat Doctrine which Combines arms are only happened in Corps Level. Where as a Corps, depends on their role and location, were organically distributed to several Infantry Division and a few Armoured Division.
That do make sense if you are in the offensive or being organised into counter offensive, but that would not have any value for a defensive warfare. Why? In an offensive, what you want to achieve is you want to use your infantry to probe the line and exploit it with your fast moving unit (ie your armour) Hence it make sense and always good to group all your unit the same type together. So it will be easier to manage, and so you react faster.
However, in an defense orientated gesture, what you need is combined support, when you positioned your tank and artillery all in the same place, you cannot possible support all the unit within the same corp at the same time. As different unit would have a different distant between them and the support element. And what if some element does not require support at all? Then you will be wasting all the asset in one place with nothing better to do.
You will still need a reserve force that can mobilise quickly, so as to capitalize the situation, but then the defence should be dynamic. Then you will get a balanced defence strength. What's more? By organise your froce organically and dynamically. You eliminate wastage, which mean each unit is seperated and not tied together and if you no longer require a certain unit on the same force, those can be plug in/out at will.
What also be important is the use of other force multiplier, things such as AEW aircraft and sensor and special force, they will give you an early warning on things about to hit the fan (I know it was supposed to be sxxt)
So, by doing that, you now can effectively defence the Eastern Border with India, whille still have the organicity on fighting a supported and combined effort on the western threater.That is what force multiplication can contribute to Pakistan.
