Defending Forward: Soviet Activities in Front of the Main Line of Defense

Abstract : Soviet defensive doctrine places new emphasis on the importance of defensive techniques. This has prompted the Soviets to reassess how they will conduct defensive operations and actions. At the operational level, Soviet use of defensive regions, covering armies, defensive belts, counter-offensive maneuver forces and the deep strike has drawn renewed interest. At the tactical level, the professional military press is reflecting a lively debate on defensive techniques and force structures, while field units and military schools are devoting considerably more time to defensive problems. Soviet concepts envision defense both in direct contact with the enemy and when out of direct enemy contact. Of particular interest today is the establishment of coordinated defenses when out of direct contact with enemy forces-a circumstance often encountered prior to the initiation of hostilities, when preparing to meet counter-offensive and counter-attacks, when regrouping or refitting in the course of an offensive/counter-attack or when performing an economy-of-force mission in support of an offensive. This paper examines Soviet security and defensive measures taken to combat enemy ground reconnaissance and attacking forces when there is no direct contact with the enemy. It treats the Soviet security zone in the context of a prepared defense and the Soviet covering zone in the context of a hasty or partially prepared defense. Finally, it analyzes local tactical security measures routinely employed by Soviet forces on the defense.