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Historical Study Of Distributed Operations. Operation Vigilant Resolve Fallujah, Iraq. 4 APR 2004 – 9 APR 2004. Overview of Distributed Operations. Taking Dispersion to another level Present a less defined target to the enemy Operations in smaller units More autonomous small units
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Historical Study Of Distributed Operations Operation Vigilant ResolveFallujah, Iraq 4 APR 2004 – 9 APR 2004
Overview of Distributed Operations • Taking Dispersion to another level • Present a less defined target to the enemy • Operations in smaller units • More autonomous small units • Leadership and decision making at lower levels
Why study Fallujah? Operation Vigilant Resolve is one of the closest real life examples of U.S. Marines conducting distributed-like operations.
Why study Fallujah? • Patrols conducted by squad sized units • Units dispersed all around Fallujah • Squad Leaders taking more control of situations • Varying patrol routes and times, trying to present ambiguous targets to the enemy • Relying on fire support
Overview of Combat Model Operation Vigilant ResolveFallujah, Iraq 4 APR 2004 – 9 APR 2004
Designing the Fallujah Model
Designing the Combat Model • Each blue agent represents a fire team with an M16,M203, and an M249 • Blue agents typically operated in squad-sized units (3 agents)
Designing the Combat Model • Red agents were designed to blend in with the local population, giving them a first shot advantage. • Move in teams of 3-4 • Carry AK47s and RPGs Before and After Engaging
Fallujah TimelineDay One (Step 0-720) • Marines push into city with Tanks and Helos
Fallujah TimelineDay One (Step 0-720) • Marines attack a mosque in NW corner.
Fallujah TimelineThroughout (Step 0-3600) • Insurgents fire from towers of Central Mosque as Marine snipers patrol SE perimeter
Fallujah TimelineDay Two (Step 720-1440) • Heavy fighting in NW neighborhood • AC130 called in for support
Fallujah TimelineDay Three (Step 1440-2160) • Gunfight at train station
Fallujah TimelineDay Three (Step 1440-2160) • Fighting in the South
Fallujah TimelineDay Three (Step 1440-2160) • Small skirmishes along Marine Defensive positions on the Northern Perimeter
Fallujah TimelineDay Four (Step 2160-2880) • Gun battle between 200 Marines and 800 insurgents in NW. • Fire support called in.
Fallujah TimelineDay Five (Step 2880-3600) • Building to building raids with fire support
Fallujah TimelineDay Five (Step 2880-3600) • Insurgents try to run road blocks
Fallujah TimelineDay Five (Step 2880-3600) • More skirmishes on Northern perimeter
Stealth and Red Kills Blue Stealth doesn’t effect Red Kills Red Stealth greatly reduces Red Kills Huge decrease in number of Red Kills at 90 Red Stealth
Stealth and Blue Killed Blue Stealth significantly reduces blue kills Red Stealth significantly increases blue kills
Red Force Size Increasing size of red force leads to much greater rate of increase in Red Casualties than in Blue Casualties
Communications Accuracy Communications Accuracy has little effect
Communications Latency • Comms Latency has even less effect
Lessons Learned • Impact of Red Stealth emphasizes the value of having first-shot advantage. It is possible that we could use DO to attain a similar advantage or to take that advantage away from our enemies.
Lessons Learned • In a very distributed force (the red force) throwing more numbers at the enemy doesn’t result in a significant advantage. This is an argument for DO at the squad level (smaller units).