Wargaming is a process used to analyze and develop courses of action for military operations. It involves visualizing the flow of a battle, given friendly strengths and dispositions, enemy assets, and possible courses of action, and a set piece of ground. Wargaming is a method of analyzing friendly courses of action.
Key Facts
- Action: This step involves identifying what friendly maneuver forces are doing, such as attacking or defending with a certain number and type of companies.
- Reaction: In this step, the staff analyzes the relative combat power by comparing friendly combat power with enemy combat power. This helps determine if there is an overwhelming force to be successful in the mission.
- Counteraction: The staff then develops the scheme of maneuver, which is a narrative description of how the forces will accomplish the commander’s intent. This step includes determining command and control means, maneuver control measures, and preparing a course-of-action statement and sketch.
Step 1: Gather the Tools
The first step in wargaming is to gather the necessary tools. This includes maps, terrain models, unit counters, and other materials that will be used to represent the battlefield. The staff should also gather information about the enemy, the terrain, and the weather.
Step 2: List All Friendly Forces
The next step is to list all of the friendly forces that will be involved in the operation. This includes ground forces, air forces, and naval forces. The staff should also consider the capabilities and limitations of each unit.
Step 3: List Assumptions
The staff should then list all of the assumptions that they are making about the enemy, the terrain, and the weather. These assumptions should be based on the best available intelligence.
Step 4: List Known Critical Events and Decision Points
The staff should then identify the critical events and decision points that are likely to occur during the operation. Critical events are events that could significantly impact the outcome of the battle. Decision points are points at which the commander must make a decision.
Step 5: Select a Wargaming Method
The staff should then select a wargaming method. There are three common wargaming methods: the avenue-in-depth method, the belt method, and the box method. The avenue-in-depth method is used to analyze a single avenue of approach. The belt method is used to analyze a series of belts across the battlefield. The box method is used to analyze a specific area of the battlefield.
Step 6: Select a Technique to Record and Display the Results
The staff should then select a technique to record and display the results of the wargaming. This could be done using a narrative, a sketch, or a matrix.
Step 7: Wargame the Operation and Assess the Results
The staff should then wargame the operation and assess the results. This involves playing out the operation on the map or terrain model and evaluating the outcome. The staff should identify any problems or weaknesses in the plan and make adjustments accordingly.
Sources
- DST/WARGAMING (Defense)
- Course-of-Action Development and Analysis
- Wargaming Courses of Action During Other-Than-Major Combat Operations
FAQs
What is wargaming?
Wargaming is a process used to analyze and develop courses of action for military operations. It involves visualizing the flow of a battle, given friendly strengths and dispositions, enemy assets, and possible courses of action, and a set piece of ground.
What are the three steps in wargaming?
The three steps in wargaming are:
- Gather the tools
- List all friendly forces
- List assumptions
What is the purpose of wargaming?
The purpose of wargaming is to analyze and develop courses of action for military operations. It helps to identify problems or weaknesses in a plan and make adjustments accordingly.
What are some of the benefits of wargaming?
Some of the benefits of wargaming include:
- Identifying problems or weaknesses in a plan
- Developing more effective courses of action
- Improving coordination and communication among units
- Training and educating military personnel
What are some of the challenges of wargaming?
Some of the challenges of wargaming include:
- The need for accurate and timely intelligence
- The complexity of modern warfare
- The difficulty in predicting enemy actions
- The time and resources required to conduct a wargame
What are some of the different types of wargaming?
There are three common types of wargaming:
- Avenue-in-depth method
- Belt method
- Box method
What are some of the different techniques for recording and displaying the results of wargaming?
Some of the different techniques for recording and displaying the results of wargaming include:
- Narrative
- Sketch
- Matrix
How can wargaming be used to improve military operations?
Wargaming can be used to improve military operations by:
- Identifying problems or weaknesses in a plan
- Developing more effective courses of action
- Improving coordination and communication among units
- Training and educating military personnel