HDv 300/100

The Heeresdienstvorschrift 300/100: Operation verbundener Kräfte (Operation of Combined Forces) is an Arcaenian Army field operations manual which contains the basic military doctrine for the Arcaenian land forces (Heer) in the conduct of combined arms operations. HDv 300/100 is issues to virtually every officers and NCO in the Arcaenian Heer and covers such topics as order of battle and task organization, troop command, reconnaissance operations, offensive operations, defensive operations, panzer operations, communications, electronic warfare, air defense operations, and NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) warfare.s.

I. General Tactical Doctrine

The Arcaenian Heer believes that only offensive actions, particularly those combined with the element of surprise, can achieve decisive success on the battlefield. Key to the success of offensive operations is initiative, speed of movement, and extremely aggressive command at the tactical, operational, and strategic level of war. Initiative of subordinates is heavily emphasized and encouraged. A strenuously selected highly trained officer and NCO corps and a thoroughly disciplined army are the necessary elements to implement this aggressive philosophy. Officers must be highly knowledgeable of military tactics and strategy and must have supreme trust that their subordinates are capable of understanding the intent of their commands and executing them as they see fit. Arcaenians believe that doctrine, tactics, and unit organizations should be as flexible as possible and that subordinates should have broad independence to interpret tactical situations and execute actions that fulfill their superior's intent, deviating from their superior's orders without permission or warning as necessary in order to accomplish the higher commander’s intent.

II. Reconnaissance Operations

The Arcaenian Heer stresses aggressive reconnaissance in all phases of military operations. Arcaenians believe it is paramount to fight to obtain superiority in the area to be reconnoitered and strive for continuous observation of the enemy during all phases of battle. Arcaenian as a rule employ reconnaissance units in force who are expected to fight to obtain the desired information. Key to Arcaenian combined arms reconnaissance operations are the panzer reconnaissance units of the Arcaenian army which combine main battle tanks, heavy infantry fighting vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and organic self propelled artillery and which are intended to conduct ground-based combat reconnaissance operations, engage and destroy enemy reconnaissance forces, conduct probing attacks and delaying operations in front of advancing mechanized forces, and to screen open flanks and to delay enemy forces which attack along said open flanks. Each Arcaenian panzer and panzergrenadier brigade includes an organic panzer reconnaissance battalion with three panzer reconnaissance companies which are equipped to operate independently of the battalion. Each panzer reconnaissance company contains two platoons of main battle tanks, two platoons of heavy infantry fighting vehicles, and a self-propelled mortar section. During reconnaissance or more panzer reconnaissance companies will be deployed ahead of the brigade to assure superiority in the area to be reconnoitered. The other companies will be kept in reserves to be committed when the reconnaissance must be intensified, when the original force meets strong enemy opposition, or when the direction and area to be reconnoitered are changed. Aggressive action of reconnaissance forces is heavily encouraged and Arcaenian panzer reconnaissance units will attempt to engage and destroy any enemy reconnaissance or security forces they encounter. Should a superior enemy force be encountered the panzer reconnaissance units will fight a delaying action while the main body of the panzer or panzergrenader unit attempts to flank and envelop the enemy force.