THE IRREGULAR NIGHT FIGHTING: DESCENT INTO DARKNESS

Fighting at night has been a feature of military operations for millennia, presenting a set of unique challenges to commanders used to fighting during normal daylight hours. At night, the fog of war is magnified, and the potential for confusion and mistakes is multiplied. Consequently a well-prepared or desperate force who would otherwise be outclassed during the day can gain a significant tactical advantage by capitalising on superior technology, tactics, or the element of surprise at night. This combination can make for very tense wargames.

David Hiscocks

Clausewitz's statement on friction that: “Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult” is doubly so at night. Nighttime makes even basic tasks, such as attacking in the right direction, that much more difficult and prone to failure. Such mistakes can result in costly delays and accidents that can derail the best-laid plans. Moreover, problems such as friendly fire are significantly more likely under such conditions. In short, military operations at night can easily go awry for the simplest of reasons, even when elite troops are involved. In 2013, for example, the Unites States SEALs attempted a night raid in Somalia on the headquarters of the Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab. By chance, the American special forces unit was spotted while deploying for the assault by a sentry…

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Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy (Digital) - 1 Issue, WSS 129

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