Monday, March 16, 2015

Iran's 'Swarm War' Against the Islamic State.

Interesting.
The Iraqi push into Tikrit features loads of Iranian weapons. And the pint-size Safir jeep is one of the most distinctive of them all. Dozens of the rocket launcher-equipped, Iranian-made buggies are in Iraq, helping out Iraqi troops and allied Shia militias. The buggies reflect Iran’s preference for swarm tactics, which emphasize deploying large numbers of simple, cheap vehicles in order to outmaneuver and overwhelm the enemy. . .
Some of the Safirs in Iraq boast rocket launchers. Others pack direct-fire weapons, such as 106-millimeter recoilless rifles. All of them are lightweight, brute-simple vehicles — perfect for the hastily-trained recruits who increasingly fill out the ranks of Baghdad’s beleaguered army and the Iranian-backed militias that reinforce it. The buggies are similar to the infamous machine gun-toting “technical” pickup trucks that have fought in most of Africa’s modern wars. Minimally-trained irregular troops can deploy the swift little vehicles to strike and even surround the enemy in an urban environment — like a swarm of insects. With so many individuals in the swarm, each darting around so quickly, it’s hard to swat them all.
The vehicles allow a military force without modern communications equipment to perform flanking attacks. The jeeps can establish visual contact with neighboring vehicles at intersections, then drive toward gunfire in the event of a neighbor coming into contact with the enemy. Surveillance aircraft and attack helicopters are the best weapons for defeating a swarm. Islamic State has neither. The U.S. government appears to appreciate the Iranian methods. The Pentagon has begun providing technical-style trucks to Iraqi troops.
See also, from October of last year: Iranian support for Iraqi militias becomes increasingly apparent
Kurdish fighters fire a M40-type 106 mm recoilless gun from an Iranian Safir jeep near Tuz Khurmatu in Iraq on 31 August.
Members of Kataib Imam Ali fire a 107 mm multiple rocket launcher from an Iranian-made Safir jeep.
And note that the Iranians aren't too worried about supplying arms to the Kurds either:
Kurdish militias are also using Iranian weapons. Kurdish fighters were photographed with a Safir jeep and recoilless gun near Tuz Khurmatu in August. A photograph published that emerged on social media sites in early October showed Brig Gen Soleimani apparently posing with Kurdish fighters near Tuz Khurmatu. The Qods Force commander reportedly helped co-ordinate Iraqi government forces with Kurdish and Shia militias to retake the town of Amirli in August. Given the location, the Kurdish fighters were probably affiliated to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) that controls the east of the Iraqi Kurdish region.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, Quds Force in Iraq, did they ever leave?

Anonymous said...

Swarm tactics were used by Iran when it fought with Saddams Iraq. One thing swarm tactics do not value? Life. If you send ten thousand in a swarm and only 8 return...so be it. Mao would be proud.

Irans population is quite young and swarm is a major player in why...it's not like it was a baby boom resulting from prosperity.

Another aspect of disregarding life is the hindering aspect of civilian casualties. When there is no worry about collateral damage, the swarm can sting indiscriminately. And it does so.

Why do tribal societies war for generations? Because they hold grudges for generations stemming from swarm tactics.

If ya think about it - ISIS disregard for human life is being "defeated" by even more disregard for human life. Kind of ironic it is, this lesson.

In order to end the generational (now almost two thousand years of it) bloodletting, barbarism and disregard for human life, we must accept the fact that there is only one way to put an end to it - Metallica titled a album.......

sykes.1 said...

Think Shermans v. Tigers.

Anonymous said...

There is a big Kurd population in Iran. It would stand to reason that they would assist, arm, fight with their western brethren.

Its is the Middle East. Rings within rings of boundaries

AJ said...

Iran has to do the best it can with what it's got. They don't have an AIPAC or receive $billions of our tax dollars every year.

Jimmy the Saint said...

@sykes.1: "Think Shermans v. Tigers."

But also think of the counter: Dervishes v. Vickers guns