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NIGHT OPERATIONS

CHAPTER 1

SECTION 1 - GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

101. The modern battlefield environment has come a long way from the era when, with the
sounding of the ‘retreat’ combat would ethically cease till ‘ reveille’ the next day. Night
operations are now an inseparable feature of battle.

102. The impetus to night operations has been accelerated by the ever-growing lethality of
firepower. As daylight attacks become more and more prohibitive in casualties of men and
material, the attacker has to seek the refuge of the night in order to achieve surprise, minimise
casualties and deny the defender any respite to regroup. The attacker must exploit an advantage
once gained, by a relentless pursuit of operations by day and night. The night confers on the
defender, too, the advantages of physical concealment and speedier counter actions over more
familiar ground. The night thus provides a neutral backdrop to either adversary. The one who
is better trained and skilled in night combat will ultimately acquire an edge of superiority.

103. At the same time, giant technological strides in the development of night observation
and surveillance devices seek to turn night into day. The once-sharp borderline between day
and night continues to recede. The distinction is becoming more and more blurred. There is a
versatile range of optical-electronic systems for the soldier on foot, crew-served weapons,
armoured fighting vehicles and weapons platforms of devices enormously expand the scope of
night operations. However, the exploitation of such aids requires an intimate physical and
psychological interface with the soldier.

104. Training for night operations involves developing not only individual skills but also the
collective efficiency of units and formations in operating at night.

SECTION 2 - PERSPECTIVE OF NIGHT OPERATIONS

GENERAL

105. The perspective of night operations is determined by the nocturnal characteristics and
their physiological offshoots:

a. Nocturnal Characteristics. Reduced visibility, a fall in the atmospheric

temperature and the low ambient noise level are the salient physical characteristics of the
night.

b. Psychological Aspects. The physical characteristics produce related

psychological effects such as a feeling of fatigue, anxiety and fear. The impinge on
individual and group behaviour, and the ability of a commander in influencing his
command.

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106. Reduced Visibility. A varying degree of reduced visibility distinguishes night from
day. The level of ambient light may range from the pitch dark to the diffused glow under a full
moon. The stage of visibility varies, depending on the phase of the moon, the time of the night,
the texture of the soil and weather conditions. Visibility is better at dusk and dawn. Sandy
terrain is more conducive to better visibility than darker soil. Vegetations caused by bad weather
and terrain restrictions are more pronounced at night than during the day. The important
military implications of reduced visibility at night are as follows:

a. Navigation is difficult, and movement of personnel and vehicles is slower.

b. The exercises of command and control is adversely affected.

c. It facilitates surprise and deception.

d. It restricts the capability of weapons and equipment when operated without night
vision devices. Effective ranges are drastically reduced due to the limitations of human
observation.

e. Fire support is less effective. Direction and control of the fire of artillery, tank
armament and infantry support weapons is difficult.

f. Planning timings of all activities involving movement and group effort need a
larger allowance of time. This will specially affect deployment as well as the execution
of engineer tasks.

107. Temperature. As the night progresses, the atmospheric temperature gradually drops.
The period before dawn is generally the coolest. Night in dry and sandy areas are cooler as
compared to those in areas covered with foliage. Where the winter is severe, a steep fall in the
night temperature will drastically impair the soldier’s combat efficiency. Whereas in hot
summer, the troops will experience much less fatigue at night. They can undertake longer
approach marches by night and yet be in a better physical state at the end. Similarly, the output
of troops while preparing defences will be greater by night, provided the state of visibility is
reasonable.

108. Propagation of Sound. The ambient noise level in populated and developed areas is
greatly reduced at night due to the cessation of much human activity. Cooling of the atmosphere
improves the conductivity of the earth; intensity sounds can be perceived better during the
night. Therefore, troops need to be trained to rely much more on their ears for detecting enemy
movement at night. Conversely, own movement and activity must be governed by silence.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

109. Awareness of Fatigue. Operating at night militates against the preconditioned pattern
of the biological rhythm, that is working by day and sleeping at night. This results in greater
glandular activity and the release of fatigue producing chemicals in the blood. It causes a
variety of reactions, both physical and psychological. Physical responses become sluggish,
maladjusted and in due course, totally careless. Thinking becomes blurred, incoherent and
erratic. These reactions lead to accidents, inadequate responses, imbalance decisions and tardy
movements. These biological reactions of the human body, although powerful, can nonetheless
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be controlled by human will then systematically strengthened by training. It has been observed
during certain experiments in the US Army that soldiers tend to get a feeling of excessive
fatigue and sleep, particularly when they are almost near their assigned goal. During one
experiment, a sub unit was to carry out its operations for 72 hours. Its men started becoming
conscious of the feeling of intense fatigue and lack of sleep after 68 hours. However, when the
same sub unit was given an operational training target designed to keep them awake for 96
hours, the onset of the same phenomenon occurred much later, that is after 88 hours. Training
and operational objectives should thus aim at strengthening the psychological ‘will’ of the
individual and collective groups for sustained operation by day and night.

110. Anxiety. Restricted visibility at night results in distorted perceptions leading to a sense
of uncertainty, which in turn causes anxiety adversely impinges on the mental abilities of
perception and analysis. Incorrect assessment leads to either overestimation of danger or
arbitrary understanding and decisions. Distorted images and the tendency of exaggeration are
dangerous in battle situations. Nervous tension under prolonged stress or a sudden shock such
as the appearance of a force from an unexpected direction may paralyse the reactions of
commanders and troops. Deprivation of sleep at night further aggravates this process. This
problem of psychological uncertainty, anciety and fear can be overcome by:

a. The individual soldier’s confidence in his own superior ability and faith in the
leader’s skill and judgement.

b. Group loyalties and discipline.

c. Purposeful action, that is any activity which distracts the soldier from idle
imagination.

d. Sustained and realistic night training.

111. Individual and Group Behaviour. Night conditions create a sense of uncertainty
which, compounded with loneliness, generates fear in an individual. The same soldier within a
group would feel more secure. Young and raw soldiers should particularly function as part of a
group and be gradually introduced to operating independently. As far as possible, all activities
at night should be undertaken in pairs.

112. Commander’s Influence. The ability of a commander to personally influence his

command is dependent on his proximity to the troops and their ability to see and hear him. A
commander can influence the troops only in his close contact at night. Exercise for command
is, therefore, more effective at lower levels. However, with the help of night vision devices, the
commanders can have an extended range of observation and can control the battle more
effectively.

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