Definition of a raid

[Fuchs]

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms :

raid
An operation to temporarily seize an area in order to secure information, confuse an adversary, capture personnel or equipment, or to destroy a capability. It ends with a planned withdrawal upon completion of the assigned mission.

I just found the above (google makes things like that ridiculously easy - and on top of that for free).

Hours earlier I wrote two own definitions based on what I heard and read about the usage of the word in military contexts:

A surprise attack with limited objectives and a planned withdrawal prior to effective intervention of opposing forces' higher level reserves.

The second one can be applied to more levels, up to foreign policy:

The offensive exploitation of a limited net advantage, avoiding entanglement (commitment) beyond the limit of this net advantage.

I don't remember this word from doctrinal publications (or non-published works), so I'm wondering whether I got this right (not my mother tongue, after all).



The concept caught my attention to the extent that I began to frame everything desirable in land war either as a raid or as an ambush (kinda like Wilf labelling everything a patrol )...

Btw, the German language has apparently not established a word for this; all translations differ somewhat.

[Misifus]

I think all three of those are adequate definitions. I think I have my old Ranger handbook laying about here somewhere. Maybe there is a definition in there.

[Chris jM]

I'll ignore doctrinal definitions, which often get caught up in detail and try too hard to link in with other related terms (thus you get a lovely collection of esoteric labels such as 'neutralise, destroy, suppress,' etc) that end up getting horribly misused.

A definition should also span all levels at which the activity van be conducted - in the case of a raid a section/squad through to a Corp can conduct it, so it should not be dependent on span of command or scale of execution.

With that in mind, I would define a raid as "an offensive operation that does not involve occupation".

You do something offensive and then you leave, in other words.

[Fuchs]

I'll ignore doctrinal definitions, which often get caught up in detail and try too hard to link in with other related terms (thus you get a lovely collection of esoteric labels such as 'neutralise, destroy, suppress,' etc) that end up getting horribly misused.

A definition should also span all levels at which the activity van be conducted - in the case of a raid a section/squad through to a Corp can conduct it, so it should not be dependent on span of command or scale of execution.

With that in mind, I would define a raid as "an offensive operation that does not involve occupation".

You do something offensive and then you leave, in other words.

You meant "an offensive action that is not meant to be followed by holding the captured terrain" ?

Operation and occupation don't sound very squad-level-esque.

[Ken White]

Or to Platoons, companies or even Battalion. No reason to exclude Brigade or even multi Brigade sized raids. Nor to think they cannot be made ny armored or mounted elements to include airmobile.

Raids are often ignored as strategic or tactical solutions due mostly to risk aversion. Most often, in an attempt to 'insure' success or lower own casualties / PWs, highly detailed planning and support to include extensive (excessive... ) rehearsals are insisted upon for no real benefit -- and often result in the raid missing its effect due to passage of time or movement of people or things in the objective area. Better training can remove that impediment...

In this era, Raids make far more sense than trying to occupy terrain...

[Bob's World]

6006 in the Dieppe raid (3600 Killed, wounded or captured...so much for the "planned withdrawal)

[jmm99]

FMFM 7-32, Raid Operations (3 Dec 1993):

This manual explains doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures (DTTP) for raid operations conducted by Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). It highlights the advantages, disadvantages, and other critical factors every commander and staff member must consider during planning and execution of a raid operation.

and MCWP 3-43.1, Raid Operations (23 Dec 2002) (basically the same manual in one pdf allowing copy extraction):

Chapter 1
Raid Design

"Nothing is so devastating as to pounce upon the enemy in the dark, smite him hip and thigh, and vanish silently into the night." Brigadier Orde Charles Wingate Burma, 1943

A raid is an operation, usually small scale, involving a swift penetration of hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or to destroy his installations. It ends with a planned withdrawal upon completion of the assigned mission. Raids may be conducted as separate operations or in support of other operations. Examples of separate operations include raids for psychological purposes, destroying enemy assets not susceptible to other action, harassment, to gain combat information, as spoiling attacks to keep enemy forces off balance, and to recover or rescue friendly personnel and equipment.

One can't argue with the "smite him hip and thigh" brigadier as to that thought. As to the actual Chindit operations, reality didn't always correspond to that desired end.

Dieppe (from RHLI, The Raid on Dieppe):



involved heavy Canadian losses - with mixed reviews as to whether that large-scale raid had any redeeming long-term impact:

By early afternoon, Operation Jubilee was over. Conflicting assessments of the value of the raid continue to be presented. Some claim that it was a useless slaughter; others maintain that it was necessary to the successful invasion of the continent two years later on D-Day. The Dieppe Raid was closely studied by those responsible for planning future operations against the enemy-held coast of France. Out of it came improvements in technique, fire support and tactics which reduced D-Day casualties to an unexpected minimum. The men who perished at Dieppe were instrumental in saving countless lives on the 6th of June, 1944. While there can be no doubt that valuable lessons were learned, a frightful price was paid in those morning hours of August 19, 1942. Of the 4,963 Canadians who embarked for the operation only 2,210 returned to England, and many of these were wounded. There were 3,367 casualties, including 1,946 prisoners of war; 907 Canadians lost their lives.

The deepest penetration was by a squad of Montreal Frogs (err, Fusiliers) led by SGT Pierre Dubuc.



Regards

Mike

[Misifus]

I think all three of those are adequate definitions. I think I have my old Ranger handbook laying about here somewhere. Maybe there is a definition in there.

I couldn't find my old Ranger handbook, so I went into my son's room because I think he had an old copy from some research he did at home while on leave regarding some guerrilla history. However the definition there seems to be a misprint, like some words got left out of a couple of sentences. The handbook is actually on line. Here's what I found.

A raid is a form of attack, usually small scale, involving a swift entry into hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or destroy installations followed by a planned withdrawal. Squads do not conduct raids. The sequence of platoon actions for a raid is similar to those for an ambush. Additionally, the assault element of the platoon may have to conduct a breach of an obstacle. It may have additional tasks to perform on the objective such as demolition of fixed facilities. Fundamentals of the raid include
• Surprise and speed. Infiltrate and surprise the enemy without being detected.
• Coordinated fires. Seal off the objective with well synchronized direct and indirect fires.
• Violence of action. Overwhelm the enemy with fire and maneuver.
• Planned withdrawal. Withdraw from the objective in an organized manner, maintaining security.

Applicability to this thread. Dunno.

P.S. My son is not a Ranger, and I am a tabbed Ranger, not a scrolled Ranger.

[ganulv]

Btw, the German language has apparently not established a word for this; all translations differ somewhat.

Is there a relevant word used when describing Operation Eiche?

Dieppe […] involved heavy Canadian losses

Did the Canadian Corps’ association with trench raiding have anything to do with the Canadians’ role at Dieppe?

[Fuchs]

Is there a relevant word used when describing Operation Eiche?

Befreiungsaktion or Kommandoaction (liberation action or commando action).

We do use the word "Raid" sometimes as an improvisation, but I've seen it used with a very different meaning. It's not an established expression.

[Kiwigrunt]

Uberfall? Although that would probably lack the withdrawal aspect. But even the word raid only really implies the withdrawal aspect in a military context, I think. Think for instance about a police raid.

[Fuchs]

Police raid is a "Razzia", a word that's not being used in any other context.

"berfall" exists, but it's not the same as raid. "berfall" is merely a sudden attack. It can even be applied to stationary context (Feuerberfall, an activity that even artillery can do) and generally misses the planned withdrawal component.


German military vocabulary lacks counterparts for other English military terms, too; for "economy of force" or "turning movement", for example.

[Bob's World]

I support Ken's frequent assertion that "strategic raids" are a valuable tool. This is also a tool that we neglect in our planning, preparation and implementation. In many ways, the USMC is the ultimate strategic raiding force, but we don't really highlight that fact.

Armies are great for fighting wars, but not so much for conducting strategic raids. Various SOF forces are good for small raids designed for strategic effect, but for the larger ones the USMC is a force without peer. (Yes, air delivered munitions have their place, but to become over reliant on such impersonal devices is a bad business. Sometimes you have to look a guy in the eye to deliver the appropriate message)

One can deter a lot of silliness and avoid a lot of long, drawn out frustrating "intervention" through the possession of the ability to employ a powerful, effective strategic raid when necessary.

[ghosted]

"raid – (DOD, NATO) An operation, usually small scale, involving a swift penetration of hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or to destroy installations. It ends with a planned withdrawal upon completion of the assigned mission. See FM 3-0."

no limits on size. It is a form of special attack.

[Stan]

just a raid and get the Foxtrot out

If we dump on Iran tomorrow with a raid, is it just a raid to destroy their nukes, or, is it indeed the first phase of a war ?

Why is a raid then so defined as a military act when our politicians do it every swingin' day and we pay the dear price of repairing "it" ?

As a former feeble military servant, it seems to me that a military raid and its outcome is no different than politics with potentially high costs to all in terms of casualties, civilian damage and economic disruption.

Fuchs: A political raid ?

[Fuchs]

Dunno what a political raid could be.


New (and quick) raid definition:

Veni, Vidi, GTFO

[Stan]

Dunno what a political raid could be.

New (and quick) raid definition:

Just did a quick search and bingo

The Jameson Raid was a botched raid on Paul Kruger's Transvaal Republic carried out by a British colonial statesman Leander Starr Jameson and his Rhodesian and Bechuanaland policemen over the New Year weekend of 1895–96. It was intended to trigger an uprising by the primarily British expatriate workers (known as Uitlanders) in the Transvaal but failed to do so. The workers were called the Johannesburg conspirators. They were expected to recruit an army and prepare for an insurrection. The raid was ineffective and no uprising took place, but it was an inciting factor in the Second Boer War and the Second Matabele War.