RESTRICTED
WARGAMING
By
Col FO OKAE-YEBOAH
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
INTRODUCTION
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 2
RESTRICTED
INTRODUCTION
Ø Wargaming is used to examine courses of action during the
operational estimate
Ø It is focused on the coordination of capabilities and activities at
component level
Ø It addresses all the various facets of Joint Action (information
activities, fires, manoeuvre etc)
Ø It addresses activities of other military and civilian actors within
the operating space
Ø Wargaming can vary in scope and complexity, from informal
discussions around a map to the use of sophisticated computer
simulations
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 3
RESTRICTED
AIM
To enhance students’ understanding of Wargaming and
explain its utility in the Op Estimate process
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 4
RESTRICTED
SCOPE
Ø Definition
Ø Purpose
Ø Employment
Ø Methodology
Ø Types
Ø Execution
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 5
RESTRICTED
DEFINITION
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 6
RESTRICTED
DEFINITION
“A flexible tool designed and used in the operational estimate for
the development, comparison, improvement and identification of
short comings of friendly courses of action, achieved through the
employment of adversarial techniques which pit ones own
potential courses of action against the assessed adversary courses
of action.”
Wargaming Aide Memoire
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 7
RESTRICTED
PURPOSE
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 8
RESTRICTED
PURPOSE
Ø A thorough understanding of the likely actions and reactions of
friendly, neutral and hostile actors within the joint operations
area (JOA) and, where appropriate, beyond
Ø An indication of the likely effects of military activity, and the
associated risks
Ø A specific assessment of any friendly courses of action versus
those of an opponent
Ø Refinement and development of courses of action, including the
detailed determination of relevant timings, force
(re-)deployments and logistic implications
Ø ‘Bullet-proofing’ of a JTFC’s chosen course of action
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 9
RESTRICTED
EMPLOYMENT
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 10
RESTRICTED
EMPLOYMENT
STEP 4 – DEVELOP AND VALIDATE COURSES OF ACTION
Ø Help to visualise embryonic CoAs
Ø Indicate in particular the art of the possible
Ø Enable impractical CoAs to be discarded at an early stage
Ø Identify risks and CONPLANS
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 11
RESTRICTED
EMPLOYMENT(CONT)
STEP 5 – EVALUATE COURSES OF ACTION
Ø Compare each friendly and opponent CoAs
Ø Relative strengths and weaknesses of each individual CoA
evaluated against JTFC’s criteria
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 12
RESTRICTED
EMPLOYMENT(CONT)
STEP 6 – COMMANDER’S DECISION
Ø Contributes to refinement of selected CoA
Ø Refinement of JTFC’s key decisions and CCIRs
Ø Assists in production of Coord Instrs
Ø Indicates specific requirements for BM
Ø Highlights potential tasks and associated readiness for an
operational reserve
Ø Identify potential unplanned or unfavourable effects, and hence
the requirement for CONPLANS
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 13
RESTRICTED
EMPLOYMENT(CONT)
Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Produce Comd’s
Develop Evaluate Comd’s Orders Backbrief/
CoA CoAs Decision Mission
Rehearsal
To Develop Aid CoA Refine Refine Plan in the
CoAs Selection Plan light of new info Mission
Rehearsal
Conduct
Wargaming Opportunites Operation
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 14
RESTRICTED
METHODOLGY
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 15
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY
Ø Belt
Ø Avenue
Ø Box
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 16
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY(CONT)
BELT METHODOLOGY
Ø Either by phase or pre-determined time slot
Ø Allows the modelling of all the DCs and SEs across all the lines
of operation
Ø Allows the development of a robust understanding of the
resource implications and activity de-confliction requirements
of each CoA
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 17
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY(CONT)
BELT METHODOLOGY
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
DC DC
DC DC COG Own CoA
DC DC DC
En CoA
Game Turn 1 Game Turn 2 Game Turn 3
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 18
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY (CONT)
AVENUE METHODOLOGY
Ø It allows for a more in-depth investigation of specific lines of
operation
Ø Provides greater clarity with regard to potential CONPLANS,
timescales and the cumulative sourcing effects across a
particular line of operation
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 19
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY(CONT)
AVENUE METHODOLOGY
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Game Turn 1 DC DC
Game Turn 2 DC DC COG Own CoA
Game Turn 3 DC DC DC
En CoA
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 20
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY(CONT)
BOX METHODOLOGY
Ø Most appropriately used when time is short
Ø Critical events or elements of the plan require investigation in
significant detail
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 21
RESTRICTED
METHODOLOGY(CONT)
BOX METHODOLOGY
DC DC
DC COG Own CoA
DC
DC DC DC
En CoA
Game Turn 1 Game Turn 2
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 22
RESTRICTED
TYPES
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 23
RESTRICTED
TYPES
Ø Wargaming Campaigns
Ø Wargaming Phases
Ø Wargaming Campaign Objs or DCs
Ø Wargaming Segments of Battle Space
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 24
RESTRICTED
TYPES(CONT)
WARGAMING CAMPAIGNS
Ø Belt Method
Ø Avenue Method
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 25
RESTRICTED
TYPES(CONT)
WARGAMING PHASES
Ø Belt Method
WARGAMING CAMPAIGN OBJ AND DC
Ø Box Method
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 26
RESTRICTED
TYPES(CONT)
WARGAMING SEGMENTS OF BATTLE SPACE
Ø Box Method
Ø Belt Method
Ø Avenue Method
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 27
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 28
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION
PREPARATION
Ø The first task is to identify the purpose (select the event to be
wargamed)
Ø Structure the wargame
Ø Gather the tools, materials and data (Schematics, CoA summary
sheets, seating plan etc)
Ø Brief staff to allow preparations
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 29
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
PLAYERS MJP
Ø Blue Team COS – Chairman
Ch J5 – Ch Recorder
Ø Red Team J5 Staff – Recorders
J3 Staff – JSAM
Ø Military Judgement Panel (MJP)
Ø SMEs SME
OGDs
Ø Recording Team Component Reps
OA Tm
Ø Observers (JTFC) etc
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 30
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
LAYOUT/SETUP
RED TEAM
MJP
COS – Chairman
Ch J5 – Ch Recorder
J5 Staff – Recorders
J3 Staff – Joint Action
Synchronisation Matrix OBSERVERS
(JASM) BIRD TABLE (Including Comd)
SME
OGDs
Component Reps
OA Tm
etc BLUE TEAM
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 31
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
Ø Principles of War
Ø Principles of the Specific Phase of War
Ø Functions in Combat (Tactical Functions)
Ø FACES (validation at Step 4)
Ø En Focused Textual Analysis (5 Questions)
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 32
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
The Cycle. The cycle is always initiated by the side that has the
initiative, in the case below it is the enemy
Action
Judgement
Reaction
Counter
Reaction
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 33
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION (CONT)
INTRODUCTION OF OP SITUATION (Incl)
Ø Mission Statements
Ø Comd’s Planning Guidance
Ø CoGs
Ø Comd’s Selection Criteria
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 34
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
Game Turns(Consisting)
Ø Action
u Illustrative Activities
u Questions of Understanding
u Record of Results
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 35
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
Game Turns(Consisting)
Ø Reaction
u Illustrative Activities (covering the oppositions
corresponding CoA element and capable of being
independent of the previous action)
uQuestions of Understanding
uRecord of Results
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 36
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
Game Turns(Consisting)
Ø Counter-Reaction
u Illustrative Activities
u Questions of Understanding
u Record of Results
Ø Remainder of Players
uOther players and SMEs (possibly incl Red Team) analyse
and input reactions to broaden MJP understanding
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 37
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
Game Turns(Consisting)
Ø Judgement
uAssessment (which may be facilitated by OA)
uConclusions
uRecording
Ø Assessment
uUsing selected assessment criteria in order to establish
CoA to be recommended to the Comd
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 38
RESTRICTED
EXECUTION(CONT)
Conclusion & Outputs
Ø Contributes to refinement of selected CoA
Ø Refinement of JTFC’s key decisions and CCIRs
Ø Assists in production of Coord Instrs
Ø Indicates specific requirements for BM
Ø Highlights potential tasks and associated readiness for an
operational reserve
Ø Identify potential unplanned or unfavourable effects, and hence
the requirement for CONPLANS
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 39
RESTRICTED
CONCLUSION
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 40
RESTRICTED
QUESTIONS
8 April 2020 RESTRICTED 41
