Battle simulation
BBS sees real-time CPX at Robertson Barracks

Brigade staff outline essential tasks for the CPX.

The BBS battle map and showing unit properties.

The BBS AAR function showing unit deployments. Photos provided by CTC BCW

By Michael Brooke

THE first combined arms exercise involving Abrams tanks, Tiger helicopters and other future weapon systems has been conducted recently using a new simulation tool called Brigade/Battalion Battle Simulation (BBS).

The PC-version BBS was introduced in November last year and is designed to train brigade and battalion staff for Command Post Exercises (CPX). The BBS is a real-time, man-in-the-loop, free play, computer based system, which responds to the decisions of commanders in the field.

With its development roots in Australia, BBS has emerged as a worldwide success story, having been fielded by the US, Australian and six other armies during the past decade because it is such a fast, cheap and easy training tool.

BBS was tested during the CTC Battle Command Wing (BCW) 1 Bde Rotation at Robertson Barracks in March this year and produced some good lessons for the exercise participants that included 1 Bde units, CTC (BCW and OPFOR) and Army Simulation Wing.

The exercise scenario saw 1 Bde deploy to “Redland” as part of a coalition task force that comes under attack from an enemy armoured division.

HQ 1 Bde Acting COFS Maj Justin Ellwood said the BBS-run CPX challenged the participants with a sharp learning curve.
“BBS generated numerous issues that tested each of the cells within the HQ,” he said.

“This CPX has provided a sharp learning curve for our predominantly new staff. We are a better drilled HQ as a result.”

Maj Nick Surtees, OC Exercise Control (CTC BCW) said the aim of the rotation was to conduct a deliberate brigade and unit Military Appreciation Process and a BDE CPX.

He said one of the training objectives was to evaluate BBS as a procedural training tool for CPXs.

“For its first run, BBS went well and with improvement it will become a very useful simulation training tool for units and brigades conducting CPXs that deal with either conventional or unconventional operations.”

BBS also presents MOUT capabilities, force protection, anti-terrorism, multi-factional forces (unknown forces) that model multi-action/multi-interaction scenarios, coalition warfare, and United Nations charter operations. It can also manage large battlespaces, with 5000 units comprising Red, Blue and Unknown, Civilian Refugee, and Enemy PoWs.

Another feature is the after action review (AAR) capability that collects, displays, and presents near real-time data from the exercise, allowing evaluation of performance.

Maj Surtees said he was impressed by the way BBS brings Combat Service Support into the planning equation – movement, conflict and battle damage have an effect on supply, ammunition, water, rations and fuel levels of all units.

“Forces must be continually re-supplied and BBS really brings CSS into the exercise scenario and makes it a very real component of any CPX.”