Successful hand-to-hand combat within a group depends mainly on clear interaction between group members and their individual training.

In our opinion, enough has been said about personal training, so we will consider the issues directly related to the conduct of hand-to-hand combat by a group.

When considering hand-to-hand combat, we determined its phases and distances, and concluded that these phases and distances will be common for both individual and group combat.

In group hand-to-hand combat, it should be borne in mind that management by the leader is difficult, so when preparing small groups for action in hand-to-hand combat, it is necessary to pre-distribute the roles between the participants (for observation, distraction, attack, etc.) and determine the method of action.

One of the most difficult issues is interaction in a group during hand-to-hand combat.

Interaction during the battle will consist of coordinated actions of the fighters on tasks, time and place, mutual cover, clear organization of communication and signaling between each member of the group.

Constant and clear interaction is a prerequisite for success.

Therefore, each fighter must know the General task, their task, who they are covering, who is covering them, as well as the signals of interaction and identification.

For successful combat, the group must move in a certain order.

The group can be divided into subgroups if necessary. Since it is most convenient for two or three fighters to conduct hand-to-hand combat, the subgroups consist mainly of 2-3 people.

The order of construction can be as follows:

If there are 2 fighters:

1. one next to the other "shoulder to shoulder";
2. one next to the other "back to back";
3. one behind the other, to the left or right.

If there are 3 fighters:

1. angle forward - one in front, two behind (left and right);
2. angle back - two in front, one behind.

In a sudden collision with the enemy, it is advisable to use the old tactics of Russian fist fights "wall to wall", i.e. you can "cut" the enemy at an angle forward, the first one strikes or reflects blows, and the covering ones finish off the survivors, or to leak (break) through the enemy's ranks, break it into several parts. In real conditions, there can be many options.

Given the specifics of hand-to-hand combat, when the attack goes on the defensive and, conversely, in short periods of time, we recommend that if the enemy suddenly attacks, immediately go into a counterattack, close up and destroy it with all available means.

If we attacked, it is advisable to conduct hand-to-hand combat as follows:  one or two subgroups are directly engaged in hand-to-hand combat, the other (other) subgroup (subgroups) cover the actions of their own. That is, they finish off the enemy, conduct surveillance, and organize defense during hand-to-hand combat.

Thus, in a group battle, the formation of the group's order of battle is of great importance. Depending on the number, the group can be arranged in a column, a line, a ledge to the right (left), an angle forward or back, a circle or back to back.  In this case, the fight is conducted by joint collective actions, each fighter must interact with the other. These methods of interaction can be: finishing off the enemy, overturned by another fighter;  "reception" of a blow intended for a friend, redirecting the movement of a weapon (bayonet, knife or stick) or an opponent's blow to his partner, leading the fight by your friend. In a group battle, it is very important to control the situation not only in front of you, but also around you. Therefore, the group establishes surveillance sectors, which are also "zones of responsibility" when conducting a group battle. These sectors should normally overlap.

When attacking an enemy in a group, for example, for the purpose of noiseless capture, it is necessary to plan in advance who grabs the enemy's weapons, who closes and shuts the enemy's mouth, than to shut the mouth, who binds the prisoner, who at the same time ensures the retreat of the group.

We must not forget about the psychological impact on the enemy. Here, too, there are no ready-made unambiguous answers.  We can offer only some approaches to solving the problem, because the situation may be different, and they need to be solved on the spot, according to the situation.

For example, you can conduct hand-to-hand combat in complete silence, or Vice versa, issuing loud sharp shouts.

A depressing effect on the enemy can be put on the face of a mask with a cutout for the eyes, as well as the face of the leading hand-to-hand combat, strongly painted with multi-colored paints.

In addition, a strong and unpleasant (unpleasant) smell, stench (from the mouth, from clothing, from the body) irritates, creates discomfort for the enemy, and ultimately can help in conducting hand-to-hand combat.

Some examples of hand-to-hand combat:

1. Attack of two fighters on an armed enemy with the purpose of its silent capture.

Quietly and simultaneously approach the enemy from behind or from the side.  The first fighter grabs the opponent's right arm and weapon or strikes the right shoulder.  At the same time, the second fighter throws a rag over the head of the opponent or covers his mouth with a rubber glove. Having taken possession of the weapon, the first fighter binds the captive and helps the second fighter to gag the captive.

2. Attack by three fighters.

The first fighter grabs the hand with a weapon or "wraps" the hands with a short heavy object; at the same time, the second fighter throws a rag over the head of the enemy or puts a glove over his mouth; the third fighter binds the prisoner.  After that, the first fighter shuts the opponent's mouth with a rag, if necessary, inserts a gag.

3. The Attack of two fighters on the enemy, located in a trench or trench, with the purpose of its silent capture (in combat).

Both fighters jump into the trench at the same time.  The first fighter, whose main task is to take possession of the enemy's weapon, jumps into the trench to the right of the enemy, trying to jump to knock the weapon out of his right hand with the butt of his machine gun (rifle), jumping off, grab the enemy's weapon or his armed hand.  The second fighter, whose task is to close the enemy's mouth or make him unconscious, jumps into the trench to the left of the enemy and, throwing a rag, grabs his head or claps his mouth with his left hand in a rubber glove;  after knocking down the opponent, he holds it until the partner binds the prisoner and puts a gag in his mouth.

     4. Silent attack on the enemy from an ambush (in combat conditions).

There is one subgroup of the seizure of 4-5 fighters.  For an ambush, a section of trench connecting two firing points is planned.

After crawling up to the enemy's trench, three soldiers lie down on the parapet: two on one side and one on the other.  To the right and left of them at a distance of 3-5 steps lies the fourth and fifth fighter; all are watching. One, two, or three of the enemy moved along the trench. Fighters act depending on how far the enemy moves from each other:  they are grouped so that, as soon as the enemy is level with the ambush group, you can jump into the trench together, knock down and disarm the enemy, throwing a rag over his head or covering his mouth with a rubber-lined glove.  Extreme fighters with knives and ropes silently destroy the rest of the enemy or help the Central group. A free fighter watches and holds grenades and weapons at the ready.

5. Attacking an enemy group from an ambush in its trenches(in combat conditions).

For an ambush, a section of trench connecting two firing points is planned. Task:  capture a prisoner. After the barrier group makes passes in the trenches, the scouts crawl to the enemy trench. There are two subgroups of capture at the same time, and their actions are strictly coordinated. Two soldiers from the first subgroup carefully descend into the trench and, standing with their backs to each other, listen and observe. Two pairs of fighters lie on the parapet on both sides, one pair is closer to the enemy's fortifications, and the other pair is 4-8 paces away; all watch the firing points. At the other end of the trench, the second subgroup is located in the same way.

When several enemy men appear in the trench, the men lying on the parapet let them pass; a pair of men who are closer to the enemy's fortifications descend noiselessly into the trench, cutting off the enemy's escape route. The enemy, continuing to advance, faces the scouts standing in the center of the trench. They meet them with a grenade throw and machine gun fire.  The survivors always run back.  A pair of fighters lying on the parapet, passes only one of the fleeing, and destroys the rest with fire.  The missed enemy falls at this time into the hands of two soldiers who went down into the trench specifically for his capture, they dump him, disarm, gag, bind and deliver on the previously planned path.

In both cases, with the actions of one or two subgroups of capture, if the fighters did not wait for the enemy for an hour or two, then it is necessary to boldly and boldly go along the message to the location of the firing point. The enemy may take the scouts for their own or not notice their approach at all. If this is an open machine-gun platform, you need to pounce on the enemy, capture one and destroy the rest with knives and butts.  If the firing point is located in a bunker, then in order to destroy some of the enemy soldiers and create a panic, it is recommended to throw 1-2 grenades into the door or other cracks, if any.  After that, two or three soldiers must quickly and boldly enter the bunker (if necessary, illuminating it inside with a lantern) and, acting with fire and knives, capture one prisoner and documents, and destroy the rest and quickly make a retreat.

In each individual case, the fighter or group must act depending on the tasks and situation.

6. Capture an enemy moving on a Bicycle, motorcycle, or horse.

To attack the enemy, a group of scouts is located on both sides of the road. Two fighters stretch a rope across the road, pull it tight, press it to the ground and, disguised as standing, sitting or lying down, hold the end of the rope. The third and fourth fighters, disguised, lie by the road - one with a rope for binding, the other with rags for gagging.  The fifth fighter observes during the entire time of actions of the capture subgroup, holds weapons and grenades in readiness and warns with a signal of danger.  When the enemy approaches, you need to sharply raise the rope and, grabbing her opponent's chest, tear it off the motorcycle, Bicycle or horse. The third and fourth men attack the enemy and tie him up, while the first and second, using a rope, remove the tracks from the road or catch a horse.  After capturing the prisoner and covering the tracks, you must leave immediately.

Thus, in all cases of an attack on an armed enemy, it is necessary to capture him:

• stealthily and silently approach the enemy or wait for his approach;
• grab his weapon; to knock a weapon or to strike the enemy's hands, if he holds a weapon in his hands, which hit the barrel of the gun or other object over his shoulder; if the enemy is only trying to get weapons to beat on his forearms hands;
• cover your mouth with a specially made rubber glove, rags, or throw a tent cloak or overcoat over your head, while grabbing your throat with your right hand so that the Adam's Apple is in the crook of the elbow under the forearm.

Memo for conducting hand-to-hand combat by a group.

- Clear coordination of group actions is the basis for victory in group hand-to-hand combat.

- We need constant interaction and mutual assistance.  Always help a friend, cover him, especially the commander.

- The group should have a high individual training of each serviceman.

- The commander of the unit must constantly manage the actions of the unit (group), organize communication between subgroups and each soldier.

- Each fighter must know their place (their main actions)in the event of a melee.

- When conducting a battle with several opponents, it is necessary to "crowd" them by actively performing a maneuver.

 To destroy first of all the middle of the enemy.

- Hit one, immediately attack the next.

- Be ready to repel an attack from any side.

- The group should have developed collective thinking.

- Every fighter should have a habit of active, initiative, independent, creative, daring fighting