This monograph develops a conceptual framework for the integration of strongpoints into a defense against Blitzkrieg relying primarily on heavy mobile forces. It is oriented primarily on NATO in Europe, where most of the strongpoints will be on...
This monograph examines the current U.S. doctrine regarding the role of firepower at the operational level. It reviews the most recent doctrinal guidance on this element of combat power and the historical underpinnings of this doctrine in the works...
This monograph seeks to determine whether the counterattack demands prioritization in the operational defense. It examines the operational defender's force allocation when he confronts a major enemy offensive thrust. The study includes a review of...
American military doctrine and professional literature in the past decade have stressed maneuver warfare and the operational level of war. This monograph traces the evolution of maneuver theory and its conceptual opposite, firepower theory, and...
The 1986 edition of Field Manual (FM) 100-5, Operations, introduced a theoretical basis to AirLand Battle, the U.S. Army's basic fighting doctrine. One of the new concepts introduced into the doctrine was 'center of gravity.' The manual indicated...
This monograph addresses whether current doctrine adequately prepares armor and mechanized infantry forces to successfully conduct the final assault of a prepared position. Offensive operations culminate with actions on the objective, yet...
This monograph examines the current state of ground tactical mobility in U.S. airborne forces. Our national leadership is currently reviewing the assignment of roles and missions of the armed forces. Down-sizing will require the Army to employ its...
The United States has possessed tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) since the early 1950's. Initially developed for deployment to Europe to offset the Soviet/Warsaw Pact's huge conventional superiority and to deter war, these weapons have never been...
This monograph explores the similarity between the nuclear battlefield of the Pentomic Era and the nonlinear battlefield described in TRADOC Pamphlet 525-5 AirLand Operations: A Concept for the Evolution of AirLand Battle for the Strategic Army of...
This monograph discusses the usefulness of a theory concerning only a small sector of ground combat. Using obstacles as a point of discussion, it seeks to determine how far down the benefits of theory apply. The paper begins by examining the...
This monograph examines the nature of operational reconnaissance. It proposes a theory of operational reconnaissance compatible with the demands of the U.S. Army's Objective Force concepts. The paper opens with a discussion on the relationship of...
This study examines the application of fires and maneuver through the eyes of commanders who have successfully integrated these two dynamics of combat power. To compensate for the lack of a clear measurement of integrated fires and maneuver, an...
Tempo is a key characteristic of offensive operations. It is the means by which the attacker keeps the defender off balance and prevents him from taking effective countermeasures. In the attack, reconnaissance units are key to gathering...
General Schwarzkopf was unhappy with the tempo of the VII Corps attack during Operation Desert Storm. Likewise, a recent Rand study of over 115 NTC battles highlighted the technique of overwatch as a significant detractor to sustaining tempo in the...
To fight effectively on the cellular battlefield that AirLand Battle doctrine envisages will demand individual and tactical initiative of a high order. Auftragstaktik, a system which encourages decentralized decision authority and mission orders,...
This study examines the nature of the defense at the operational level of war by analyzing the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 using the concepts of blitzkrieg and "web" defense. The monograph begins by discussing the influence of defensive...
As modern battlefields have become increasingly dispersed and nonlinear, intermingling of opposing forces in encounter battles jeopardizes the sustainment of maneuver forces along fixed lines of communication. During the mid-nineteenth century,...
This monograph seeks to determine under what conditions an operational commander might employ strategic airpower in his campaign design. This journey begins first by exploring the linkage between strategy, operations, and tactics. Next, U.S. Army...
This monograph examines the conduct of war at the operational level in a multi-medium environment to determine what functions must be successfully accomplished in order to win. The monograph is based on the fact that warfare is currently conducted...
In 1932 J.F.C. Fuller published a book entitled Lectures on FSR III (Lectures on Field Service Regulations, Vol. III). In this book, Fuller presented a vision of future war that was shown to be highly accurate by later events. This vision was based...