The Middle East is one of the most urbanized regions of the world, and growth continues at an unprecedented rate. With operations ongoing in the Middle East today, it is fitting that this inaugural study should focus on military aspects of the...
The beginning of the 20th century marked a departure point for the United States (U.S.) in several ways. Technological and scientific advances that would continue to influence the U.S. for decades occurred with seeming regularity. For the citizens...
This study considers whether there are specific operational level considerations for conducting offensive urban operations. A survey of the last several conflicts indicate the importance of cities. A worldwide trend toward urbanization and a...
This monograph describes a possible technique to allow military planners to identify key objectives that may be affected in gaining control of a city without destroying it. This technique involves viewing a city as a complex "system of systems"...
The world’s growing population is becoming increasingly urbanized. If recent interventions and peacekeeping efforts by the military are indications of future deployments, then the US Army must realize the likelihood of conducting military...
This study is organized in three parts. The first part is based on the assumption that in order to take a city apart one must first know how to put it together. A substantial literature on urban design, planning, and management has never been...
Prior to World War II, the port of Cherbourg was a premier deep-water European port for large trans-Atlantic vessels. Throughout World War I, Cherbourg was a hub of activity for the French and was a main base for repair of all naval vessels in...
This study argues that there are historical reasons to focus on Jerusalem first and to use an international Holy Basin methodology to bring Israel and the Palestinian National Authority together towards a workable compromise. This analysis...
Recent changes have made urban operations a greater probability in future contingencies. For years, the common approach to military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) has been to avoid it as much as possible. With that approach, our doctrine and...
Some military thinkers believe that it is possible to avoid urban combat when attacking and seizing a city. They claim that U.S. forces can do this by taking an Indirect Approach. The proposal is basically a siege of the city. This course of...
The central question of this monograph is a simple one: does the Army's current imagery (IMINT), and measurements and signatures intelligence (MASINT) surveillance architecture, at echelons division and below, meet the requirements for supporting...
The recent U.S. military reorganization has led to the preponderance of forces being stationed in the continental United States (CONUS). The 1992 National Military Strategy (NMS) followed this reorganization. Force projection formed the centerpiece...
The US will not always fight a cooperative enemy in urban operations. The Panamanian Defense Forces and Haitian military surrendered without significant fighting and bloodshed. Urban fighting against a more determined opponent, such as the clans of...
Since the end of the Second World War most modern armies have been conventionally structured and equipped to fight high intensity conflicts against like armed nations. Congruently, there has also been many low intensity conflicts in which similarly...
This paper examines the question whether the U.S. Army should subdivide MOUT doctrine into two parts, precision MOUT and Combat In Built-Up Areas (CIBUA)? Current MOUT doctrine attempts to avoid fighting in cities. This doctrine evolved from the...
The United States entered "the war to end all wars" seventy years ago, but much may still be learned from a study of that vast military and diplomatic experience. Accordingly, the Center of Military History is now bringing back into print a series...
This report describes the effects of the atomic bombs which were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, summarizing the information available on damage to structures, injuries to personnel, morale effect, etc.
This monograph discusses the proper doctrine for current heavy forces in Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT). The urban warfare concepts found in classical military theory, modern military theory, history, and contemporary analysis are...
This monograph discusses whether current U.S. Army doctrine for the use of light armor is sufficient to support light infantry forces in military operations on urbanized terrain (MOUT) at the brigade level. The U.S. Army will soon replace the...
Combat operations in the urban area are not new to warfare. The United States' military conducted large-scale urban operations in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. During the last sixty years, the United States' Army approached the urban area by...