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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 monograph analyzes classical warfare and modern warfare to determine whether there is a theoretical shift occurring that is blending the tenets of both of these theories of war. Exploitation of the inherent strengths of each of these theories...
The purpose of this paper is to answer two questions. The first question is: is it feasible to employ light infantry formations in offensive operations to the tactical depths of the battlefield in a mid-intensity environment? If it is feasible,...