This document discusses the tactical and logistical problems peculiar to operations of encircled forces, as well as the problems of air support for encircled ground troop.
Schmidt, Jim; Marshall, Michael; Girouard, Ted; McCabe, Bernie; Nazar, Steve; Collins, Gene; Fanning, Norm; Foux, Bob; McDuffie, Mike
The breakout from the Normandy beachhead and the subsequent pursuit of German forces which came to a temporary halt at the West Wall took place from 6 July - 12 September 1944. The operation was characterized by rapid, independent operations...
The purpose of this thesis was to determine the adequacy of current U.S. Army doctrine relative to encircled units and breakout operations in view of the problems encountered by the 31st Regimental Combat Team, U.S. 7th Infantry Division, on the...
The 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was created on 24 November 1950. On 27 November it had the mission of relieving the Marines of the 1st Marine Division East of the Chosin reservoir and attacking to the North towards the Yalu River. The...
The advent of air power in the twentieth century combined with the industrialization of armed forces significantly increased the means and opportunities to interdict enemy resupply and movement. While much has been written on the subjects of...
History is replete with examples of lost opportunities to decisively defeat an enemy's army on the field of battle. All too often, tactical success has not been followed by actions to ensure operational success. This failure may be attributable to...
This monograph examines and analyzes two encirclement operations from the Russo-German Front of 1944 in order to determine their costs and benefits to the overall campaigns. Military theorists expect successful encirclement operations to produce...
Lieutenant General Troy H. Middleton effectively commanded division and corps formations in World War II. His previous combat experience included command of the 47th Infantry Regiment in World War I. During the interwar period, Middleton served as...
This monograph discusses the intricacies of liquidating tactical encirclements and bypassed pockets of enemy resistance. Operational employment of U.S. Army doctrine will lead to tactical encirclements in most instances. Contemporary doctrine,...
One of the enduring controversies of World War II is the debate over the value of the Brittany campaign following the Normandy breakout. The Allies adhered to an Overlord requirement by sending Third Army west to seize port facilities in Brittany,...
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...
A study of General Walton H. Walker's career offers a lens through which to view the evolution of Army training doctrine, revealing its strengths and weaknesses over a period of nearly four decades. However, an understanding of the skills necessary...
Success in modern warfare is no longer the product of a single decisive battle, rather, success is the result of decisive campaign. The great campaigns of World War II all ended prior to the conclusion of the war because the armies involved were...
Operational pauses are part of campaign design and remain relevant in 21st century expeditionary warfare. The United States should maintain the military in a subordinate role as only one element of national power. Where this is infeasible, use of...
More than 60 years since the outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula, the United States Armed Forces continue to stand by the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of the Republic of Korea in an effort to deter further North Korean aggression. The...
In early October 1990, President Bush asked General Colin Powell to present him with military options to liberate Kuwait. For General Powell, the President's request significantly altered his approach to the crisis in the desert. His problem had...
This monograph examines operational exploitation and questions if enough guidance is available to give a commander the detail required to execute such an operation. Field Manual 100-5, Operations, requires commanders to plan exploitation as an...
This monograph examines the U.S. Army's decision to eliminate Echo companies from the Heavy Division force structure. Since the introduction of the tank onto the modern battlefield the struggle between tank and anti-armor weapon has dominated the...
This monograph examines whether the 1993 edition of Operations, the keystone U.S. Army operational level doctrine, provides sufficient description of considerations planners use in determining the sequence of actions for operations. To be...
This study answers the following question related to the “Engineer Restructure Initiative”: Is the proposed division engineer (DIVENG) regiment capable of creating the conditions necessary to maintain the heavy division's tactical freedom of...