One of German General Carl Von Clausewitz's key concepts is culmination. His primary work On War describes culmination for the attacker as the point beyond which he can no longer continue his attack and risks destruction from a counterattack. For...
Air/Land Battle doctrine stresses the need for Army units to fight successfully out-numbered. This dictum implies the conduct of defensive operations at the beginning of a war. The shift to offensive operations, the counterattack, can be the key to...
This is a history of the 85th Infantry Division. It gives a brief overview of the early years, details training for the Second World War, the Gustav Line, the second phase, the drive on Rome and to the north, between attacks, the Gothic Line, and...
This monograph examines the key determinants necessary for the successful forced entry seizure of an airfield. The importance of contingency operations is paramount to the United States military as it transitions from "forward defense" to "CONUS...
The possibility of local war is everywhere in the world today. It is most difficult to minimize the impact of an attacker's initial surprise attack, to seize the initiative, and conduct an effective counteroffensive. Here lies the problem in those...
This monograph examines the adequacy of current jungle and infantry doctrine in addressing the conduct of night operations in a jungle environment. Daytime jungle operations already have much in common with night operations in general due to the...
Tactical generalship is an obscure and often misunderstood concept. It is mistakenly thought of as being synonymous with senior level leadership of general officers. However, in wartime, our general officers are evaluated on their generalship more...
This study investigates the criteria an operational commander must examine to decide if he should conduct a voluntary retrograde operation. The Army's current doctrine addresses how to conduct a retrograde but not why. The aim of this study is to...
This study examines current river crossing doctrine to determine its compatibility with current force structure and the AirLand Battle concept of the modern battlefield. Using the historical example of the 80th Infantry Division's assault crossing...
As warfare continues to become more complex due to the advent and proliferation of new technology, blending of ethnic and cultural groups, population growth and urbanization, and tendency towards asymmetric warfare, commanders will have more...
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...
By 1 July 1943, the beginning of the period covered by this report, the German and Japanese plans of aggression had been shattered. Our plan of action had been resolved into two great efforts--one in Europe against Germany, the other in the...
This document describes meeting the Metz defense line, the fortified region of Metz, plan, deployment and opposing forces, pinpointing Metz, encirclement and entry, action in the north, and the march to the Saar for the XX Corps during World War...
Discusses the history of the regiment (21st Infantry), starting with a brief account in the 1800s. The majority of the document concerns World War II history. Lists battle honors and activities beginning with Pearl Harbor and continuing throughout...
Describes the action during the Korean War in which the 9th ROK Division successfully defended Hill 395 for ten days against a Chinese Communist force of 33,000 men in the 38th CCF Army (corps) reinforced.
This thesis examines the effect the rifle had on infantry tactics during the Civil War. It traces the transition from smoothbore to rifle and the development of the Minie ball. The range and accuracy of various weapons are discussed and several...
This paper examines the adequacy of current AirLand Battle doctrine in assisting the operational commander in making his decision on when to counterattack at the operational level against Warsaw Pact forces in a war in Central Europe. It provides a...
Thesis: The Confederate Army achieved victory at the battle of Spotsylvania despite an overwhelming opposing force, through leadership, combat experience, indomitable spirit, and the will to fight and win.
This study investigates the role played by VII Corps' World War II Cavalry Group, the 4th Cavalry Group, in the European Theater of Operations. The thesis seeks to determine if the group executed its doctrinal mission during the war. Prior to and...
This narrative recounts the operational history of XIXth Panzer Corps' advance from 10 to 15 May 1940. Its primary focus is directed at the breakthrough at Sedan. The political and military situations influencing the decision makers of the German...