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Collection	Master of Military Art and Science Theses
Title	Countermeasures to an initial surprise attack through the analysis of historical examples.
Author	Yoo, Je Hyun
Abstract	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 free world countries threatened by aggressive war. This study reveals that historically the attackers concealed their intention to attack, the timing of the attack, and their manner of attack, then tried to secure local air and sea superiority by surprise. The main attack was directed toward the place where the defender least anticipated and during the most vulnerable time with the employment of new tactics, weapons, and equipment. The attacker's overpowering concentration of force at the decisive place and his speed of maneuver enhanced the chance of initial success and made it possible to achieve decisive results. The defender must eliminate vulnerable timing in his reaction capabilities considering international, political, economic, and psychological factors and operational environment; he must develop his own doctrine, organization, and material based on his national character, terrain, climate, history, and the enemy's doctrine. To cope with the attacker's main attack directed toward an unexpected place, the defender must secure flexibility which could cope with any enemy capabilities. Once the attacker has attacked, the defender's command structure should exactly identify the attacker's attempt as early as possible. To respond quickly to enemy's attempt, the defender should possess quick reaction capabilities through securing local air superiority, protecting command and control systems, improving command capabilities, and sound officers' leadership. To respond effectively to the attacker's overpowering concentration of force and his speed of maneuver, the defender's maximum efforts must be focused on absorbing the attacker's attack momentum. To absorb the attacker's attack momentum and finally to win the first battle, the appropriate mix of four measures: (1) to establish appropriate strategic depth; (2) to hold the shoulder of the attacker's breakthrough; (3) to hold the strategic key terrain; (4) to conduct counterattacks and counteroffensives should resolutely be conducted considering troops available, terrain, the attacker's doctrine, and political and psychological factors. These countermeasures could not be accomplished without the soldiers' high morale. Soldiers should possess an iron will to fight and a climate of mutual confidence in the forces is absolutely necessary in minimizing the effects of an initial surprise attack. Those deduced countermeasures could be considered conceptual guidance in preparing for a surprise attack. The actual, substantial, and precise countermeasures should be researched, developed, and actualized nationally within the specific environments involved. The generals should honestly analyze their forces' weaknesses and improve them prior to war.
Keyword	Attacks; Tactics; Surprise; Military doctrine; Principles of war; Counterattacks; Countermeasures; Military strategy; Limited war; Morale; Arab Israeli War, 1967; Arab Israeli War, 1973; Egyptian Armed Forces; Sinai; Tank warfare; Israeli Defense Force; World War, 1939-1945; World War II; WWII
Series	Command and General Staff College (CGSC) MMAS thesis
Publisher	Fort Leavenworth, KS : US Army Command and General Staff College,
Date, Original	1980-06-06
Date, Digital	2008
Resource Type	Textual
Format	PDF; Adobe Acrobat Reader required; 97 p.; 4.59 MB.
Call number	ADA 097693
Release statement	Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)
Repository	Combined Arms Research Library
Library	Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library
Date created	2008-08-20

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