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Collection	School of Advanced Military Studies Monographs
Title	Big tank little bridge: is there a position on the peace operations team for heavy armor?
Author	James, Thomas S., Jr.
Abstract	The past decade has witnessed incredible change in the stability of the world. The end of the Cold War completely changed the international equation. The standard Soviet template no longer dominates the threat model. Based on the decreasing potential for conventional war, increasing probability for peace operations, and a shrinking defense budget; military and political leaders must invest in weapon systems capable of operating effectively in both environments. This monograph discusses the importance of including heavy armor in the peace operations force package. The M1A1 tank provides the force commander with an increase in force protection and a psychological advantage over potential threats. Force protection is one of the most important considerations in peace operations. Heavy armor helps minimize the risk by providing a heavily armored platform which contains maximum force protection in any environment. Speed, mobility, potential firepower, and ability to function at night contribute to providing supporting fires for infantry forces in operations often involving urban terrain. An analysis of the Battle of Mogadishu, where the Quick Reaction Force attacked to relieve Task Force Ranger in the Bakara Market, and the mine clearing and lane proofing functions in Bosnia provides the foundation for this analysis. Furthermore, these case studies illustrate the psychological impact armor has on stabilizing situations. The use of the First Armored Division in Bosnia to demonstrate United States resolve and the use of tanks by the 1st Marine Corps Tank Battalion (FWD) during Operation Restore Hope illustrate that the presence of armor can defuse potentially volatile situations without firing a shot. The conclusion uncovers that heavy armor forces should own a position on the peace operations team. The heavily armored system provides force protection and psychological effect which is invaluable to mission accomplishment. In addition, if the situation escalates, the versatility of the tank provides the mission commander with a potent asset with which to respond. In an increasingly fluid and changing environment, having this capability in the commander’s hip pocket could well be the difference between mission success and mission failure.
Keyword	Heavy armor; Peace operations; Tanks; Force protection; Fire support; Urban warfare; Task Force Ranger; Mogadishu, Somalia; 1st Armored Division; Bosnia; Operation Restore Hope; 1st Marine Corps Tank Battalion; Combat effectiveness; Psychological warfare; Military
Series	Command and General Staff College (CGSC), School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) Monograph
Publisher	Fort Leavenworth, KS : US Army Command and General Staff College,
Date, Original	1996-12-17
Date, Digital	2007
Resource Type	Textual
Format	PDF; Adobe Acrobat Reader required; 62 p.; 1.94 MB.
Call number	ADA 324338
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	2007-04-17

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