Table of Contents
Preface iii
Figure and Tables ix
Summary xi
Acknowledgments xix
Abbreviations xxi
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
The Army Future Force 1
The Past as Prologue 5
Monograph Objective and Parameters 8
Tasks 9
Definitions 9
Methodology 10
Cases 14
Monograph Organization 14
Chapter 2 Medium-Armored Forces in Operations at the High End of the Range of Military Operations 17
Armored Warfare in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) 17
The Armored Forces 18
Employment 19
Key Insights 23
U.S. Armored Forces Versus German Armored Forces in Western Europe During World War II (1944-1945) 24
The Armored Forces 24
Employment 28
Key Insights 40
U.S. Army Armored Cavalry and Mechanized Infantry in Vietnam (1965-1972) 42
The Armored Forces 44
Employment 49
Key Insights 51
Task Force Shepherd, 1st Marine Division, in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Southwest Asia, 1990-1991) 52
The Armored Forces 55
Employment 55
Key Insights 63
Chapter 3 Medium-Armored Forces in the Center of the Range of Military Operations 65
Soviet Airborne Operations in Czechoslovakia (1968) 65
The Armored Forces 68
Employment 68
Key Insights 70
South Africa in Angola (1975-1988) 71
The Armored Forces 73
Employment 75
Key Insights 82
Soviet Operations in Afghanistan (1979-1989) 83
The Armored Forces 92
Employment 94
Key Insights 97
U.S. Forces in Operations Just Cause (Panama, 1989) 97
The Armored Forces 101
Employment 104
Key Insights 105
Russia in Chechnya (1994-2001) 106
Chechnya I 107
Chechnya II 114
The Armored Forces 119
Employment 120
Key Insights 122
U.S. Stryker Brigade Combat Teams in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2005)123
The Stryker Brigades 124
Employment 128
Key Insights 130
Chapter 4 Medium-Armored Forces in Operations at the Lower End of the Range of Military Operations 131
The Rescue of Task Force Ranger (Somalia, 1993) 131
The Armored Forces 134
Employment 135
Key Insights 136
Australia and New Zealand in East Timor (1999-2000) 137
The Armored Forces 142
Employment 142
Key Insights 145
Chapter 5 Conclusions 147
What Unique Capabilities Have Medium-Armored Forces Brought to Past Conflicts, and Where Along the Spectrum of Operations Have They Been Most Valuable? 147
How Have Medium-Armored Forces Performed in Complex Terrain in the Past? 150
What Advantages Has the Rapid-Deployment Capability of Medium-Armored Forces Provided to Operational Commanders in the Past? 151
Implications for the U.S. Army Future Force and the FCS 152
Conceptual Choices Matter and Shape Initial Capabilities 152
Medium Armor Can Be Disadvantaged Against Competent Heavy Forces and Vulnerable in Complex Terrain 154
Combined Arms and Force Quality Can Mitigate the Inherent Advantages of Heavy Armor 155
Final Thoughts 155
Appendixes
A DOTMLPF, BOS, Characteristics of a Transformed Force, and Complex Terrain Synthesis for Case Studies 157
B Individual Case Study Assessments of DOTMLPF, BOS, Characteristics of a Transformed Force, and Complex Terrain 173
C Definitions 261
Bibliography 271
Index 297
