An Assessment of Medium-Armored Forces in Past Military Operations

337 Pages·2008·1.63 MB·English

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In the Middle of the Fight
An Assessment of Medium-Armored
Forces in Past Military Operations
David E. Johnson (cid:116) Adam Grissom (cid:116) Olga Oliker
Prepared for the United States Army
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
ARROYO CENTER
The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States
Army under Contract No. W74V8H-06-C-0001.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Johnson, David E., 1950 Oct. 16–
In the middle of the fight : an assessment of medium-armored forces in past
military operations / David E. Johnson, Adam Grissom, Olga Oliker.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8330-4413-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. United States. Army—Armored troops. 2. United States. Army—Armored
troops—History. I. Grissom, Adam. II. Oliker, Olga. III. Title.
UA30.J62 2008
358'.18—dc22
2008029010
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Preface
The U.S. Army is in the midst of a major restructuring and transfor-
mation effort to prepare itself for the challenges of the 21st century.
Its ultimate objective is to create a campaign-quality army with joint
and expeditionary capabilities. As part of its transformation, the U.S.
Army is fielding medium-armored forces, the Stryker brigade combat
teams (SBCTs), to give the current force increased capability. Medium-
armored forces are also central to the U.S. Army’s vision of the Future
Force, with the Future Combat Systems–equipped brigade combat
teams considered an important component of that force.
This report presents a historical analysis of how medium-armored
forces have performed across the range of military operations since
World War I. Its purpose is to help inform U.S. Army decisions about
the Future Force.
This research was sponsored by the U.S. Army and conducted
within the RAND Arroyo Center’s Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources
Program. RAND Arroyo Center, part of the RAND Corporation, is
a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the
U.S. Army.
Because this study was initiated prior to Fiscal Year 2002, there
is no Project Unique Identification Code (PUIC) associated with this
project.
iii
iv In the Middle of the Fight
For more information on RAND Arroyo Center, contact the
Director of Operations (telephone [phone], extension 6419; fax
310-451-6952; email [email protected]), or visit Arroyo’s Web
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Contents
Preface ............................................................................. iii
Figure and Tables ................................................................ ix
Summary .......................................................................... xi
Acknowledgments .............................................................. xix
Abbreviations .................................................................... xxi
CHAPTER ONE
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 TWO
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
v
vi In the Middle of the Fight
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 THREE
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 Operation 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
Contents vii
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 FOUR
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 FIVE
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
viii In the Middle of the Fight
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