Pursuit to Victory: A Model to Leverage USMC Combined Arms Armor and Aviation Capabilities to Achieve Decisive Results at the Operational Level of War
Abstract
The complexity of modern defense systems (arrayed in depth and requiring the attacker to breakthrough beyond the depth of supporting fires) creates a significant problem when applied to modern conventional offensive operations that the past decade of stability operations has obscured. The essence of the tactical problem associated with A2AD is that modern defense systems rely on depth to defeat attackers through forcing culmination within the heart of the intermediate zone. Though the weapon systems have improved over time, the fundamental challenge associated with overcoming the inherent supremacy of the defense has not. Breaking through the defense has therefore become a tactical problem with operational impacts. This analysis suggests that the breakthrough of a modern defense in depth will be an absolute requirement of future war. Exploitation gets to the heart of the concept of attacking in depth, to induce collapse of the enemy system, and contributes directly to employing maneuver warfare doctrine. A task-organized force (designated in this paper the Operational Exploitation and Pursuit Force)can provide self-sustaining operational level maneuver that will directly contribute to operational success. This conceptual task organization would provide a method of projecting expeditionary power deep into the enemy's rear, while avoiding culmination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 28, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1178440
Entities
People
- Anthony P Bariletti
Organizations
- Marine Corps University