On the Move: Command and Control of Armor Units in Combat.
Abstract
The exercise of effective command and control by the commander of a mechanized unit engaged in active maneuver is most challenging. Since the introduction of tanks to the battlefield during World War I, armies have wrestled with the problems inherent in a war of movement. Plans made prior to the initiation of active maneuver are frequently invalidated by changes in mission, enemy initiatives, and equipment malfunctions. The search for better communications equipment, improved command and control vehicles, and techniques that enable mechanized units to function effectively without detailed instructions has continued without pause since 1916. An assessment of progress in this area would indicate that, while there have been great changes in the scope of land combat and in the speed and power of armored vehicles, the challenges that await the field commander have not changed in their basic nature. The ability to command effectively while on the move is still dependent upon the equipment, training, and command climate in a mechanized unit.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA156992
Entities
People
- J. W. Mountcastle
Organizations
- United States Army War College