Bolt from the Sky: The Operational Employment of Airborne Forces
Abstract
The study explores the utility of using airborne forces at the operational level of a mid- to high intensity war. Despite the theoretical capability of airborne forces to achieve surprise, psychological shock, physical momentum, and moral dominance enabling friendly forces to attain decisive operational success, the author believes the U.S Army has limited its vision on employment of airborne forces to the tactical and strategic levels. The study examines historical small-scale airborne operations and relates ideas developed from these examples to type missions that airborne forces may be called upon to execute in the 1980's such as airborne drops behind enemy lines to seize key terrain such as a river crossing site or mountain pass, drops to tie up enemy reserves to enable amphibious operations or large river crossings to succeed, or vertical envelopments of key points of an enemy defensive belt. There are numerous historical examples in which brigade-sized or smaller airborne forces were employed in the true spirit of maneuver warfare in combination with other ground forces. Where such maneuvers depended on the success of the airborne operation for overall success, it is evident that even small scale airborne forces and decisive operational impact.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 17, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA174213
Entities
People
- Thomas G. Waller Jr
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College