The Soviet Battalion, Its Commander, and Combined-Arms Warfare
Abstract
The purpose of this monograph is to evaluate the current capability of Soviet motor rifle and tank battalion commanders. Since the end of World War II, the Soviets have frequently reorganized their ground forces, each time combining arms at lower and lower echelons. Currently they are experimenting with Unified Corps, which are divided into brigades, having subordinate 'combined-arms' battalions of both tanks and BMP's. This appears to be the formalization of field task organization policies, and it reflects a certain amount of confidence in the tactical abilities of junior Soviet officers. Is that confidence well-founded, and how has it developed over time? The monograph concludes that the quality of Soviet tactical leaders lags behind the ever- increasing capabilities of the maneuver battalion force structure. However, the gap is closing, the Soviets recognize their problems, and they are solving them, albeit slowly. This evolution of Soviet military doctrine is almost certainly tied to Soviet conventional arms reduction proposals, and should be integral to NATO's counter--proposal options. Keywords: Foreign military forces; Battalion level organizations; Strategy; Doctrine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 22, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA211005
Entities
People
- James P. Mault
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College