Is There a requirement for Heavy Mortars in Airland Battle Future (ALB- F)
Abstract
Faced with constrained budgets and force reductions, can the U.S. Army afford to continue pouring dollar after dollar into weapon systems that are ineffective? This study seeks to examine the heavy mortar and answer that question along with others: Is there a requirement for heavy mortars to support ALB-F? Do heavy mortars support the basic tenants of ALB-F? Can this weapon survive in a medium to high intensity conflict given the current Soviet threat? Can we afford the future programmed heavy mortars? Heavy mortars are included in the current Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) negotiations; will heavy mortars survive CFE or CFE II? The history of the heavy mortar in the U.S. Army from World WAR I to the present is discussed. Th changes in force structure leading to our J-series Tables of Organization and Equipment (TOE) are discussed. Current Soviet Doctrine, both maneuver and counter-mortar, are examined. A brief synopsis of possible requirements and uses of heavy mortars by commanders, directed by ALB-F in the year 2004 is presented. An in-depth look at the utility of heavy mortars in an ALB-F battlefield environment is the heart of this study. Research has clearly led the authors to believe that the heavy mortar system in the U.S. Army is broken; it is not worth fixing! The U.S. Army can no longer afford the mortar in our heavy forces nor is it required. (eg)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 09, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA220576
Entities
People
- Gabriel Rouquie Jr
- Jimmy C. Banks
Organizations
- United States Army War College