Sandinista Counterinsurgency Tactics

Abstract

This study describes the organization of the primary Sandinista counterinsurgency organizations, the tactics they employed against the Contras, and the influence of many factors in the development of these organizations and their tactical doctrine. These include: the Sandinista's experience as guerrilla fighters, the military influence of the Soviet Union and Cuba, the impact of the Contra and U.S. military threats, the military aspects of terrain and weather, and the effects of tactical and strategic time factors. Much of the material is from primary sources, and the study contains original tactical diagrams derived from these sources. The study concludes that the Soviets and Cubans played a central role in shaping these tactics and organizations through their military advisers in Nicaragua and with the provision of substantial military equipment. Nonetheless, the other factors above caused the Sandinistas to modify the Soviet/Cuban doctrine to their own needs. (rwj)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA229156

Entities

People

  • James M. Mccarl Jr

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Central America
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Forces
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of State
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • Military Equipment
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Students
  • Urban Areas
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • History

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Military Science
  • Systems Analysis and Design