Operational Fires -- What's in a Name?
Abstract
The concept of 'operational fires' has been proposed within the Army as one of several operating systems at the operational level of war in the same sense that Battlefield Operating Systems have proven their utility at the tactical level. However, the concept has not been so warmly received and applied outside of the Army. In fact, the term appears nowhere in contemporary joint doctrine. The purpose of this monograph is to contribute to clarity of thought concerning the concept of operational fires through an examination of its theoretical, practical and historical basis. The monograph reviews classical theory as offered by Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, Douhet and Mitchell, and that interpreted by Soviets Tukhachevskii and Triandafilov in establishing a theoretical foundation for operational fires. The more contemporary views of several Soviet practitioners and those of Generals Rogers and von Sandrart from NATO are presented in order to accommodate the influences of advancing technology on operational fires.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA234497
Entities
People
- William J Rice
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College