A Thousand Points of Light: Integrating Operational Fires into Campaign Design.

Abstract

The study proposes to answer the question: Is a joint fire support element required to integrate operational fires within a campaign plan? Classical and contemporary theory are first examined discussing the relationship of operational fires to operational art. Next, several major operations are examined tracing the evolution of operational fires emphasizing the fire support coordination processes--the disaster at Kasserine Pass in North Africa, Operations STRANGLE and DIADEM in Italy, Operations OVERLORD and COBRA in Normandy, and Operation STRANGLE in Korea, and the birth of a unified command structure in MacArthur's Far East Command. Existing operational joint doctrine and relevant service doctrine are examined for its sufficiency. The evidence is filtered through a lens provided by the imperatives of joint fire support: command involvement, mission focus, unity of effort, aggressive intelligence, and timely effect.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 03, 1991
Accession Number
ADA240177

Entities

People

  • Robert W. Madden

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

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

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Army Personnel
  • Artillery
  • Bombing
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Counterair Operations
  • Fire Support
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • Tactical Air Support
  • Three Dimensional
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Fire Suppression Systems Design.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies