Deep Operations in Airland Battle Doctrine: The Employment of U.S. Ground Forces in Deep Operational Maneuver
Abstract
In Soviet Army doctrine, deep operations has been a long time in development and is manifested today in the Operational Maneuver Group. As the name implies, the Soviet emphasis is at the operational level. The mission of an OMG would be to penetrate enemy defenses, raiding deep to destroy vital targets and seize key objectives while avoiding decisive engagement. It is a ground maneuver concept conducted by a carefully tailored, ad hoc military formation controlled by the operational commander. In the U.S. Army deep operations is a relatively new doctrinal development; the emphasis is on operational fires and electronic warfare rather than on ground maneuver. The Soviets recognize the threat to their follow-on echelons posed by high technology weaponry, however, and if the Warsaw pact invades it will most likely be a surprise attack by only forward deployed forces pushed up into a single echelon. This suggests that the NATO strategy, based in part on timely warning and FOFA, might be obsolete, or might not be an effective deterrent. It also suggests that on a central European battlefield characterized by meeting engagements between large units, deep operational maneuver might have an increased significance in the outcome of the war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA251785
Entities
People
- Darrell E. Crawford
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College