Considerations for Employment of Marine Helicopters in Future Conflicts: How Much Risk is Acceptable?
Abstract
This thesis addresses considerations for the employment of Marine helicopters in future conflicts, particularly helicopters in the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Four case studies examine the utility and versatility of helicopters in the following irregular conflicts: the Vietnam War, the Rhodesian counterinsurgency, the British experience in Northern Ireland, and the Soviet-Afghan War. The case studies illustrate the wide range of roles of helicopters in combat operations and the wide range of operating environments in which they have been used, including jungles, savannah and scrub brush, urban areas, and mountains. The thesis also examines the vulnerabilities of helicopters and provides recommendations for short- and long-term solutions to these problems. The author demonstrates that by failing to make Marine helicopters less vulnerable to small arms, they become potential operational liabilities, yielding a decisive advantage to future adversaries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA490607
Entities
People
- Victor I. Maduka
Organizations
- Marine Corps University