Understanding an Adversary's Strategic and Operational Calculus: A Late Cold War Case Study with 21st Century Applicability U.S. Views on Soviet Navy Strategy and Operations
Abstract
Insights into the strategic and operational calculus of a 21st century adversary like Iran -- can be gained by examining similar cases. One such case is the evolution in the U.S. understanding of the Soviet Union s strategic and operational calculus regarding the wartime employment of its navy during the last two decades of the Cold War. In this case, civilians supporting the U.S. Navy in the 1970s analyzed a wide range of Soviet doctrinal publications and came to firm conclusions as to what the Soviet Union s strategic and operational priorities and choices would be in the event of war and naval operations against the West. These conclusions were long discounted by the U.S. naval intelligence community and U.S. Navy operators until they were eventually corroborated by other credible but extremely sensitive sources, in a series of dramatic intelligence breakthroughs in the late 1970s.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA587385
Entities
People
- Michael Connell
- Peter M. Swartz
Organizations
- CNA ANALYSIS AND SOLUTIONS ALEXANDRIA VA