Tactical Lift

This monograph explores the capability of army tactical headquarters to fight and sustain combat brigades and task forces simultaneously. Its focus is on the tactical transportation shortfall which exists in the army today, the impact of this shortfall on AirLand Battle doctrine, and some recommended solutions. Historical examples from twentieth century war are used to demonstrate the importance of transportation in providing flexibility at the tactical level. Specifically, military motor transportation has repeatedly provided a degree of certainty and flexibility to combat operations since the advent of the automobile on the battlefields of France in World War I. The paper questions whether current tactical headquarters possess the same degree of flexibility by defining a present day tactical transportation shortfall. This shortfall was determined from a review of current army organizational documents, planning factors, consumption rates, recently compiled lessons learned by the Combined Arms Training Activity at Fort Leavenworth, and interviews of former key tactical-level leaders. The paper argues that interdiction, competition, and friction will magnify current tactical lift shortfalls in future wars to a level where host nation support and scavenging will be unable to resolve them. The author concludes that while host nation support and scavenging may be appropriate means for supporting U.S. forces at the operational and strategic levels of war, they do not provide the certainty or flexibility required by tactical level headquarters to fight and win on the next battlefield. The authorization of additional military trucks and drivers is recommended at the task force or brigade level to correct the current shortfall. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.