Accession Number:

ADA243339

Title:

Strategic Airpower as Operational Fires: Integrating Long-Range Bombers into Campaign Design

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Garrett, Jerry D.

Report Date:

1991-05-29

Pagination or Media Count:

74.0

Abstract:

This monograph seeks to determine under what conditions an operational commander might employ strategic airpower in his campaign design. This journey begins first by exploring the linkage between strategy, operations, and tactics. Next, U.S. Army and Air Force doctrines are compared for terminology and conceptual similarities, with particular emphasis on indivisible airpower and long-range bombers in the role of operational fires. Finally, four historical case studies are analyzed for conditions in which previous commanders have used bombers to facilitate operational maneuver or set battlefield conditions favorable for campaign success. After a careful review of concepts, doctrine, and history, this monograph concludes with six conditions which have integrating bombers into campaign design. These include 1 A commanders awareness of bomber strengths and weaknesses 2 A blending of surprise and overwhelming firepower within minimum time and space 3 Little reaction or response time 4 Economy of force conditions 5 Numerical superiority favors the enemy and 6 bomber impunity to enemy threat.

Descriptors:

• *AIR FORCE
• BATTLEFIELDS
• REACTION TIME
• RESPONSE
• JET BOMBERS
• LONG RANGE(DISTANCE)
• STRENGTH(GENERAL)
• ENEMY
• MANEUVERS
• FIRES
• MILITARY COMMANDERS
• FIREPOWER
• AWARENESS
• BOMBER AIRCRAFT
• DOCTRINE
• THREATS

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science
• Humanities and History
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
• Fire Control and Bombing Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE