Light Armor in Deep Operational Maneuver: The New Excalibur?

This monograph discusses how the U.S. Army can successfully use light armor in deep operational maneuver at the corps level. Recent operations in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm emphasized the need for deep operations. New light armored vehicles, the creation of additional light armored units, existing regional armored threats, and the doctrinal need for high speed armored forces with deep operational capability will force the U.S. Army to examine how to successfully use light armor in deep operations. The study focuses on three areas 1 how to organize light armored forces for deep operations, 2 the objectives of light armored forces in deep operations, and 3 the forms of maneuver used by light armored forces in deep operations. This monograph reaches three conclusions. First, the light armored force organization for deep operational maneuver should be a combined arms force similar to the Soviet cavalry mechanized group CMG. The light armor based CMG could serve as a model for the U.S. Armys mobile strike force MSF concept.