This text presents an examination of NATO's strategy for the defence of the central front - the concern that has lain at the heart of NATO since its formation 40 years ago. Politically, the central front marked the post-war division of Europe into the two competing blocs; militarily, it has represented the area of greatest force concentration and greatest threat. However, the truisms of the past 40 years no longer appear insurmountable bastions of political and military reality. As NATO's strategic agenda changes, the central front will remain a critical concern, but the traditional questions of nuclear use and conventional inadequacy are likely to be replaced by those of conventional stability and non-offensive defence. Colin McInnes gives full consideration to the structure, strategy and doctrine of the two alliances as they relate to the central front, and possible future alternatives. In particular, he examines the relationship of NATO strategy to conventional force doctrines.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
bibliography, illustrations, index
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-04-445211-9 (9780044452119)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Part 1 Nato, nuclear weapons and conventional defence: flexible response; problems with nuclear reliance; raising with the nuclear threshold; minimum deterrence; common security; conclusion. Part 2 NATO'S central front: the political context; the geography of the central front; NATO - organization and deployment; the WTO - organization and deployment; conclusion. Part 3 the military balance: bean counting; measuring force effectiveness; analysing combat dynamics; conclusion. Part 4 Soviet military doctrine: the great patriotic war; Stalin and the nuclear age; the 'Revolution in Military Affairs'; developing a conventional variant; the Orgarkov Revolution; Gorbachev and 'New Thinking'; conclusion. Part 5 NATO operational doctrine: airland battle and US Army doctrine; defending Nothern Germany - the British-NORTHAG concept of operations; follow-on forces attack (FOFA); conclusion. Part 6 non-offensive defence: the development of non-offensive defence; the Spider and the Web - the SAS model; characteristics of non-offensive defence; criticisms of non-offensive defence.
