ISBN:
9780833030719
,
0833032305
,
083303071X
,
9780833032300
Language:
English
Pages:
1 Online-Ressource (xi, 60 pages)
Series Statement:
MR / Rand Corporation MR-1408-AF
Parallel Title:
Print version Rosenau, William Special operations forces and elusive enemy ground targets
Keywords:
Persian Gulf War, 1991 Reconnaissance operations
;
Ballistic missiles
;
Military reconnaissance
;
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Aerial operations, American
;
Special forces (Military science)
;
Persian Gulf War, 1991 Aerial operations
;
Bombing, Aerial
;
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Reconnaissance operations
;
Persian Gulf War, 1991
;
Ballistic missiles
;
Military reconnaissance
;
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
;
Special forces (Military science)
;
Persian Gulf War, 1991
;
Bombing, Aerial
;
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
;
Military operations, Aerial
;
Military operations, Aerial ; American
;
Military reconnaissance
;
Special forces (Military science)
;
HISTORY ; Military ; Strategy
;
Asia ; Ho Chi Minh Trail
;
Iraq
;
United States
;
POLITICAL SCIENCE ; Political Freedom
;
Ballistic missiles
;
Vietnam War (1961-1975)
;
Bombing, Aerial
;
Persian Gulf War (1991)
;
Ho Chi Minh Trail
;
Ho Chi Minh Trail
;
Electronic books
Abstract:
In the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf conflict, special operations forces (SOF) conducted reconnaissance operations to locate hidden targets when political and other considerations prevented the deployment of conventional ground units and air power alone was unable to locate and eliminate elusive objectives. In Vietnam, SOF teams crossed the border into Laos to search for truck parks, storage depots, and other assets along the Ho Chi Minh Trail that were obscured by jungle canopy and camouflage. In western Iraq, British and American SOF patrolled vast areas searching for mobile Scud launchers. In both cases, the nature of the terrain combined with adversary countermeasures made it extremely difficult for ground teams to achieve their objectives. There are a number of implications for future operations. Although new technology, such as mini- and micro-unmanned aerial vehicles, may make it easier to teams to reconnoiter wide areas, using SOF in this fashion is unlikely to achieve U.S. objectives. Concerns about casualties and prisoners of war are likely to limit the use of SOF to the most vital national interests. However, unattended ground sensors could play an enhanced role in future operations. Although most will be delivered by air, some will require hand emplacement in difficult enemy terrain, a mission well suited to SOF. SOF in a battle damage assessment role could help ensure that critical targets have been destroyed. Finally, SOF might disable, destroy, or recover nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons
Abstract:
In the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf conflict, special operations forces (SOF) conducted reconnaissance operations to locate hidden targets when political and other considerations prevented the deployment of conventional ground units and air power alone was unable to locate and eliminate elusive objectives. In Vietnam, SOF teams crossed the border into Laos to search for truck parks, storage depots, and other assets along the Ho Chi Minh Trail that were obscured by jungle canopy and camouflage. In western Iraq, British and American SOF patrolled vast areas searching for mobile Scud launchers. In both cases, the nature of the terrain combined with adversary countermeasures made it extremely difficult for ground teams to achieve their objectives. There are a number of implications for future operations. Although new technology, such as mini- and micro-unmanned aerial vehicles, may make it easier to teams to reconnoiter wide areas, using SOF in this fashion is unlikely to achieve U.S. objectives. Concerns about casualties and prisoners of war are likely to limit the use of SOF to the most vital national interests. However, unattended ground sensors could play an enhanced role in future operations. Although most will be delivered by air, some will require hand emplacement in difficult enemy terrain, a mission well suited to SOF. SOF in a battle damage assessment role could help ensure that critical targets have been destroyed. Finally, SOF might disable, destroy, or recover nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons
Note:
"MR-1408-AF"--Page 4 of cover
,
"Prepared for the United States Air Force
,
Includes bibliographical references (pages 55-60)
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