Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets

Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets
Author: William Rosenau
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 73
Release: 2001-12-05
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0833032305
GET BOOK

Download Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

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.

Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets: Lessons from Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War

Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets: Lessons from Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Download Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets: Lessons from Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This report was written as part of a Project AIR FORCE FY 2000 study on elusive ground targets. The larger effort, sponsored by the Director of Strategic Planning, Headquarters, USAF, explored the possibility that warfare is evolving in reaction to the dominance of standoff sensors and weapons. The study looked in particular at how elusive forces (ranging from light forces in a peace operation to mobile ballistic missiles in a larger conflict) operate, why the United States has a limited capability against them today, and how we might do better in the future. Findings from the broader effort, part of the Project AIR FORCE Strategy and Doctrine program, are documented in MR-1398-AF, Aerospace Operations Against Elusive Ground Targets, by Alan Vick, Richard M. Moore, Bruce R. Pirnie, and John Stillion. This report explores the role of ground observers in efforts to detect and defeat such forces. Drawing on U.S. experiences during the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars, the study examines the challenges associated with employing ground observers to search large areas for elusive targets. The report also suggests ways in which ground observers might be usefully employed during future conflicts. It should be of interest to both aviators and land warriors in U.S. and allied militaries as well as the broader defense community.

Meeting the Challenge of Elusive Ground Targets

Meeting the Challenge of Elusive Ground Targets
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 4
Release: 2002
Genre:
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Download Meeting the Challenge of Elusive Ground Targets Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In research conducted for the United States Air Force and reported in Aerospace Operations Against Elusive Ground Targets, authors Alan Vick, Richard M. Moore, Bruce R. Pirnie, and John Stillion explore the nature of elusive ground targets to identify concepts and technologies that could improve the Air Force's capability to detect, classify, recognize, and defeat elusive targets, whether dispersed ground forces or mobile ballistic missiles. After briefly reviewing the factors that are likely to inhibit the recognition of ground targets in general, the authors use the experience of Kosovo to illustrate the challenges associated with detecting small, dispersed maneuver forces from among a host of similar objects. Using Kosovo as its template, the report outlines new concepts that might be harnessed to defeat such forces in future operations. The authors then turn to the problem of countering mobile ballistic missiles in the context of a larger-scale conflict involving a more capable adversary such as China. They emphasize an integrated system of technologies, focused analysis, and streamlined control procedures that will enable the detect-classify-recognize-defeat cycle to occur in minutes rather than hours or days.

Apollo's Warriors

Apollo's Warriors
Author: Michael E. Haas
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 388
Release: 1998-05
Genre:
ISBN: 9780788149832
GET BOOK

Download Apollo's Warriors Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Presenting a fascinating insider's view of U.S.A.F. special operations, this volume brings to life the critical contributions these forces have made to the exercise of air & space power. Focusing in particular on the period between the Korean War & the Indochina wars of 1950-1979, the accounts of numerous missions are profusely illustrated with photos & maps. Includes a discussion of AF operations in Europe during WWII, as well as profiles of Air Commandos who performed above & beyond the call of duty. Reflects on the need for financial & political support for restoration of the forces. Bibliography. Extensive photos & maps. Charts & tables.

Weapon of Choice

Weapon of Choice
Author: Charles H. Briscoe
Publisher: www.Militarybookshop.CompanyUK
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2010-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781907521874
GET BOOK

Download Weapon of Choice Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

First published in 2003, this is the first unclassified official history authored by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command relating to Operation Enduring Freedom. Contains extensive maps and illustrations. Previously difficult to obtain, this extensive study shows what Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) accomplished to drive the Taliban from power and to destroy al-Quaeda and Taliban strongholds as part of the global war on terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Fighting Elites

Fighting Elites
Author: John C. Fredriksen
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 404
Release: 2011-12-12
Genre: History
ISBN: 1598848119
GET BOOK

Download Fighting Elites Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

From Army Rangers to Green Berets to the U.S. Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden, this book explains what makes Special Forces "special," covering the rich and varied history of elite formations in American military history and describing their recruitment, intense training, and equipment in depth. Most civilians have only a vague idea of what the U.S. Special Forces are all about—who they are, how they differ from our "normal" military forces, what they've accomplished throughout our history, and how they operate today. Fighting Elites: A History of U.S. Special Forces examines the rich and varied history of U.S. Special Forces, identifies their contributions to specific conflicts from colonial times forward, and highlights their present operational excellence. In this first-ever reference guide to U.S. Special Forces, military historian John C. Fredriksen provides a carefully balanced presentation, describing all units in their own detailed section that discusses their origins, recruitment, training, tactics, and equipment, and defining military engagements, if known. The text also contains 20 biographical entries of noted personalities associated with special purpose activities.

Special Reconnaissance and Advanced Small Unit Patrolling

Special Reconnaissance and Advanced Small Unit Patrolling
Author: Edward Wolcoff
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
Total Pages: 586
Release: 2021-08-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1526779102
GET BOOK

Download Special Reconnaissance and Advanced Small Unit Patrolling Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This comprehensive guide by a Special Ops combat veteran is the ultimate reference for military tactics, techniques, and procedures. Intended for military SpecialOps personnel, this volume presents invaluable operational guidance with lessons learned from the legendary Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG). Drawing on Special Reconnaissance operations conducted during the Vietnam Era, author Edward Wolcoff provides practical information alongside operational accounts and analyses of specific missions. Wolcoff covers the gamut of specialized SR topics ranging from operational planning and preparation, through execution, logistics and command and control – all in substantial tradecraft detail. Few of the tactics, techniques, and procedures or lessons-learned included in this book have been previously presented in a usable form for SpecOps personnel. This book is intended instruct the Special Operations units of today, and preserve this valuable tradecraft for future generations.

Oppose Any Foe

Oppose Any Foe
Author: Mark Moyar
Publisher: Basic Books
Total Pages: 442
Release: 2017-04-25
Genre: History
ISBN: 0465093019
GET BOOK

Download Oppose Any Foe Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The epic story of America's most elite warriors: the Special Operations Forces. Born as small appendages to the conventional armies of World War II, the Special Operations Forces have grown into a behemoth of 70,000 troops, including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Special Operations Marines, Rangers, and Delta Force. Weaving together their triumphs and tribulations, acclaimed historian Mark Moyar introduces a colorful cast of military men, brimming with exceptional talent, courage and selflessness. In a nation where the military is the most popular institution, America's Special Operations Forces have become the most popular members of the military. Through nighttime raids on enemy compounds and combat advising of resistance movements, special operators have etched their names into the nation's registry of heroes. Yet the public knows little of the journey that they took to reach these heights, a journey that was neither easy nor glamorous. Fighting an uphill battle for most of their seventy-five year history, the Special Operations Forces slipped on many an occasion, and fell far on several. Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama have enthusiastically championed Special Operations Forces, but their enthusiasm has often surpassed their understanding, resulting in misuse or overuse of the troops. Lacking clearly defined missions, Special Operations Forces have had to reinvent themselves time and again to prove their value in the face of fierce critics-many of them from the conventional military, which from the start opposed the segregation of talent in special units. Highlighting both the heroism of America's most elite soldiers and the controversies surrounding their meteoric growth, Oppose Any Foe presents the first comprehensive history of these special warriors and their daring missions. It is essential reading for anyone interested in America's military history-and the future of warfare.