COMBINED ARMS ROLE OF ARMORED INFANTRY IBD

Sinopse

This thesis is an analysis to determine the proper tactical role of infantry equipped with the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (BIFV). That role is shaped by the demands of the modern battlefield including the expected Soviet-type threat, the natural setting for battle created by terrain and weather, and the effects of weapons which significantly alter that natural setting. The role is also affected by the practical requirements to fight as combined arms. The history of combined arms warfare from World War I to the present reveals the complementary and supplementary effects that each principal ground arm - infantry, tanks, and artillery - contributes to the combined arms battle. This study concludes that there is a requirement for three kinds of infantry: light infantry which fights in close, difficult terrain, regular infantry which fights the manpower-intensive, dismounted battles such as positional defenses and attacks of fortified positions, supported by tanks and other heavy weapons, and armored infantry, equipped with the BIFV, which fights in close cooperation with main battle tanks in offensive and mobile defensive combat. This study also concludes that the U.S. Army should seriously consider retention of M113-equipped, regular infantry forces to fight the manpower-intensive, dismounted battles for which both the new light and armored infantry are ill-designed. Heavy divisions, even brigades, should contain a mix of tank, BIFV-equipped infantry, and M113-equipped infantry battalions to meet the demands of the modern battlefields and combined arms warfare.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.