Scouts Out The Development Of Reconnaissance Units In Modern Armies

Download Scouts Out The Development Of Reconnaissance Units In Modern Armies full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Scouts Out The Development Of Reconnaissance Units In Modern Armies ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies

Author : John J. McGrath
Publisher : WWW.Militarybookshop.CompanyUK
ISBN 13 : 9781780390383
Total Pages : 268 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (93 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies by : John J. McGrath

Download or read book Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies written by John J. McGrath and published by WWW.Militarybookshop.CompanyUK. This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published by the United States Army Combat Studies Institute Press in 2009, this monograph is a wide-ranging historical survey of the theory, doctrine, organization, and employment of reconnaissance units since the era of mechanization in the early 20th century. This study examines the development, role, and employment of units in modern armies designed specifically to perform reconnaissance and security (counterreconnaissance) missions. The analysis discerns common threads from the past. Conclusions are drawn from historical trends that may apply to future force development planning and unit operational employment. In the past, dedicated reconnaissance units were unique in their organization and capabilities due to the presence of the horse. This provided cavalry with a marked mobility differential over infantry and artillery. In the mechanized age, this monopoly on mobility vanished. Nonreconnaissance mechanized and motorized forces were equipped with similar weapons and vehicles. Reconnaissance units then became distinctive primarily by their organizational structure and specialized mission rather than by their equipment. This conceptual transformation has created a great dichotomy for modern reconnaissance forces. Should such forces be light or heavy? A lighter force might be able to conduct reconnaissance operations, at least theoretically, in a more nimble fashion, while a heavier force could defend itself when conducting reconnaissance and security operations. An additional consideration is the question as to what organizational level should dedicated reconnaissance forces be provided and used. This work examines these two major threads from a historical perspective since World War I.

Scouts Out! The Development Of Reconnaissance Units In Modern Armies [Illustrated Edition]

Author : John J. McGrath
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN 13 : 178289912X
Total Pages : 376 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (828 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scouts Out! The Development Of Reconnaissance Units In Modern Armies [Illustrated Edition] by : John J. McGrath

Download or read book Scouts Out! The Development Of Reconnaissance Units In Modern Armies [Illustrated Edition] written by John J. McGrath and published by Pickle Partners Publishing. This book was released on 2014-08-15 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrated with 60 maps, plans and diagrams Reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance are battlefield missions as old as military history itself and missions for which many armies have created specialized units to perform. In most cases, these units were trained, equipped, and used differently from the majority of an army’s fighting units. Horse cavalry performed these missions for centuries, for it had speed and mobility far in excess of main battle units. Once the horse was replaced by mechanization, however, the mobility advantage once enjoyed by the horse cavalry disappeared. Since the early 20th century, the search for the proper mix of equipment, the proper organization, and the proper employment of reconnaissance units has bedeviled armies around the world. This survey uses a diverse variety of historical cases to illustrate the enduring issues that surround the equipping, organizing, and employment of reconnaissance units. It seems that these specialized units are either too heavily or too lightly equipped and too narrowly specialized or too conventionally organized. Pre-war reconnaissance doctrines tend to undergo significant change once fighting begins, leading to post-conflict analysis that reconnaissance units were “misused” in one way or another. McGrath ends his study with an intriguing conclusion about the role that specialized reconnaissance units should have in the future that may surprise many readers.

Scouts Out!

Author : John J. McGrath
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (23 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scouts Out! by : John J. McGrath

Download or read book Scouts Out! written by John J. McGrath and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Combat Studies Institute is pleased to present "Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies," by CSI historian John J. McGrath. This monograph is a wide-ranging historical survey of the theory, doctrine, organization, and employment of reconnaissance units since the era of mechanization in the early 20th century. This study examines the development, role, and employment of units in modern armies designed specifically to perform reconnaissance and security (counterreconnaissance) missions. The analysis discerns common threads from the past. Conclusions are drawn from historical trends that may apply to future force development planning and unit operational employment. In the past, dedicated reconnaissance units were unique in their organization and capabilities due to the presence of the horse. This provided cavalry with a marked mobility differential over infantry and artillery. In the mechanized age, this monopoly on mobility vanished. Nonreconnaissance mechanized and motorized forces were equipped with similar weapons and vehicles. Reconnaissance units then became distinctive primarily by their organizational structure and specialized mission rather than by their equipment. This conceptual transformation has created a great dichotomy for modern reconnaissance forces. Should such forces be light or heavy? A lighter force might be able to conduct reconnaissance operations, at least theoretically, in a more nimble fashion, while a heavier force could defend itself when conducting reconnaissance and security operations. An additional consideration is the question as to what organizational level should dedicated reconnaissance forces be provided and used. This work examines these two major threads from a historical perspective since World War I.

Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies

Author : Combat Studies Institute Press
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781081230722
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (37 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies by : Combat Studies Institute Press

Download or read book Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies written by Combat Studies Institute Press and published by . This book was released on 2019-07-18 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reconnaissance and counterreconnaissance are battlefield missions as old as military history itself and missions for which many armies have created specialized units to perform. In most cases, these units were trained, equipped, and used differently from the majority of an army's fighting units. Horse cavalry performed these missions for centuries, for it had speed and mobility far in excess of main battle units. Once the horse was replaced by mechanization, however, the mobility advantage once enjoyed by the horse cavalry disappeared.

Scouts Out! the Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies

Author : John McGrath
Publisher : CreateSpace
ISBN 13 : 9781470074401
Total Pages : 268 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (744 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scouts Out! the Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies by : John McGrath

Download or read book Scouts Out! the Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies written by John McGrath and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2012-02-12 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Combat Studies Institute is pleased to present Scouts Out! The Development of Reconnaissance Units in Modern Armies by CSI historian John J. McGrath. Scouts Out is a wide-ranging historical survey of the theory, doctrine, organization, and employment of reconnaissance units since the era of mechanization in the early 20th century. Reconnaissance and counterreconnaissance are battlefield missions as old as military history itself and missions for which many armies have created specialized units to perform. In most cases, these units were trained, equipped, and used differently from the majority of an army's fighting units. Horse cavalry performed these missions for centuries, for it had speed and mobility far in excess of main battle units. Once the horse was replaced by mechanization, however, the mobility advantage once enjoyed by the horse cavalry disappeared. Since the early 20th century, the search for the proper mix of equipment, the proper organization, and the proper employment of reconnaissance units has bedeviled armies around the world. This survey uses a diverse variety of historical cases to illustrate the enduring issues that surround the equipping, organizing, and employment of reconnaissance units. It seems that these specialized units are either too heavily or too lightly equipped and too narrowly specialized or too conventionally organized. Prewar reconnaissance doctrines tend to undergo significant change once fighting begins, leading to postconflict analysis that reconnaissance units were "misused" in one way or another. McGrath ends his study with an intriguing conclusion about the role that specialized reconnaissance units should have in the future that may surprise many readers. Scouts Out is a thought-provoking historical study that we believe will contribute to the Army's current and future transformation efforts.

Toward Combined Arms Warfare

Author : Jonathan Mallory House
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1428915834
Total Pages : 235 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (289 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Toward Combined Arms Warfare by : Jonathan Mallory House

Download or read book Toward Combined Arms Warfare written by Jonathan Mallory House and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1985 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Handbook

Author : U.S. Department of the Army
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1628735562
Total Pages : 205 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (287 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Handbook by : U.S. Department of the Army

Download or read book U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Handbook written by U.S. Department of the Army and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-11-26 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The official United States Army manual, U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Handbook provides tactics, techniques, and procedures for reconnaissance and surveillance planning, mission management, and reporting. Throughout history, military leaders have recognized the importance of reconnaissance and surveillance. Gaining and maintaining contact with the enemy is essential to win the battle, and U.S. military history contains many examples where our knowledge of the enemy, or lack of knowledge, directly led to victory or defeat. The role of reconnaissance and surveillance has not diminished on the modern battlefield; if anything, it has become even more important. Battles at the combat training centers prove that a good reconnaissance and surveillance effort is critical to successful attacks. On the other hand, a poor reconnaissance and surveillance effort almost guarantees defeat for the commander. The message is clear: success on the battlefield begins with reconnaissance and surveillance. This essential handbook covers: Surveillance Preparation Assets Equipment Planning Monitoring Organizing Missions Electronic warfare Counter-reconnaissance And more! It also looks at the development of intelligence, employment considerations for reconnaissance, and defines the roles of various personnel in planning operations. Intended for maneuver commanders and their staffs; intelligence staffs and collection managers; and other personnel involved in planning and reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance operations, and now available to everyone, U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Handbook provides an insider’s look into the world of Army intelligence.

Eyes Behind the Lines: US Army Long-Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance Units

Author : James F. Gebhardt
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1428916334
Total Pages : 187 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (289 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Eyes Behind the Lines: US Army Long-Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance Units by : James F. Gebhardt

Download or read book Eyes Behind the Lines: US Army Long-Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance Units written by James F. Gebhardt and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2005 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eyes Behind the Lines: US Army Long-Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance Units is the 10th study in the Combat Studies Institute (CSI) Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Occasional Paper series. This work is an outgrowth of concerns identified by the authors of On Point: The United States Army in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Specifically, these authors called into question the use of long-range surveillance (LRS) assets by commanders during that campaign and suggested an assessment ought to be made about their continuing utility and means of employment. This revision contains some important additional information the author received after this book was originally published Major (Retired) James Gebhardt, of CSI, researched and wrote this Occasional Paper with that end in view. In this study, Gebhardt surveys the US Army s historical experience with LRRP and LRS units from the 1960s Cold War and Vietnam War, through their resurgence in the 1980s and use in Operations JUST CAUSE and DESERT STORM, to the advent of the GWOT. The paper's analytical framework examines each era of LRS units in terms of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, and personnel. In doing so, the author makes a strong case for continuing the LRS capability in the Army s force structure. The variety of environments and enemies likely to be faced by the military in the GWOT continues to demand the unique human intelligence abilities of trained and organized LRS units. As the Army leads the Armed Forces of the United States in combating terrorists where they live, the lessons found in this survey remain timely and relevant.

Armor-cavalry: Army National Guard

Author : Mary Lee Stubbs
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 342 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (42 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Armor-cavalry: Army National Guard by : Mary Lee Stubbs

Download or read book Armor-cavalry: Army National Guard written by Mary Lee Stubbs and published by . This book was released on 1972 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

A Historical Perspective on Light Infantry

Author : Scott Ray McMichael
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (31 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis A Historical Perspective on Light Infantry by : Scott Ray McMichael

Download or read book A Historical Perspective on Light Infantry written by Scott Ray McMichael and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study seeks to clarify the nature of light infantry. General characteristics of light infantry forces are identified, and an analysis of how light forces operate tactically and how they are supported is presented. In the process, the relationship of the light infantry ethic to its organization is evaluated, and the differences between light infantry and conventional infantry is illuminated. For the purpose of this study, the term conventional infantry refers to modern-day motorized and mechanized infantry and to the large dismounted infantry forces typical of the standard infantry divisions of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The study concludes that light infantry is unique and distinct. A light infantry ethic exits and manifests itself in a distinctive tactical style, in a special attitude toward the environment, in a freedom from dependence on fixed lines of communication, and in a strong propensity for self-reliance. The study is based on a historical analysis of 4 light infantry forces employed during and since World War II: The Chindits, in the 1944 Burma campaign against the Japanese; The Chinese communist Forces during the Korean War; British operations in Malaya and Borneo 1948-66; and the First Special Service Force in the mountains of Italy 1942-44. -- p. [2] of cover.

Field Manual FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Operations July 2015

Author : United States Army
Publisher : CreateSpace
ISBN 13 : 9781516806997
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (69 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Field Manual FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Operations July 2015 by : United States Army

Download or read book Field Manual FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Operations July 2015 written by United States Army and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-08-08 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication, Field Manual FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Operations July 2015, provides doctrinal guidance and direction for Cavalry organizations, as well as reconnaissance and security organizations. This FM establishes the foundation for the development of tactics and procedures in subordinate doctrine publications. This publication applies across the range of military operations. While the main focus of this field manual is Cavalry formations within the units listed below, all maneuver formations must be able to conduct reconnaissance and security tasks. - Armored brigade combat team (ABCT) Cavalry squadron. - Infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) Cavalry squadron. - Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) Cavalry squadron. - Battlefield surveillance brigade (BFSB) Cavalry squadron. - It is applicable to the- - Scout platoon of maneuver battalions. - Combat aviation brigade air squadron. The principal audiences for FM 3-98 are commanders, leaders, and staffs responsible for the planning, execution, or support of reconnaissance and security operations as well as instructors charged with teaching reconnaissance and security operations. Doctrine consists of fundamental principles that describe how to fight. At the tactical level, doctrine consists of authoritative principles concerning how to execute reconnaissance and security operations as part of Army and joint operations that require professional military judgment in their application. Importantly, our doctrine must describe how brigade combat teams (BCT) and subordinate units combine the capabilities of various arms into cohesive, combined arms, air-ground teams and provide a clear description of how to execute reconnaissance and security operations. This publication provides the commander and staff of Cavalry formations with doctrine relevant to Army and joint operations. This publication explains how effective reconnaissance and security operations generate depth, allow commanders reaction time and maneuver space, fight for information and collect information through stealth, protect against surprise, ease the forward movement of follow-on forces, and provide commanders with flexibility and adaptability. The doctrine described in this publication is applicable across unified land operations. The previous proponent manual for Cavalry Operations was FM 3-20.96, published 12 March 2010, which included operational considerations. This publication provides doctrinal guidance for all formations assigned to the ABCT, the IBCT, and SBCT. The following is a summary of each chapter in the manual: Chapter 1 addresses the role of Cavalry in unified land operations and Cavalry organizations. Chapter 2 discusses understanding the threat, potential threat groups and threat characteristics. Chapter 3 addresses the operational environment, shaping, engaging, and influencing outcomes, and consolidating gains. Chapter 4 highlights the updated concepts of mission command in relation to commander's reconnaissance and security guidance, the operations process and information collection. Chapter 5 begins with an overview, followed by a detailed discussion of the fundamentals of reconnaissance, forms of reconnaissance, and reconnaissance handover. Chapter 6 begins with an overview, followed with the fundamentals of security operations, counterreconnaissance, and the forms of security. Chapter 7 provides a short overview and then devotes a section to reconnaissance and security stability planning, stability principles and frameworks, and stability tasks. Chapter 8 describes sustainment for reconnaissance and security tasks, sustainment planning considerations for reconnaissance and security, sustainment considerations for reconnaissance and security and special sustainment consideration.

The Brigade: A History, Its Organization and Employment in the US Army

Author :
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1428910220
Total Pages : 251 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (289 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Brigade: A History, Its Organization and Employment in the US Army by :

Download or read book The Brigade: A History, Its Organization and Employment in the US Army written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2004 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work provides an organizational history of the maneuver brigade and case studies of its employment throughout the various wars. Apart from the text, the appendices at the end of the work provide a ready reference to all brigade organizations used in the Army since 1917 and the history of the brigade colors.

Scouts Out

Author : Robert Edwards
Publisher : Stackpole Books
ISBN 13 : 0811713113
Total Pages : 578 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (117 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scouts Out by : Robert Edwards

Download or read book Scouts Out written by Robert Edwards and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2014-01-01 with total page 578 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scouts Out is the definitive account of German armored reconnaissance in World War II, essential for historians, armor buffs, collectors, modelers, and wargamers. The first extensive treatment of the subject in English, it features: • Profiles of the armored reconnaissance vehicles that performed vital functions for the Third Reich's war machine • Capsule histories of the reconnaissance elements of panzer and mechanized infantry divisions, including those of the Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe • Firsthand accounts from reconnaissance soldiers • Hundreds of photos, the majority of which have never been published before • Color illustrations of uniforms and insignia

The Organization of Ground Combat Troops

Author : Kent Roberts Greenfield
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 540 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (563 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Organization of Ground Combat Troops by : Kent Roberts Greenfield

Download or read book The Organization of Ground Combat Troops written by Kent Roberts Greenfield and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 540 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Military Reconnaissance

Author : Alexander Stilwell
Publisher : Open Road Media
ISBN 13 : 1504063961
Total Pages : 177 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (4 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Military Reconnaissance by : Alexander Stilwell

Download or read book Military Reconnaissance written by Alexander Stilwell and published by Open Road Media. This book was released on 2020-05-12 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This concise history chronicles the role of military recon, from the ancient warfare of Greeks and Romans to the operations of modern scout snipers. Since the earliest recorded military history, scouting and reconnaissance have been key tools for military commanders in order to make tactical decisions. As military strategy, weapons, and equipment developed over the centuries, methods of scouting and reconnaissance evolved as well but were never discarded. This short history paints a revealing picture of the art of military scouting and reconnaissance. From the secret sciritae of the Spartans and the scouts employed by Julius Caesar to the Middle Ages, Napoleonic Wars, and modern era of scout snipers and special forces units, this volume covers the evolution of recon operations across centuries of conflict.

The Road to Safwan

Author : Stephen Alan Bourque
Publisher : University of North Texas Press
ISBN 13 : 1574412329
Total Pages : 338 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (744 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Road to Safwan by : Stephen Alan Bourque

Download or read book The Road to Safwan written by Stephen Alan Bourque and published by University of North Texas Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Road to Safwan is a complete history of the 1st Infantry Divisions cavalry unit fighting in Operation Desert Storm. Stephen A. Bourque and John W. Burdan III served in the 1st Infantry Bourque in Division Headquarters, Burdan as the Operations Officer of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry. Based on extensive interviews and primary sources, Bourque and Burdan provide the most in-depth coverage to date of a battalion-level unit in the 1991 war, showing how the unit deployed, went into combat, and adapted to changing circumstances. The authors describe how the officers and men moved from the routine of cold war training to leading the Big Red One in battle through the Iraqi defenses and against the Iraqi Republican Guard. The 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry participated in the 1st Brigade attack on G-Day, the large tank battle for Objective Norfolk, the cutting of Basra Road, and the capture of Safwan Airfield, the site where General H. Norman Schwartzkopf conducted cease-fire negotiations with the Iraqis. The squadrons activities are placed squarely within the context of both division and corps activities, which illustrates the fog of war, the chain of command, and the uncertainty of information affecting command decisions. The Road to Safwan challenges the myth that technology won the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Contrary to popular view, it was a soldier's war not much different from previous conflicts in its general nature. What was different was the quality and intensity of the unit's training, which resulted, repeatedly, in successful engagements and objectives secured. It is the story of the people, not the machines, which ultimately led this squadron to the small town of Safwan.

Battlegroup!

Author : Jim Storr
Publisher : Helion and Company
ISBN 13 : 180451649X
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (45 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Battlegroup! by : Jim Storr

Download or read book Battlegroup! written by Jim Storr and published by Helion and Company. This book was released on 2021-11-03 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What can we learn from the unfought battles of the Cold War? Could any supposed British superiority at the unit level, or superior American equipment and technology, have as much effect on a possible Warsaw Pact attack as the Bundeswehr's apparent mastery of formation tactics? The Cold War dominated the global events for over 40 years. Much of the world genuinely believed that a nuclear war might break out at any moment. Millions of men were involved. National budgets strained to equip and sustain them. Much of Europe had to endure conscription, tank convoys clogging up the roads, low-flying jet aircraft and large-scale mobilization exercises. But what do we really know about the Cold War? More importantly, what can we learn from it? Battlegroup! investigates the unfought land battles of the Cold War on the Central Front. It focusses on the 1980s. It looks solely at high-intensity, conventional warfare; largely from NATO's perspective. It concentrates on the lower tactical levels: from company to brigade, or perhaps division. It considers the tactics, organization and equipment and of the American, British, West German, French and Soviet armies. The book discusses what battles would have been fought; then how they would have been fought; and, lastly, what we can learn from that. The first section looks at the strategic and operational setting and the armies involved. The second section looks at the components of a land force; how those components were organized, and would fight; and assembles them into battlegroups, brigades and divisions. Battlegroup! then steps through the tactics of land warfare: delay, defense and withdrawal; advance, attack and counterattack; fighting in woods, built up areas and at night; and air support to land operations. The final section of the book illustrates some of the possible early engagements of any war on the Central Front. It then draws out the major observations and conclusions. Battlegroup! relies heavily on two previously untapped sources, virtually unknown to English-speaking audiences. They explain much of the Bundeswehr's highly individual approach to defeating a potential Warsaw Pact attack. This is not a counterfactual history. It does not attempt to say who would have won the Third World War. It explodes some myths. It will be uncomfortable reading for some, and contentious in places. Battlegroup! will be essential reading for anyone interested in warfare of the last decade of the Cold War: be it as a professional, an academic or a wargamer.