The lightening of arsenals and implications for conventional warfare

• Thesis title in Czech: Odlehčování armád - implikace pro konvenční válčení
• Thesis title in English: The lightening of arsenals and implications for conventional warfare
• Key words: Arzenály, disparita výzbroje, RMA, konvenční válka, těžké síly
• English key words: Arsenals, armament disparity, RMA, conventional warfare, heavy forces
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2017/2018
• Thesis type: diploma thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Political Science (23-KP)
• Supervisor: RNDr. Jan Kofroň, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned by the advisor
• Date of registration: 04.12.2017
• Date of assignment: 11.05.2018
• Date and time of defence: 22.06.2018 08:00
• Venue of defence: Jinonice - U Kříže 8, Praha 5, J3095, Jinonice - místn. č.3095
• Date of electronic submission: 11.05.2018
• Date of proceeded defence: 22.06.2018
• Opponents: Mgr. et Mgr. Tomáš Kučera, Ph.D.

References

1.) Badsey, Stephen. The Hutchinson Atlas of World War II Battle Plans. Routledge, 2016.

2.) Friedman, Jeffrey A. The 2006 Lebanon Campaign and the Future of Warfare: Implications for Army and Defense Policy. Lulu. com, 2011. https://www.google.com/books?hl=cs&lr=&id=dfZHAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=israel+lebanon+2006+briddle&ots=AN_VVgy9uP&sig=ouKDUvC77U1XlGZEyIfb6qp9kcI.


3.) Jenzen-Jones, N. R., and Jonathan Ferguson. Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine. Armament Research Services Pty. Ltd., 2014.

4.) Johnson, David E. “Fighting the" Islamic State" the Case for US Ground Forces.” Parameters 45, no. 1 (2015): 7.


5.) Katulis, Brian, Siwar al-Assad, and William Morris. “One Year Later: Assessing the Coalition Campaign against ISIS.” Middle East Policy 22, no. 4 (December 1, 2015): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12154.

6.) Kober, Avi. “The Israel Defense Forces in the Second Lebanon War: Why the Poor Performance?” Journal of Strategic Studies 31, no. 1 (2008): 3–40.


7.) McMichael, Scott R. “A Historical Perspective on Light Infantry.” ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS, 1987. http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA211838.

8.) Press, Daryl G. “The Myth of Air Power in the Persian Gulf War and the Future of Warfare.” International Security 26, no. 2 (2001): 5–44.


9.) Thompson, Thomas J., George D. Thompson, Robert J. Pleban, and Patrick J. Valentine. “Battle Staff Training and Synchronization in Light Infantry Battalions and Task Forces.” ARMY RESEARCH INST FOR THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ALEXANDRIA VA, 1991. http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA245292.

10.) Van Evera, Stephen. Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. Cornell University Press, 1997. https://www.google.com/books?hl=cs&lr=&id=V3pSlccSRDAC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=guide+to+methods+van+evera&ots=5koNqX3D8B&sig=jTB4Iu2yVOuJEiz5tgQZLZAQkWw.

Preliminary scope of work in English

Summary
Context: Every army is built to serve a purpose and the equipment of the army reflects this purpose. Throughout the history, the purposes of the armies have changed, which was in turn reflected in the change of their hardware. In the recent era, the armies of the Western world seem to trend towards lighter build, which is more suitable for foreign expeditionary purposes.
Goal of the work: This work seeks to research the capabilities of lighter armies in various situations, but mainly against heavier opponents. Next, it aims to check if the lightening trend really exists in chosen subjects. Final goal is to draw conclusions from case studies to the chosen modern subjects.
Methodology: The work will mainly consist of controlled comparison of several case studies compared through the method of difference. Second part will consist of armament research of chosen subjects with optional third part including the outcomes of interviews with armed forces officials.
Key words: arsenals, 4GW, armament policy, conventional warfare, RMA

Introduction
Since the end of the cold war, the armies of the world seem to have shrunk in size and lightened in their equipment. Heavy tank armies intended to wage battle with similar opponent in the war between East and West have gradually been replaced by professional high-tech armies whose main objective seems to be more on the side of expeditionary missions than open war or border protection. Aside from this change, there seem to be growing belief that the technological superiority is the most important factor of modern war and lighter equipped modern army can easily defeat heavier opponent with outdated hardware.
However, the armies following this trend have never met opponent of similar quality but with arsenal built for open war with heavy opponent. There is hence no clear conclusion, how would the modern light armies fare against such opponents. This question is of course very important with regards to the European armies and Russia. Moreover, other contemporary examples (Ukraine war, 2006 Lebanon crisis and war with Islamic State) might show, that the technological superiority might not always give upper hand against bigger firepower and heavier armor.

Literature review
Daryl G. Press in his 2001 article casts doubt upon widespread conviction that air power was the single most important asset in The Persian Gulf War, winning the conflict essentially itself. Instead, his research suggests that better quality and armament of ground troops (mostly armored units) were more important to defeat the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Avi Kober, while stating that the Israeli Defense Force would probably fare well against similar opponent (e.g. nation army), attacks the notions of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). Most importantly he criticizes the concept of diffused light army that IDF used in its 2006 clash with Hezbollah. According to Kober, the IDF’s tactical and strategic blunders could have been prevented if the war was waged in more traditional manner, e.g. amassing the force and heavily hitting the opponents center of gravity.

In similar way to Avi Kober, David Johnson have criticized the coalition approach to the fight with Islamic State. According to him, the coalition states have been so demoralized by losses induced by Afghanistan and Iraq insurgencies, that they try to fight Islamic state with the greatest care possible / by using special forces and airpower only. Johnson instead calls for use of heavy ground forces, which are according to him best suited to defeating similar foes (and stating that the Islamic State was fighting in very conventional manner, thus being great target).

An advocate of light force, Scott McMichael, in his work creates a historical overview of light infantry armies fighting in several different settings with various opponents and support. With the span of 40 years since the Second World War, he shows capabilities and weaknesses of light force which, in his view, can be extremely valuable asset, but cannot possibly provide all the tasks needed of modern military.

Other literary sources will mainly comprise of historical accounts of the historical clashes casting light forces against heavier opponents. The historical scope begins with the Second World War and ends with present times. Apart from that, sources documenting military exercises and interviews on the topic will be used, if obtained.

Goals of the thesis
Hypotheses
1.) In fight with foe of similar quality (both of skill and technology), lighter forces will be disadvantaged.
2.) Many aspects of RMA and other modern concepts of war-waging, that do not revolve about delivery of direct damage to the enemy, have less weight in resolution than raw strength.
3.) By equipping themselves with lighter armament to perform better in specialized conflicts, the armies are getting disadvantaged should the open conventional conflict emerge.

Research questions
1.) How does lighter force fare in combat against heavier foe?
2.) Is there any historical change in the combat outcomes due to the technological innovation?
3.) Is there any approach that the lighter force can take to level the possible disadvantage?

Methodology
The first part of work will consist of series of case studies. Case studies will be chosen to detail a combat clash (or series of them) involving light forces fighting against heavier force. The emphasis will be put on differences between outcomes of the clashes, as well as used tactics and type of enemy. Alternatively, case study will document outcome of a military exercise focused on similar topic. All case studies will be describing events that happened since (and including) Second World War.
The second part will document the trend of arsenal lightening through policy analysis of chosen subject (mostly European countries).