Modern Strategists: Air Strategic and Tactical

1
Modern Strategists AirStrategic and Tactical

• 8801, Lesson 11

2
Last WeekCharacter and Nature of WWII

• Points to remember
• Japans National and Military strategy
• Characteristics of the US war in the Pacific
• WWII as Clausewitzs absolute war
• The consequences of WWII
• Evolution of warfare

3
Educational Objectives

• To understand
• the history behind the development of air power
• the thinking of strategic theorists and their
  arguments
• The ideas of non-strategic theorists and relate
  their ideas to non-strategic operations.
• To compare the theories and practices of the
  major participants in WWII.

4
Background

• Issues
• Organization of the air arm
• Employment of aircraft
• Record of performance
• Precepts/Basic Ideas
• Advantage
• Targets

5
Air Power

• Historical Background
• Early Views
• The Interwar Years
• National theories
• Importance of air power theory

6
Views of Airpower

• Douhet
• Mitchell
• Geiger
• Warden

• Issues
• Role
• Type
• Organization

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Douhet

• Basic ideas
• The role of aviation
• The type of aircraft
• How organized

8
Mitchell

• Basic ideas
• The role of aviation
• The type of aircraft
• How organized
• Major difference

9
Geiger

• Basic ideas
• The role of aviation
• The type of aircraft
• How organized

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Warden

• Basic ideas
• The role of aviation
• The type of aircraft
• How organized

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Air Power in Action

• The Inter War Years
• During WWII
• After WWII
• Kosovo
• Afghanistan

12
Air Power

• The Interwar Years
• Major influences
• National positions
• GB
• US
• Japan
• USSR
• Germany

13
Air Power During WWII

• National practices
• Great Britain
• United States
• Japan
• Germany
• Results

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Importance of air power theory

• Political appeal
• Surgical
• Low casualties
• Decisive

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After World War II

• Strategic intellectuals
• 1945-1953
• 1961
• Kosovo
• Afghanistan
• American themes

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Kosovo

• Major questions
• First triumph of air?
• Why did Milosevic give in?
• The answer?
• Mitchell Technology Warden

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Operation Enduring Freedom

• Major questions
• Successful?
• Why successful?

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Air Power

• American Themes
• Precision bombing
• Surgical strikes
• Casualty-free
• Decisive

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Airpower

• Negative effect in the 3rd World
• Bombing from afar/on high
• Expectations
• Collateral damage
• Media
• Current view Bombing works

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Issues for Consideration

• Douhet and Mitchell
• Comparison of Air Power
• Geigers View of Air Power
• Wardens Ideas on Air Power
• Influence on Strategy

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Douhet and Mitchell

• Basic ideas
• Assumptions
• Relevance today

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Comparison of Air Power

• Theories and practices
• GB
• US
• Japan
• Germany

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Geigers View of Air Power

• Basic ideas
• Perspective

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Wardens Ideas on Air Power

• Theory
• Views

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Influence on WWII Strategy

• Mitchell
• GB
• US
• Douhet
• GB
• US

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Summary

• Countrys choice
• No widely accepted theorist
• Mixed results
• WWII
• Since WWII
• General view

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Modern Theorists Air Strategic and Tactical

• Points to remember
• Geigers view of air power
• Douhets theory
• Non-strategic air proponents
• Interwar and WWII applications of Douhets
  theories

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Next week

• Modern Theorists III
• Revolutionary War
• Review
• Exam
• Questions December 13
• Answers December 20