MILITARY THOUGHT (USSR): PREEMPTION IN A MEETING ENGAGEMENT OF A TANK ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10-00105R000100860001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 9, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/16: CIA-RDP10-00105R000100860001-1
Next 3 Page(s) In Document Denied
Iq
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/16: CIA-RDP10-00105R000100860001-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/16: CIA-RDP10-00105R000100860001-1
Page 4 of 15 Pages
50X1-HUM
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Pree tive Strikes
in a Meeting EnRagement 7-a Tank Army
by
Colonel N. Popov, Doctor of Military Sciences, Lecturer
and Lieutenant Colonel V. Krysanov
The article by Marshal of Armored Troops A. Babadzhanyan "A Meeting
Engagement of a Tank Army in an Offensive Operation of a Front",* raises
the very important question of preparing and conducting a mo ern meeting
engagement with tank formations. This article closely examined and set
forth the conditions under which a meeting engagement arises, the scope of
such an engagement, and the methods of using nuclear weapons and other
means of destruction. Particularly worthy of mention are the concepts
regarding the determination of the stages of a meeting engagement and the
organization and implementation of preemption of the enemy as the most
important condition for the success of such an engagement.
Considering the urgency of this problem, we would like to examine and
develop certain concepts and, above all, express our views on the
evaluation of the effectiveness of preemptive nuclear and fire strikes.
Obtaining quantitative evaluations regarding preemption is extremely
important for making well-grounded decisions, for using forces and means
efficiently, and for choosing expedient methods to defeat the enemy with
strikes by nuclear, chemical, and conventional weapons, and by actions of
tank groupings.
The basic quantitative characteristics of preemptive strikes are the
preemption time and the expected result of a nuclear (fire) strike; the
effectiveness of the strike is indicated by the extent of damage inflicted
on the enemy, and is dependent on the number of missiles expended
(artillery ammunition and aircraft bombs). Indeed, it is one thing when
the main mass of the means of destruction (for example, 70 to 80 percent)
allotted for defeating the enemy is used in preemptive strikes, and quite
another when only part of them (for example, 20 to 30 percent) are used.
All of this determines the extent of the damage inflicted on the opposing
enemy grouping and influences the choice of methods for routing the enemy
in a meeting engagement and the use of tank large units.
50X1-HUM
*Collection of Articles of the Journal 'Military Thought", 1968, No. 3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/16: CIA-RDP10-00105R000100860001-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/16: CIA-RDP10-00105R000100860001-1
of 15 Pages
On the one hand, a
preemptive strike represents a unique race by two
groupings advancing toward each other to deliver nuclear and fire strikes;
on the other hand, a preemptive strike must be regarded not only as an
event of short duration but also as a definite
period whose duration will
be deternnnedb th f
y e time o preemption of the enemy in the delivery of
strikes
The first step in evaluating effectiveness is to d
p g determine the
pr
eemption time when the troops have to deliver strikes against the enemy. , if a tank army is conducting a meeting engagement with an advancing
Thus
large enemy reserve grouping, the preemption time will be determined by the
conditions under which this engagement arose, particularly by the distance
between the two sides; by the tactical-technical characteristics and
specifications o the rocket troops, artillery, and aviation; approaching by the range
of launch (fire); by the rate at which the troops are other; by the degree of readiness; by the time needed to deploy the means
of destruction from the march. These basic characteristics may be tied
together b the following mathematical 1
y ma ematica re ationship:
(1)
to = D - d + tp
where to = the time of preemption of the enemy in the delivery of strikes;
I the range of launi. ch(f' ) f f destruction;
re o our means o
d the range of launch (fire) of enemy means;
,
vn = the speed of advance of our troops;
vu = the speed of advance of enemy troops;
5 = the time of deployment of the enemy means of destruction.
In this relationship we assume that we will preempt when t.. > 0 (the
enemy will
preempt
when tu