NCJ Number
63300
Date Published
1972
Length
454 pages
Annotation
A SINGLE SOURCE OF HISTORICAL, TACTICAL, AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON GUERRILLA WARFARE, THIS TEXT PROVIDES AN ANALYSIS OF THE FORCES ACTING IN ANY CONFLICT INVOLVING GUERRILLA WARFARE.
Abstract
ALSO, TO PROVE THAT UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES CAN USE GUERRILLA TACTICS TO ACHIEVE THE INITIATIVE IN WARFARE AND DEFEAT COMMUNIST REGIMES, IT EXTENSIVELY DESCRIBES THE TRADITIONAL AND FUTURE METHODS OF CONDUCTING AND COUNTERING GUERRILLA COMBAT. THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GIVES A DETAILED PRESENTATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF GUERRILLA WARFARE, INCLUDING ITS CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS; NECESSARY PRECONDITIONS; TACTICAL APPLICATIONS; THE PLANNING AND CONDUCTING OF TACTICAL OPERATIONS; SPECIAL TACTICAL PROBLEMS; PERSONNEL, LEADERSHIP, AND TRAINING PREPARATIONS; MATERIAL ORGANIZATION AND CONSIDERATIONS; AND A SPECIAL SECTION ON COUNTERGUERRILLA WARFARE, NONMILITARY AND MILITARY. GUERRILLA OPERATIONS SINCE THE NAPOLEONIC ERA ARE SURVEYED. HISTORICALLY, IT IS MAINTAINED, UNCONVENTIONAL FORCES AND ARMED BANDS FOUGHT AGAINST NAPOLEON'S ARMY IN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN AND AGAINST THE BRITISH DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE SECOND WORLD WAR FEATURED PARTISAN FORCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, ATTACKING THE CONVENTIONAL ARMIES OF JAPAN AND GERMANY. AMERICAN TROOPS SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED THE AMBUSH AND COMMANDO TACTICS TO THE SITUATIONS IN BURMA AND THE PHILIPPINES DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION. DISCUSSION OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF GUERRILLAS UNDER INTERNATIONAL TREATIES INDICATES THAT AN ENEMY WOULD VIOLATE THE HAGUE CONVENTION IF IT DID NOT TREAT GUERRILLAS AS LAWFUL SOLDIERS, PROVIDED THAT THE GUERRILLAS WERE COMMANDED BY A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, THAT THEY WORE FIXED AND DISTINCTIVE EMBLEMS, AND THAT THEY THEMSELVES FOLLOWED THE INTERNATIONAL LAW AND CUSTOMS. A MILITARY ANALYSIS OF FUTURE WARFARE EMPHASIZES THE PROPER SELECTION AND TRAINING OF LEADERS, AND THE ACQUISTION OF PORTABLE, HIGH-POWERED WEAPONS. CHARTS DESCRIBE THE BATTLE PLANS IN SEVERAL MILITARY CAMPAIGNS AND PROVIDE SPECIFICATIONS FOR RECOMMENDED GUERRILLA WEAPONS. FOOTNOTES, GENERAL AND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHIES, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)