Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1365706
The European theater, meanwhile, belongs to the 2nd and 25th Infantry Divisions. Out of the remaining eight divisions, one is light, two are air- mobile. Even though these may be rapidly deployed, especially the 82nd Airborne, the forces in question cannot be considered to play the core role in Europe. The European theater requires heavy elements primarily. Deploying even three heavy divisions with armored brigades may restore the balance in the potential between the land components on both sides of the conflict. Within the aforesaid context, restoring the V Corps Command of the US Army is a sign. The forward element of that command has been deployed to Poland. The Corps level is a natural choice when one needs to handle several divisions, along with the supporting elements - such as a rocket artillery brigade, reconnaissance brigade, engineering units, and logistical and medical elements. Army Aviation, namely the AH-64E and Chinook helicopters, are also a hugely important support measure. he mobility is another burning, yet obvious matter here. The aircraft can deploy autonomously. The soldiers can be flown to Europe - especially when civil airliners are used. The equipment though is another story. It is possible to transport combat vehicles with the use of planes. However, deployment of a single brigade would mean that the whole C-5 and C-17 fleet would be unavailable for a long time. The only option here is to use the so-called Army Prepositioned Stock system, storing the equipment locally in Europe beforehand. This is an effective, yet not a full-scale solution. It is impossible to store equipment for a couple of divisions in a couple of locations around the globe. Sending in extra assets to account for losses, and supplying the forces in Europe with spares and ammunition, are all a part of the equation as well. Naval routes are the only remaining option here. Hundreds of combat vehicles and supplies onboard military cargo ships - from the existing inventory, as well as from the reserves. Civil units can also be mobilized. The deployment is not a challenge, despite the post-Cold War cuts. A single ro-ro cargo ship that is 270 meters long (Shughart-class) may carry more than 100 fighting vehicles and 900 other vehicles. 20 vessels of the kind are operated by the US Navy, across several different classes. The reserve assets also include other vessels, including eight fast Algol-class ships. The crossing of the Atlantic should take around one week. Then one should also take into account the time needed to move the equipment from the bases to the ports, and the time required to roll it off the ships and to send them to the desired positions. The transport process alone is convoluted. And one additional factor should also be taken into the account. ANALYSIS