Forbidden weapon - the employment of Army tactical nuclear weapons. Rept. for Aug 90-Mar 91

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6199428

Skelton, J D

The United States has possessed tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) since the early 1950's. Initially developed for deployment to Europe to offset the Soviet/Warsaw Pact's huge conventional superiority and to deter war, these weapons have never been used in combat. With the demise of the Cold War, a desire to reduce nuclear weapon stockpiles, and the capability of sister services to employ TNW, if needed, the Army must decide whether it needs to retain its capability to employ TNW. Following a discussion of the evolution of TNW theory and a historical review of the Army's TNW capability, this monograph addresses whether or not the Army needs the capability to employ TNW in future war. The analysis suggests that the Army should relinquish its TNW capability because of a decreased threat from the Soviet Union, the availability of Air Force and Navy TNW to support a theater Commander-in-Chief (CINC), and to avoid redundant TNW capabilities in an era of fiscal constraints. Before the Army gives up its TNW capability, however, the Department of Defense must ensure that the Air Force and Navy can perform all TNW missions in support of a CINC.

• Research Organization: Army Command and General Staff Coll., Fort Leavenworth, KS (United States). School of Advanced Military Studies
• OSTI ID: 6199428
• Report Number(s): AD-A-240197/4/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARMS CONTROL
ASIA
AVAILABILITY
DECISION MAKING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EQUIPMENT
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MILITARY EQUIPMENT
MILITARY STRATEGY
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
SPECIFICATIONS
STOCKPILES
US DOD
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
USSR
WARFARE
WEAPONS