Tactical nuclear weapons responsibility: Ordnance versus field artillery. Study project

Technical Report · Thu Mar 08 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6788606

Fields, J A

There has existed and still exists an operational dichotomy in the area of the provision of tactical nuclear weapons to United States Army forces versus those allied forces in a combined theater of operations. Specifically, within the NATO environment and to a very small degree within Combined Forces Korea, there exists a condition where tactical nuclear weapons are supplied to the U.S. firing unit by an organization under the proponency of the Ordnance Corps. On the other hand, within the same theater, the non-U.S. force receives their tactical nuclear weapons by an organization under the proponency of the Field Artillery. This paper will examine the functions performed by this duplication of supply organizations and briefly list the supporting structure. It will then explore any possible purpose for the duplication which would justify this apparent mission replication. Discussion will then follow which will list the pros and cons of staying with the status quo or the possible assignment of the supply function to a single branch proponency. Conclusions are then drawn and recommendations made for improving the current system of tactical nuclear weapon support.

• Research Organization: Army War Coll., Carlisle Barracks, PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6788606
• Report Number(s): AD-A-219844/8/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
NATO
MILITARY STRATEGY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
ARMS CONTROL
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATIONAL SECURITY
POLITICAL ASPECTS
US DOD
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
SECURITY
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEAPONS
350000* - Arms Control- (1987-)