Distributed operations: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:09, 26 May 2010

Revision as of 19:31, 20 June 2010

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{{portal|United States Marine Corps}}

'''Distributed Operations''' (DO) is a new{{When}} warfightingwar-fighting concept being adopted by the [[United States Marine Corps]] and is being developed by their [[United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory|Warfighting Laboratory]] as a response to the changing environment of the [[War on Terrorism|Global War on Terror]]. Adaptive enemies and a more complex environment required that conventional forces have the ability to decentralize decision making and distribute their forces. The concept is the brainchild of [[James Mattis|General James Mattis]] and will maximize a [[Marine Air Ground Task Force]] commander's ability to employ tactical units across the depth and breadth of a non-linear battlespace.

Distributed Operations is a form of [[maneuver warfare]] where small, highly capable units spread across a large area of operations will create an advantage over an adversary through the deliberate use of separation and coordinated, independent tactical actions. DO units will use close combat or supporting arms to disrupt the enemy's access to key terrain and avenues of apporachapproach. This type of warfare will be dependent on well trained and professional small unit leaders, focused and energetic training of small units and more robust communications and tactical mobility assets for those smaller units. A greater focus will also be placed on language and cultural training.

==Historical examples==

* Finnish small unit tactics during the [[Winter War]] of 1939-19401939–1940.

* British and Indian "[[Chindit]]" tactics employed against the Japanese during the [[Burma Campaign#First Chindit Expedition|Burma Campaign]].

* The U.S. Marines [[Combined Action Program]] during the [[Vietnam War]].