Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry
Can the present learn from the past? Moreover, if so, what lessons can we learn? The Danish Parliament instructed the Armed Forces to create a light infantry unit. What resulted is the Slesvig Regiment of Foot, designed to conduct operations using helicopters and/or navy vessels. This article is an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Scandinavian Military Studies
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sjms.nu/articles/108 |
| _version_ | 1818890666930864128 |
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| author | Kristian Lindhardt |
| author_facet | Kristian Lindhardt |
| author_sort | Kristian Lindhardt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Can the present learn from the past? Moreover, if so, what lessons can we learn? The Danish Parliament instructed the Armed Forces to create a light infantry unit. What resulted is the Slesvig Regiment of Foot, designed to conduct operations using helicopters and/or navy vessels. This article is an analysis of the lessons that can be learned from three historic cases using light infantry in an air mobile capacity and under an air mobility doctrine. The need for such an analysis comes from the fact that this is a new way of conducting military operations for the Danish Army. The cases are the American insertion at Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam 1965, the Rhodesian Bush War 1974–1980 and the British Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone 2000; all three chosen because they illustrate similarities and differences that will give the analysis the broader perspective needed to provide suitable lessons for a future Danish concept of operations for the light infantry unit. All three cases have a doctrinal background that are applicable in a Danish context. The article argues that there are a number of lessons to be learned, such as the adherence to an air mobile doctrine, command and control measures, the level of training, and the experience and mind-set of the commanders. The elements of surprise, fire support, aggression when needed, flexibility, communication and the units’ organization and equipment also provide valuable lessons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:28:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a8544f8ca2e4d0ba82b485f8bb294e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2596-3856 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:28:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Scandinavian Military Studies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a8544f8ca2e4d0ba82b485f8bb294e12022-12-21T20:12:30ZengScandinavian Military StudiesScandinavian Journal of Military Studies2596-38562021-12-014110.31374/sjms.10868Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light InfantryKristian Lindhardt0Royal Danish Defence CollegeCan the present learn from the past? Moreover, if so, what lessons can we learn? The Danish Parliament instructed the Armed Forces to create a light infantry unit. What resulted is the Slesvig Regiment of Foot, designed to conduct operations using helicopters and/or navy vessels. This article is an analysis of the lessons that can be learned from three historic cases using light infantry in an air mobile capacity and under an air mobility doctrine. The need for such an analysis comes from the fact that this is a new way of conducting military operations for the Danish Army. The cases are the American insertion at Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam 1965, the Rhodesian Bush War 1974–1980 and the British Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone 2000; all three chosen because they illustrate similarities and differences that will give the analysis the broader perspective needed to provide suitable lessons for a future Danish concept of operations for the light infantry unit. All three cases have a doctrinal background that are applicable in a Danish context. The article argues that there are a number of lessons to be learned, such as the adherence to an air mobile doctrine, command and control measures, the level of training, and the experience and mind-set of the commanders. The elements of surprise, fire support, aggression when needed, flexibility, communication and the units’ organization and equipment also provide valuable lessons.https://sjms.nu/articles/108light infantrydoctrineair mobilitymilitary historydefensevietnam warrhodesian bush waroperation palliser |
| spellingShingle | Kristian Lindhardt Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies light infantry doctrine air mobility military history defense vietnam war rhodesian bush war operation palliser |
| title | Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry |
| title_full | Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry |
| title_fullStr | Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry |
| title_short | Deployment of Light Infantry Under Air Mobility Doctrine – A Historical Study of Helicopter-deployed Light Infantry |
| title_sort | deployment of light infantry under air mobility doctrine a historical study of helicopter deployed light infantry |
| topic | light infantry doctrine air mobility military history defense vietnam war rhodesian bush war operation palliser |
| url | https://sjms.nu/articles/108 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kristianlindhardt deploymentoflightinfantryunderairmobilitydoctrineahistoricalstudyofhelicopterdeployedlightinfantry |