Norms and the Red God of War: Gospel for the King of Battle

摘要

This monograph examines the Soviet Red Army's use of norms and nomograms in firesupport planning and questions why the US Army does not use norms and nomograms in the same manner. The Soviets argue that norms and nomograms allow them to provide fire support very rapidly, and free the tactical commander from the concern of recurring tactical decisions. This is one way in which they deal with what Clausewitz termed the 'friction' of war. The monograph first examines the theory of developing and using norms and nomograms to quantify fire support planning, specifically their importance to both the Soviet socialist system and the Soviet military. It then examines the history of fire support planning in both the Soviet and US armies, including a comparison of past and current doctrines. Contemporary and future battlefield fire support planning requirements are discusses, with a look at how norms and nomograms apply to those environments. Keywords: Nomograms, Fire support, Tactical decision making, Fire support planning. (cp)