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To: Captain Rhino
Yes, adherence to the Soviet doctrine you described was the primary reason why the Soviets fought hard to stop the deployment of the INF in Western Europe in the 1970s and 1980s. They knew that the presence of intermediate-range ballistic missiles and other tactical nukes in Europe would negate their superiority in conventional forces.
15 posted on 01/21/2016 6:27:17 AM PST by riverdawg
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To: riverdawg

Yes.

Preceding the use of the INF was the NATO doctrine of attacks in depth on enemy formations with conventional force (bombing, non-nuclear missiles, etc.) which was intended to prevent/significantly delay the arrival of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th,...nth echelons of his forces at the front. This destruction of lines of communication, depots, marshaling yards, etc in the enemy hinterlands would be in addition to a very stubborn, layered defense at the front. The hope was that the attrition would be so severe that the Soviets would stop short of the “line in the sand/tripwire” for NATO to begin employing nuclear weapons.

Given the natural stubbornness and willingness to suffer of your average Russian, that may have been a futile hope.

Anyway, as I wrote earlier, I’m glad both sides had the good sense not to put their warfighting theories and doctrine to the test.

Let us hope it stays that way.


16 posted on 01/21/2016 7:08:54 AM PST by Captain Rhino (Determined effort today forges tomorrow.)
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