Documents / FOIA release

/specialCollection/SovietandWarsawPact/1961/1961-12-18.pdf

Central Intelligence Agency · 28 pages · text from the file's own layer

This Central Intelligence Agency memorandum to the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, dated December 1961, sends a verbatim translation of a Soviet article from the TOP SECRET version of the journal Military Thought. The article, "The Theory of Military Art Needs Review" by Colonel-General A. Gastilovich, appeared in the first 1960 issue. It argues that nuclear missiles call for short "blitz" wars, smaller ground forces and missile troops as the main arm. It has no UFO content.

In contrast to other types of forces, these
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condition spells destruction for the landing force. The possibilities
are oil in favor of its anaihdlation by nuclear/missile weapons while
it is still at its bases or while it is at see.
Surface vessels of the fleet will not 14 able to ;day a signifi-
cantrole in armed conflict. Their utility sill probably be limited
to coastal areas under heavy PVO cover for Emecution of support
missions. As far as . protection of ocean swpply transport is comerned,
even now they are of little use for carrying out this mission.
Antiaircraft defense of troops and the country, as it appears
to us is an the correct course of develq;aant, chiefly ce anti-
missile resources in the fors at the creation of fully automatic
systems at antiaircraft missiles.
Its MP of tube antiaircraft artillery is irrevocably receding
into the past and it is only in the antiaircraft defense of troops
that small-caliber tube antiairmn"artillimymey stallions some
sI gnificance for the protection et smell sidsusits tram low4"171111
aircraft.
The principal antiaircraft defense of troops end, the country
must be an automatic system of antiaircraft Eisen- installations of
various ranges uhich could cover, not installations, tut separate
large areas and could resolve the task of protecting both the
troops and the territorial installations et the country (in these
areas). aspirate antiaircraft defense of troops, except for the
self-defense ot dill subunits mentiosedsbove, appears to us to
be an antiquated tradition. Fighter aircraft aviation within the
system of antiaircraft defense will also became archaic in the near
future. It is needed only until antiaircraft missiles bree achieved
the necessary technical perfection.
A mew type at forces. In addition to existing types of armed
forces the necessity hes sprung up, is our opinion, for the creation
of a ows type or force which is not tiosientatfor direct eco4oet
of combat operations, hot which is extremely Importa gt, sometheless,
under conditions of aocimariaissile var. We hove in mind troops,
possibly called, rescue-rebehilition. (spasstelscavosibusoviteleyy),
which, are designated for operations is the country's interior, is
areas subjected to enemy nuclear attack. Their basis shosid consist
of medical service and rebsbilation units and Urge units.

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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 28 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.