An Assessment of Alternative Transports for Future Mobility Planning

📖 The Scoop

Existing U.S. strategic mobility programs were planned to support the deployment of large forces from the United States to Europe and regions on the periphery of the former Soviet Union, in the context of a global conflict with the Soviet Union and its allies. To support these demanding requirements, DoD made substantial investments in government-controlled transportation programs. The procurement of C-5s, Fast Sealift Ships, Maritime Prepositioning Ships, and Afloat Prepositioning Ships and the creation of the Ready Reserve Force are the most visible examples. In Operation Desert Shield, these programs, augmented by commercial charter ships and commercial aircraft in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, allowed the United States to deploy the combat unit equipment of 4 and 2/3 Army divisions, two Marine expeditionary brigades, and a large number of Air Force tactical and support squadrons to Saudi Arabia in roughly 90 days.

Genre: History / Military / United States (fancy, right?)