Air-Mech-Strike: Asymmetric Maneuver Warfare for the 21st Century

The book is now in print again and... should eventually have them for online sale soon!

I'm looking right now at a 2nd edition AMS book and can't put it down!

The illustrations have been expanded with hard-to-find photos of world-wide Air-Mech combat operations and the text fine-tuned. The new post 9/11 terror attack world situation has been addressed in the new beginning chapter explaining why 3D capable AMS forces are needed to find, locate and destroy terrorist groups hiding in host nations and remote areas, a capability Vietnam combat tanker Ralph Zumbro has been warning us for years we need.

There are a host of NEW ADVANCED CONCEPTS CONTAINED IN 2D EDITION:

* Enhanced definition of "Air-Mech-Strike"
* Afghanistan Operation Anaconda Air-Mech operations using tracked BV-206s and M-GATOR ATVs
* Sub-National Terrorist Group decisive maneuver defeat mechanisms
* Defeat of enemy surveillance strike complexes by MANEUVER
* Piasecki Vectored Thrust Ducted Compound Helicopters
* Articulated tracked armored fighting vehicles (BV-206S)
* Nose Loading equipment for cargo 747s
* Tracked and Air Cushion landing gear for extreme STOL airland operations
* Reduced turrets to make M1/M2 into medium weight OFFENSIVE platforms
* More exclusive photos of Air-Mech operations by U.S., British and Russians
* ACTD proposals for 82nd Airborne and 101st Air Assault Divisions
* Lighter-Than-Air cargo airships to speed heavy 2D forces and logistics without need of runways/ports
* Cost and performance comparisons of tracked tanks versus LAV-III/Stryker rubber-tired armored cars
* Ducted-fan FTR concepts
* Infared camouflage for armored fighting vehicles and troops
* How AMS maneuver can collapse the will of our enemies

All in all, the 2nd edition book builds and improves a better transformation vision for the U.S. Army and shows how a truly open minded group can constantly improve/refine its vision as new information is discovered. DoD and the Army should fully adopt these concepts and equipments and reform themselves to gain an American Asymmetric Maneuver Warfare capability.


Air Mech Strike - More Capable Alternative to IBCT   May 5, 2002
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Yes. I am currently one of them. I understand your criticisms and your accolades. Therefore, not being one of the original authors, I can play "Devil's Acvocate" with both the reviews and the book.

For the Reviewers: Air Mech Strike is a book by individual authors that bring their long years of experience and study into the mix. There is some duplication and the layout does "hurt the eyes" somewhat. The emphasis on the names, while appropriate, does not add anything to the singular basic argument that 2D and 3D warfare need to compliment each other. While not everyone will be able to readily understand all of the new the concepts , the book is well documented with references to websites, studies, books, and articles. Finally, speaking to the Wing In Ground Effect vehicle points up the problem of strategic airlift. We cannot fight if we can't get there, no matter how light the force may be.

For the Book: The book takes up where the Howze Board, the 11th Air Assault, the 1st Cavalary and 101st Airborne Divisions, left off. Placing troops in the rear or on the flank of an attacking or withdrawing enemy force is the best way to divide the enemy's effort, make him fight two battles on two or more fronts at once, resulting in his piecemeal destruction. It is a follow on to the mission of air assault and air cavalary forces. The difference is that light equipment, beyond the vision of General Gavin's light arms, are also a part of the assault. M113s and the Germany Weasels can be flown across the FLOT to deliver both dragoon infantry and ground cavalry to rip up the attack or withdrawing enemy's C3, artillery, and logistical force. The book emphasizes this type of mission to compliment the 2D maneuver of heavy forces.

Airborne, Air Assault and Light Divisions should be the next units to be moved to the IBCT structure, whether that be an air mech strike capable IBCT or remain a 2D capable IBCT. The air mech strike concept, as theorized in the book, is capable of being carried in the C-130 while the other is not.

Air Mech Strike is lighter and can get there faster. With the limited air lift available, air mech strike gives the Army the ability to get the units there in C-130s and sling them on helicopters once on the battlefield. The book is very clean in this regard and both are required.