The Strike Teams: Tactical Performance and Strategic Potential.

Consideration of the strike team concept as used in Vietnam and in the context of force structure doctrine. The means of mobility, communications, and firepower at the disposal of American forces in Vietnam represent major technological breakthroughs in the tools of warfare. They have been used mainly to expedite tactical maneuvers, but they also warrant revisions in organizational structure and unit missions. The performance of the strike teams in Vietnam over the last three years gives increasing evidence that, for certain tasks, a set of small units is more effective than one large unit. Strike teams are small units who move covertly in enemy territory, launch a surprise attack, and withdraw suddenly. They have achieved enemy attrition at less cost in manpower. But this is not their potential merit, since attrition is not a valid or obtainable war objective. To maximize their relative advantage over larger units, they should also perform harassment and surveillance. Strike teams should be incorporated into an overall strategy to buy time while South Vietnamese forces are being reshaped and an area security system is being established.