Caren Mark S. The Soviet-Afghan War: Another Look

A paper submitted to the Faculty o f the Naval War College in partial satisfaction of the requirements of the Department of Operations.
— Newport: Naval War College, 1999. — 24 p.This research effort reviews the Soviet military's involvement in Afghanistan from 4 general perspectives: systemic problems in Soviet military culture, the use of surprise, operational maneuver and preeminence of aviation and employment of mines and chemical weapons, as an extension of maneuver warfare. This paper concludes that the lessons of this war have been learned by the Russians. There is every reason to believe that they can achieve the level of Doctrinal changes required to be successful in future"local" interventions. It must be accompanied, however, by corresponding socio-military reform.Background.
Soviet Military Culture.
Surprise and the Soviet invasion.
Operational Maneuver.
Chemical and Mine Warfare.