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History of Convoy Security

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Submitted By chainbrakr1
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Abstract The history of convoy security necessitated design through ingenuity throughout history. By applying initiative and ingenuity, Leaders developed concepts, tactics and vehicle designs to protect their supplies moving throughout their area of operations. This produced innovations from the effective hybrid vehicles developed and used in Vietnam to the common use security platforms used in today’s modern Army. Further dialogue will ensure future doctrine should include funding and discussion. Forgetting the lessons learned, with the lives of Soldiers at stake, would be unconscionable.

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The History of United States Army Convoy Security
United States (US) Army doctrine has addressed convoy security since the mid 1800’s. The debate over convoy security operations as a hazardous undertaking of war has been a challenging topic throughout US Army history. The first published discussion of convoy operations described challenges that 19th century convoy commanders had to deal with.
To conduct a convoy in safety through an enemy’s territory, where it is exposed to attacks either of regular, or of partisan troops, is one of the most hazardous operations of war; owing to the ease with which a very inferior force may take the escort at disadvantage in defiles (Mahan, 1861, p. 155).
The US Army has a history of convoy experience. Most early instances relate to the Indian campaigns conducted prior to and after the Civil War. The American Indian had a completely different fighting style than the preconceived notions of warfare conducted by European and the Early American Army. Ambushes, skulking, bushwhacking and nonlinear fighting tactics were the American Indian forte. Early commanders quickly figured out that their supply trains were prime targets. The history of convoy security necessitated design through ingenuity throughout history. By

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