US Light Infantry v the USSR

I'm wondering how US light infantry, I'm thinking specifically of Air Cav, would do against the Soviets on the plains of Europe in a WW3.

Anybody with thoughts?
 

Robert

Banned
The Light Infantry Divisions such as the 10th Mountain, 7th Infantry (Light), or the 25th Infantry (Light), are useful in forrests, mountains, and urban environments. As seen in the Harold Coyne Novel "At Sword's Point" they would be at a great disadvantages in open area such as desert against mechanized or armored forces.

The 101st Air Assault Division uses helicopters to deploy it's infantry forces, backed up by attack helicopters which have a substantial anti-armor capability. To employ this Division it's necessary to have air superiority, however, has even attack helicopters are vulnerable to enemy fighter aircraft.
 
I kinda guess they'd get rolled by Soviet armor on the plains of europe.

Would could they/would they be used for in a European war then?
 
I kinda guess they'd get rolled by Soviet armor on the plains of europe.

Would could they/would they be used for in a European war then?

I don't think they were ment to be deployed in central Europe, same as USMC. They could be deployed on flanks where their advantages could be used and where terrain would mean their lack of heavy punch wouldn't be a problem.

It would make more sense to deploy them in Norway, Iceland or Turkey then Germany.
 

James G

Gone Fishin'
I kinda guess they'd get rolled by Soviet armor on the plains of europe.

Would could they/would they be used for in a European war then?

I tried 'wargaming' this and put the 10th Mountain in Norway with the 7th Light supporting the 9th Mechanized in southern Denmark.
I guess maybe the 101st Air Assault - the Air Cav - could deploy with the 82nd Airborne as a strategic reserve in Central Europe. Once the paratroopers drop somewhere as part of a counterattack, IF that ever came, the Air Cav could be flown into support them.
 

sharlin

Banned
As long as you don't plant them infront of 2nd Shock or something like that the US Light infantry in the right position could be very effective but if engaged by armour they could be in a lot of trouble without air support/air dominance.
 
I kinda guess they'd get rolled by Soviet armor on the plains of europe.

Would could they/would they be used for in a European war then?

Considering that the 'Air Cav' (1th Cavalry Division) quit being a light infantry division after Vietnam AFAIR and turned into a heavy mechanised force, it would then have done quite decent in the Fulda gap.
 
Urban warfare too? What about that? Plenty small towns, hamlets and cities for them to be deployed to, just as British TA Para Regt group was being used in late 1980s with its 3 battalions, and assorted elements. Each Bn was to have had its ATk capability enhanced, so that would make them rather akin to some US LI units.
 
Considering that the 'Air Cav' (1th Cavalry Division) quit being a light infantry division after Vietnam AFAIR and turned into a heavy mechanised force, it would then have done quite decent in the Fulda gap.

Actually the 1st Cav became a Tri Cap Div With a Brig of Arm , And a Inf Brig , with a Brig of Air Cav units which did not work out and was disbanded by 1978 and changed to the 1 Armd Cav Div .
 
Splitting a divisions up and intermixing them so as to put a battalion in every town is a logistics nightmare and in open country they'd be squished. However a light infantry division could prove useful when the Russians arrive at major urban areas, I'm thinking the Rhineland, Hamburg and Munich. Poorly trained light infantry can wreck heavy armoured units (see Grozny), well trained light infantry can stop them dead. Of course this being WW3 fierce resistance probably results in getting hit by a tac nuke but oh well.
 
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