This monograph examines the U.S. Army's decision to eliminate Echo companies from the Heavy Division force structure. Since the introduction of the tank onto the modern battlefield the struggle between tank and anti-armor weapon has dominated the thinking of maneuver warfare. Three important elements have had significant impact on anti-armor warfare; technology or new equipment, organizational structure, and doctrine. Framing these elements is the evolving threat and the proliferation of advanced weaponry through new equipment and retrofitting of new technology on existing equipment in third world nations. The monograph traces the development of the combined arms concept as envisioned by J.F.C Fuller and Liddell Hart. A brief examination of the historical development of the current U.S. Army anti-armor warfare doctrine followed by a short threat analysis focusing on the relevance of anti-armor warfare in the future. This monograph uses three case studies, Operation Crusader, Operation Goodwood, and The Yom Kippur War to further discuss the impact of technology, organizational structure and doctrine on the future of anti-armor warfare. A doctrinal review and discussion concerning current Bradley equipped mechanized battalion capabilities establishes the discrepancies between doctrine and organizational structure. Finally, this monograph establishes the relevance of a balanced combined arms team that incorporates specialized organizations that contribute to the synergistic effect to combined arms operations. The doctrinal "firestorm" caused by the Division 86 concept in response to the 1973 Israel/Arab conflict is a harbinger for future doctrinal debate. The disruptive effect that technology places on doctrine and the influences that it has on the emerging threat will continue to dominate force structure development. Finally the monograph concludes with two recommendations; either change doctrine to reflect current mechanized force structure, or incorporate specialized anti-armor units back into the mechanized battalion.

ADA 324410 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)