This study determines what the imperatives of tactical level tank-automotive maintenance should be. An examination of two historical examples, a brief examination of the tenets of AirLand Battle doctrine and current and emerging maintenance doctrine, and a determination of the tactical level maintenance requirements of the modern battle are presented in the monograph. The synthesis of these aspects reveals what the imperatives should be. The two historical examples utilized are the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the great Soviet offensives on their western front in 1944-45. In both cases, maintenance at the tactical level exhibited similar traits despite the disparity in scope and duration of the operations. An analysis of the maintenance requirements of the current and future battlefields is presented, revealing an intensity, lethality and electronization never before experienced - although approximated in 1973. These requirements are compared to current and emerging doctrine, which stands up well. An implications section addresses issues which the Army must address if it to secure a responsive maintenance system, mainly force structure, command, control and communications, and electronization. The conclusions reached are the imperatives of tactical level tank-automotive maintenance. These are: Fix forward; Provide responsive repair parts supply support; Conduct responsive recovery and evacuation operations; Establish and maintain effective command, control and communications capability vertically and laterally; Secure a 100% mobility capability for forward maintenance operations; and Develop the capability to operate in an NBC environment and at night.

ADA 179429 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.)