"The Lessons of Modern War" takes a comprehensive look at five major conflicts of our time. The first volume covers the Arab-Israeli arms race from 1973 to 1989, as well as the wars that have plagued that region. The second volume provides an up-to-date analysis of the bloody Iran-Iraq conflict-the longest war of the twentieth century. The third volume examines the first major naval battle (the Falklands) and the only Soviet military defeat (Afghanistan) since the end of World War II. The third volume also provides the general conclusions to be drawn from these conflicts. The analysis in each volume focuses on military events and lessons; the politics of each conflict are discussed only to the extent necessary to understand the grand strategy, the strategy, and the tactics of the conflict. Where possible, key events and data are described in a way that will allow readers to draw their own conclusions. A deliberate effort has been made to avoid oversimplifying the complex nature of modern war. Topics covered include combatants; terrain; history of the conflict; causalities and losses; threat-assessment technologies; command, control, and communications; combined arms; infantry; tanks and armored vehicles; precision-guided and specialized munitions; tube artillery and multiple rocket launchers; surface-to-surface missiles; mines and barriers; all-weather and night target acquisition systems; anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles; air combat; naval systems and combat; close air support; interdiction and long-range attack; air reconnaissance; helicopters; combined operations; logistics; and chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Each of the three volumes is written as an independent work, but the analyses of the conflicts are standardized as much as possible. Each volume is divided into sections that highlights the forces involved, the history of the conflict, key aspects of the operational art of war, and the impact of major types of weapons on the course of the conflict. Research bibliographies and extensive tables and charts enhance the reference value of this indispensable work.

Volume I includes maps of: Fighting up to the Siege of Beirut. Volume II includes maps of: Iran and Iraq; Iran-Iraqi Deployments during the Iraqi Invasion; Maximum Iraqi Gains during the Iran-Iraq War; Iran Recovers Khuzistan; Iran's Vulnerable Oil Routes; Iran's Offensives of 1982; First Iranian Offensive of 1983; Iran's Vulnerable Loading Points in the Oil War; Location of the Exclusion Zones and Strikes on the USS Stark; Main Iranian and Iraqi Air Bases and Air Defense Centers. Volume III includes maps of: Terrain of Combat in Afghanistan; Afghanistan - Major Cities and Lines of Communication; Afghanistan - Kabul and the Surrounding Provinces; Afghanistan - Military Areas in the Northeast; Afghanistan - Soviet Major Combat Unit Deployments in December 1987; Soviet Communication System in Afghanistan in 1983-1984; Falkland Islands; Ground Tracks over Argentina and the Falklands; Ground Tracks over the U.K. of the Soviet Satellite Cosmos; Volume IV includes maps of: Range of Iraqi Early Warning Radars and Heavy Surface-to-air Missiles; [Air Defense Sector Boundaries]; Location of Coalition Ground Forces on February 23, 1991; Location and Condition of Iraqi Ground Forces on February 23, 1991; Final Coalition Attack Plan; Initial Coalition Attack on G-Day, February 24, 1991; XVIII Corps Attack on G-Day; VII Corps Attack on G-Day; 1 MEF Attack on G-Day; JFC-East Attack on G-Day; Coalition Advances on G+1; VII Corps Attack on G+1; Coalition Advances on G+2, February 26, 1991; Coalition Advances on G+3, February 27, 1991; Key Iraqi Positions on G+3; Coalition Advances on G+4, February 28, 1991. Includes indexes. Vols. 1-3 are filed in the multiple copy area, first floor. Vol. 4 is filed in main collection, second floor.

v. 1. The Arab-Israeli conflicts, 1973-1989 -- v. 2. The Iran-Iraq war -- v. 3. The Afghan and Falklands conflicts.