LIGHT/MEDIUM/HEAVY..
Oh, do we need more than just light?
Gee I thought that we were only preparing for constabulary roles. Now that we don't have a DFS Vehicle, that's what we is.
Interesting concept. I've found that I consider the light-medium-heavy spectrum of military capabilities similar to the game of "rock-paper-scissors".
A medium force (the scissor) can effectively control an area with a smaller footprint then its heavier brethren. It is light, mobile, and contains the necessary equipment and doctrine to allow it to overpower any ragtag, second rate militias and the like (paper). However, a medium force would dash itself to pieces against a heavy force (rock) which possesses far greater tactical maneuverability, firepower, and survivability.
A heavy force (the rock) is the powerhouse formation that is can destroy the enemy in direct combat. It is more then a match for most other forms of enemies (scissors) and yet, heavy forces can find themselves rendered helpless if they are not careful when confronting asymmetrical, irregular forces (paper), like those big MBT's that have proven useless against a determined Iraqi insurgent with an RPG.
Light forces (paper) attempt to maintain the three central aspects of tactical maneuverability, firepower, and survivability through a variety of other means such as diffusion, use of adverse terrain, and application of small-scale hit and run tactics to avoid enemy concentrations of power (rock). However, they must be careful to not become fixed and engaged by a foe, especially one with any sort of armoured assets (scissors), as this deprives them of their main forms of tactical and operational advantages and allows the enemy to use their "light" nature against them.
How do you like my analogy? Going from it, one would assume that any military that wishes to remain relevent should maintain all three capabilities. The main factor in this is determining what equipment and forms of organization can best achieve the desired levels of maneuverability, firepower, and survivability at each seperate level. As far as I can tell, Canada is attempting to do this on the cheap with the LAV chassis by using a platform to satisfy both the medium (scissor) and heavy (rock) capabilities despite the fact that the platform may be inappropriate for either form (MacGregor argued that the LAV chassis is best used in a constabulary role to give light forces a little extra umph).
