Strategic Attack of National Electrical Systems
Research Report
Strategic Attack of National Electrical Systems
THOMAS E. GRIFFITH
Copyright Date: Oct. 1, 1994
Published by: Air University Press
Pages: 68
OPEN ACCESS
https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep13941
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  1. Front Matter
    Front Matter (pp. i-i)
  2. Disclaimer
    Disclaimer (pp. ii-ii)
  3. Table of Contents
    Table of Contents (pp. iii-iv)
  4. Abstract
    Abstract (pp. v-vi)
  5. About the Author
    About the Author (pp. vii-vii)
  6. Chapter 1 Introduction
    Chapter 1 Introduction (pp. 1-3)

    Electrical systems have been a favorite target of air power since the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) first considered this target system in the 1930s. It has been designated as a critical target in every war since then, and will likely be nominated for attack in future air campaigns.¹ Nevertheless, there has been little thought given to understanding the conditions that determine when these attacks will be successful in obtaining the political objectives of any given application. Much of the time attacks on this system are advocated more out of institutional inertia than clear strategic thinking. In addition, there have...

  7. Chapter 2 National Electrical Power Systems
    Chapter 2 National Electrical Power Systems (pp. 5-14)

    Though electrical power systems may be organized differently from country to country, the basic technical requirements for generating electricity are the same, making it possible to discuss, in general terms, the basic components of an electrical power system and the effects of an attack.¹ A generic electrical power system is composed of four separate subsystems: generation, transmission, distribution, and control. An understanding of how each of these works offers some insight into determining the vulnerability of the system, and highlights the benefits and drawbacks in attacking each part.

    The generation subsystem is the heart, or source, of the electrical system...

  8. Chapter 3 Electrical Power Targeting in the Past Attacks in Total War
    Chapter 3 Electrical Power Targeting in the Past Attacks in Total War (pp. 15-31)

    The first conceptual work in identifying specific strategic bombing targets in general, and electric power in particular, was done during the 1930s at the service school for airmen, the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS). While the ideas developed at the school were not official doctrine in terms of being supported by the Army hierarchy and written into regulations, these concepts were the bedrock upon which the World War II strategic bombing campaigns were first designed.¹

    The bomber advocates at ACTS used meticulous logic in explaining how strategic bombardment could win wars through the attack of specific targets. This group, which...

  9. Chapter 4 Electrical Power Targeting in the Past Attacks in Limited War
    Chapter 4 Electrical Power Targeting in the Past Attacks in Limited War (pp. 33-44)

    When North Korean Communist forces launched their invasion on 25 June 1950, the US Air Force, like much of the rest of the world, was caught by surprise. Prior to the invasion, the Far Eastern Air Forces (the Air Force component responsible for air matters in Korea) had accomplished little contingency planning. Following World War II, the newly independent Air Force focused on nuclear warfare against the most likely enemy, the Soviet Union, and there was little planning or intelligence available for a limited war anywhere, especially Korea. It wasn’t until 3 July that Strategic Air Command, which retained operational...

  10. Chapter 5 Targeting Electrical Power Systems
    Chapter 5 Targeting Electrical Power Systems (pp. 45-55)

    Despite the claims by air planners that electric power should always be attacked, the historical evidence suggests that there are specific conditions that must be evaluated before nominating this system as a strategic target. This chapter presents the conditions that define when an attack on the national power system will be successful. While electrical power systems are inherently vulnerable to attack, the application of air power against these systems, especially in a limited war, is usually ineffective in achieving strategic objectives, despite accomplishing the intermediate goals of diminishing electrical generating capacity, hindering war production, and causing civilian discomfort. Prior to...

  11. Bibliography
    Bibliography (pp. 57-64)