A tool analogy separates a force optimized for one massive coordinated strike from a force built around adaptable ships and weapons. The Soviet sledgehammer can deliver greater force in its intended blow, and computer models make that concentration look decisive. NATO's ships and weapons often sacrifice some peak performance to perform several missions. Real commanders may gain more practical options from that flexibility when the campaign presents problems that the mass-strike design was not built to solve.
Chapter · 2:07:24-2:11:39
Soviet massed power meets NATO multirole flexibility
Soviet forces resemble a specialized sledgehammer, while NATO systems trade peak striking power for a wider range of tactical uses.