Incapacity to fight

The term incapacity to fight is applied to people and weapon systems when they can no longer intervene in combat or no longer pose a direct threat. This does not necessarily mean that a person is dead, or that a weapon system has been completely destroyed. Only a more or less radical restriction of the opponent is brought about by various means.

background

Both combat-capable soldiers and deployable weapons are required for the protection of one's own country or for use in disputes with combat operations. In order to ensure the military capability of suitable persons, so-called samples or medical aptitude tests are often carried out beforehand to determine the fitness for use in order to select those candidates who meet the necessary requirements for a combat mission. In order to ensure a country's defense capability, for example, general conscription was introduced in Germany . In the Federal Republic from 1956 to 2011 and in the German Democratic Republic from 1962 to 1990.

After the suspension of general conscription in Germany, the inadequate combat capability of the Bundeswehr and its weapon systems was repeatedly complained about. Josef Joffe, for example, lamented in a report in the magazine Die Zeit : “The Bundeswehr is only partially capable of fighting. There is a lack of (almost) everything for today's warfare: reconnaissance (in space and on the battlefield), transporters and ships, highly mobile armored vehicles, air support, combat helicopters, precision ammunition and carriers such as drones. "

Non-operational weapon systems, such as helicopters and aircraft that are not airworthy, or outdated systems reduce the combat capability of the troops. The Focus also complained about the partially ailing condition of the available weapon systems.

people

In the case of a person who is capable of fighting in this sense , an incapacity to fight can be brought about by different methods, for example when used in close combat. In addition to death, this includes the restriction of freedom of movement through restraint or temporary switching off of the senses through to unconsciousness , for example through smoke or narcotic gases . Destruction or theft of weapons also limits people's ability to fight.

Another aspect that can lead to a long-term incapacity to fight, even in the case of physically intact people, is the psychological stress caused by the so-called war trauma that soldiers are exposed to at the scene, for example during the Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan.

Weapon systems

Modern weapon systems are mostly based on complex technology that offers numerous possibilities of interference by opponents. For example, jammers can be used to temporarily switch off or misdirect a weapon system. The use of certain types of mines against large equipment such as armored vehicles often does not serve to kill the occupants, but rather to restrict the maneuverability of the vehicles themselves (e.g. destroying the chains of tracked vehicles ). The firing of all ammunition can also lead to incapacity to fight, especially if certain targets (such as tanks) are destroyed or certain weapon systems are used (such as fighter planes). Without ammunition, weapon systems can only take part in operations to a limited extent and are therefore incapable of fighting. If weapon systems have to be left behind in the combat zone, they are sometimes made deliberately incapacitated or warships are sunk in order not to leave an active weapon to the enemy.

See also : self-immersion , self-destruction, and booty armor

In military or civil conflicts that do not yet indicate an imminent threat to one's own strength, attempts are often made to incapacitate a potential or clear source of threat without killing people. Targeted shots destroy power sources in vehicles, or so - called non - lethal weapons stop threatening people.

Non-lethal ammunition can also be used against so-called attack dogs .

Web links

• Sabine Siebold: INSIGHT - Empty ammunition depots endanger operational capability of the troops. Reuters Germany, July 8, 2016, accessed November 25, 2019 . 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Alexander Weinlein: It was decided to suspend general conscription . In: German Bundestag . ( bundestag.de ).
2. ↑ Kai Riedel: documentArchiv.de - Law on General Conscription [Conscription Law] (24.01.1962). documentarchiv.de, accessed on November 8, 2016 . 
3. ↑ Law on General Compulsory Military Service (Military Service Act 1982). [email protected], accessed on November 8, 2016 . 
4. ↑ Josef Joffe: New role of the Bundeswehr ?: A bit of war. In: Zeit Online. February 6, 2014, accessed November 8, 2016 . 
5. ↑ In the middle of flight: Combat helicopter "Tiger" loses missiles . In: FOCUS Online . September 28, 2014 ( focus.de ).
6. ↑ Birgitta vom Lehn: The invisible enemy. In: morgenpost.de. Retrieved November 8, 2016 . 
7. ↑ Markus Becker: New military technology. This is how the soldier of tomorrow fights. In: Spiegel Online. August 17, 2011, accessed November 8, 2016 . 
8. ↑ Weapons should only incapacitate. Brandenburg's police want special ammunition against attack dogs. rp-online.de, August 1, 2000, accessed November 8, 2016 .