ABSTRACT
The force balance in Europe would change during war because of battle losses and because of the antagonists' different abilities both to sustain their initial forces and to reinforce them. The Pact logistical system is vulnerable to disruption by attacks against its limited number of bases. Once either or both alliances began to mobilize, before or after war broke out, military balance would change rapidly. Paucity and vulnerability of transport are effective limitations on the size of forces that the Pact could commit and sustain in battle. Discussion in Soviet military literature implies that Pact combat supplies are plentiful and that additional immense supplies are held at theater level to replace anticipated heavy combat losses. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) long-haul supply and reinforcement task is complex and difficult than the Pact's. NATO places greater emphasis than the Pact on maintenance. The Pact's orientation towards throwaway forces and quick victory leads it to relative neglect of wartime repair and upkeep.
