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The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
TEETH-TO-TAIL RATIO [1 record]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2000-08-03
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- General Conduct of Military Operations
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- teeth-to-tail ratio
1, record 1, English, teeth%2Dto%2Dtail%20ratio
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The proportion of combat forces to administrative/logistic support in a nation's armed forces and in specific military organizations, such as divisions, air wings, and fleets. 2, record 1, English, - teeth%2Dto%2Dtail%20ratio
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
"Teeth" refers to the fighting forces--the ships, aircraft, tanks, and personnel who will wage war and carry out other operational missions. "Tail" represents the infrastructure--military bases, health care and daycare benefits, environmental cleanup, the defense industrial base, and all the other enormous support and logistical resources that undergird fighting forces. 1, record 1, English, - teeth%2Dto%2Dtail%20ratio
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Conduite générale des opérations militaires
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- ratio dents-queue
1, record 1, French, ratio%20dents%2Dqueue
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Il est vrai que l'OTAN jouit d'une supériorité numérique pour les forces terrestres déployées au contact immédiat du rideau de fer. Mais une forte proportion de ces troupes sert au [soutien logistique (la «queue» par opposition aux troupes de combat les «dents»)], car l'OTAN doit défendre collectivement une zone très étendue et qui ne constitue pas, comme le Pacte de Varsovie, un bloc géographique. Les forces armées soviétiques ont ainsi toujours bénéficié d'un ratio supérieur de troupes combattantes par rapport au personnel de soutien logistique (le ratio «dents-queue».). 1, record 1, French, - ratio%20dents%2Dqueue
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
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