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Definition of War
violent conflict between organized groups with unknown resolve, each seeking to impose its will on the other
Friction
intangible force that makes the apparently task difficult
Objective
direct every military operation towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable goal.
Offensive
seize, retain, and exploit the initiative
Maneuver
place the enemy at a disadvantage via flexible application of combat power
Trinity of Interactive Factors in Wartime Endeavors
Rational Aims/Policy, Chance and Combat, Emotions and Hatreds
British Southern Theater Consolidation
Southern Campaign 1780-1781. The British expected strong loyalist support and hoped to win the people’s support. Tories/Policies: policy problems, no civil government, mandatory service, rowdy/unreliable Tories
American Rifle-
Worked better for North American Wilderness style combat.
Linear Tactics
Based on new technology, smoothbore flintlock muskets. Regimental scale (500-1000), large and tight units, open terrain to maximize weapon effects. Rifled muskets took too long to reload and were specialty weapons.
Unity of Command
for every objective, ensure unity of effort by the coordinated action of all forces toward a common goal.
1777-1778 Valley Forge
Perseverance and training turned the US army into a regular army.
Battle of Bunker Hill
Patriot militia tried to prevent the British from taking the hill/peninsula, which would crush the rebellion. British maneuver options existed, but they were disregarded because of hubris. They made an exposed, daylight, frontal attack. Patriot use and British misuse of terrain helped the Patriot militia, but the British took the hill despite heavy casualties. British DID NOT USE maneuver or obtain legitimacy. Terrain was used. Was a British tactical win, but a Patriot operational/strategic win.
1775-1776 Canada Invasion
Winter Ops in Canada. Arnold’s troops struggle against wilderness and weather, which gutted the force. Lake Champlain AOA and LOC to Montreal and Quebec. Valiant but doomed effort, an indirect strategic benefit. The British had to protect Canada.
United States Revolutionary War Aim
Independence, not accomodation. Needed only to hold on. Sought allies. Used mixed forces. British misunderstood it was a people’s war, and misused locals, tories, and indians. British kept searching for one winning move, a decisive battle.
New York Campaign
Washington fought for NYC but sacrificed control of the city to save his army. British aim was to seize NYC and thought it would end the rebellion. British used maneuver well with two turning movements, but they were too slow. Strategic benefit for the Patriots was keeping Washingt on’s army. .
Battle of Princeton
Enemy and Time from METT-TC. Principles used were mass, surprise, security, perseverance, maneuver, offensive, and economy of force.
Exterior Lines
Converge upon the enemy from outside bases, longer lines b/t friendly forces = harder to shift forces.
Interior Lines
Diverging lines from central base, shorter lines b/t friendly forces = can shift forces and supply easier.
Consolidation-
Activities to make enduring any temporary operational success, and to set the conditions for sustainable security and for transition of control.
Mass
concentrate the effects of combat power at the decisive place and time.
Battle of Camden
Misplaced militia from out-of-state who panicked and ran away. Terrain: opposite of what happened at Bunker Hill and Bennington,
1780 Battles of Waxhaws
Tarleton killed Americans as they were trying to surrender. He admitted to losing control of his soldiers, affecting the legitimacy and constraint of the British.
1778 Battle of Newport
was a bad joint-coalition op due to the attack planned to be a simultaneous land-sea attack by Franco-American forces. It was poorly timed, there were storms, French ships damaged, the French quit the op and because the Americans were annoyed, the land side attack fizzled.
1778 Battle of Monmouth
Washington’s weak plan led to a failed attack. This led to crisis and British counterattack. Washington’s leadership in crisis stopped the counterattack.
1777 Philadelphia Campaign
At Brandywine Washington did not run away. It was a hard fought US defeat that impressed France. Germantown lacked simplicity and maneuver. Fort Mifflin hurt Howe’s sea LOC into Philly, but not before it spoiled Howe’s exploitation of his Philly victory. This is a good example of interdiction.