Military Theory and Strategy

(cont)
Lsn 3

Agenda

Forms of Maneuver
Levels of War
Elements of Operational Design
Basic Army Elements

Forms of Maneuver

Forms of Maneuver
The five forms of maneuver are the
envelopment,
turning movement,
infiltration,
penetration, and
frontal attack.

Envelopment

Envelopment
The envelopment is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force seeks to avoid the principal enemy
defenses by seizing objectives to the enemy rear to
destroy the enemy in his current positions.
Envelopments avoid the enemy front, where he is
protected and can easily concentrate fires.
Single envelopments maneuver against one enemy
flank; double envelopments maneuver against both.
Either variant can develop into an encirclement.
Example: The Germans conducted a double
envelopment of the Russians in the World War I battle of
Tannenberg.

Turning Movement

Turning Movement
A turning movement is a form of maneuver in which
the attacking force seeks to avoid the enemy's
principal defensive positions by seizing objectives to
the enemy rear and causing the enemy to move out
of his current positions or divert major forces to
meet the threat.
A major threat to his rear forces the enemy to attack or
withdraw rearward, thus "turning" him out of his
defensive positions.
Turning movements typically require greater depth than
other forms of maneuver.
Example: The Inchon landing in the Korean War

Infiltration

Infiltration
An infiltration is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force conducts undetected movement
through or into an area occupied by enemy forces to
occupy a position of advantage in the enemy rear while
exposing only small elements to enemy defensive fires
Typically, forces infiltrate in small groups and reassemble to
continue their mission.
Infiltration rarely defeats a defense by itself. Commanders direct
infiltrations to attack lightly defended positions or stronger positions
from the flank and rear, to secure key terrain to support the decisive
operation, or to disrupt enemy sustaining operations.
Example: Hutier tactics in World War I

Penetration

Penetration
A penetration is a form of maneuver in which an
attacking force seeks to rupture enemy defenses on
a narrow front to disrupt the defensive system.
Commanders direct penetrations when enemy flanks are not
assailable or time does not permit another form of maneuver.
Successful penetrations create assailable flanks and provide
access to enemy rear areas.
Because penetrations frequently are directed into the front of the
enemy defense, they risk significantly more friendly casualties
than envelopments, turning movements, and infiltrations.
Example: Shermans Meridian Campaign and his March to the
Sea

Frontal Attack

Frontal attack
The frontal attack is frequently the most costly form of
maneuver, since it exposes the majority of the attackers to the
concentrated fires of the defenders.
As the most direct form of maneuver, however, the frontal attack is
useful for overwhelming light defenses, covering forces, or disorganized
enemy resistance.
It is often the best form of maneuver for hasty attacks and meeting
engagements, where speed and simplicity are essential to maintain
tempo and the initiative.
Commanders may direct a frontal attack as a shaping operation and
another form of maneuver as the decisive operation.
Example: The Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War

Levels of War
Strategic
Operational
Tactical

Levels of War
Strategic
Level at which a nation, often as a member of
a group of nations, determines national or
multinational strategic security objectives and
guidance, and develops and uses national
resources to accomplish these objectives

Example: The Allies Strategic

Objective for Europe in
World War II
Combined Chiefs directed Eisenhower
to enter the continent of Europe and, in
conjunction with other Allied nations,
undertake operations aimed at the heart
of Germany and the destruction of her
armed forces

Levels of War
Operational
Level at which campaigns and major
operations are conducted and sustained to
accomplish strategic objectives within
theaters or areas of operation
Link tactics and strategy

Example: Eisenhowers Operational

Objective at Normandy

Secure a foothold on the continent of Europe from

which to support offensive operations against Germany

Levels of War
Tactical
Level at which battles and engagements are
planned and executed to accomplish military
objectives assigned to tactical units or task
forces

Example: Tactical Objectives of the

Airborne Forces on D-Day
Secure exits from
the beaches to allow
the amphibious
forces to move
inland
Block German
counterattack routes
to protect
amphibious forces

Strategy
Strategy is the pursuit, protection, or
advancement of national interests through
the application of the instruments of power
Instruments of power (DIME)
Diplomatic
Informational
Military
Economic

Traditional Military Strategies

Attrition
The reduction of the effectiveness of a
force caused by loss of personnel and
materiel

Exhaustion
The gradual erosion of a nations will or
means to resist

Annihilation
Seeks the immediate destruction of the
combat power of the enemys armed forces

Operations
Campaigns are the operational extension
of the commanders strategy
They are a series of related military
operations aimed at accomplishing a
strategic or operational objective within a
given time and space
Campaigns should be planned to adhere
to the elements of operational design

Elements of Operational
Design

Elements of Operational Design

Synergy
Simultaneity and depth
Anticipation
Balance
Leverage
Timing and tempo
Operational reach and approach

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)

Forces and functions

Arranging operations
Centers of gravity
Direct versus indirect
Decisive points
Culmination
Termination

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Synergy
Seek combinations of forces and actions to achieve
concentrations in various dimensions, all culminating in attaining
the assigned objective(s) in the shortest time possible and with
minimum casualties
Example: In the US Civil War Jacksons Shenandoah Valley
Campaign relieved pressure on Lee outside of Richmond.

Simultaneity and depth

Place more demands on adversary forces than can be handled
both in terms of time and space
Example: Operation Just Cause (Panama) in 1989 involved
simultaneously attacking 26 separate locations.

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Anticipation
Remain alert for the unexpected and opportunities to exploit the
situation
Example: Believing the Arab armies were poised to strike, Israel
launched a preemptive strike in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Balance
Maintain the force, its capabilities, and its operations in such a
manner as to contribute to freedom of action and
responsiveness
Example: The Allies decided on a Germany First strategy for
World War II.

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Leverage
Gain, maintain, and exploit advantages in combat
power across all dimensions
Example: In World War I the Germans leveraged new
technology by waging unrestricted submarine warfare.

Timing and tempo

Conduct operations at a tempo and point in time that
best exploits friendly capabilities and inhibits the
adversary
Example: The German Blitzkrieg of World War II
maximized speed.

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Operational reach and approach
The distance over which military power can mass effects
and be employed decisively
Example: In the Korean War, the North Koreans
overextend their operational reach making them
vulnerable to having their line of communications cut at
Seoul.

Forces and functions

Focus on defeating either adversary forces or functions,
or a combination of both
Example: Shermans March to the Sea targeted
Confederate functions of war-making ability and while at
the same time Grants Overland Campaign targeted
Lees forces.

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Arranging operations
Achieve dimensional superiority by a combination of
simultaneous and sequential operations
Phases: Deter/engage, Seize initiative, Decisive operations,
Transition
Example: The coalition air campaign in Operation Desert Storm
created the conditions necessary for the ground campaign.

Centers of gravity
Those characteristics, capabilities, or sources of power from
which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical
strength, or will to fight
Destroying or neutralizing adversary centers of gravity is the
most direct path to victory
Example: The North Vietnamese effectively influenced the US
center of gravity of domestic support during the Vietnam War.

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Direct versus indirect
To the extent possible, attack centers of gravity directly, but
where direct attack means attacking into an opponents strength
seek an indirect approach
Example: The North Vietnamese used guerrilla tactics to
neutralize the US firepower advantage in Vietnam.

Decisive points
Usually geographic in nature, but can sometimes be key events
or systems
Give a marked advantage to whoever controls them
Keys to attacking protected centers of gravity
Example: Each of the bridges in Operation Market Garden in
World War II was a decisive point.

Elements of Operational Design

(cont)
Culmination
Point in time and space at which an attackers combat power no
longer exceeds that of the defender or the defender no longer
can preserve his force
Example: Napoleon was defeated in Moscow in 1812 by
General Winter.

Termination
Military operations typically conclude with attainment of the
strategic ends for which the military force was committed, which
then allows transition to other instruments of national power and
agencies as the means to achieve broader goals
Example: Transitioning from combat victory to a self-sustaining
democracy in Iraq proved illusive to US forces in Operation Iraqi
Freedom.

Basic Army Elements

Squads
Platoons
Companies
Battalions
Brigades
Regiments

Divisions
Corps
Armies

Next
The Seven Years War