Funny War Strategies Against Middle Schoolers

Ten of the greatest battlefield tactics, by Rob Johnson

By ROB JOHNSON, Author and lecturer in the History of War, Oxford University

HOW TO WIN ON THE BATTLEFIELD

'Peruse again and again the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus Adolphus, Turenne, Eugene and Frederick,' urged Napoleon. 'Model yourself upon them. This is the only means of becoming a great captain, and of acquiring the secret of the art of war. Your own genius will be enlightened and improved by this study, and you will learn to reject all maxims foreign to the principles of these great commanders.'

Napoleon's advice underlines the recurrent nature of certain military tactics throughout history. In a new book, three academics, including writer and lecturer Rob Johnson, have selected the 25 most important operational techniques which have appeared consistently from the ancient era to the present. Ten of these are presented here, each with one example of its application, and it's striking to think how often they apply to aspects of the business world.

1. SURPRISE ATTACK: TEUTOBURG FOREST, 9AD

In 9AD, Varus, the Roman governor of Germania, was lured into an ambush by Arminius, a Romanised German and officer of an auxiliary cavalry unit. Varus led three legions through the Teutoburg Forest to suppress a Germanic revolt, and when his 20,000 men were strung out along the line of march, Arminius struck with the full force of his warrior army. The Romans struggled on for days until the survivors made a last stand at Kalkriese Hill, north of present-day Osnabrück. The Roman defeat wasn't just physical; it was also psychological. Ambushes demand patience and careful siting, with precise coordination of each strike arm. The Germanic tribesmen, so often thought of as wild barbarians, succeeded because of their self-discipline in waiting for the right moment to spring their attack, but ultimately their strategy was an example of effective and channelled aggression.

2. ENVELOPMENT: OPERATION URANUS, 1942

The unexpected appearance of enemy troops on a flank or from behind can damage an army's morale, and if a force is encircled it can be deprived of supplies or attacked from any side. Ultimately, if completely cut off, it must cut its way out, surrender or fight to the death. Envelopment is the classic example of manoeuvre warfare and has produced some of the most decisive victories in history. The tactic was employed at Stalingrad in Operation Uranus, beginning on November 19, 1942. With the Germans pinned down and unable to manoeuvre, the Soviets delivered a heavy artillery bombardment from 3,500 guns on Romanian and Italian positions on either side of the city, then unleashed several armoured formations, including three tank corps. They combined mobility and speed with devastating firepower, driving deep behind German lines to cut off and then defeat the entire German army in Stalingrad.

3. COMMITTING THE RESERVE: AUSTERLITZ, 1805

One of the principles of war is to achieve one's objectives with an economy of effort, so that a reserve force is preserved to meet the unexpected, reinforce a threatened part of the front or press home to certainty a successful action. At Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon chose a deployment that would tempt the opposing Austro-Russian force to attack him on his right. In doing so, he knew he would be able to overextend his enemies. Although under significant pressure, Napoleon held his reserve back until he was absolutely certain the allies were committed, then he struck. His troops smashed the allied centre, beat off a counter-attack and then curled around the isolated allied left. It was a decisive victory, won by the precise commitment of resources at the critical moment.

4. SHOCK ACTION: ARSUF, 1191

Often, at the critical moment in a battle, the shock action of a charge or a brief increase in the intensity of fire is enough to break an enemy force. The sudden assault has often been delivered by 'heavy' troops - infantry, cavalry or tanks - designed specifically to punch their way through an enemy line. The impact of that charge - indeed, sometimes the very spectacle of it - can prove too much for the troops on the receiving end. This was the case at the Battle of Arsuf during the Third Crusade (1189-92). The Europeans under Richard the Lionheart had marched under a rain of arrows for hours, as Saracen archers tried repeatedly to goad them out of their tight formation. Then, suddenly, the knights charged at Saladin's infantry and light cavalry. The effect was dramatic - the Saracens broke and fled, or were crushed by the sheer weight of the attack.

5. CONCENTRATION: JAGDGESCHWADER FORMATION, 1917

The German strategist Clausewitz regarded the concentration of force as the highest principle of war. This required the accumulation of resources at the precise point and moment where a battle would be decided. In World War I, the German strategy of using air squadrons defensively in 1917 enabled them to marshal their reserves, strike only where they were needed, prioritise their resources and preserve the lives and therefore the experience of their pilots. Jagdgeschwader (Flying Circus) formations were assembled to counter Allied sorties at strategic points on the front. These proved eeffective and built a reputation for success that was epitomised by Von Richthofen, the Red Baron.

6. OFF-BALANCING & PINNING: TRAFALGAR, 1805

It's often effective to pin an enemy into a position where firepower or manoeuvring can destroy him, or where the enemy is so disrupted by off-balancing probes that he has little idea where the main attack will fall. Napoleon ordered Vice Admiral Villeneuve to concentrate all French and Spanish naval forces to break the Royal Navy and thus pave the way for the invasion of England. But Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson proved adept at unnerving his adversary and off-balancing the French plans. At Trafalgar, Nelson broke with the traditions of naval warfare and thrust two columns into the French line to bring about a general action where his men's superior seamanship and gunnery would win the day. The French were pinned into place and then thrown into confusion by Nelson's bold and courageous action, producing one of this country's most glittering victories.

7. STRATEGIC OFFENCE & TACTICAL DEFENCE: PANIPAT, 1526

In war, it's advisable to advance into a region that's strategically valuable and, once there, to defend a strong tactical position and force the enemy to make a costly attack. Babur, the ruler of Kabul, set out to defeat Lodi, the sultan of Delhi, but he had just 12,000 men against 100,000, and though his force was armed with gunpowder weapons, their slow rate of fire made his men vulnerable to Lodi's cavalry. Babur advanced rapidly to Panipat near Delhi, knowing this sudden threat to his opponent's capital would prevent him from seeking refuge behind its walls. He selected the battlefield carefully and formed a barrier of wagons, and Lodi's men made a series of fruitless assaults. Having inflicted heavy losses, Babur counter-attacked, then resumed his offensive into India.

8. DECEPTION: Q-SHIPS, 1915

To work, deception has to establish significant doubt in the minds of the enemy so that they alter their plans. During World War I, the Royal Navy struggled to find a solution to U-boat attacks in the Atlantic. Yet it was noticed early on that the Germans preferred to surface and use the less sophisticated main armament on the foredeck to sink their victims. Named after their home port, Queenstown in Ireland, a number of 'Q-ships' were deployed - civilian vessels with concealed armaments. With holds packed with wood to enable them to float even when torpedoed, they were deliberately sent into areas where U-boats were known to be operating. As the U-boat surfaced, side panels were dropped to clear the line of fire for concealed guns - a technique used by HMS Baralong, which sank U-27 after it surfaced to attack a merchantman off south-west England.

9. INTELLIGENCE: MATAPAN, 1941

Battlefield victory can hinge on accurate, timely intelligence about the enemy, particularly regarding his intentions and his capabilities. In March 1941, naval intelligence learned through its successful code-breaking that a strong Italian fleet had set out to attack a British convoy. The nearby fleet commander, Admiral Andrew Cunningham, concentrated his forces, and after aerial attacks he disabled an Italian cruiser. The Royal Navy's radar assisted in locating the stricken Italian vessel and its escorts. Cunningham decided to bring to bear maximum firepower by approaching at night. In the subsequent action, the Italians, who possessed no comparable intelligence assets, lost two more heavy cruisers and two destroyers.

10. GUERRILLA WARFARE: CHINA, 1934-49

In the right circumstances, guerrilla forces can achieve great successes. The essence of insurgent warfare is the hit-and-run attack and concealment within the operational environment. Guerrillas need the backing of the population for intelligence and recruits, and to win political power. In China in the Thirties, Mao Zedong, knowing governments seek to resolve insurgencies quickly, advocated a protracted war. If attacked, he would refuse battle, falling back to the interior. The Long March, beginning in 1934, was one such retreat, but his real focus was on political education: by 1945 he had 14 base areas with millions of supporters.

'How To Win On The Battlefield' is published by Thames & Hudson, priced at £16.95

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Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1267536/Ten-greatest-battlefield-tactics-Rob-Johnson.html

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