Understanding War: History and a Theory of Combat"This major new book, by the author of the classic ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MILITARY HISTORY, is a sustained and rigorously argued attempt to put forward a general theory of military combat, one which will be valid across history and potent in its implications for strategies and tactics in military policy. It is, in essence, an application of the scientific method to the behavioral patterns of military action. The book achieves its special strength from the rigor of quantified analysis combined with a wealth of detail drawn from actual military history. A major conclusion of the book is that American military planners and commanders need to draw upon historical experience in constructing a science of military combat, a science which is more essential than ever in an era of high military technology. Much like IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE, Col. Dupuy's UNDERSTANDING WAR gives an account of why American military ventures have frequently failed; but more important, it points the way toward successfully learning from historical experience."--BOOK JACKET. |
Contents
THE SEARCH FOR | 9 |
CLAUSEWITZS THEORY | 21 |
The Law of Numbers | 28 |
Copyright | |
25 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
1973 Arab-Israeli War 88th Division advance rates aircraft Allied American American Civil War analysis applied Arab armored Army Group artillery attacker average battle outcomes battlefield behavioral Bekaa Valley British calculated campaign casualty rates casualty-inflicting Chapter Clausewitz combat effectiveness value combat power ratio combat power superiority commander comparison concept defensive posture diminishing returns doctrine Economy of Force Effectiveness Line enemy engagements examples fighting Figure fire firepower force multipliers formula friction German historical combat important Infantry Israeli CEV J.F.C. Fuller Jomini Lanuvio Law of Numbers leadership lethality loss rates Maginot Line military history mobility modern Napoleon offensive opponents opposing forces outnumbered Panzer personnel principles Quantified relationship relative combat effectiveness result ratio shown in Table side Square Law strategy success suppression surprise Syrian tactics tanks target terrain theory of combat three-to-one tion troops units variable factors verities warfare Warsaw Pact World World War II