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
CLAUSEWITZS THEORY | 21 |
The Law of Numbers | 28 |
THE SOVIET APPROACH | 39 |
Copyright | |
22 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
able achieve actual advance rates advantage Allied American analysis applied Army artillery attacker attrition average battle battlefield behavioral better British calculated campaign casualty rates century Chapter circumstances Clausewitz combat power ratio commander comparable comparison concept consideration consistent defensive demonstrate division effort enemy engagements equal equations examples experience fact factors field fighting Figure fire follows force multipliers force strength formula friction German greater Group historical important increase Infantry Israeli Italy less lethality levels Line losses major means measure military history mobility models Napoleon nuclear operations opponents opposing outcome personnel possible posture principles probably reason relationship relative relative combat effectiveness represent shown shows side Soviet success superiority suppression surprise Syrian Table tactics tanks terrain theory of combat tion troops units variables warfare wars weapons World