Lesson 1 - The Nature and Theory of War (1430, 13 JUL 09)

7/31/2019 Lesson 1 - The Nature and Theory of War (1430, 13 JUL 09)

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The Nature and

Theory of War


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Resources

Required Readings United States Marine Corps, Warfighting,

Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1, (1997):

Chapters 1-2.


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Overview

The Nature of War War Defined

Friction

Uncertainty

Fluidity

Disorder

Complexity

The Human Dimension

Violence and Danger

Physical, Moral and MentalForces

The Evolution of Warfare

The Science, Art, andDynamic of War

The Theory of War War as an Act of Policy

Means in War

The Spectrum of Conflict

Levels of War

Initiative and Response

Styles of Warfare

Combat Power

Speed and Focus

Surprise and Boldness

Centers of Gravity &Critical Vulnerabilities

Creating and ExploitingOpportunity


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Learning Objectives

Know: the definition of war + describe its essential

elements. and describe the characteristics of warfare (e.g.

friction, uncertainty, fluidity, etc.). and describe the levels of warfare.

Comprehend: the relationship between the science, art, and human

dynamic of war. the relationship between politics, policy, and war.

the relationship between the offense and defense. the differences between maneuver + attrition warfare. the relationship between centers of gravity and critical

vulnerabilities.


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The Nature of War


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War Defined

War is a violent clash of interests between or among

organized groups characterized by the use of militaryforce. MCDP-1

Essence of war

Violent struggle b/n two hostile,independent, irreconcilable wills, each

trying to impose itself on the other

Clausewitzs Zweikampf(two-struggle)

Object of war Impose our will on the EN

Means to this end organized application or threat ofviolence my military force


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Friction

The force that makes the apparently easy so difficult.

Clausewitz

Conduct of war is anything but simple

Complex, countless factors

Elements

Mental (e.g. indecision over choice of COA)

Physical (e.g. effective EN fire)

External (e.g. imposed by EN, terrain, WX, chance) Internal / Self-induced (e.g. complicated plans, no

clearly defined goal, lack of coordination)

How does a leader cope with friction?


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Uncertainty

Certainty in war is impossible All actions will be based on incomplete, inaccurate,

even contradictory information At best, possibilities and probabilities

Nonlinearity

Causes and effects sometimes disproportionate Minor actions/incidents can have decisive effects

Risk Common to action and inaction Risk gambling on success of

single improbable event

Chance Doesnt play favorites; threat andopportunity

How does a

leader cope withuncertainty?


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Fluidity

No episode can be viewed in isolation Each episode is shapedby past events and isshapingfuture events

Continuous, fluctuating flow of activity

Fleeting opportunities and unforeseen events

Success depends on leaders ability to

adapt and react quickly to constantly

changing conditions


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Disorder

Plans will go awry, instructions will be unclear

and misinterpreted, comms will fail

Natural disorder creates conditions ripe for

exploitation by an opportunistic will

Cannot impose precise, positive control, only generalframework of order; influence general flow of action

Todays battlefield is more disorderly

Sophisticated weapons / C2 systems

Greater dispersion of troops Front / Rear areas no longer distinct

Disorder can be a weapon


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Complexity

Belligerents not a single, homogenous will, but acomplex system of many individual parts

System Outlook War not governed by decisions of one indiv in one

place, but from collective behavior of all parts of sys.

responding to local conditions + incomplete info Military action is result of near countless independentbut interrelated actions simultaneously executed

Commanders cannot control everything Efforts to exert complete control by a single decision

maker are inconsistent with complex nature of war


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The Human Dimension

War = clash b/n opposing human wills Shaped by human nature: subject to its

complexities, inconsistencies, peculiarities

Human dimension infuses war withintangible moral factors (e.g. effects of

fear, exhaustion, charisma, resolve) Human will, instilled thru leadership,

is driving force of all action in war

No degree of tech development or

scientific calculation will diminishhuman dimension in war


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Violence & Danger

War is among the greatest horrors known to humanity;

it should never be romanticized. MCDP 1

Means in war: force (organized violence) Violence is an essential element

Thru violence or credible threat

we compel our EN to do our will

Result: blood, destruction, suffering

Fear Contributes to corrosion of will

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the strength toovercome it

How does a leader cope with fear?


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Physical, Moral, Mental Forces

Physical muscle Tangible; easy to quantify Equipment capabilities / limitations Objectives / terrain seized or lost Body counts, # of prisoners captured

Moral heart Intangible; impossible to quantify National and military resolve, emotion,

courage, fear, resolve, leadership, esprit, morale

Mental mind Ability to grasp complex battlefield situations Ability to make effective estimates, devise tactics,

strategies and develop plans

Moral Mental

Physical


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The Evolution of Warfare

the belligerent who first exploits a development in the

art and science of war gains a significant advantage. MCDP 1

Basic nature of war is constant, but means and

methods evolve

Most changes are gradual

Occasionally a new technology or organizational

development will dramatically upset the equilibrium

(e.g. rifled bore, mass conscription, railroad)

Advancements in tech. + org. drive adaptation in

tactical, operational, strategic realm


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The Science, Art, and Dynamic of War

Science Application of empirical laws of nature Ballistics, mechanics and like disciplines

Application of fires / Effects of weapons / Rates and methodsof movement and resupply

Art Employment of creative or intuitive skills

Creative application of military science

Intuitive ability to grasp essence of a unique military situation

Development of strategies, tactics, plans to fit given situation


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The Science, Art, and Dynamic of War

We thus conclude that the conduct of war is fundamentally a

dynamic process of human competition requiring both theknowledge of science and the creativity of art but driven ultimately

by the power of the human will. MCDP 1

Human Dynamic War is a social phenomenon

Competitive human interaction

Human essentials (perseverance, boldness,esprit, fortitude) not explainable by art / sci.


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The Theory of War


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War as an Act of Policy

War is an extension of both policy and politics with the

addition of military force. MCDP 1 Politics

Refers to distribution of power thru dynamic

interaction, both cooperative and competitive Policy Refers to conscious objectives established within the

political process

Warmustserve policy When policy is extreme (e.g. regime change), fewer

political restrictions on force When policy is limited (e.g. punitive raid), political

considerations will restrict application of military force


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War as an Act of Policy

Two ways to use military force to imposewill on the EN:

(1) Strategy of annihilation

Make EN helpless to resist by physically

destroying his military capabilities

Incapacitate EN as a military threat

(2) Strategy of erosion

Convince EN that accepting terms will be less

painful than continued resistance

Military force to erode EN leaderships will


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Means in War

At highest levels, war involves use of allelements of power that a political group

can bring to bear

Diplomatic, informational, military, economic

Military force cannot be considered in isolation

from other elements


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The Spectrum of Conflict

MOOTW Deter war

Resolve conflict

Promote peace

Support civilauthorities

General War Large scale Regional Sustained combat

b/n major powers

MORE PROBABLE LESS PROBABLE


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Levels of War

Strategic Wars

Supports national policy objectives Military strategy subordinate to National

strategy

Operational Campaigns

Use of tactical results to achieve strategicobjectives Deciding when, where to engage EN or refuse

battle

Tactical Battles

Art + science of winning engagements/battles Concepts / Methods used to accomplish

particular mission Combat power to defeat EN in particular time

and place (also TTPs)

STRATEGIC

OPERATIONAL

TACTICAL


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Levels of War

Distinctions between levels rarely delineated

Single commander may have responsibilities at more

than one level

Tactical actions may have direct strategic implications

Compression one commander operating on 2or 3 levels simultaneously

Nuclear war

MOOTW


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Initiative and Response

Two fighters action vs. reaction

Flux of war product of continuousinteraction b/n initiative + response

Thru initiative we impose our will on EN

Offense striking power Most obvious way to seize and maintain

initiative: strike first, keep striking

Defense resisting power Negative aim resisting ENs will

More efficient (expends less energy)

Not always assumed out of weakness

Culminating point Offense cannot sustain itself indefinitely

ATK can no longer be sustained; mustrevert to defense

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

The defense is not asimple shield, but a

shield made up of well-

directed blows.

-- Clausewitz

No clear divisionbetween offense

and defense


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Styles of Warfare

Attrition Warfare

Goal: Victory through

cumulative destruction ofENs material assets by

superior firepower

Maneuver Warfare

Goal: Victory by

incapacitating the ENsystem

All warfare involves both maneuver + attrition in some mix.


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Attrition Warfare

Focus

Force ratios, efficient application of fires + technical proficiency

over creativity

Desire for volume + accuracy of fire toward centralized control

Success ability to inflict + absorb attrition

Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) Body counts, terrain seized, equipment destroyed

EN viewed as collection of targets; attrition seeks EN

strengths as targets

Examples WWI, Western Front

French ops against Germans in May 1940

US ops in Korea after 1950


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Maneuver Warfare

Focus

Circumvent problem and ATK from a position of advantagerather than meet EN head on

Understanding of EN system, speed, surprise, creativity

Firepower + attrition are essential elements of maneuverwarfare, but they are applied to DES EN system, not

incrementally wear down EN force (attrition) MOEs

Incapacitation of EN system

Unlike attrition, success often disproportionate to effort made

Maneuver seeks EN weakness as targets

Examples German Blitzkrieg, 1939-40 (esp invasion of France)

MacArthurs Inchon campaign, 1950

Operation Desert Storm


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Combat Power

Combat Power: Total destructive force we can bring to bear

on our enemy at a given time

Situationally dependent; unique product of

variety of physical, moral, mental factors Factors

Tangible (e.g. superior #s)

Intangible factors (morale,

leadership, etc.)


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Speed and Focus

Speed Rapidity of action; applies to time + space Tempo = speed over time; consistent ability to

operate quickly Relative speed more important than absolute speed

Speed provides security, prerequisite for maneuverand surprise; speed is a weapon!

Focus Generation of superior combat power at a particular

time and place

Convergence of effects in time and space on someobjective


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Surprise and Boldness

Surprise Strike EN at a time/place or in a manner for which he

is unprepared; based on: Speed

Stealth deny EN knowledge of impending action

Ambiguity EN doesnt know what to expect

Deception offers greatest effects, but most difficult to achieve

Can be decisive, but risky to depend on it alone forthe margin of victory

Boldness

Characteristic of unhesitatingly exploiting the naturaluncertainty of war to pursue major results

Based on strong SA

Must be tempered with judgment

Both surprise and boldness are

sources of combat power.


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Centers of Gravity, Critical Vulnerabilities

Belligerents are a complex system of

physical, moral + mental components

Combination determines unique character

Many sources of strength

Many areas of weakness


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Centers of Gravity

CoGs: Most important sources of strength Few in number

Capabilities (e.g. armored forces)

Intangible (e.g. resolve, morale) Localities (e.g. critical piece of terrain)

Relations in an alliance

Which factors are critical to the EN? Which can the EN not do without? Which, if eliminated, will bend him most quickly to our will?

Answer centers of gravity


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Critical Vulnerabilities

CVs: Most important weaknesses

Few in number

Pathways to attacking a CoG

Where is the EN most vulnerable? Which vulnerabilities, if exploited, will do the most significant

damage to the ENs ability to resist?

Answer critical vulnerabilities


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Creating and Exploiting Opportunity

As opposing wills interact, various fleeting

opportunities are created for both foes

By exploiting opportunities, we create

more opportunities for exploitation

Willingness to ruthlessly exploit these

opportunities often generates decisive results


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Questions?

Documents

Lesson 1 - The Nature and Theory of War (1430, 13 JUL 09)