This is the introductory Episode for the Principles of War.
** This episode just covers of on our intent and a brief description of the priniciples. Unless you are very interested in this, skip this Ep and look at the Malaya Campaign. This series is a lot more interesting and practical **

We are developing a series of Professional Military Education resources to help educate junior Officers and SNCOs.

The series will look at historic skirmishes, battles, campaigns and wars through the lens of terrain, doctrine, leadership and the principles of war.

What role does leadership play in battle? What about Post H-Hour Execution and leadership? We look at some examples from General Grant’s experiences that lead him to be the Commander of the Army of the Potomac.

This episode will cover each of the principles and give a quick example. Our first series, looking at the Malaya Campaign, will highlight each principle in a full episode.

Selection and the Maintenance of the Aim. Probably the most important of the principles.

Concentration of Force – My strategy is 1 against 10 – my tactics 10 against 1. A quote from the Duke of Marlborough highlights this important principle.

Economy of effort – if you aren’t the main effort, you will be short of everything except the enemy.

Co-operation – why is this so difficult to achieve. We briefly looked at the problems with co-operation for the D-Day landings.

Security – Truth is so precious it should be attended by a bodyguard of lies.

Surprise – To surprise the enemy is to defeat them. The Germans driving through the Ardennes forest in 1940. We talk briefly about technical surprise.

Flexibility – Auftragstaktik and Mission Command. How was this shown at the War of Yom Kippur.

Offensive Action – Britzkrieg. Stay tuned for our Battle of France series.

Sustainment – Supplies set the left and right of arc of what is possible. Sherman’s march to the sea and the Atlantic Conveyor in the Falklands.

Morale – The Army of the Potomac after the Battle of the Wilderness.

Sun Tzu said -The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

This is why we need to understand the principles of war.

For more details - check out www.theprinciplesofwar.com