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Theory and Nature of War

Theory and Nature of War. Modern Theorists I. Latter 19 th Century Theorists: Prussia. Points to remember The adaptations of the Prussian Military Revolution Characteristics of the professionalism race Problems with the Schlieffen Plan GGS needed to acknowledge.

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Theory and Nature of War

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  1. Theory and Nature of War Modern Theorists I

  2. Latter 19th Century Theorists: Prussia • Points to remember • The adaptations of the Prussian Military Revolution • Characteristics of the professionalism race • Problems with the Schlieffen Plan • GGS needed to acknowledge

  3. Modern Theorists I:Naval - Mahan and Corbett 8801: Lesson 8

  4. Overview • Maritime strategy in early 20th Century • Influence on strategic thinking today

  5. Educational Objectives • Compare the basic theories • Describe how they were influenced by earlier strategists • Relate “Forward…From the Sea” to these theories • Explain the use of sea power as an element of military force • Identify six elements that influence sea power

  6. Background • Late 19th century • Rising power and a declining power • Two views of Britain’s success • Two historians with different • approaches to the past • views of sea power

  7. Analysis of Mahan and Corbett • The Fundamental Questions of Military Theorists • Influence of historical setting? • Use of historical analysis? • What are his ideas? • Build on or react to previous theorists? • Affect on later theorists and practitioners of war?

  8. Alfred Thayer Mahan • Background • Dennis Hart Mahan • Major works • Insight • Purpose

  9. Mahan’s Significance • First general theory of war at sea • War at sea is a political act • Defined mission for the Navy • Boosted PME

  10. Alfred Thayer Mahan • Influence of historical setting?

  11. 1840-1865 Expansion West War with Mexico Civil War Industrialization 1866-1914 Closing of the Frontier Imperialism Spanish-American War Isthmian Canal Naval Competition Strategic Environment

  12. Strategic Environment • Technological Change • Sail to Steam • Armor • Ordnance • U.S. Navy Revival

  13. Alfred Thayer Mahan • Use of historical analysis?

  14. Alfred Thayer Mahan • What are his ideas? • The fundamentals of strategy • Civil-military relations • The importance of material and moral factors • The influence of individuals on events • Relationship between offense and defense • The importance of chance

  15. Fundamentals of Strategy • Thesis: Mastery of the seas made nations victorious in war and prosperous in peace. • Not all nations possessed the raw ingredients of sea power were. • Principles of strategy included • Lines of communication • Central position Interior lines • Key: concentration for a decisive victory

  16. Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power • “That overbearing power on the sea which drives the enemy’s flag from the sea or allows it to appear only as a fugitive; • and which by controlling the great common, closes the highway by which commerce moves to and from the enemy’s shores.”

  17. Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power • Characteristics of a maritime power • 1. Geographic position • 2. Physical conformation • 3. Extent of territory • 4. Number of population • 5. National character • 6. Character of the government

  18. Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power • Production • Shipping • Colonies

  19. Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power • Battleships and Merchantmen • Sea Lines of Communication • Overseas Bases • Concentration of Forces • Decisive Battle

  20. Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power Battleships and Merchantmen Sea Lines of Communication Overseas Bases Concentration of Forces Decisive Battle

  21. Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power • Command of the Sea through naval superiority. • That combination of maritime commerce, overseas possessions, and privileged access to foreign markets that produces national wealth and greatness.

  22. Principles of Naval Warfare • Central Position • Interior Lines • Secure SLOCs

  23. Additional Principles of Naval Warfare • Concentration of Forces: “Never divide the fleet” • Offensive Operations Superior to Defensive • Overseas Bases • Decisive Battle (vice Commerce Raiding) • Blockade After Command of the Sea Achieved

  24. Additional Principles of Naval Warfare Concentration of Forces: “Never divide the fleet” Offensive Operations Superior to Defensive Overseas Bases Decisive Battle (vice Commerce Raiding) Blockade After Command of the Sea Achieved

  25. Alfred Thayer Mahan Mahan • Build on or react to previous theorists? • Jomini? • Clausewitz?

  26. Mahan the Jominian • Scientific, Prescriptive • Enduring Principles • Objective - Enemy Battle Fleet • Concentrate Forces at the Decisive Point • Decisive Battle • Lines of Communication

  27. Alfred Thayer Mahan Mahan • Affect on later theorists and practitioners of war?

  28. Mahan’s Influence • Read widely in both Europe and Japan • Shipbuilding and Expansion • Spanish-American War • Panama Canal • Wrote 20 books and over 137 articles • Read widely in both Europe and Japan

  29. Mackinder’s Heartland (1904)

  30. Once said of Mahan… “... the peculiar psychology of the Navy Department, which frequently seemed to retire from the realm of logic into a dim religious world in which Neptune was God, Mahan his prophet, and the United States Navy the only true church.” - Henry L. Stimson

  31. Alfred Thayer Mahan • What are his ideas about • The fundamentals of strategy • Civil-military relations • The importance of material and moral factors • The ability of individuals to affect events • Relationship between offense and defense • The importance of chance in war

  32. Critique of Mahan • Use of history • Over-emphasis on sea power • Necessary v sufficient cause

  33. Mahan’s Relevance Today? • Merchant Marine • SLOCs, Overseas Bases • Concentration, Decisive Battle • Sea Power and Great Power • Sea Power and National Strategy

  34. Sir Julian Corbett • Background • Briton • Works • Purpose

  35. Sir Julian Corbett • The Fundamental Questions of Military Theorists • Influence of historical setting? • Use of historical analysis? • What are his ideas? • Build on or react to previous theorists? • Affect on later theorists and practitioners of war?

  36. Sir Julian Corbett • Influence of historical setting?

  37. Sir Julian Corbett • Use of historical analysis?

  38. The British Way In Maritime Warfare • Limited, not absolute war

  39. Requirements for Limited War • Object must be limited in area • Of limited political importance • Remote or capable of being isolated:

  40. Limited Wars • Maritime Nations • Eighteenth Century Wars of England • Crimean War (1854-1856) • Spanish-American War (1898) • Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

  41. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about? • The fundamentals of strategy

  42. What a maritime strategy must do • Support or obstruct diplomacy • Protect or destroy commerce • Further or hinder military operations ashore

  43. Corbett’s Trinity • Support diplomacy • Protect or destroy commerce • Support or defeat shoreoperations

  44. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about? • Civil-military relations

  45. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about? • The importance of material and moral factors

  46. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about? • The ability of individuals to affect events

  47. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about ? • Relationship between offense and defense

  48. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about? • The importance of chance in war

  49. Sir Julian Corbett • What are his ideas about? • The fundamentals of strategy • Civil-military relations • The importance of material and moral factors • The ability of individuals to affect events • Relationship between offense and defense • The importance of chance in war

  50. Principles: Clausewitz • All wars tend to the absolute • The object is enemy's army • Only the offensive matters • Napoleon, master of war • Cult of the decisive battle

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