...was very considerable since it covered a major route into Roman Mesopotamia and beyond into north Syria or northwestwards into Asia Minor (Haldon, 2008). The Battle of Dara takes place outside the city walls in the summer of 530. It is at this pivotal battle that the Roman forces reinforce the small force theory that is used on the modern battlefield (Leonhard). The Roman Commander Belisarius had proven himself a resourceful commander, known to do a great deal with very little. History has shown that Belisarius takes his soldiers into battles vastly outnumbered and yet they end up victorious. THESIS The intent of this battle analysis is to highlight three key events, causes, effects, and lessons learned as it relates to the battle tactics that the Romans used at the Battle of Dara. It has been argued by historians that the larger force usually end the battle victorious. By examining this Battle, we will prove that warfare has evolved throughout the years. Small forces of highly trained and disciplined soldiers can out maneuver and be victorious in armed conflict against a much larger force despite having limited resources. KEY EVENT 1 The previous year relations between the Roman emperor and the Persian king had started to deteriorate drastically. The Persian king viewed the outpost at Dara as a direct threat to the Persian Empire. Dara was located along a major route into Roman Mesopotamia and north Syria. King Kavadh of Persia was determined to remove the Romans...
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...In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, or flanking manoeuvre (also called a flank attack), is an attack on the sides of an opposing force. If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the opposing force would be surrounded from two or more directions, which significantly reduces the maneuverability of the outflanked force and its ability to defend itself. A psychological advantage may also be present, as the confusion and threat from multiple directions is often problematic for morale. An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which combatants take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack unsuspecting enemy combatants from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops Penetration of the Center This maneuver involves concentrating superior force at the center of the opposing line in order to punch a hole and then to exploit the gap with a reserve force. This maneuver is usually attempted if flanks are protected by obstacles such as rivers Envelopment of a Single Flank This maneuver involves pinning attacks on the opposing center, sometimes a flank as well, while using mobile forces to try and turn the other flank and roll up the line towards the center. This maneuver is one of the most frequently used. Advantages include the possibility of enveloping a portion of the opposing army and usually offer less risk of disaster than other maneuvers. However, disadvantages still include the risk of a counterstroke against one’s weakened...
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...How universal are the principles of war? Many military theorists throughout history had many different concepts, strategic thoughts, and theories within a multitude of principles of war. Throughout history many strategies and tactics were utilized that made a huge impact on defending and attacking armies. Within these concepts of these theorists, nine principles of war gradually became universally used by many countries militaries that are used in the field of battle during the Cotemporary Era and through modern day campaigns. These principle guidelines are universal in military strategies and could have been used in any era where conflicts took place however, one principle that would of brought ultimate success in the example campaigns specified throughout these times of war is to have provided a better directive on the basic principles of logistics that seem to have hindered and faltered the most effective warring armies during their eras of history. A few examples that relate throughout wars fought in times such as the Napoleonic Wars, World War II and the United States current ongoing War on Terror have many relative tactics and strategies used during battles fought in these conflicts. Napoleons armies during the beginning of their conquest would defeat an enemy city utilizing all aspects of their military might (Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry) while maintaining immediate logistical support ensuring reinforcements and munitions were readily available. Napoleon’s enormous...
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...Midterm Essay Paul Karsten HIUS 380 April 13, 2015 Strategies and Tactics Utilized in World War II By the middle of the 1900’s, America was again involved with wars ravaging a majority of the world. The scale of the battlefield would cause the United States to face enemies with completely different combat styles, technologies, and motivations to go to war. Throughout the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the United States would be tested repeatedly. The experiences learned in the Spanish-American War and World War I would changes the way the United States would conduct combat operations. The complacency of the United States in its victories would lead to a lack of preparation for the tenacity and intensity that would be unleashed against this country by her would be enemies. Strategies and tactics of combat were rapidly evolving during the post-World War I period as new technologies and motivations to go to war evolved. The German government, led by Adolph Hitler began to re-arm itself, in direct opposition to the Treaty of Versailles, in order to take back the territory it lost to Poland (American History 2008). The immediate response of Europe was one of capitulation and promise that the Germans would not pursue additional acts of aggression. Within six months the German war machine was marching on Czechoslovakia. On September 3, 1939, the countries of France and England formally declared war on Germany. The largest war in history was underway. The United States...
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...So what caused the prolonged and bloody stalemate of World War I that an estimated 35 million plus casualties occurred? It could be argued that new military technology changed the dynamics of the battlefield, ignoring Clausewitz principle on war. Clausewitz saw defensive war stronger than offensive war, thereby the inability to quickly adapt offensive war to new defensive technology and tactics led to the stalemate of World War I. This essay will look at Clausewitz principles on war as it pertains to offensive and defensive war. How new defensive weaponry began the transformation of warfare in World War I. Finally, defensive tactics used in trench warfare limited the mobility of the offensive attack. II Prior to World War I the European...
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...Blitzkrieg, a German term meaning “lighting war”, is a military tactic used during warfare to create confusion and amongst the enemy by using the tactics of surprise and speed. First used by the Germans during WWII, this ambush tactic was achieved by the deployment of light tank units paired with supporting infantry and aircraft. These forces would urge a break in the enemy’s defences allowing tank units to swiftly infiltrate the area causing major panic. The air forces would prevent the enemy from effectively redistributing or resupplying forces ending in eventual surrender. The tactic was formed from Alfred von Schlieffen’s, ‘Schlieffen Plan’ created during WWI predominantly focusing on fast military victory. The tactic was further developed...
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...Allies knew that if they wanted to defeat Hitler, they needed to change their tactics. Dieppe had severe losses, but they know knew what it would take to defeat the Germans. It is said that “the battle of Normandy was won on the beaches of Dieppe. For every 1 man who was killed at Dieppe, at least 10 or more had their lives spared on the beaches of Normandy.” Dieppe was the sacrifice that needed to be taken before the stunning victory of Normandy. The lessons learned regarding military decisions, secrecy, and planning at Dieppe ensured a victory at Normandy. Many poor military decisions were made by the Allies at Dieppe that caused a quick defeat. At Dieppe, airplane bombers held back for fear of civilian casualties. They also cancelled the paratroopers due to bad weather. But, at Normandy, they continually blasted the coastlines and dropped paratroopers which significantly slowed German defences. The Allies learned that cancelling these two military tactics cost them the battle at Dieppe. At Normandy, they knew what to do and ended up taking out more German defences. In war, military decisions are only important if secrecy is kept. Without it, defences will be waiting and all those decisions will be useless. Around the time of the Dieppe attack, Germany had already started...
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...use of suicide warfare, lost their war. In addition to the Japanese Kamikaze pilots air campaign, the essay also explores other suicide weapons and tactics in World War 2, and the military and cultural rationale of suicide warfare, in order to better understand this type of fanatic threat that the free world is facing once again. Kamikaze pilots - Japan's last weapon Kamikaze, which means "Divine Wind" in Japanese, was Japan's last attempt to balance the ever increasing technological and material advantage of the American forces advancing to Japan. The Kamikaze attack tactic was suggested on October 19, 1944, by vice-Admiral Onishi of the Japanese Navy, when he was assigned to command the air attacks against the huge American invasion fleet off the Philippines, and then realized that he had less than 100 operational aircraft for this task. There was no way to sink or even severely damage the American fleet in any conventional tactic, so the Admiral needed a force multiplier, a way to get a significantly greater striking power from a given force. The solution was obvious. Guided weapons provide dramatically greater accuracy and lethality than unguided weapons, producing much greater damage per weapon unit and per sortie. Such weapons already existed and were operational for over a year then, but not in Japan. The German Air Force successfully used large radio-guided Fritz-X bombs against battleships and cruisers since September 1943, but...
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...war on Germany for having invaded Poland and there was also a Winter War that ensued between the Soviet Union and Finland. However in 1940 Germany invaded Denmark & Norway, Germany also invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. There was also the battle of Britain and in 1941 Germany had declared war on the Soviet Union and the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Japan, and Germany had declared war on the US. During Germany's invasion of Poland in September of 1939 Germany began using a tactic called Blitzkrieg which was very successful for them it became known as the lightning war. In general Blitzkrieg involved various combination of mechanized spearheads of troops, motorized, artillery tanks, massed in groups by close tactical fighters and dive bombers, with radio controlled signals. What made it so successful was the element of surprise that went with it. By using this tactic German troops could take over and penetrate enemy defenses with overwhelming force easily. This tactic of war lead to many easy victories for Germany between 1939 & 1940. Poland was easily taken over and they surrendered in the same month that Germany had invaded it. Blitzkrieg was not only successful in the Poland invasion. It was also successful...
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...Liberty University INNOVATIONS DURING WORLD WAR II Arlene A. Tabron Modern American Military History HIUS 380 Professor Ritchie 21 September 2015 INNOVATIONS DURING WORLD WAR II Demise, devastation and agony. These are the words regularly connected with the idea of war. What the vast majority don’t understand is that war additionally achieves the absolute most life adjusting innovations. During World War II, various creations changed the war’s course and the future of the world. The most critical s and feelings of were RADAR/SONAR, computerized hardware, elastic, and the nuclear bomb. The primary driver of World War II were nationalistic strains, uncertain issue and feelings of hatred coming about because of World War I. The events that prompted the war’s episode are for the most part comprehended to be the 1939 attack of Poland by Germany and Soviet Russia and the 1937 intrusion of the Republic of China by the Empire of Japan. These Military Hostilities were the after effect of choices made by dictator administering Nazi elite in Germany and by the administration of the Kwantung Army in Japan World War II began after these forceful activities were met with authority presentation of war as well as equipped resistance. (1) The reason the United States entered the Second World War was a direct result of the surprise attack on their Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Oahu at 7:55 am on December 7, 1941. The Empire of Japan submitted a shock assault upon the United...
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...There were a number of tactics and technologies that were developed in World War I and improved in some way by the time World War II occurred. Often times, these differing technologies arose in response to previous technologies, such as mustard gas arising to counteract ongoing trench warfare. The thesis here is simple: most of the technologies and unique tactics developed in World War I and employed in World War II focused on offense capacity, allowing commanders to employ their forces in a more effective manner. The first primary example of this is the German concept of the Blitzkrieg. The Blitzkrieg, essentially, involves rushing one's forces, judiciously, at the enemy, inciting fear and confusion, especially when used as a surprise attack. The Blitzkrieg, by definition, "...advocates stressed mobility and speed over firepower, although in the form...
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...Central Powers. The United States eventually joined the fighting for the Allied Powers in 1917. During the war more than seventy million military personnel were involved in this war. It is believed that the trigger that started this war was the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Yugoslavian man on June 28, 1914. A majority of the battles were fought in Europe, but some battles were also fought in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, China, and off the coast of North and South America. The war was more of a domino effect, with one country declaring war on another in retaliation of different countries fighting. Many countries partook in an arms race, and countries like the United Kingdom and Germany increased their military spending by more than fifty percent during the world war. Previous military tactics were proven obsolete at the start of the world war. Things like barbed wire, machine guns and tanks were used for the first time during this war, and more long distance battles were used opposed to previous face to face combat. Gas warfare was also a new opponent during this war, and many casualties occurred due to this weapon. Trench warfare was also a new tactic during this war, and many casualties occurred during these types of battles. Naval warfare was also a major part of this world war, and many German ships were at sea with their purpose to attack allied merchant ships and also to put a stop to allied supplies....
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...MILITARY TECHNOLOGY & THE NATURE OF WARFARE 1815 - 1945 With both the World Wars in the twentieth century, conflicts arose that had become somewhat inevitable, yet the nature of which were undoubtedly total wars that had not been anticipated. However, with military technology extending the boundaries of warfare, such conflicts fought on such an unprecedented and devastating scale had been threatening throughout the latter part of the 19th Century. This period was littered with strife, characterized by the American Civil War, The Boer War and the Russo-Japanese War whereby the major powers had demonstrated their threatening capabilities. These bloody conflicts were all typical of 19th century warfare. They were classified in a transitional period between the Napoleonic conflicts of the 18th Century and the total warfare of the 20th Century, in which armies across the globe witnessed an evolution in the nature of warfare. For many, this evolution had been founded upon the transformations in military technology. Furthermore, between 1815-1945, mass industrialization supplemented an ever-changing school of thought surrounding warfare and the deferrals of such conflicts to settle a fraught European Balance of Power created a developing uneasiness between the misunderstandings of modern warfare and capabilities in reality. The consequence was bitter periods of conflict where ad-libbing attempted to allow...
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...Military Science Paper The Battle of Anzio In times of war, the outcomes of battles and engagements are dictated by several key factors, that can prove detrimental if overlooked. The successes and failures of the Allied Forces during World War II are attributed to the ability of leaders to plan, adapt, and control resources. The proper application of these resources, both human and non-human, are what determined victories and defeats. There are many examples in history, particularly in World War II history, from which military leaders can draw a wealth of knowledge from, and apply those learned lessons in military operations today. One such example, the Battle of Anzio, raises awareness of deplorable decision making and poor leadership which lead to the deaths of many soldiers. The battle also offers military leaders many insights on areas for improvement, and how to avoid a disaster like Anzio. In order to fully analyze and learn from the Battle of Anzio one must examine its history, military and political leadership, tactics, weapons and technology, and terrain to see how these factors affected the outcome of the battle. The Battle of Anzio was fought from January 1944 to May 1944, and was a part of the invasion of the Allied forces into Italy. On September 9, 1943, the Allies landed in Salerno and began their invasion into the north. They fought at great cost, inching their way northward in hopes of taking Rome. As they pushed north, the Allies were halted...
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...July 29, 2008 The History of Snipers Snipers are by definition expert marksmen. Even before firearms were invented, there have been soldiers such as archers, who were specially trained marksmen. Snipers have special abilities, training, and equipment that allow them to do jobs that deliver highly accurate rifle fire against enemy targets which can't be attacked by regular riflemen due to variables such as visibility, range, the opportunity, size, or location. Statistics compiled from the Vietnam conflict estimate that the average number of rounds used per kill by United States Army Soldiers were 200,000 however the average number of rounds used per kill by United States Army snipers in Vietnam was only 1.3 (History). From the days of Leonardo da Vinci to Gunny Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II days in the Vietnam conflict, the development and use of snipers in combat has significantly contributed to successful warfare. Leonardo da Vinci is considered one of the earliest rifle snipers in history. He reportedly defended the walls of besieged Florence with a rifle that he designed himself (Henderson, xii). Elite air-riflemen were trained to shoot knights for France's Louis XIV and were considered the first modern snipers. Some authorities claim that their use made the use of knights obsolete. Snipers had from the beginning of their history have proven their effectiveness. The outcome of the American War for Independence may have been very different had it not been...
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