ARMY OCS Military History All Lessons
Questions and Answers
1. War
ANS -Conflict between organized groups with "Unknown Resolve"
-Each seeking to impose its will on the other
2. Linear Tactics
ANS - Troops Marched in column formation
-2 to 3 ranks, shoulder to shoulder
-Used successive volleys of fire
-Purpose was to mass greatest amount of firepower over a given area
-Tactics prevailed through WWI
3. Smoothbore Musket
ANS - Used from 1600's to Pre-Civil War
-Max Effective Distance of 100m
-Highly inaccurate
-3 Rounds per minute
4. Friction
ANS - Any impediment to a commanders ability to wage war
,-EX
Muddy roads, undisciplined troops, bad weather
5. Strategic Level of War
ANS All of a nation's armed forces in all campaigns
6. Operational Level of War
ANS In-theater forces; Where the battle or war is actually taking place—i.e. Afghanistan
7. Tactical Level of War
ANS Individual field units (division or below)
8. Battle of Bunker Hill
ANS - Revolutionary War - 1775
-Took place near Boston Town on the Charlestown Peninsula
-Patriot forces actually occupied and fortified Breed's Hill. - English sacrificed the principals of surprise and maneuver in an ettort
to publicly defeat and humiliate the American's in a frontal assault.
-Patriots held the line, inflicting massive casualties on the British,
-Retreated after running dangerously low on ammunition. - Psychological victory for the American's.
-Compare with Picket's Charge
9. NYC Campaign
ANS - Revolutionary War - 1776
-British forces landed 32,000 soldiers on the shores of Staton Island NY.
,-Washington split forces in an ettort to meet British forces at both Staton and Long Island
-Violated the principal of mass.
-British forces continually out-maneuver Washington, forcing him to fall back several times
-Washington realized that he did not need to defeat the British only needed to assure his army remain standing.
10. Battle of Trenton
ANS - Revolutionary war - 1776
-Washington crossed the Deleware on Christmas night with 4,000 untrained militia and 1,000 Short-time regulars.
-Despite low morale among his troops and austere weather conditions, Washington inspired his men to keep moving forward.
-He separated his forces and using the principle of surprise,
-Patriots captured a German mercenary garrison, killing 40 Hessians and capturing another 918.
11. Battle of Princeton
ANS - Revolutionary War - After Battle of Trenton
-Cornwallis of the British forces aimed to trap Washington at Trenton
-Washington deployed the feint tactic and left a small security element at Trenton
-Washington, using an economy of force, took his main element and utilizing frozen over swamps,
-Maneuvered behind Cornwallis to surprise his units from the rear.
-Washington got out in front of his troops, and rallied his men to a victory.
-Victory reinvigorated the American cause, rallied "fence sitters" to join the cause, and ruined any British hope for
negotiations.
12. Interior Lines
, ANS Pro's
-Lines of communication/logistics are short
-More ettective, easier to win a battle/campaign Con's
-Requires coordination
-Facing outside, multiple converging threats
13. Exterior Lines
ANS Pro's
-Converge upon the enemy
-Creates a multi-axis threat
Con's
-Lines of communication/logistics are long
-Requires Unity of Command
14. Saratoga Campaign
ANS - Revolutionary War - 1777
-British General Burgoyne attempted to launch a complex multi-avenue attack on patriot forces led by General Gates.
-British poor unity of command and lack of coordination led to him attempting to take Saratoga by himself - Fought an exterior
line campaign against the American's interior lines
-Burgoyne's forces are defeated and surrender to a mixed force of militia and regulars.
-This victory causes France to see the US as a safe bet and ushers in a military alliance between France and American Forces.
Compare with Exterior / Interior Lines
15. Valley Forge Winter
Questions and Answers
1. War
ANS -Conflict between organized groups with "Unknown Resolve"
-Each seeking to impose its will on the other
2. Linear Tactics
ANS - Troops Marched in column formation
-2 to 3 ranks, shoulder to shoulder
-Used successive volleys of fire
-Purpose was to mass greatest amount of firepower over a given area
-Tactics prevailed through WWI
3. Smoothbore Musket
ANS - Used from 1600's to Pre-Civil War
-Max Effective Distance of 100m
-Highly inaccurate
-3 Rounds per minute
4. Friction
ANS - Any impediment to a commanders ability to wage war
,-EX
Muddy roads, undisciplined troops, bad weather
5. Strategic Level of War
ANS All of a nation's armed forces in all campaigns
6. Operational Level of War
ANS In-theater forces; Where the battle or war is actually taking place—i.e. Afghanistan
7. Tactical Level of War
ANS Individual field units (division or below)
8. Battle of Bunker Hill
ANS - Revolutionary War - 1775
-Took place near Boston Town on the Charlestown Peninsula
-Patriot forces actually occupied and fortified Breed's Hill. - English sacrificed the principals of surprise and maneuver in an ettort
to publicly defeat and humiliate the American's in a frontal assault.
-Patriots held the line, inflicting massive casualties on the British,
-Retreated after running dangerously low on ammunition. - Psychological victory for the American's.
-Compare with Picket's Charge
9. NYC Campaign
ANS - Revolutionary War - 1776
-British forces landed 32,000 soldiers on the shores of Staton Island NY.
,-Washington split forces in an ettort to meet British forces at both Staton and Long Island
-Violated the principal of mass.
-British forces continually out-maneuver Washington, forcing him to fall back several times
-Washington realized that he did not need to defeat the British only needed to assure his army remain standing.
10. Battle of Trenton
ANS - Revolutionary war - 1776
-Washington crossed the Deleware on Christmas night with 4,000 untrained militia and 1,000 Short-time regulars.
-Despite low morale among his troops and austere weather conditions, Washington inspired his men to keep moving forward.
-He separated his forces and using the principle of surprise,
-Patriots captured a German mercenary garrison, killing 40 Hessians and capturing another 918.
11. Battle of Princeton
ANS - Revolutionary War - After Battle of Trenton
-Cornwallis of the British forces aimed to trap Washington at Trenton
-Washington deployed the feint tactic and left a small security element at Trenton
-Washington, using an economy of force, took his main element and utilizing frozen over swamps,
-Maneuvered behind Cornwallis to surprise his units from the rear.
-Washington got out in front of his troops, and rallied his men to a victory.
-Victory reinvigorated the American cause, rallied "fence sitters" to join the cause, and ruined any British hope for
negotiations.
12. Interior Lines
, ANS Pro's
-Lines of communication/logistics are short
-More ettective, easier to win a battle/campaign Con's
-Requires coordination
-Facing outside, multiple converging threats
13. Exterior Lines
ANS Pro's
-Converge upon the enemy
-Creates a multi-axis threat
Con's
-Lines of communication/logistics are long
-Requires Unity of Command
14. Saratoga Campaign
ANS - Revolutionary War - 1777
-British General Burgoyne attempted to launch a complex multi-avenue attack on patriot forces led by General Gates.
-British poor unity of command and lack of coordination led to him attempting to take Saratoga by himself - Fought an exterior
line campaign against the American's interior lines
-Burgoyne's forces are defeated and surrender to a mixed force of militia and regulars.
-This victory causes France to see the US as a safe bet and ushers in a military alliance between France and American Forces.
Compare with Exterior / Interior Lines
15. Valley Forge Winter
