Infrastructure and transport (supplies, men, and tactically)
• Nap- speed was limited as they relied on marching by foot (faster in industrialised Europe) with
all weather roads rather than dirt tracks. Had to rely on other sources to gain tactical speed
advantage that we see in his tactics. Living and foraging off the land. Abandonment of cannons
and other materials on the retreat from Moscow as slowed them down.
• CRI- British laid 7 miles of track in 7 days, supply and wounded transportation to hospitals (not
troops) with invention of stem engine trains were 5x faster, also had stem ships, helpful in
mobilising British troops transporting to battlefield in less than three weeks
• ACW use of railways only fully recognised, battles surrounding main rail hubs; Chattanooga,
Atlanta, Nashville. Gurrilas realised the value of targeting them , Danial McCullum director of
northern railway (rebuilt 400 foot Potomac river bridge.) Also used tactically for reconnaissance
(seems unlikely) but was faster than cavalry. Great as supplies. Sherman’s march not possible
without and would have required 36,800 wagons with 6 mules each
• A-P moved 285,000 men through 5 railway lines , Austrians had to walk, historians argue key
reason for winning the war was quick mobilisation
• F-A Austrians marched 3-4 miles a day wears French transported 120,000 men via train and
70,000 via steam ship to battle field
• R-J Russian failure to have a adequate railway network supplies had virtually collapsed by 1916
with trans-Siberian railway not fully built caused Potomac mutiny over mouldy meat
• WW1 all relied on railways; German Schlieffen plan concentrated troops to western front,
French plan XIV swiftly deliver troops into Belgium before German reserves both ultimately
failed in reality. Did manage to supply troops for a whole 4 years, by 1918 1,000 tones of
supplies (weaponry mainly) needed every day for each division requiring 2 supply trains with 50
wagons each
• WW2 use of boats and planes in d-day 6,039 sea vessels 11,590 aircrafts huge tactical gains.
Paratroopers eg. Op market garden, invasion of create (trial for Britain) However not to
important as only 10% of German army mobilised