OCS Military History All Lessons (2022/2023) Graded A+

OCS Military History All Lessons (2022/2023) Graded A+ War -Conflict between organized groups with "Unknown Resolve" - Each seeking to impose its will on the other Linear Tactics - 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 Smoothbore Musket - Used from 1600's to Pre-Civil War - Max Effective Distance of 100m - Highly inaccurate - 3 Rounds per minute Friction - Any impediment to a commanders ability to wage war - EX: Muddy roads, undisciplined troops, bad weather Strategic Level of War All of a nation's armed forces in all campaigns Operational Level of War In-theater forces; Where the battle or war is actually taking place—i.e. Afghanistan Tactical Level of War Individual field units (division or below) Battle of Bunker Hill - 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 effort 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 NYC Campaign - Revolutionary War - 1776 - British forces landed 32,000 soldiers on the shores of Staton Island NY. - Washington split forces in an effort 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. Battle of Trenton - 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. Battle of Princeton - 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. Interior Lines Pro's - Lines of communication/logistics are short - More effective, easier to win a battle/campaign Con's - Requires coordination - Facing outside, multiple converging threats Exterior Lines Pro's - Converge upon the enemy - Creates a multi-axis threat Con's - Lines