OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
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
,OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
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.
,OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
- 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
, OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
- 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 of communication/logistics are long
review
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
,OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
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.
,OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
- 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
, OCS Military History All Lessons exam
review
- 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 of communication/logistics are long
