Every military who wants to be professional he interests about maneuver warfare, military history and the challenges to the great leaders of our past. From history, we see that military forces were began wars totally unprepared. So professionals made themselves ready and prepared for any kind of war or conflict, especially now days when most of the operations are being conducted in different terrains and in multinational environment. Now days we are entering new age, where wars are beginning on TV and militaries are deploying in a very short time, and facing challenges. Good leaders are interested in maneuver warfare, because this kind of warfare helps them to defeat enemy while outnumbered and minimizes own casualties at the same time.
For better understanding, maneuver warfare it would be helpful to examine its evaluation in this century and see how effective and successful it has already been. For military leaders how is interested and wants to achieve more, he can study tactics and battles of Sun Tzu, Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Manstein, Patton and Mac Arthur. Reading about them is clearly will explain what these men had in common to strike their enemies weaknesses with strength and by speed.
In this work, I will bring some examples from last centuries known wars and operations, and my conclusion will show the way to avoid some of the challenges, which are expecting us during our military carrier.
DEFINITION
What is Maneuver Warfare...?
Maneuver Warfare is an approach to war which emphasizes disrupting the cohesion of the enemies tactical units and the mental process of the enemy commander - his ability to make correct and timely decisions-rather than simply attempting to inflict casualties at a greater rate than they are sustained, (Attrition Warfare).
The aim of maneuver warfare is to make decisions more quickly than the enemy.
This will be understandable by analyzing the Boyd Cycle or OODA Loop:
Observation; Orient; Decision; Action.
Definition of Boyd's Cycle: Conflict is viewed as a time - competitive decision cycle where the goal is to go through your decision cycle faster than the enemy is.
Well known commanders in the past used deception, surprise, shock, and firepower within a maneuver context to rapidly transformation from one tactical formation to another constantly keeping their force of balance.
Maneuver warfare creates shock, surprise and psychological paralysis.
How it happens and who was successive in this according historical event …?
EXAMPLES FROM WORLD WAR 2
During World War 2, there were many examples of good organized military actions. Germans, they had more, because they were more prepared for war and some of their opponents were surprised, one of these examples is 1940 German attack on France. Hitler called this attack "Blitzkrieg" which means Lightening war; He was hopping to have short decisive campaign to reduce the negative impact upon to his people and economy. Actually, he had good results during this operation; Holland over-run in 5 days, Belgium surrendered in 18 days and France succumbed in 6 weeks. He achieved this result through speed, surprise, deception and combat power. His mechanized divisions crossed France and reached the North Sea coast in just 10 days. Even Hitler was surprised how he was able to conduct this operation. France were shocked, because of their centralized control French army could not put together all recourses and organize cohesive defense. German general Rommel, who was leading seventh Panzer division in Army group "A" across France to the coast, remarked that they were moving so fast that the French did not have time to destroy bridges in their path.
This campaign for Germans was successful, it costs them less than 30,000 dead, Germans had concurred three countries, inflict 400,000 casualties, and captured nearly 2 million soldiers.
North Africa 1940 December.
The Italians under Marshal Graziani had over 250,000 men in Libya, but they were only foot-mobile. They allied forces under Major General O'Connor numbered 36,000 and they were mechanized. Italy wanted to push the English out of Egypt, and made an advance into the northern coastal area of Sidi Barrani (Egypt), and set up some fortified camps there waiting for extra men. O'Connor planned to conduct a spoiling attack on the Italians; he made maximum use of security by approaching at night and staggering departure times and dates. While he was conducting diversionary attack on the coastal city of Maktila, his mechanized forces were passing through a gag in Graziani defenses to attack their camp from the rear. In addition, next mechanized force headed for the coastal road at Buq Buq, to cut water pipeline, and isolate the objective. The Italians camp didn't has good obstacle structure, they didn't had even minefields., Italians were surprised and couldn't even use their air assets., the allies made good use of their air and artillery assets in coordination with ground forces in this attack. The Shocked Italians become disorganized and dispirited, they had 4000 surrendered. In next 4 days allays carried out the assault on Sidi Barrani, allies captured 4 generals, 38,000 men, 237 guns and 73 tanks.
O'Connor was good commander, has good experience and during planning he was using all recourses that he had, even asking to his subordinates. During all campaign in Libya O'Conner destroyed 10 divisions, took 170,000 prisoners, 400 tanks and 850 guns.
EXAMPLES FROM ARAB - ISRAELI CONFLICTS
Before talking about this event, I want to mention what is maneuver warfare by Israeli militaries…, it is use of initiative, and it is part of Israeli Palmach tradition and their training courage initiative as exemplified in their slogan " The smallest unit it is the single man whit his rifle. " It also stressed that officers should lead by personal example.
Israeli noted in Operation Horev (22 December 1948 - 7 January 1949), that operation was planned to expel the Egyptians from the southern Negev. The Egyptians closed all major roads and prepared for a conventional attack. However, Israeli Chief of Staff found the trace of a Roman road, repaired it and used for moving his main troops for decisive attack. As a result, surprise achieved and operation successfully conducted.
The Arab - Israeli Six Day War in 1967 initiated by Israel. Three Israeli divisional task forces were to attack into the Sinai. In the North General Tal's division with the objective of Rafah and El Arish, in the Center Yoffe's division was detailed to
Advance through difficult terrain and shield Tal's flank. Sharons division to the south was to attack Abu Agheila/Umm Katef. Tanks of Tal's leading battalion broke through the Egyptian lines and led to Early capture of El Arish. Yoffe demonstrated indirect approach in taking the line of least expectation. He sought to achieve surprise by overcoming natural rather than human resistance. Yoffe preferred a day long struggle through soft sand rather than risk a frontal attack. His route took him behind the main enemy defenses and enabled him to cut off their reinforcements to the front. Sharon's victory was perfect. He operated at night against a well-organized defense in depth. A paratrooper battalion landed in the rear and cleared a way through a minefield, while two tank forces after infiltrating the defense, converged from east and west.
Why did Israel take such an initial beating …?
After victories in 1948, 1956, and 1967 Israel, become complacent. Nurtured on strategy of the indirect approach, which experience had shown was best achieved on the ground by fast moving armored columns, and the fact that their Centurions and Pattons with superior crews, outmatched the Arabs Warsaw Pact armor. They became convinced that the tank on its own was a battle winner. They put great emphasis on tank crew training. They found that the tank that gets off the first shot in a tank battle has the best chance of winning. They strived to get off the first shot in 5-7 seconds vice the normal 15 seconds. Therefore, the Israeli forces relied mostly on the tank-fighter-bomber team for its victories.
CONCLUSIONS
Concluding all this topic "Challenges to leadership in maneuver warfare ", I would say: Maneuver warfare works on the premise of knowing the commander's intent and trusting subordinates to use their initiative to make decisions to accomplish the mission. From examples above we see that victories was achieved with minimum casualties to the side employing it, this paper shows that maneuver warfare can accomplish mission, if troops are result oriented. For successful career should learn about maneuver warfare and employ it.
"Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver, the greater the general the more he contributes in maneuver" Winston Churchill.
