Section Leaders:
Fionn Kelly & Madmatt

Principles of War
by: Carlos “Los” Lourenco

The US Army first published a set of principles of war back in 1921 These were taken from the works of British major J.F.C. Fuller. While today’s principles may have been slightly modified in description they have nevertheless stood the test of times. When making your plan, consider these principles:

• Objective

• Offensive

• Mass

• Economy of Force

• Maneuver

• Unity of Command

• Security

• Surprise

• Simplicity

1.        Objective: Direct all of your operations towards a defined, decisive, and obtainable objective. Your objectives are selected based on the overall criteria of the overall mission of your higher commanders. You must understand their intent and ensure your subordinates understand your intent. Do not get sidetracked performing other tasks that do not support your objectives. Sometimes wargamers like to make sure they wipe out every last enemy on the map even if that has nothing to do with the objective. (Say taking a terrain features or exiting friendly units from the map). In Combat Mission determine you scenario goals, are they to occupy a victory location are they to exit forces? Note that in these two cases running around capturing or killing every enemy unit does not necessarily get you any closer to your objective and may actually prevent you from attaining it.

2.        Offensive: Seize, retain and Exploit the initiative. An offensive spirit must be maintained in the conduct of defensive operations The defense must be active not passive. This is because offensive action, in whatever form, maintains freedom of action and achieves results. Make the enemy react to your moves not visa versa. The offensive permits you to capitalize on the initiative and impose your will on the enemy, set the terms and pace of the battle, exploit enemy vulnerabilities and react to rapidly changing situations. Having identified what you objective is, maneuver your forces to attain it. Force the enemy to react to you, sure he may pull stuff but if he’s not directly threatening your main effort then press on.

3.        Mass: Concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time.  This superiority results from the proper combination of elements of combat power placed at the right location and time of the commanders choosing in order to retain the initiative. This is how you achieve decisive results. Do not commit forces piecemeal when all out action are called for. If there is no need for you to spread forces all over the map then keep them together. Mass firepower is what will suppress enemy units and win battles. Keep your forces together don’t water down your main effort.

4.        Economy of Force: Allocate minimum combat power to secondary efforts. This allows you to concentrate mass in vital sectors. Do not detract forces from the main effort for secondary objectives. For example, can one squad suffice to accomplish something instead of a whole platoon? If so you can attach those extra squads to your company commander and use them as a reserve.

5.        Maneuver: Place the enemy at a disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power. The most successful battles are the ones you never have to fight because you have forced the enemy to abandon or weaken his position due to out maneuvering him. Otherwise similar results would have to be attained by hard fighting and casualties. Maneuver sustains the initiative, exploits success and maintains freedom of action. Utilize cover and concealment to move your forces. If you run into an obstacle (i.e. an enemy TA gun, look to maneuver around the kill zone rather than engage in destroying it, unless it is vital to your objective.

6.        Unity of Command: For every objective ensure the unity of effort under one responsible commander. While coordination can be achieved through cooperation, it is best achieved by vesting responsibility in a single commander.  Many great military disasters have at their heart been caused by a violation of this principle. Cannae comes to mind.

7.        Security: Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage. Security is the protection of combat power. Security results from the measures taken by a commander to protect his forces from surprise, observation, detection, interference, espionage, sabotage or annoyance. Risk in an inherent condition in war; application of the principle of security does not suggest overcautiousness or the avoidance of calculated risk. Develop a security plan for your operations. For instance, where can enemy forces surprise me? What forces do I have to observe those avenues of approach and react if necessary?

8.        Surprise:  Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared. This is the opposite or reciprocal.  Concealing your own intentions or forces allows you to strike the enemy unawares. In a limited intelligence game like CM, make maximum use of deadspace, concealed routs and cover when maneuvering. It is essential that the enemy be taken unaware and in a manner that leaves him too late to react effectively. Maintain an adequate reserve to deal with threats and to have around for the end game when many of your units will either be fought out or low on ammo. (So will the enemy).

9.        Simplicity: Prepare clear uncomplicated plans and clear concise orders in order to ensure thorough understanding. Direct, simple plans and clear concise orders are essential to reduce the chances of misunderstanding and confusion. Other factors being equal the simplest plan executed promptly is better then a complex plan executed later.

Summary: In small unit tactics any thing can be done, as long as the following four principles are not violated. Remember PRCS: