The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics and Leadership. James Eling
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- History
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Learn the lessons of military history by looking at the great battles through the lens of the Principles of War. Part of the enduring nature of war, all good Generals follow the 10 Principles of War. The great Generals of history have the ability to know which of the principles are most important at the decisive moments of the campaign.
We study the great battles to draw the lessons on strategy, tactics and leadership.
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112 - Combined Arms on the Kokoda Track
This is Part 14 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of battalions on the Kokoda Track and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level.
This episode looks at how the Australians and the Japanese generated combined arms on the Kokoda Track.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast. -
111 - Friendly Fire on the Kokoda Track
This is Part 13 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of the 53rd Battalion and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level.
This episode looks at the tragic friendly fire incident that occured during the Battle of Isurava, where the 2/14th C Company attacked into the Battalion Headquarters. What were the factors in this and how could it have been avoided?
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast. -
110 - The JIPOE / IPB for the Kokoda Track
This is Part 12 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of the 53rd Battalion and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level.
The Kokoda Campaign for the Japanese is a manifestation of the effects of the manourvrist approach.
We then discuss MAJGEN Basil Morris - at the time he took over command of the 8th Military District he was a substantive Colonel.
We look at the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment for the Kokoda Campaign. What was the decisive terrain in the Morris' plan and how did he use his available resources? We discuss the 49th Battalion and how they were employed.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast. -
109 - Operational mistakes in the Kokoda Campaign
This is Part 11 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of the 53rd Battalion and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level.
This episode commences our assessment of the operational level, but before we start, we will look at the psychiatric cost of training and fighting in the jungle. David Woolley has done an excellent job in documenting issues on the Kokoda Track and suggests some solutions to increasing resilience for troops.
We look at what the operational level of war is along with the events within MAJGEN Basil Morris' Area of Operations during the Kokoda Campaign.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast. -
108 - The Competition for Superior Doctrine
This is the third episode in a three part interview with Dr Robert Lyman about 'Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40', a book he co-wrote with Lord Dannatt, who served as the Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009.
This episode looks at how lessons are learnt from victories and defeats and the difficulties in developing doctrine when not in combat. We discuss the lessons from logistics doctrine development along with why it took so long for doctrine to be combat ready - for the British in was 2nd El Alamein. Finally we look for the lessons from the interwar period for the contemporary strategic environment.
Check out the show notes for this Professional Military Education podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast. There is also a catalogue of episodes on Leadership, the Principles of War, military history, and Mission Command. -
107 - British Combined Arms doctrine in the inter war period
This is the second in a three part interview with Dr Robert Lyman about 'Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40', a book he co-wrote with Lord Dannatt, who served as the Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009.
This episode looks at how the lessons learnt in the victories of 1918 with Combined Arms were forgotten in the interwar period. Robert discusses the impact of the desire to avoid another Second World War, the resistance to creating an Expeditionary Army for continental Europe, the economy for the Great Depression and the lack of a Grand Strategy and Endstate led to a British Army that struggled for the first two years of the Second World War.
He also examines the role of Nevile Chamberlain in developing a Strategy for Britain.
How does an Army know if its doctrine is capable of winning battles?
Check out the show notes for this Professional Military Education podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast. There is also a catalogue of episodes on Leadership, the Principles of War, military history and Mission Command.
Customer Reviews
Reality grounded
As a civilian-military science fiction writer and amateur military historian, this podcast has been invaluable in distilling how countries integrate and utilise various tactical and operational fighting philosophies which have already been crucial in helping refine and define the fictional peer-to-peer conflicts of my writing.
Long Tan series with Dave Sabben
As a former ARes Staff Cadet I find this whole podcast incredibly interesting and full of very practical information.
In particular the series on Long Tan with Dave Sabben is brilliant! Dave’s account is incredibly detailed, insightful and still absolutely relevant to 21st century war fighting.
The Principles of War
Brilliant. As an ex-infantryman and now teacher and cadet officer I’m loving listening to these as I commute in and out to work! Thank you very much!