Operational Sustainment, Lines of Communication and the Conduct of Operations,
Abstract
This study examines the influence of operational sustainment, which includes lines of communication, on the conduct of major operations. After a definition of terms, two historical examples are analyzed, the impact of time and space on the conduct of operations - which includes sustainment - is examined, changes since the historical examples are placed in historical perspective, and conclusions and implications drawn. The two historical examples used are MacArthur's return to the Philippines and Slim's return to Burma. In both cases, operations were conducted at the terminus of extended strategic and operational lines of communication. In addition, those lines were restricted by the nature of the geography over which their operations unfolded. In MacArthur's case, the Pacific Ocean became his highway, while in Slim's case, he was forced to reduce sustainment to the minimum due to his operating over very tenuous and restricted LOCs. Time and space are the common bonds between operations throughout history and, despite changing technology, will continue to be the factors which commanders must operate within. The capability to improve performance and to compress the time/space continuum assists in the conduct of operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA185076
Entities
People
- Christopher A. Rockwell
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College