Coup d'Oeil: Military Geography and the Operational Level of War
Abstract
This monograph focuses on the geographic component of the contemporary intelligence process at the operational level of war. The concept of coup d'oeil, the intellectual capacity of military commanders to evaluate geography and apply that evaluation to the successful prosecution of war, serves as the unifying theme throughout the monograph. The research question is to examine how to better the coup d'oeil of the commander at the operational level. The theoretical nature of coup d'oeil is examined to establish the basis of the relationship between geography and warfare. Missing at the operational level is a methodology to analyze quickly, accurately and appropriately, the key elements of terrain in the theater of operations. The monograph suggests that access, mobility, visibility, communicability, availability, and vulnerability are the appropriate elements of operational terrain analysis. Operation Neptune and the subsequent break out from the Normandy beachhead is used as a historical case study to examine these elements in support of a campaign design.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA243343
Entities
People
- John O'brien
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College