Firepower, Maneuver, and the Operational Level of War
Abstract
American military doctrine and professional literature in the past decade have stressed maneuver warfare and the operational level of war. This monograph traces the evolution of maneuver theory and its conceptual opposite, firepower theory, and concludes that, reflecting the tensions in war's dual natures, both methods have advantages and disadvantages. Under certain circumstances, the systematic method of firepower warfare is superior to maneuver theory; in many situations, a blend of the two approaches is preferable. Many current conceptions of maneuver warfare, however, are too broad and all-encompassing to offer much specificity. This monograph also contends that the operational level, at which military forces are used to pursue strategic objectives, is not synonymous with operational art. Instead, the operational level may be fought by either of two ideal methods or, most likely, by a blend of the two approaches.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA254156
Entities
People
- Allen D. Raymond
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College