Tactical Victory Leading to Strategic Defeat: Historic Examples of Hidden Failures in Operational Art

Abstract

Tactical victories that ultimately lead to strategic defeat can provide explicit examples of the importance of operational art in linking tactical actions to strategic goals. By studying their causes, the fundamental principles involved and their applicability to today's military planner and commander can be presented. An analysis of five possible causes of tactical victory and strategic defeat is presented with two historic examples each for illustration. The dangers of tactical victories are discussed with reference to their possible affect on the psychology of troops, the commander, and national leaders. The military commander, thoroughly schooled in the principles of operational art, must provide the critical link in the rational evaluation of the ultimate effectiveness of a victory. Tactical victory, Strategic defeat, Operational art.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 22, 1993
Accession Number
ADA264169

Entities

People

  • Gordan E. Van Hook

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Center Of Gravity
  • Civil War
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Military Commanders
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Neurobehavioral Manifestations
  • New York
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Systems Analysis and Design