Identification of Decisive Terrain: Useful Concept or Historical Label?
Abstract
This monograph analyzes the concept of decisive terrain to determine if a commander can identify decisive terrain at the operational level of war. The monograph begins by examining the introduction of decisive terrain into doctrine and provides a more comprehensive definition based on several theorists and research. Next an analysis is made of how the United States Army's current publications address decisive terrain. The documents reviewed include FM 100-5, FM 34-3, FM 101-5-1, FM 34-130, and ST 100-9. The purpose of the next section is to examine how the Russians, British, Germans, and Chinese armies study key terrain. Two case studies, the Gettysburg Campaign and the Austerlitz Campaign, provide examples of commanders who successfully and unsuccessfully identified decisive terrain. The commanders who failed to recognize decisive terrain at the operational level of war suffered massive casualties that had a significant impact on the future of their armies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 14, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA274441
Entities
People
- Harry D. Scott Jr
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College