The Use of Battlespace and Time in the Operational Art
Abstract
The study of operational art, the planning and execution of campaigns and major operations, requires careful integration of several concepts, including center of gravity, culminating point, and 'lines of operations. This study contributes to joint military strategy by offering two additional ways that joint planners and commander's can conceptualize the battlefield: battlespace and time. The author analyzed these two concepts using the three levels of war. strategic, operational, and tactical. In a strategic battlespace, nations apply the political, economic, psychological and military elements of national power, in both peace and war. These elements of national power also affect operational battlespace. The paper defines battlespace as a conceptual area with the following characteristics: (a) The battlespace includes not only the friendly forces, but also the enemy forces the battlespace commander is fighting; (b) The mission and combat capabilities of the respective forces inside of it, to include the enemy's, constrain the battlespace; (c) The battlespace is a self-contained, closed loop system constrained in time; and (d) When defined correctly, each battlespace will have two centers of gravity, one to attack and one to protect.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA283034
Entities
People
- Daniel W. Jordan Iii
Organizations
- Air War College