Stagnation and Change in Military Thought: The Evolution of American Field Artillery Doctrine, 1861-1905--An Example
Abstract
It is a truism that when battle erupts among nations an advantage falls to the side that has best solved the problems of the last war. An increased advantage accrues to the efficient belligerent who can transcend contemporary military precepts through the evolution of a new, major doctrine. This study is an attempt to understand the process by which doctrine changes. The vehicle for the investigation is the evolution of American field artillery doctrine from 1861 to 1905. The study looks at the evolution of field artillery doctrine between two distinct concepts of employment--or paradigms--that of direct fire and that of indirect fire. At the time of the American Civil War, the predominant concept of employment was the direct-fire mode. Within a short time after the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905, the concept of indirect fire had supplanted the earlier paradigm. The investigation reveals that in the evolution of a military doctrine, the tendency is to maintain the efficiency of the prevailing concept of employment, even though the concept may have inherent limitations in a changing battlefield environment; the progress of technology eventually permits a shift to a new doctrine, although the change is not likely to occur until it is provoked by an appropriate test of war. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 11, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADB023625
Entities
People
- Vardell E. Nesmith Jr
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College