This Means War

What if the deep battle doesn't matter?

19 snips
Sep 14, 2023
Franz-Stefan Gady, a commentator on modern warfare and maneuver theory, challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding deep battle strategies in military conflict. He questions whether adversaries are even structured for systems warfare as envisioned by Western militaries. The discussion delves into the complexities of Ukraine's tactics, the crucial role of engineering in modern warfare, and historical lessons from the Wehrmacht's strategies during WWII. Gady advocates for a reevaluation of current doctrines to better prepare future military leaders.
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INSIGHT

Attrition Can Enable Maneuver

  • Maneuver and attrition are not strict opposites; attrition can enable maneuver by creating openings.
  • Physical movement still matters in 2023 and cannot be fully replaced by firepower or long-range strikes.
ANECDOTE

Infantry Pace Dictates Offensive Tempo

  • On the ground in Ukraine, infantry advances require carrying ammunition and evacuating wounded by foot, which drastically slows pace.
  • That reality makes offensives feel like First World War-style attritional advances measured in meters, not kilometers.
INSIGHT

Deep Battle Is Harder Than It Looks

  • Successfully conducting a deep battle is much harder than commentators assume and depends on many constraints.
  • Precision-guided munitions' effects are limited by countermeasures, ISR limits and production bottlenecks.
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