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1st Generation: Driven by Ideas
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Linear Tactics of Column and Line Regularity Driven by Culture & Technology |
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Operational Art - Intuitive Napoleon’s use of Time & Space to Set Up Decisive Battle on His Terms |
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2nd Generation: - Attrition Warfare, Driven by Technology
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Materialschlacht or Industrial War of Attrition - Civil War to WWI and Most of Allies in 2nd WWII (some exceptions like Patton) |
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Linear Tactics - Regularity Driven by Technology (Indir. Arty, Mach. Guns, Barbed Wire Gave Advantage to Defense) |
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Operational Art - Procure Success from Top Down: Move Around Defense to Destroy Adversary in a Battle of Encirclement. |
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Space-Time Decisions Synchronized 1st by Molke, Based on Mobilization & RR (e.g., Schlieffen Plan) |
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3rd Generation: Maneuver Warfare, Driven by Ideas
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Infiltration Tactics (1918) - Blitzkrieg (Guderian) - USMC & OODA Loop (Boyd, 1980s) |
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Nonlinear Tactics - Evolve Penetrations based on Ideas of Surfaces & Gaps, Recon Pull, Multiple Thrusts, Mission Tactics & Decentralized, all harmonized, by Ideas of Commanders Intent & Schwerpunct, etc. |
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Operational Art - Dismember & Collapse Adversary by Penetrating Mind-Time-Space Frame of Reference (ie., Penetrate His Observation-Orientation-Decision-Action Loops, 1st Recognized by Boyd) |
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4th Generation: Irregular Warfare by State & Non-State Actors, Driven by Ideas(?)
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Revolutionary (Lawrence - Mao - Giap ) - Ethnic/Tribal/Religious - Gang - Terrorist - etc |
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Tactical Penetration Techniques Still Developing, But are Clearly Spreading w/ Unknown Implications. |
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Operational Art - Collapse Adversary by Bypassing Army & Attacking Population, Culture, & Institution. |
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