NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm going to write a guide based on both research i've done and a text book from the army staff college. I would like, for this guide, to include a few "helpful hints" from other NSers on making their militaries. I expect this to be a 5-6 page guide total. Any hints would be helpful to get a non-USA perspective on how a military should be run.

Everything has strengths and weaknesses - deploy mixed units to counter weaknesses and build on strengths

Got that in the 2nd paragraph Skgorria, though i'll make sure to put that in a "forum hints" page

Here's a often forgotten fact that you might want to include: every division is a combined arms force, it's just what the mix of the varios arms is that differs between them.

sometimes use a feint attack = lure them with small army trick with larger army

Never deploy a land force without some sort of air cover, whether it be planes or anti-air weaponry.

An army is useless without food, fuel and ammo - striking logistics can be as effective as striking major troop deployments

An army is useless without food, fuel and ammo - striking logistics can be as effective as striking major troop deployments
Amen. This can not be stressed enough..(and a fact that people here seem to blatantly ignore, quite often)
a army withoud fuel can not move
a army without ammo can not fight
a army without food dies of starvation

Amen. This can not be stressed enough..(and a fact that people here seem to blatantly ignore, quite often)
a army withoud fuel can not move
a army without ammo can not fight
a army without food dies of starvation
that is ignored too much

always have the momentum
even if you're in defense, try small counter attacks, always have your opponent reacting and never calling the shots

sometimes you can start with carpet bombing to weaken heavily forifiede areas.

I'm going to post the first section of the guide. Keep posting here so that I can add a compendium of helpful hints.

Pincer maneuver - Allowing the enemy to attack the center, sometimes in a charge, then attacking the flanks of the charge.

Raiding - Attacking with the purpose of removing enemy's supply or provisions.

Siege - Contiuous attack by bombarment on a fortified position, usually by artillery.

Flank - This strategy involves attacking the opponent from the side, or flank

----Maldorians

Don't reinforce failiure. If a attack fails in one area, try doing it in another, rather than feeding more troops into the slaughter..(ww1, anyone?)

Read "The Art of War" by Sun-Tzu

Penetration (warfare) - A direct attack throught the enemy lines, then attack the rear once through.

Charge (warfare) - Direct attack, usually by running up to the opponent.

Ambush - Ambushing an opponent usually involves surprise.

---Maldorians

Read "The Art of War" by Sun-Tzu
I'll second that. It may be the oldest book on the subject (over 2000 years old), but that does not make the basic principles good ole Sun wrote down any less true today, than they were in his day.

Ambush tactics:

- ideally with at least 3 large automatic weapons, one at either end to prevent escape and one in the middile for killing as many people as possible
- don't open fire until the enemy has passed the middle of the group


On another note, why doesn't anyone use nerve gas anymore?

FRONTAL ASSAULT

The military tactic of frontal assault is a direct, hostile movement of forces towards enemy forces in a large number, in an attempt to overwhelm the enemy. This is often referred to as a "suicide strike," because it is often a commander's last resort when he has run out of strategies



---Maldorians

Most people give their soldiers NBC gear in their gear to start, so nerve gas attacks aren't as effective now as they were in the 1914-18s.

FORCE MULTIPLICATION


Force multiplication is a military tactic that is supposed to visually magnify a force, such as a division or an army, through means using decoy vehicles or use of terrain to deceivingly create a much larger force than it really is. Force multiplication can also refer to special forces, where the special forces group would go into an area and train indigenous forces to work with them.

Sun Tzu did make a few mistakes in that book. He claims you should always leave an escape route when you surround someone, or else they'll fight more desperately. I don't really get that, unless you've scorched-earthed the route like the Russians did to Napoleon.

SCORCHED EARTH


A scorched earth policy is a military tactic which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area. can include shelter, transportation, communications and industrial resources

---Maldorians

While I will post most of these hints, keep in mind this is a design guide, not necessarily a tactics guide.

Kreynoria']Sun Tzu did make a few mistakes in that book. He claims you should always leave an escape route when you surround someone, or else they'll fight more desperately. I don't really get that, unless you've scorched-earthed the route like the Russians did to Napoleon.
Actually it does make sense..A enemy that has nothing to loose fights more fiercely than a enemy that does.
Reading the Art of War literally was never the point..You have to read between the lines to actually understand it. The side commentaries in some versions do help, if you ask me..(mine has them)

Sorry for the double post, but...
How about adding a "player divisional type" part to it? This way we could each show our own take on what we feel a division should appear as. Sound like a good idea?

This could also be taken down in size, by those of us that take it down below that organazation..I for one don't go down below regimental level, yet.

Attack where you have the numerical advantage - attacks produce more casualties on your side than a defense

Even if you can't win by force, you can still wear down the enemy until he decides it isn't worth it. It worked in Vietman, and it might work in Iraq.

Contrary to popular belief, brute force does not solve all problems.

Contrary to popular belief, brute force does not solve all problems.

It solves most of them if applied with no restrictions

It solves most of them if applied with no restrictions
Not quite, mate..brute force alone gets you nowhere if it's not directed properly.

Not quite, mate..brute force alone gets you nowhere if it's not directed properly.

And if directed properly, Brute Force gets you 'mostwhere'

And if directed properly, Brute Force gets you 'mostwhere'
Indeed. And before someone starts goign "wtf? I thought this was a design a division guide" let me explain this: the divisional composition should be based on the tactics you are going to use in it's employement. Thus, these things are linked together, and inseperable..but that's just my ,2c

And if directed properly, Brute Force gets you 'mostwhere'

Brute force only really works when you have a sizable advantage, either in numbers or in hardware.

Read "The Art of War" by Sun-Tzu



hell ya boy!

Never move by huge armies, rather by regiments or companies, to help better conserve supplies.

Also smaller forces mean greater manuverability, aiding you in not destroying an enemy, but rather taking the enemy apart in small chuncks, consisting of moral, manpower, armor, and there supplies making them more of a problem to its commanders rather than an asset. The adavantage in hit and run is the manuverability and firepower provided by reletivly small forces. Firepower not in one blow but rather several blows in a row exhauting the enemy, manuverability in that you get to decide when and where to attack, and when and how to desingage. When he advances retreat, when he attacks desperse.

use the weather to your advantage

Brute force only really works when you have a sizable advantage, either in numbers or in hardware.
Hence the "properly directed" part..With a little tactical skill you could gain a local superiority in just that.

*raises hand* Perhaps this should be smaller, idiots don't often have a love of reading.:)