Crossing the Line of Departure: Battle Command on the Move. A Historical Perspective.

摘要

This work discusses the historical development of technology and techniques to command and control large military forces actively engaged in combat operations against an armed enemy in fast-paced, mobile-style actions. The mobile nature of such operations can be defined as the movement of a military force swift enough to either surprise its enemy by its speed of advance or retreat, or which forces the enemy to respond in a manner that he is either unprepared for or less likely to be successful. In modern terms this usually, but not always, equates to the operations of armored, mechanized, and motorized forces. However, it can also refer to forces moved operationally or strategically by helicopter or air transport. In the pre-mechanized age, mobile operations are characterized not by the predominant use of one arm of the service, such as cavalry, but by the ability of army commanders to quickly move their forces both operationally and tactically, while retaining control, against deployed enemy forces. The focus will be on the operations of United States Army forces, though telling examples from foreign armies will also be used as necessary. This work will also discuss the development of particular operational tools and techniques designed to the facilitate command and control of forces on the modern battlefield, as well as organizational and equipment related issues.