Centre for Defence Studies 149140_0901_PNTH_I Page 1 of 4 Last Updated: 20/10/08
Paper Number:
149.140.
Paper Title:
Introduction to Tactics.
Credits Value:
15 credits.
Calendar Prescription:
This paper will provide an introduction to land centric military operations. The paper examines the application of tactics across offensive, defensive, enabling, stability and support operations.
Pre and co requisites:
None.
Semester:
One Campus:
Palmerston North.
Mode:
Internal.
E-Learning Category:
N (no web access required).
Paper Coordinator and lecturer contact details:
Major Steve Challies Centre for Defence Studies Phone: (06) 356 9099 Ext 4243 Email: S.Challies@massey.ac.nz Teaching Timetable:
Please see http://publictimetable.massey.ac.nz/ for timetabling information.
Learning Outcomes:
To introduce students to the spectrum of operations and the levels of war.
To inform students about the principles of war and consider their application at the tactical level.
To introduce students to the principle doctrinal warfighting philosophies.
To make students aware of the combat functions, their organisation and their application at the tactical level of conflict.
To enable students to consider offensive, defensive, enabling, stability and support operations at the tactical level of war.
To encourage students to form and express opinions about tactical matters and methods according to their own understanding of the evidence.
To facilitate the development of students’ analytical, written and verbal skills on matters of tactics.
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Major topics or paper structure:
Doctrinal tactical concepts including principles of war, battlefield operating systems and battlefield tactical manoeuvre.
Assessment proportions:
Essay 1 20%
Essay 2 20%
Final Examination 60%
Description of assessment activities:
Essay 1 of 1200 – 1500 words Essay 2 of 1200 – 1500 words One 3 hour exam
Due dates / deadlines:
The due dates for assignments (and any other internal assessment components) will be advised at the start of the semester.
Final examination dates can be found at http://study.massey.ac.nz/search_paper.asp Penalties for late assignment submission:
Essays received after the due dates will not be marked or counted toward student assessment unless an extension has been requested and granted.
Assignment turnaround:
Three weeks.
Any specific requirements for passing the paper:
Earn a 50% or greater average from across the three assessment activities.
Each form of assessment is compulsory.
Principal Textbook:
No set texts for this course.
Recommended texts include:
New Zealand Defence Force, Foundations of New Zealand Military Doctrine.
Available online at http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/public-documents/nz-military-doctrine.htm US Marine Corps Doctrinal Publications 1, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3. Available online at
https://www.doctrine.usmc.mil/
Recommended and additional readings:
Antal, J.F., Infantry Combat: The Rifle Platoon: An Interactive Exercise in Small-Unit Tactics and Leadership, Presidio Press, 1995.
Dupuy, T.N., Understanding War: History and Theory of Combat, Leo Cooper, 1992.
English, J.A., A Perspective on Infantry, Praegar, 1981.
English, J.A. and Gunmundsson, B.L., On Infantry, Praeger, 1994.
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Griffith, P., Forward Into Battle: Fighting Tactics from Waterloo to the Near Future, Presidio Press, 1992.
Griffith, P., Battle Tactics of the Civil War, Yale University Press, 1992.
Griffith, P., Battle Tactics of the Western Front: The British Army's Art of Attack, 1916-1918, Yale University Press, 1992.
Grossman, D., On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society, Little, Brown & Company, 1995.
Hooker, R.D. (Editor), Maneuver Warfare: An Anthology, Presidio Press, Novato, 1993.
Jary, S., 18 Platoon, Sydney Jary Limited, 1988.
Keegan, J., The Face of Battle: A Study of Argincourt, Waterloo and the Somme, Viking Penguin, 1976.
Leonhard, R., The Art of Maneuver: Maneuver-Warfare Theory & AirLand Battle, Presidio Press, 1994.
Lind, W.S. & Wyly, M., Maneuver Warfare Handbook, Westview Press, 1985.
Liddell-Hart, B., The Strategy of the Indirect Approach, Faber & Faber Ltd, 1985.
Marshall, S.L.A., Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command in Future War, Peter Smith, 1978.
Sun-Tzu, The Art of War, Oxford University Press, 1984 Edition.
Swinton, E.D., Reprint. The Defence of Duffers' Drift, Avery Publishing Group, 1986.
Simpkin, R.E., Race to the Swift: Thoughts on Twenty-first Century Warfare, Brassey's inc, 1985.
Journals
The following journals provide a contemporary overview of tactics.
Armor - The Professional Development Bulletin of the Armor Branch (US Army)
Australian Defence Force Journal
Australian Army Journal
British Army Review - The House Journal of the British Army
Infantry - The Professional Development Bulletin of the Infantry Branch (US Army) Marine Corps Gazette (US Marine Corps)
Military Review (US Army)
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New Zealand Defence Quarterly
Electronic Resources
British Army (includes some British doctrine publications):
http://www.army.mod.uk/doctrine/branches/doc.htm
Canadian Army Doctrine Site: http://armyapp.dnd.ca/ael/publications_ie.asp NATO, AAP-6 (V), Glossary of Terms and Definitions, 1999 (Unclassified).
http://www.nato.int/docu/stanag/aap006/aap6.htm New Zealand Defence Force http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/
U.S. Department of Defence Joint Electronic Library http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/
United States Marine Corps Combat Development Command - Doctrine Division http://www.doctrine.usmc.mil
