The Practical Plus Iaito provides an economical yet authentic sword for the Iaido practitioner. Available in 3 blade lengths (27, 28, 29) to perfectly match your needs. The blade is unedged for safety and forged from steel for more precise weight and balance than an aluminum blade can offer. The blade is also maintenance free, providing a lifetime of practice without worry of rust or tarnish. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a tightly-woven cotton wrap (Tsuka-Ito). The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron �sunburst� design with a brass habaki.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Practical Plus Iaito provides an economical yet authentic sword for the Iaido practitioner. Available in 3 blade lengths (27, 28, 29) to perfectly match your needs. The blade is unedged for safety and forged from steel for more precise weight and balance than an aluminum blade can offer. The blade is also maintenance free, providing a lifetime of practice without worry of rust or tarnish. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a tightly-woven cotton wrap (Tsuka-Ito). The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron �sunburst� design with a brass habaki.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Practical Plus Katana provides a very economical cutting sword as dependable as the Practical Katana (SH6000KPC), but using more traditional fittings and construction methods. The blade is forged and differentially hardened (HRC60 edge, HRC40 back) and the hamon is prominent. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a tightly-woven cotton wrap (Tsuka-Ito). The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron �sunburst� design with a brass habaki. The Practical Plus has been extended to include all of the Performance Series blades; with three cutting styles and three iaito lengths. Maintenance kit available separately (OH1003). Frequent Cutting / Advanced Drawing Practice Our Katana Blades embody the classical design elements of the most prolific sword design in history. With their strong Shinogi Zukuri shape that accentuates the differential heat treatment, these blades are traditionally proportioned to appeal to the collector but they will also perform well in general cutting of hard or soft targets. Key Features: * Economical Cutter * Traditional Construction * Quality fittings Specifications: Blade length: 28 �" Handle length: 11 �" Overall length: 40 �" Weight: 2lb 7oz Point of Balance: 5 1/2" Width at Guard: 1.39" Width at Tip: 1.03" Thickness at Guard: .26" Thickness at Tip: .16" Sori: 3/4" Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.
Price: 389.99
Our Practical Katanas have always been at the forefront of providing economical yet functional swords to the martial arts community. These latest Practicals combine the blade geometries and profiles of the Performance Series with the affordability of our Practical fittings. The blades in the cutting styles are forged from 1566 steel and differentially hardened in the traditional way producing an edge hardness of HRC60 and spine hardness of HRC40. The removeable handle is tightly wrapped in the tradtional style with imitation leather to provide a positive grip that will withstand years of tameshigiri practice.
Competitive Cutting / Lighter Weight The XL Light blades feature the same geometry as those of the XL but incorporate deeply cut grooves (bo-hi) to reduce the weight of the blade while retaining most of it�s strength and cutting ability. This weight reduction makes for a quicker sword, well adapted for multiple cuts in lighter targets.
The Practical Plus XL Katana provides a very economical cutting sword as dependable as the Practical XL Katana (SH6000XPF), but using more traditional fittings and construction methods. The blade is forged and differentially hardened (HRC60 edge, HRC40 back) and the hamon is prominent. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a tightly-woven cotton wrap (Tsuka-Ito). The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron �sunburst� design with a brass habaki. The Practical Plus has been extended to include all of the Performance Series blades; with three cutting styles and three iaito lengths. Maintenance kit available separately (OH1003)
Heavy Competitive Cutting Designed strictly for competitive cutting, our XL Katana blades incorporate the geometry, strength, weight and profile needed for successful cuts on substantial targets. Featuring differential heat treatment and a narrow edge angle, these wide blades will reward good technique with clean cuts and excellent durability.
The Musashi Iaito provides an economical yet authentic sword for the Iaido practitioner. Available in 3 blade lengths (27, 28, 29) to perfectly match your needs. The blade is unedged for safety and forged from steel for more precise weight and balance than an aluminum blade can offer. The blade is also maintenance free, providing a lifetime of practice without worry of rust or tarnish. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, fought more than 60 duels before retiring and writing his famous treatise on swordplay, the �Book of Five Rings�. Development of the two-sword style of swordplay, with the Daito (long sword) and Wakizashi being used together, is credited to Musashi. Mounted in black, the Musashi Elite is faithful to the original down to the famous double-ring iron tsubas. The tsuka-ito is in leather over ray skin.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Musashi Iaito provides an economical yet authentic sword for the Iaido practitioner. Available in 3 blade lengths (27, 28, 29) to perfectly match your needs. The blade is unedged for safety and forged from steel for more precise weight and balance than an aluminum blade can offer. The blade is also maintenance free, providing a lifetime of practice without worry of rust or tarnish. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, fought more than 60 duels before retiring and writing his famous treatise on swordplay, the �Book of Five Rings�. Development of the two-sword style of swordplay, with the Daito (long sword) and Wakizashi being used together, is credited to Musashi. Mounted in black, the Musashi Elite is faithful to the original down to the famous double-ring iron tsubas. The tsuka-ito is in leather over ray skin.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Musashi Iaito provides an economical yet authentic sword for the Iaido practitioner. Available in 3 blade lengths (27, 28, 29) to perfectly match your needs. The blade is unedged for safety and forged from steel for more precise weight and balance than an aluminum blade can offer. The blade is also maintenance free, providing a lifetime of practice without worry of rust or tarnish. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, fought more than 60 duels before retiring and writing his famous treatise on swordplay, the �Book of Five Rings�. Development of the two-sword style of swordplay, with the Daito (long sword) and Wakizashi being used together, is credited to Musashi. Mounted in black, the Musashi Elite is faithful to the original down to the famous double-ring iron tsubas. The tsuka-ito is in leather over ray skin.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, fought more than 60 duels before retiring and writing his famous treatise on swordplay, the �Book of Five Rings�. Development of the two-sword style of swordplay, with the Daito (long sword) and Wakizashi being used together, is credited to Musashi. Mounted in black, the Musashi Elite is faithful to the original down to the famous double-ring iron tsubas. The tsuka-ito is in leather over ray skin. The blades are hand-forged in high-carbon steel, with new geometry to enhance cutting ability. It is edge-tempered using the traditional clay tempering method, resulting in a distinct hamon. Edge hardness is HRC60, back hardness HRC40. The grip is double-pegged to the tang for safety. The cutting style katanas (Elite, XL, XL Light) include a traditional maintenance kit. Frequent Cutting / Advanced Drawing Practice Our Katana Blades embody the classical design elements of the most prolific sword design in history. With their strong Shinogi Zukuri shape that accentuates the differential heat treatment, these blades are traditionally proportioned to appeal to the collector but they will also perform well in general cutting of hard or soft targets. Key Features: * 1065 High-Carbon Blade * Traditional Construction * Quality fittings Specifications: Blade length: 29� Handle length: 11� Overall length: 41� Weight: 2lb 11oz Point of Balance: 5" Width at Guard: 1.38" Width at Tip: 1.08" Thickness at Guard: .25" Thickness at Tip: .14" Sori: 3/4" Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.
Price: 799.99
Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, fought more than 60 duels before retiring and writing his famous treatise on swordplay, the �Book of Five Rings�. Development of the two-sword style of swordplay, with the Daito (long sword) and Wakizashi being used together, is credited to Musashi. Mounted in black, the Musashi Elite is faithful to the original down to the famous double-ring iron tsubas. The tsuka-ito is in leather over ray skin. The blades are hand-forged in high-carbon steel, with new geometry to enhance cutting ability. It is edge-tempered using the traditional clay tempering method, resulting in a distinct hamon. Edge hardness is HRC60, back hardness HRC40. The grip is double-pegged to the tang for safety. The cutting style katanas (Elite, XL, XL Light) include a traditional maintenance kit.
Competitive Cutting / Lighter Weight The XL Light blades feature the same geometry as those of the XL but incorporate deeply cut grooves (bo-hi) to reduce the weight of the blade while retaining most of it�s strength and cutting ability. This weight reduction makes for a quicker sword, well adapted for multiple cuts in lighter targets.
Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the most famous swordmaster in Japanese history, fought more than 60 duels before retiring and writing his famous treatise on swordplay, the �Book of Five Rings�. Development of the two-sword style of swordplay, with the Daito (long sword) and Wakizashi being used together, is credited to Musashi. Mounted in black, the Musashi Elite is faithful to the original down to the famous double-ring iron tsubas. The tsuka-ito is in leather over ray skin. The blades are hand-forged in high-carbon steel, with new geometry to enhance cutting ability. It is edge-tempered using the traditional clay tempering method, resulting in a distinct hamon. Edge hardness is HRC60, back hardness HRC40. The grip is double-pegged to the tang for safety. The cutting style katanas (Elite, XL, XL Light) include a traditional maintenance kit.
Heavy Competitive Cutting Designed strictly for competitive cutting, our XL Katana blades incorporate the geometry, strength, weight and profile needed for successful cuts on substantial targets. Featuring differential heat treatment and a narrow edge angle, these wide blades will reward good technique with clean cuts and excellent durability.
The Shinto Elite (SH6004KGE) features a hand-forged T10 high-carbon steel katana blade featuring the geometry of the Performance Series. The blade is differentially hardened using the traditional claying method. The Shinto is mounted in black and the tsuka-ito is made of premium black Japanese cotton. The saya is finished in a deep black lacquer with a black cotton sageo. A finely rendered dragon, detailed in gold, with true front-and-back detail, forms the black iron tsuba. The fittings are superbly antiqued adding to the aesthetics of the set. The Shinto is supplied with a protective cloth bag and traditional maintenance kit. Key Features: * 1065 High-Carbon Blade * Premium fittings * Traditional Construction Specifications: Blade length: 28� Handle length: 11� Overall length: 40� Weight: 2lb 11oz Point of Balance: 5" Width at Guard: 1.38" Width at Tip: 1.03" Thickness at Guard: .25" Thickness at Tip: .15" Sori: 3/4" Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.
Price: 799.99
The Tiger Elite Katana has been re-designed from kissaki to kashira. Utilizing a hand forged and folded Performance Series katana blade and some of the finest fittings available, the Tiger is equally at home as a cutting blade or showpiece. The K120C powder steel blade is differentially hardened using the traditional claying method which produces a HRC60 edge and HRC40 back. This allows for superior edge holding and cutting ability while allowing the blade to absorb the shock of a blow. The hamon (temper line) and hada (folding pattern) are very prominent. The koshirae (fittings) are all made from blackened bronze and detailed in gold. The tsuba (guard) is made from blackened iron with a �stalking tiger� motif. The same is of the finest ray skin while the tsuka-ito (handle wrap) and sageo (scabbard cord) are made from top-quality japanese cotton. The Tiger is supplied with a protective cloth bag and traditional maintenance kit. Key Features: * Hand forged and folded steel blade * Traditional Construction * Superior Quality Specifications: Blade length: 29 Handle length: 11 Overall length: 41 Weight: 2lb 8oz Point of Balance: 5 1/2" Width at Guard: 1.35" Width at Tip: 1.03" Thickness at Guard: .25" Thickness at Tip: .16" Sori: 3/4" Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.
Price: 1399.99
The Tori katana combines truly elegant furniture and a powder-steel folded blade with the functionality of our Performance Series. The Tori features a �Flying Crane� themed Tsuba and Fuchi/Kashira while the Menuki are Kabuto or Japanese helmets. The high quality brown leather Tsuka-ito is wrapped over black Same. The Saya is wrapped at the mouth with black-lacquered rattan and then finished in a textured brown. The Tori is available in three folded steel cutting blade profiles and three Iaito blade lengths.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Tori katana combines truly elegant furniture and a powder-steel folded blade with the functionality of our Performance Series. The Tori features a �Flying Crane� themed Tsuba and Fuchi/Kashira while the Menuki are Kabuto or Japanese helmets. The high quality brown leather Tsuka-ito is wrapped over black Same. The Saya is wrapped at the mouth with black-lacquered rattan and then finished in a textured brown. The Tori is available in three folded steel cutting blade profiles and three Iaito blade lengths.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Tori katana combines truly elegant furniture and a powder-steel folded blade with the functionality of our Performance Series. The Tori features a �Flying Crane� themed Tsuba and Fuchi/Kashira while the Menuki are Kabuto or Japanese helmets. The high quality brown leather Tsuka-ito is wrapped over black Same. The Saya is wrapped at the mouth with black-lacquered rattan and then finished in a textured brown. The Tori is available in three folded steel cutting blade profiles and three Iaito blade lengths.
Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitive drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly.
The Tori katana combines truly elegant furniture and a powder-steel folded blade with the functionality of our Performance Series. The Tori features a �Flying Crane� themed Tsuba and Fuchi/Kashira while the Menuki are Kabuto or Japanese helmets. The high quality brown leather Tsuka-ito is wrapped over black Same. The Saya is wrapped at the mouth with black-lacquered rattan and then finished in a textured brown. The Tori is available in three folded steel cutting blade profiles and three Iaito blade lengths.
Frequent Cutting / Advanced Drawing Practice Our Katana Blades embody the classical design elements of the most prolific sword design in history. With their strong Shinogi Zukuri shape that accentuates the differential heat treatment, these blades are traditionally proportioned to appeal to the collector but they will also perform well in general cutting of hard or soft targets.
The Tori Tanto is built on a forged and folded blade with the handle wrapped in the highest quality ray skin. The Crane and Armour theme is carried through the furniture while the Saya matches the textured brown of the katana. This is undoubtedly one of the most elegant mounts ever crafted by CAS/Hanwei. Key Features: * Folded High-Carbon Blade * Rayskin Handle Wrap * Superior Quality Specifications: Blade length: 11 �� Handle length: 4 �� Overall length: 17 �� Weight: 13oz Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece.
Price: 579.99
War is the reciprocal and violent application
of force between hostile political entities aimed at
bringing about a desired political end-state via armed
conflict. In his seminal work,
On War,
Carl Von Clausewitz calls war the "continuation of
political intercourse, carried on with other means."[1]
War is an interaction in which two or more militaries
have a “struggle of wills”.[2]
When qualified as a
civil war, it is a dispute inherent to a given
society, and its nature is in the conflict over modes of
governance rather than
sovereignty. War is not considered to be the same as
mere
occupation,
murder or
genocide because of the reciprocal nature of the
violent struggle, and the
organized nature of the units involved.
War is also a cultural entity, and its practice is
not linked to any single type of political organisation
or society. Rather, as discussed by
John Keegan in his “History Of Warfare”, war is a
universal phenomenon whose form and scope is defined by
the society that wages it.
[3]
The conduct of war extends along a continuum, from the
almost universal
tribal warfare that began well before recorded human
history, to wars between
city states,
nations, or
empires. A group of combatants and their support is
called an
army on land, a
navy at sea, and
air force in the air. Wars may be prosecuted
simultaneously in one or more different
theatres. Within each theatre, there may be one or
more consecutive
military campaigns. A military campaign includes not
only fighting but also intelligence, troop movements,
supplies,
propaganda, and other components. Continuous
conflict is traditionally called a
battle, although this terminology is not always fed
to conflicts involving aircraft, missiles or bombs
alone, in the absence of ground troops or naval forces.
War is not limited to the
human species, as
ants engage in massive intra-species conflicts which
might be termed warfare. It is theorized that other
species also engage in similar behavior, although this
is not well documented.
[4][5][6]
Some believe war has always been with us; others
stress the lack of clear evidence that war is not in our
prehistoric past, and the fact that many peaceful,
non-military societies have and still do exist.
Originally, war likely consisted of small-scale raiding.
Since the rise of the state some 5000 years ago,
military activity has occurred over much of the globe.
The advent of gunpowder and the acceleration of
technological advances led to modern warfare.
Since the close of the
Vietnam War, the ideas expounded by the Prussian
military theorist Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) have
come to thoroughly permeate American military writing,
doctrinal, theoretical, and historical. His book
On War, first published (as
Vom Kriege) in 1832, was adopted as a key
text at the Naval War College in 1976, the Air War
College in 1978, the Army War College in 1981. It has
always been central at the U.S. Army's School for
Advanced Military Studies at Leavenworth (founded in
1983). The U.S. Marine Corps's brilliant little
philosophical field manual
FMFM 1: Warfighting (1989) is essentially a
distillation of On War, and the newer Marine
Corps Doctrinal Publications (MCDPs,
c.1997) are equally reflective of Clausewitz's basic
concepts.*1
This is not the first time Clausewitz has been in
fashion. Indeed, On War has been the bible of
many thoughtful soldiers ever since Field Marshal
Helmuth von Moltke attributed to its guidance his
stunning victories in the wars of German unification
(1864, 1866, 1870-71). Nor is it the first time that
individual American soldiers and military
thinkers have been attracted by his ideas: George
Patton, Albert Wedemeyer, and—especially—Dwight
Eisenhower were intensely interested in what he had to
say.
It is, however, the first time that the American
armed forces as institutions have turned to
Clausewitz. While the philosopher had insisted that war
was "simply the expression of politics by other means,"
the traditional attitude of American soldiers had been
that "politics and strategy are radically and
fundamentally things apart. Strategy begins where
politics end. All that soldiers ask is that once the
policy is settled, strategy and command shall be
regarded as being in a sphere apart from politics."*2
The sudden acceptability of Clausewitz in the wake of
Vietnam is not difficult to account for, for among the
major military theorists only Clausewitz seriously
struggled with the sort of dilemma that American
military leaders faced in the aftermath of their defeat.
Clearly, in what had come to be called in scathing terms
a "political war," the political and military components
of the American war effort had come unstuck. It ran
against the grain of America's military men to criticize
elected civilian leaders, but it was just as difficult
to take the blame upon themselves. Clausewitz's analysis
could not have been more relevant:
The more powerful and inspiring the motives for
war,... the more closely will the military aims and
the political objects of war coincide, and the more
military and less political will war appear to be.
On the other hand, the less intense the motives, the
less will the military element's natural tendency to
violence coincide with political directives. As a
result, war will be driven further from its natural
course, the political object will be more and more
at variance with the aim of ideal war, and the
conflict will seem increasingly political in
character.*3
When people talk, as they often do, about
harmful political influence on the management of
war, they are not really saying what they mean.
Their quarrel should be with the policy itself, not
with its influence.
Vom Kriege (IPA: [fɔm
ˈkʁiːgə]) is a book on
war and
military strategy by
Prussian general
Carl von Clausewitz, written mostly after the
Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, and
published posthumously by his wife in 1832. It has been
translated into
English several times as On War. On
War is actually an unfinished work; Clausewitz had
set about revising his accumulated manuscripts in 1827,
but did not live to finish the task. His wife eventually
compiled all the work and the final two chapters
Clausewitz never finished.
On War is one of the first books on modern
military strategy. This is mainly due to Clausewitz'
integration of politics and social and economic issues
as some of the most important factors in deciding the
outcomes of a war. It is one of the most important
treatises on strategy ever written, and is prescribed at
various
military academies to this day.
Carl von Clausewitz was a
Prussian officer among those baffled by how the
armies of the
French Revolution and
Napoleon had changed the nature of war through their
ability to motivate the populace and thus unleash war on
a greater scale than had previously been the case in
Europe. Clausewitz was well educated and had a strong
interest in art, science, and education, but he was a
professional soldier who spent a considerable part of
his life fighting against Napoleon. There is no doubt
that the insights he gained from his experiences,
combined with a solid grasp of European history,
provided much of the raw material for the book. On
War represents the compilation of his most cogent
observations.
Note: Clausewitz states that Napoleon's tactics were
not revolutionary at all and that Napoleonic Warfare did
not change anything greatly in military history. The
technology of weaponry for the most part remained
static, and new strategies weren't developed, but rather
Napoleon refurbished old ones, mixing them into one
grand strategy.
The book contains a wealth of historical examples
used to illustrate its various concepts.
Frederick II of Prussia (the Great) figures
prominently for having made very efficient use of the
limited forces at his disposal.
Napoleon also is a central figure.
Among many strands of thought, three stand out as
essential to Clausewitz' concept:
War must never be seen as a purpose to itself,
but as a means of physically forcing one's will on
an opponent ("War is not merely a political act, but
also a real political instrument, a continuation of
political commerce, a carrying out of the same by
other means."[1]).
The military objectives in war that support
one's political objectives fall into two broad
types: "war to achieve limited aims" and war to
"disarm” the enemy: “to render [him] politically
helpless or militarily impotent."
The course of war will tend to favor the party
employing more force and resources (a notion
extended by Germany's leaders in World War One into
"total war"—the pursuit of complete military victory
regardless of the political consequences).
Military strategy is a
national defence policy implemented by
military organisations to pursue desired
strategic goals.[1]
Derived from the
Greek
strategos, strategy when it appeared in use
during the 18th century[2],
was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the
general"[3],
'the art of arrangement' of troops.[4]
Military strategy deals with the planning and conduct of
campaigns, the movement and disposition of forces, and
the
deception of the
enemy. The father of modern strategic study,
Carl von Clausewitz, defined military strategy as
"the employment of battles to gain the end of war."
Liddell Hart's definition put less emphasis on
battles, defining strategy as "the art of distributing
and applying military means to fulfil the ends of
policy" Hence, both gave the pre-eminence to political
aims over military goals, ensuring
civilian control of the military.
"You must not fight too often with one enemy,
or you will teach him all your art of war." –
Napoleon Bonaparte
Military strategy is the plan and execution of
the contest between very large groups of armed
adversaries. It involves each opponent's diplomatic,
informational, military, and economic resources wielded
against the other's resources to gain supremacy or
reduce the opponent's will to fight. It is a principle
tool to secure the
national interest. A contemporary military strategy
is developed via
military science.
[5]
It is as old as
society itself. It is a subdiscipline of
warfare and of
foreign policy. In comparison,
grand strategy is that strategy of the largest of
organizations which are currently the
nation state,
confederation, or international
alliances. Military strategy has its origins before
the
Battle of the Ten Kings and will endure through the
space age. It is larger in perspective than
military tactics which is the disposition and
maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield.[6]
Military strategy in the 19th century was still
viewed as one of a trivium of "arts" or "sciences" that
govern the conduct of warfare; the others being
tactics, the execution of plans and manœuvering of
forces in battle, and
logistics, the maintenance of an army. The view had
prevailed since the Roman times, and the borderline
between strategy and tactics at this time was blurred,
and sometimes categorization of a decision is a matter
of almost personal opinion.
Carnot, during the
French Revolutionary Wars thought it simply involved
concentration of troops.[7]
The Battle of Siffin, illustration from a
19th century manuscript by
Muhammad Rafi Bazil.
Strategy and
tactics are closely related and exist on the same
continuum.
