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TACTICAL THOUGHT
2014 September 29 th
Also, he points out different attitudes to the phenomenon, both from a political
perspective as being dangerous with anarchistic influence potential, and from a military
perspective as being doubtful of the results compared to the efforts. As a whole,
Clausewitz mainly addresses the area of Irregular Warfare, primarily as one form of
strategic defence. It is from the tactical view he outlines certain characteristics, such as
flank attacks over large areas, harassing but not directed at the enemy strengths. As for
the operational concept, he speaks of combining “loose formations”, “lantstorm” and
“lantstorm supported with regular elements”. Combining these elements together in
parallel for more offensive use is what Clausewitz writes, which links to operational art.
Clausewitz describes a concept where tactics of what generally is understood as
Guerrilla Warfare, support Regular Warfare combat, to be used when the right
opportunities occur. Otherwise, a small scale attrition war in the enemy flanks and rear
areas is the key characteristic. The arguably forceful force driver for war in general is
the moral power, which can be found from the people rather than from regular military
formations, according to Clausewitz.
Result and conclusions
The descriptions are both of an umbrella and explanatory character. The potential of
explaining content covers aspects such as strategy, operational art and tactics. Fighting
power factors are covered; physical, conceptual, and moral factors. The description
covers characteristics and attitude aspects are included. Participating actors are
described mostly with a focus on the aggressor perspective (people-at-arms). The
description leans primarily on a military focus of the phenomena. The description is
clear and substantial in its content and has potential understanding without
complementary sub-explanations or definitions. Although from the Napoleonic times, a
surprisingly comprehensive content is outlined, which expressed in more modern words
could well be a contemporary definition of “Irregular Warfare”.
Charles Callwell
Callwell’s descriptions in his famous Small Wars are said merely to aim to give a sketch
of the principles and practice of Small Wars regarding strategy and
tactics………..against adversaries of whom modern works on military art seldom take
account. 269 The first chapter gives the following description of the term Small Wars as;
“somewhat difficult to define”….. “…practically can be said to include all campaigns
other than those where the opposing side consists of regular troops” 270 Further on
Callwell states; “It comprises the expeditions against savages and semi-civilised races
by disciplined soldiers, it comprises campaigns undertaken to suppress rebellions and
Guerrilla Warfare in all parts of the world where organized armies are struggling
against opponents who will not meet them in the open field, and it thus obviously covers
operations varying in their scope and in their conditions” 271
269 Callwell, Small Wars: Their Principles and Practice (1996), p. 22.
270 Ibid. p. 21.
271 Ibid. p. 21.
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