Professional Military Education Resources | The Principles of War Podcast

The Firepower Seminar series was produced by the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company. Over 4 years, the development of Australian Artillery was covered in great detail. These are fascinating episodes for Artillery Officers and SNCOs, military historians and those interested in the conduct of World War 1.

The Principles of War on Youtube

Have a look at our Youtube for Battlefield UAV footage along with podcast videos.

This timelapse of the excellent maps Institute for the Study of War maps of the war in Ukraine highlights the initial, very mobile offensive from the Russians, the initial fightback. It is interesting to see how the front line has ebbed and flowed.Key questions -
To what degree did lack of logistics cause the early culmination of the Russian advance? How did UAV play a role?
During the stalemate, what role did indirect fire play?
How did Ukraine generate the combat power for the September offensive?
Are the Principles of War still relevant?It is still early days for the lessons learned in this significant combat as Ukraine fights to retain it's territory but a lot of changes in the character of war are coming to the fore. We are also seeing the parts of the enduring nature of war that seem to have been forgotten.

Fall Gelb - Plan YellowThis episode looks at how the Manstein Plan was selected by Hitler for the invasion of France. Despite the significant risk of the open flanks, Manstein's plan created the opportunity to use an Operation Center of Gravity to achieve the Strategic Endstate of removing France from the war.The 'Sichelschnitt' or Sickle Cut was the answer that Germany needed at the National Strategic level because it defeated France quickly. Germany could not risk war on 2 fronts, nor did it have the resources to defeat the larger and better equipped French Army in a protracted war.Manstein developed Fell Gelb by envisioning how changing technology - radios, tanks and dive bombers could be used in concert to deliver a modern and greatly version of the Storm Trooper doctrine of WW1.The tactics were vastly different compared to those used in Poland.To find out more of the Triple Miracle of Fall Gelb, see the Show Notes.https://theprinciplesofwar.com/battle-of-france/72-panzergruppe-kleist-german-centre-of-gravity-battle-of-france-part-viii/This is a fascinating look at how Hitler's gamble in Poland failed, creating a strategic crisis for the Germans. Luck, technology and doctrine would create a solution with only a small chance of success, but the plan, executed with maximum violence by Heinz Guderian would see the German's win a stunning victory.

This Episode looks at the beginnings of Australian Artillery, with the formation of Australia's first Permanent Artillery unit on the 1st of August, 1871, through to the first deployment in the Sudan.We cover:
The defense of Australia prior to 1870.
No 2 Battery NSW Artillery
The History of A Battery - the longest continually serving regular unit of the Australian Army.
The bushranger situation in Victoria and the need for a Volunteer Corps, authorised by Governor Hotham.
The 10 batteries around Melbourne and 4 in Geelong.
The raising of the Victorian Permanent Artillery Corps in 1870.
Defence Force Aid Civil Authority - the deployment of Artillery in 1880 to support Victorian Police.
The Rupertswood Battery and the Werribee Half Battery
The Victorian Horse Artillery at the Royal Military Tournament.
The first overseas deployment of Australian Artillery - The Sudan 1885.
The formation of the School of Artillery.
A young Lt John Monash as a Battery Commander in 1893.
The 1888 Battle of Oakleigh - a surprising combined arms training activity.The next episode will cover Australian Artillery in the Boer War.
Ubique!For other podcasts and PME products, visit https://theprinciplesofwar.com/

This is the introductory Episode for the Principles of War.
** This episode just covers of on our intent and a brief description of the priniciples. Unless you are very interested in this, skip this Ep and look at the Malaya Campaign. This series is a lot more interesting and practical **We are developing a series of Professional Military Education resources to help educate junior Officers and SNCOs.The series will look at historic skirmishes, battles, campaigns and wars through the lens of terrain, doctrine, leadership and the principles of war.What role does leadership play in battle? What about Post H-Hour Execution and leadership? We look at some examples from General Grant’s experiences that lead him to be the Commander of the Army of the Potomac.This episode will cover each of the principles and give a quick example. Our first series, looking at the Malaya Campaign, will highlight each principle in a full episode.Selection and the Maintenance of the Aim. Probably the most important of the principles.Concentration of Force – My strategy is 1 against 10 – my tactics 10 against 1. A quote from the Duke of Marlborough highlights this important principle.Economy of effort – if you aren’t the main effort, you will be short of everything except the enemy.Co-operation – why is this so difficult to achieve. We briefly looked at the problems with co-operation for the D-Day landings.Security – Truth is so precious it should be attended by a bodyguard of lies.Surprise – To surprise the enemy is to defeat them. The Germans driving through the Ardennes forest in 1940. We talk briefly about technical surprise.Flexibility – Auftragstaktik and Mission Command. How was this shown at the War of Yom Kippur.Offensive Action – Britzkrieg. Stay tuned for our Battle of France series.Sustainment – Supplies set the left and right of arc of what is possible. Sherman’s march to the sea and the Atlantic Conveyor in the Falklands.Morale – The Army of the Potomac after the Battle of the Wilderness.Sun Tzu said -The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.This is why we need to understand the principles of war.For more details - check out www.theprinciplesofwar.com

If the terrain is the canvas on which we paint our masterpiece, one of the challenges is relating map to ground to really be able to identify key and decisive terrain at the tactical level and to be able understand the advantages and disadvantages that certain positions create for us. When you're constructing your MCOO, the understanding of the terrain is critical because this will set the left and right of arc of your possible COAs.This is a map to ground fly through of the terrain around the Uria Valley in Papua New Guinea.
It is terrain that was fought over between the Australian and Japanese armies as the Australian's worked their way up the Ramu Valley and on their way to Shaggy Ridge.This video starts with the Kumbarum 1:25,000 map, then builds on the topo data to illustrate the terrain and then switches to satellite imagery to highlight the vegetation on the contours.Listen to our podcast series on your favourite podcast player, just search for Pallier's Hill or read the show notes for maps and the UAS footage from Pallier's and King's Hills.https://theprinciplesofwar.com/podcast/41-the-assault-on-palliers-hill/
https://theprinciplesofwar.com/podcast/42-the-attack-goes-in-on-palliers-hill/
https://theprinciplesofwar.com/podcast/43-consideration-for-the-attack/
https://theprinciplesofwar.com/podcast/44-the-considerations-for-the-defence-of-palliers-hill/
https://theprinciplesofwar.com/podcast/45-leadership-and-morale-on-palliers-hill/Kumbarum 3672 1:25,000 Second Edition – 2/1st Aust Army Topo Survey Coy supplmeneted with intelligence reports, Astro Fixation was from Dumpu and extended by the 3 Aus Field Svy Coy. With photos by the 8th photo Sqn, US 5th Air Force.
Map / Topo / satellite mashup - Greg Lauer.

We look at the terrain for the attack on Palliers Hill.
This attack, conducted by LT Noel Pallier on the from the 2/14th was conducted on the 11th of October, 1943. It was conducted to reopen the lines of communication to the 2/27th Bn that was located further up the Faria Valley, towards Shaggy Ridge.Check out more maps and a link to the podcast, where we discuss this classic infantry PL attack in a lot more detail. https://theprinciplesofwar.com/podcast/41-the-assault-on-palliers-hill/?pk_campaign=pallier1&pk_source=youtube