January
Malaya Campaign: Battles of Kampar, Slim River, Gemas and Bakri (Jan 1942)
5 – Japanese and British selection and maintenance of aim for the Malaya Campaign
We look at how the British and Japanese came about to select their aims and...
6 – Dithering and Offensive Action in the Malaya Campaign
We look at the dithering that occurred in the British Malaya Command. We look at...
7 – Security and Surprise in Malaya. How were the British surprised with 4 years warning of invasion?
How did Security and Surprise impact operations in Malaya and Singapore? There was little security...
8 – Concentration of Force in the Malaya Campaign
Malaya was a secondary effort of secondary effort for both the British and the Japanese...
9 – Economy of Effort and Cooperation in the Malaya Campaign
Malaya and Economy of Effort We look at the definition and how the Japanese and...
11 – Flexibility in the Malaya Campaign
We look at how the Japanese were able to use operational manoeuvre from the sea...
February
- Fall of Singapore (Feb 15, 1942)
- Battle of Cape St Vincent (Feb 14, 1797)
- Verdun begins (Feb 21, 1916)
15 – LT COL Anderson VC and his moral and physical courage at Bakri and Parit Sulong
The Leadership of LT COL Anderson VC This podcast looks at the moral and physical...
16 – Malaya Campaign After Action Review Part I
We review the new Manoeuvre Warfare doctrine and apply it to the Malaya Campaign and...
17 – Malaya Campaign After Action Review Part II
What does recon pull look like in the jungles of Malaya? We look at Manoeuvre...
52 – Lord Nelson and the Battle of Cape St Vincent
This is Part II of our look at Lord Horatio Nelson and the practice of...
Firepower 23: The French Artillery at Verdun
This presentation – French Artillery at Verdun is part of the Royal Australian Artillery Historical...
March
- Battle of the Bismarck Sea (Mar 2–4, 1943)
- Burma Retreat begins (Mar 8, 1942)
- German Spring Offensive (Mar 21, 1918)
127 – The General who wouldn’t quit: Slim and the longest retreat
We look at the early life and career of Field Marshal William Slim. Dr Robat...
46 – The Battle of the Bismarck Sea
If you are viewing this page on a Secured Network, you will not be able...
47 – Military Innovation and Creativity with GEN Kenney and the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
If you are viewing this page on a Secured Network, you will not be able...
48 – Creating a culture of military innovation – GEN Kenney and the Fifth Air Force
This podcast discusses how GEN Kenney created a culture of military innovation in the US...
49 – Innovative tactics for the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
If you are viewing this page on a Secured Network, you will not be able...
April
- ANZAC / Gallipoli (Apr 25, 1915)
- Vimy Ridge (Apr 9–12, 1917)
- Bullecourt (Apr 11, 1917)
- Villers-Bretonneux (Apr 24–25, 1918)
- Red Baron killed (Apr 21, 1918)
- Hainan landing (Apr 1950)
131 – The Early Littoral Manoeuvre Campaigns of the PLA Navy – What China’s Navy learnt from the Kinmen and...
This is the second episode in our two-part interview with Dr Toshi Yoshihara, the expert...
73 – 1st Battle of Bullecourt – The Australian Infantry’s most brilliant achievement
This Episode looks at the lessons for the employment of Artillery at the 1st Battle...
75 – Operational Level Lessons Learned from 1st Bullecourt
What mistakes occurred at the operational level in the planning of the Battle of 1st...
77 – The Battle of Vimy Ridge
This is a special miniseries on the Battle of Vimy Ridge to celebrate 150 years...
78 – Vimy Ridge – The attack goes in and Artillery Sound Ranging.
This episode details the conduct of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a stunning success for...
80 – The Fire Plan for the Battle of Vimy Ridge
This is a special miniseries on Vimy Ridge to celebrate 150 years of Permanent Artillery...
May
- Battle of France begins (May 10, 1940)
- 2nd Bullecourt (May 3–17, 1917)
- Battle of Jutland (May 31, 1916)
65 – Battle of France 1940
This Battle of France 1940 podcast episode starts a new major series for the Principles...
66 – Overview of the Battle of France I
Battle of France II – Campaign Overview. This podcast will give you an understanding of...
67 – Overview of the Battle of France 1940 II
Battle of France II – Campaign Overview. This episode is the second part of our...
68 – British Centre of Gravity Analysis – Battle of France 1940 Part IV
This is the first of a 4 part miniseries on Centre of Gravity analysis for...
69 – British Centre of Gravity analysis for the Churchill Government – Battle of France 1940 Part V
This is the second part of our Centre of Gravity analysis for the Battle of France series, looking at...
70 – The French Centre of Gravity – Battle of France 1940 Part VI
These are the show notes for the podcast episode about the French Centre of Gravity. ...
June
- Dunkirk evacuation ends (Jun 4, 1940)
- Battle of Messines (Jun 7, 1917)
- French Armistice (Jun 22, 1940)
- PLA Navy origins (Jun 2025 episodes)
130 – From River Crossings to Amphibious Operations – How the PLA Built a Navy and learned littoral manoeuvre
How has the birth of the PLA Navy in 1949 shaped the People’s Liberation Navy...
65 – Battle of France 1940
This Battle of France 1940 podcast episode starts a new major series for the Principles...
66 – Overview of the Battle of France I
Battle of France II – Campaign Overview. This podcast will give you an understanding of...
67 – Overview of the Battle of France 1940 II
Battle of France II – Campaign Overview. This episode is the second part of our...
68 – British Centre of Gravity Analysis – Battle of France 1940 Part IV
This is the first of a 4 part miniseries on Centre of Gravity analysis for...
69 – British Centre of Gravity analysis for the Churchill Government – Battle of France 1940 Part V
This is the second part of our Centre of Gravity analysis for the Battle of France series, looking at...
July
- Battle of the Somme (Jul 1, 1916)
- Battle of Hamel (Jul 4, 1918)
- Kokoda Campaign begins (Jul 21, 1942)
- Pozières (Jul 23, 1916)
- Passchendaele begins (Jul 31, 1917)
101 – Mobilisation Mistakes with the Mice of Moresby
Peter Brune in his “Those Ragged Heroes’ states that, “In the long proud history of...
102 – Training a Battalion for War
This episode looks at how a Battalion is trainined for war. It examines at the...
132 – Today’s Lessons Learnt from Ukraine, Israel and Azerbaijan and the Ten Battlefied Disruptors for Tomorrow’s Wars.
This episode is the first in a three-part series with retired Colonel John Antal. We...
133 – Kill webs and super swarms – building survivable CPs for decision superiority
How are kill webs, super swarms and CP survivability changing combined arms on the modern...
95 – A militia Battalion on the Kokoda Trail
This is the second episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of...
August
- Battle of Cannae (Aug 2, 216 BC)
- Battle of Long Tan (Aug 18, 1966)
- Guadalcanal landings (Aug 7, 1942)
- Battle of the Tenaru (Aug 21, 1942)
- Battle of Isurava (Aug 26–31, 1942)
- Battle of Milne Bay (Aug 25–Sep 7, 1942)
- Battle of Alam Halfa (Aug 30–Sep 5, 1942)
August is the richest month in the calendar. Three major campaigns across three wars converge: the Pacific (Long Tan, Guadalcanal, Kokoda) and North Africa (Alam Halfa).
Battle of Cannae — August 2, 216 BC
18 – The Roman Center of Gravity at the Battle of Cannae
In a surprise move, we look 2,200 years to look at the Battle of Cannae,...
19 – Hannibal and the definition of Center of Gravity
We continue our discussion of the Center of Gravity construct. Where did it come from...
20 Hannibal at the gates of Rome – The process for finding a Center of Gravity
We look at Hannibal, Madonna and the Eikmeier Methodology to find the process for determining...
Guadalcanal Landings — August 7, 1942
135 – How the Marines Prepared for Guadalcanal | Operation Watchtower Explained
Key Lessons from the Marines’ Preparation for Operation Watchtower The Guadalcanal campaign was the United...
136 – Marines vs Japanese: The Brutal Battle for Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambogo.
This episode looks at the first US Offensive land operations of the Second World War...
137 – The Marine’s Landing on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal Landings: How Marines Seized Henderson Field The Guadalcanal landings in August 1942—Operation Watchtower—marked the...
Battle of Long Tan — August 18, 1966
23 – Long Tan 1: Readiness, Conscription and the Nashos
How long does it take to train soldiers and officers for war? We look at...
24 – Long Tan 2 – The Scheyville Experience
We look at how to train new Officers in just 22 weeks and to prepare...
25 – Long Tan 3: To Vung Tau
Dave Sabben describes his experience when he joins D Coy, 6 RAR. Dave makes an...
26 – Long Tan 4: The Terrain in Phuoc Tuy and the base at Nui Dat.
We discuss the terrain in Phuoc Tuy, including Long Tan and the defensive base at...
27 – Long Tan 5: The Encounter Battle in the Long Tan Rubber Plantation
We continue our discussion with Dave Sabben, picking in the in the second half of...
28 – Long tan 6: The transition to the defence
This episode of the podcast sees the transition from the encounter battle through to D...
Battle of the Tenaru / Alligator Creek — August 21, 1942
138 – Guadalcanal – Battle of the Tenaru: How the Marines stopped Ichiki’s night assault on the Alligator Creek
This is the fourth episode in our Guadalcanal Series with historian Dave Holland. Battle of...
Battle of Isurava — August 26–31, 1942 (Kokoda)
100 – The Battle of Isurava
This is the fifth episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of...
96 – The 53rd Battalion at Isurava during the Kokoda Campaign
When bravery isn’t enough – the 53rd Battalion and the Battle of Isurava This is...
Battle of Alam Halfa — August 30 – September 5, 1942
85 – Monty fights to buy time for the 8th Army at Alam Halfa
This is our 5th episode of our 2nd Battle of El Alamein series. This episode...
September
- Battle of Edson’s Ridge (Sep 12–14, 1942)
- Battle of Nui Le (Sep 21, 1971)
- 2nd Matanikau (Sep 23–27, 1942)
- Battle of Menin Road (Sep 20, 1917)
- Nagorno-Karabakh War begins (Sep 27, 2020)
123 – Jungle Warfare in Vietnam with Gary McKay
This episode is the first of a two-part series with retired LTCOL Gary McKay. Gary...
124 – Leadership Lessons from the Jungles of Vietnam with Gary McKay
In September 1971, 4 RAR/NZ for the Battle of Nui Le. It was to be...
132 – Today’s Lessons Learnt from Ukraine, Israel and Azerbaijan and the Ten Battlefied Disruptors for Tomorrow’s Wars.
This episode is the first in a three-part series with retired Colonel John Antal. We...
133 – Kill webs and super swarms – building survivable CPs for decision superiority
How are kill webs, super swarms and CP survivability changing combined arms on the modern...
134 – Preparing today’s Armies for Tomorrow’s Wars: Battlefield Innovation and Disruption with drone tactics and decoys
This episode looks at the actions that Western militaries need to take to prepare themselves...
139 – Guadalcanal – Edson and the defence of Bloody Ridge
This episode is the fifth instalment of our Guadalcanal campaign with battlefield historian Dave Holland....
October
- 2nd Battle of El Alamein (Oct 23, 1942)
- Battle of Kinmen (Oct 25–27, 1949)
- Assault on Pallier’s Hill (Oct 1943)
- NORDBAT 2 / Bosnia (Oct 1993)
- Chinese intervention in Korea (Oct 25, 1950)
- 3rd Matanikau (Oct 7, 1942)
130 – From River Crossings to Amphibious Operations – How the PLA Built a Navy and learned littoral manoeuvre
How has the birth of the PLA Navy in 1949 shaped the People’s Liberation Navy...
131 – The Early Littoral Manoeuvre Campaigns of the PLA Navy – What China’s Navy learnt from the Kinmen and...
This is the second episode in our two-part interview with Dr Toshi Yoshihara, the expert...
143 – Inside the Japanese OODA Loop on Guadalcanal – Vandegrift and 3rd Matanikau
Maruyama vs Vandegrift in the fight to control the Matanikau River. The 3rd Battle of...
32 – Mission Command and Mission Success with Nordbat 2
We discuss how Mission Command was used in Bosnia by BRIG Ulf Henriccson, commander of...
41 – The Assault on Pallier’s Hill
If you are viewing this page on a Secured Network, you will not be able...
42 – The attack goes in on Pallier’s Hill
If you are viewing this page on a Secured Network, you will not be able...
November
- Battle of Cambrai (Nov 20, 1917)
- 2nd El Alamein ends (Nov 11, 1942)
- Chinese 2nd Phase Offensive, Korea (Nov 25, 1950)
- Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire (Nov 10, 2020)
132 – Today’s Lessons Learnt from Ukraine, Israel and Azerbaijan and the Ten Battlefied Disruptors for Tomorrow’s Wars.
This episode is the first in a three-part series with retired Colonel John Antal. We...
133 – Kill webs and super swarms – building survivable CPs for decision superiority
How are kill webs, super swarms and CP survivability changing combined arms on the modern...
134 – Preparing today’s Armies for Tomorrow’s Wars: Battlefield Innovation and Disruption with drone tactics and decoys
This episode looks at the actions that Western militaries need to take to prepare themselves...
81 – The 2nd Battle of El Alamein
This episode looks at the lead up to the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, including...
82 – Military Deception at the Strategic, Operational and Tactical level – examples from the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
This is the first part of a 2 part military deception miniseries looking at why...
83 – Op Bertram – Operational Deception at 2nd El Alamein
This is part of a 2 part operational deception miniseries looking at why Rommel placed...
December
- Japanese invasion of Malaya (Dec 8, 1941)
- Battle of Jitra (Dec 11–13, 1941)
- Battle of Kampar begins (Dec 30, 1941)
1 – The most Manoeuvrist Approach campaign the Australian Army has ever fought.
Is this not the most manoeuvrist campaign that the Australian Army has ever fought? Our...
10 – What role did Sustainment play in Malaya?
Sustainment – often the least considered of the principles. How did logistics impact the conduct...
11 – Flexibility in the Malaya Campaign
We look at how the Japanese were able to use operational manoeuvre from the sea...
12 – What role did Morale play in Malaya?
Good leadership, thorough training and success on operations will all contribute to high morale. We...
2 – The Japanese and Allied Centres of Gravity for the Malaya Campaign
The Centre of Gravity is that characteristic, capability or locality from which a force,...
3 – Malaya Campaign Terrain and comparing Japanese and Allied Doctrine
The British planned to use Artillery and Air Power to defend Malaya. Malaya is hot...
Doctrine & Theory Episodes
The following confirmed episodes focus on military doctrine, theory, or methodology. They do not map to a calendar anniversary date but are valuable PME resources in their own right.
0 – The Principles of War and You
If you are viewing this page on a Secured Network, you will not be able...
103 – Principles of Training for War
This podcast looks at why the Battalions on the Kokoda track were so poorly prepared...
104 – The 39th Battalion on the Kokoda Track
This episode discusses the preparation and performance of the 39th Battalion on the Kokoda Track....
105 – Ralph Honner, Leadership and the 39th Battalion and the Kokoda Campaign
What was it that made the 39th Battalion such a great battalion? We look at...
106 – Combined Arms Doctrine Development in the First World War
We discuss the lessons learnt from the First World War, in particular for Combined Arms,...
107 – British Combined Arms doctrine in the interwar period.
Combined Arms doctrine lessons learnt and lessons forgotten during the interwar period. We discuss how...
