Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): John Arquilla, George Lober. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-97). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Donald D. Horward, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of History. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 14, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 131 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The principles of war have been around for a long time. The principles have been discussed among military theorists and they have come to include just one to over twenty. Sun Tzus wrote in 490 b.c about the importance of using concentration of force when attacking an enemy. Officers are today trained in the principles of war even though the principles hasn´t been systematically tested. The problem that occur is that every theorist has its own principles and definition of the same. Marco Smedberg claims that the air force has its own principles and that they are apart from the army and the navy. The principles have been around a long time, and today theorists Clausewitz an Jomini have found their way into Armed Forces doctrines. But are their theories still valid today. To answer that question this essay will analyse known military theorists Clausewitz and Jomini and find variables in their theories about the principle concentration of force, and seek thus variables in a modern naval war such as the battle of the Falklands.

Clausewitz and Jomini are two big figures in the military science community. Their principles of the concentration of force are still prevalent today in the further development of principles. With this in mind there have been some studies where computer games have been used to improve military training. The study aims to study how the principles of war can lead to victory in the real-time strategy game Starcraft II. The purpose of this study to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge with using computer games to increase the understanding of the principles of war. The method used in this study is a quantitative content analysis to gather data for analysis in the SPSS-program. The results of the study were that all the use of principles that were chosen, with the exception of surprise, correlated with victory. It also showed that spatial ability leads to higher win probability, this find lowers the reliability of the study since it cannot prove to what extent this leads to victory. However, this result is not applicable in the physical world, it can only contribute to a theoretical understanding of the principles of war.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att pröva om Jominis principer om militärteori har någon inverkan på dagens slagfält, genom att de påverkar amerikanska doktriner, och därmed strategiskt och operativt tänkande. Dagens högteknologiska stridsfält är betydligt mer komplext och består av fler dimensioner, än det fanns när Jomini verkade. Det blir då viktigt att förstå de klassiska strategiska tankegångarna som ligger till grund för de operativa men även taktiska besluten. Det blir intressant att forska om och hur Jominis teorier verkligen har haft påverkan på de amerikanska doktriner som utvecklats efter 1976, speciellt då väst europeiska, även svenska, doktriner främst anses vara påverkade utav Clausewitz och dennes syn på krig. Inte minst då svensk militär personal interagerar med amerikansk militär personal på den internationella arenan, vilket sker i stort sett dagligen under internationell tjänstgöring. Uppsatsen kommer fram till slutsatsen att Jominis principer fortfarande påverkar amerikanska doktriner. Detta i sig ger en förståelse för hur amerikanskt strategiskt och operativt tänkande, och hur Jomini har påverkat utformningen av dem. Det ger även en insyn i hur samtidens högteknologiska stridsfält som består av flera dimensioner påverkas av klassiska militärteoretiska och strategiska tankegångar som i slutänden även påverkar de taktiska beslut som tas på slagfältet. Det ger även en förståelse för vilken militärteoretisk och strategisk bakgrund amerikansk militär personal har, vilket blir viktigt att ha förståelse för när svensk militär personal ska agera med dem på den internationella arenan, särskilt på de högre ledningsplanen. / The purpose of the essay is to examine whether Jominis principles of military theory has bearing on today's battlefields, by affecting American doctrine, and thus strategic and operational thinking. For even if today's high tech battlefield is far more complex and consists of more dimensions, than there were when Jomini composed his theories. It is important to understand the classical strategic thinking that makes up the basis for the operational as well as tactical decisions made.It is interesting to investigate whether and how Jominis theories really have an impact on the American doctrine developed since 1976. Especially so as in Western Europe, includingSweden, doctrine is primarily considered to be borne out of Clausewitz theoretical vision of war.It becomes important to have an understanding of this as Swedish military personnel interact with American military personnel in the international arena, which occurs nearly on a daily basis. The essay concludes that Jominis principles continue to hold sway of U.S.doctrine. This in itself provides a new understanding of howU.S.strategic and operational thinking works. And how Jomini has influenced the design of them, it also gives an insight into how contemporary high-tech battlefields, which consists of several dimensions is influenced by classic military theory and strategic thinking. This in turn also affects the tactical decisions taken on the battlefield.This also provides an understanding of the military theory and strategic view that affects American military personnel, which is important to understand when Swedish military personnel interact with them in the international arena, particularly at the higher levels of the command structure.

Theorists of military effectiveness have, through the course of time, developed principles explaining ways in which victory is efficiently enabled in battle. However, as a result of technological developments as well as a lack of empirical research, the principle of concentration is now questioned in terms of its explanatory value when applied in the context of modern naval warfare. Its questioning finds even more foundation in light of the fact that it still has a place in naval doctrines. This study therefore aims to examine whether the fundamental basics of the principle are applicable as a concept leading to success in modern naval operations where missiles are used as the main source of weaponry. Thus, are theories on concentration of force, formed by Sun Zi, Antonie- Henri Jomini and Alfred Thayer Mahan, used to create a theoretical framework which then functions as an analytical tool in analysing the Israeli success in 1973 and the Argentine failure in 1982. Accordingly, the result of this analysis offers convincing evidence for the principle of concentration in terms of its continued applicability in modern naval warfare in spite of environmental changes caused by technology. However, more research is needed if further conclusions are to be drawn in terms of generalizability.

The principles of war are often used to describe the essential parts of warfare. There is however a discussion regarding what purpose they are supposed to have, what role they shall play or even how many principles there are. The military theorist Antoine-Henri Jomini stated that there was one fundamental principle: the principle of concentration of forces. Is this however true, and is Jomini’s theory still valid? The purpose of the thesis is to examine whether his theory is valid on cases from after Jomini’s career and to examine whether the principle of concentration of forces should be considered as one of the principles of war. The theory is tested on the Ardennes offensive in 1940, and Operation Overlord in 1944. The result of the examination shows that concentration of forces was one of the reasons that the examined cases were successful, but not the only one. As a result of this the theory that Jomini stated may be regarded as partly, but not fully valid. It also indicates that the principle of concentration of forces very well could qualify to be considered as one of the principles of war.

There is a debate about the principles of war concerning many of the issues with such principles. Jomini and Clausewitz are seen as two of the giants in the field of warfare and the work they have done have influenced the militaries of today. This study has aimed to examine the principles of war with the purpose of examining how valid they are in modern warfare. Clausewitz theory about concentration of force and surprise combined with Jominis theory of concentration of force have been used to examine the outcome of the invasion of Normandy.   The result show that the outcome is linked to the fulfillment of the principles and that the validity of the principles seem to stand their ground even in modern warfare. The results also point towards the need to examine the principles further.

The ability to fight is, according to Swedish Armed Forces Doctrine (MilitärstrategiskDoktrin), depending upon the physical component, the conceptual component and themoral component.The purpose of this thesis is to examine in what way the Swedish doctrine is based onthe theories on war and war fighting by Sun Zi, Carl von Clausewitz, Antoine Henri deJomini and Mao Tse-tung.I have found that the Swedish doctrine is based on those theories.However, the Swedish doctrine needs to be developed in order to better explain therelation between the three components. / Avdelning: ALB - Slutet Mag 3 C-upps.Hylla: Upps. ChP 03-05