military strategy
Combat operation coordination
Military strategy is the planning and coordination of armed forces to achieve war objectives—the art of winning campaigns rather than individual battles.
Strategy operates at a higher level than tactics: tactics win engagements, strategy wins wars.
The term extends beyond warfare to any large-scale competitive planning: The company's military strategy against its rivals involved cutting off their supply chains.
Classic strategic concerns include force deployment, supply lines, terrain, and anticipating enemy movements.
Violent offensive act
- blitzkriegFast, overwhelming military campaign
- invasionForcible entry into territory
- advanceMove or progress forward
- attackAggressive act against another
penetration · incursion · raid · strike · onslaught · breakthrough · spearhead · shock and awe
Prevention via threatened consequences
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- balance of powerEqual distribution of influence
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- de-escalationReducing conflict intensity
brinkmanship · attrition · total war · asymmetric warfare · guerrilla warfare · counterinsurgency · nuclear deterrence · mutually assured destruction
Deliberate tactical movement
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- feintDeceptive mock attack
reconnaissance · infiltration · diversion · pincer movement · counterattack · suppression · leapfrogging · delaying action
Act of hiding something
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- ghillie suitLeafy camouflage garment
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
ambush · cover · counter-surveillance · camo netting · smokescreen · decoy · false flag · misdirection
Temporary alliance for action
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- NATOWestern defense organization
- ententeInformal international understanding
partnership · confederation · axis · bloc · multilateral · joint operations · collective security · mutual defense
Product delivery infrastructure
- procurementObtaining goods externally
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
- rationingLimiting distribution during scarcity
- transportationMoving people or goods
quartermaster · distribution · replenishment · sustainment · deployment · convoy · resupply · commissariat
Fortified urban stronghold
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
- garrisonStationed military force
- rampartFortified defensive wall
bulwark · palisade · parapet · trench · redoubt · bastion · blockhouse · entrenchment
assault
Violent offensive act
- blitzkriegFast, overwhelming military campaign
- invasionForcible entry into territory
- advanceMove or progress forward
attack · penetration · incursion · raid · strike · onslaught · breakthrough · spearhead · shock and awe · flanking maneuver
deterrence
Prevention via threatened consequences
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- balance of powerEqual distribution of influence
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
de-escalation · brinkmanship · attrition · total war · asymmetric warfare · guerrilla warfare · counterinsurgency · nuclear deterrence · mutually assured destruction · first strike
maneuver
Deliberate tactical movement
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
feint · reconnaissance · infiltration · diversion · pincer movement · counterattack · suppression · leapfrogging · delaying action · holding action
concealment
Act of hiding something
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- ghillie suitLeafy camouflage garment
deception · ambush · cover · counter-surveillance · camo netting · smokescreen · decoy · false flag · misdirection · paint scheme
coalition
Temporary alliance for action
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- NATOWestern defense organization
entente · partnership · confederation · axis · bloc · multilateral · joint operations · collective security · mutual defense · Warsaw Pact
supply chain
Product delivery infrastructure
- procurementObtaining goods externally
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
- rationingLimiting distribution during scarcity
transportation · quartermaster · distribution · replenishment · sustainment · deployment · convoy · resupply · commissariat · supply lines
citadel
Fortified urban stronghold
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- bunkerReinforced subterranean stronghold
- garrisonStationed military force
rampart · bulwark · palisade · parapet · trench · redoubt · bastion · blockhouse · entrenchment · defensive line
- Roman warfarelegion, cohort, centurion, Caesar, testudo
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
- Ancient ChinaShang dynasty, Han dynasty, Confucius, Warring States period, oracle bones
- military historybattles, soldiers, campaigns, officers, battlefields
- East Asian Warfarebattles, warriors, soldiers, generals, infantry formations
military strategymilitary tactics
Methods of battlefield maneuvering
tactical operations · tactics · hand-to-hand combat · battlefield maneuvers · skirmish
military strategydiplomacy
Negotiation between nations
soft power · pacifism · nonviolent resistance · conflict resolution · diplomatic strategy
strategy, military, strategic, militant, strategies, strategist, strategists, militancy, militarism