Strategy and Command: Issues in Australia's Twentieth-century Wars

Description

In Strategy and Command, David Horner provides an important insight into the strategic decisions and military commanders who shaped Australia's army history from the Boer War to the evolution of the command structure for the Australian Defence Force in the 2000s. He examines strategic decisions such as whether to go to war, the nature of the forces to be committed to the war, where the forces should be deployed and when to reduce the Australian commitment. The book also recounts decisions made by commanders at the highest level, which are passed on to those at the operational level, who are then required to produce their own plans to achieve the government's aims through military operations. Strategy and Command is a compilation of research and writing on military history by one of Australia's pre-eminent military historians. It is a crucial read for anyone interested in Australia's involvement in 20th-century wars. Cover Half-title Series information Title page Copyright information Contents Figures, maps and tables Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1 The influence of the Boer War on Australia's First World War commanders The nature of the Australian Army Australian nationalism Extent of Boer War experience Higher direction and administration Infantry command Light horse Artillery Medical services Conclusion Chapter 2 Preparing for war, 1901–14 Chapter 3 The AIF's commanders: Learning on the job Initial command arrangements Command at Gallipoli New divisions and the transfer to the Western Front Emerging Australian skill Command in Egypt and Palestine Australians to the fore in the final year Conclusion Chapter 4 Strategic planning between the wars Chapter 5 Identifying the threat from Japan in 1941 Chapter 6 A pivotal year in Australian history: 1942 Why was Australia so exposed to invasion in 1942? What was the effect of the events between December 1941 and March 1942? Did Japan plan to invade Australia, and how did Australia respond to this threat? What were the pivotal battles of 1942? What was the impact of the arrival of the Americans? What was the role of the Australian Government? Chapter 7 Australia and coalition warfare in the Second World War Tobruk Return of I Australian Corps Balikpapan The imperial partner Australian and British battlefield cooperation The Grand Alliance Battlefield cooperation with the Americans Conclusion Chapter 8 Deciding Australia's war strategy in 1943: The roles of MacArthur and Curtin Background to the 1943 decisions Determining the SWPA's mission for 1943 Allocating resources for the 1943 operations Balancing the war effort The roles of the key players Chapter 9 Advancing national interests: Australia's war strategy, 1944–45 War Cabinet decision, 1 October 1943 Securing Allied agreement Australians for the Philippines Reallocating manpower A role for the AIF Unnecessary operations Chapter 10 Higher command in the Korean War: The experience of Brigadier John Wilton Chapter 11 Higher direction of the army in the Vietnam War Commitment of the 1st Battalion Roles of the 1st Battalion An independent task force Location and roles of the task force Expansion of the task force The barrier minefield Casualties Towards the withdrawal? High command problems Chapter 12 The Gulf War, 1991: Its place in Australian military history Change to Defence policy The ADF's first war US alliance Coalition warfare Performance of the units A pattern of commitments Its place in Australian history Chapter 13 Deploying and sustaining INTERFET in East Timor in 1999 Significance Preparing for deployment Building up the force Command arrangements Capabilities and readiness Deployment deficiencies Sustaining the force Conclusion Chapter 14 Developing a command structure for joint operations Before Vietnam Commander Australian Force Vietnam Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Defence reorganisation Towards a joint command structure First Gulf War Commander Australian Theatre East Timor – INTERFET The Bungendore solution Operation Slipper Iraq War, 2003 Headquarters Joint Operations Command Conclusion Notes Introduction Chapter 1 The influence of the Boer War on Australia's First World War commanders Chapter 2 Preparing for war, 1901-14 Chapter 3 The AIF's commanders Chapter 4 Strategic planning between the wars Chapter 5 Identifying the threat from Japan in 1941 Chapter 6 A pivotal year in Australian history: 1942 Chapter 7 Australia and coalition warfare in the Second World War Chapter 8 Deciding Australia's war strategy in 1943 Chapter 9 Advancing national interests Chapter 10 Higher command in the Korean War Chapter 11 Higher direction of the army in the Vietnam War Chapter 12 The Gulf War, 1991 Chapter 13 Deploying and sustaining INTERFET in East Timor in 1999 Chapter 14 Developing a command structure for joint operations Bibliography Books Articles, book chapters, etc Theses Index