Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2021 17:46:56 GMT
As i have gone through these threads, there is lots of discussion about tactics, but no one has recommended a book to read to get an idea of just what tactics are. Chuck and Colt do a good job of trying to explain them, but sometimes I think people just keep putting their own spin on tactics and inventing terms.
Here are links to some current manuals I would read about tactics. The bad things about the first list, is that is obviously focused on modern principles and tactics, techniques, and procedures. But they are evolutions of previous doctrine and they are different then what 19th century tacticians would have done. Thus, I added listings for FM 2-15 (the earliest horse cavalry manual I can find), Links to some of Upton's work, and for a little deep perspective, Maurice's Stragikon from the Byzantin Empire.
All but the last are fre PDFs.
Modern Manuals:
FM 3-90.1 Tactics: Offense and Defense: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=103287
Select the PDF for download.
FM 3-90.2 Tactics: Reconnaissance, Security, and Tactical Enabling Tasks: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=103288
Digest that, then get:
FM 3-96 Brigade Combat Team: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1021533
FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Operations. armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=105332
The 7th Cavalry role in the LBH is more like a BCT (either Armor or Stryker) then it is a Cavalry Regiment.
Then if you want to dig in more:
ATP 3-21.26 Cavalry Squadron: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=106420
ATP 3-21.21: SBCT Infantry Battalion: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=106191
ATP 3-90.5: Combined Arms Battalion: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=106191 (Less useful because it deals with Tank/Fighting vehincle units which has no counterpart in 1876, which is why it is 3rd in this list)
To learn more about US Army Horsed cavalry doctrine, I recommend FM 2-15: Cavalry Field Manual: Employment of Cavalry. Sadly, it is from 1940, so it has some different concepts, like motorized cavalry and machine gun troop employment. But it has some useful stuff.
www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM2-15.pdf
I have searched for Upton's Cavarly Tactics, but have not found a pdf of it, it does not appear to be for sale, and my library has not been able to find it for me. However, there is his infantry tactics book:
www.amazon.com/Uptons-Infantry-Tactics-Emory-Upton/dp/124836662X
and, less useful, is this book: Elements Of Military Science And Tactics: Compiled From Upton's U.s. Infantry, Artillery, And Cavalry Tactics, Reed's Signal Tactics, The Army ... Field Fortifications, Wheeler's Art Of War (because it covers many things and is not complete for any one subject).
www.amazon.com/Elements-Military-Science-Tactics-Fortifications/dp/1340441519/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Upton%27s+cavalry+tactics&qid=1617298709&s=books&sr=1-1
If you are really interested, let's go back to Byzantium to get to some core priniciples!
Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy (The Middle Ages Series)
www.amazon.com/Maurices-Strategikon-Handbook-Byzantine-Military/dp/0812217721/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10JU30EHO1FDO&dchild=1&keywords=maurice+strategikon&qid=1617298881&sprefix=Maurice+Stra%2Cstripbooks%2C205&sr=8-1
Here are links to some current manuals I would read about tactics. The bad things about the first list, is that is obviously focused on modern principles and tactics, techniques, and procedures. But they are evolutions of previous doctrine and they are different then what 19th century tacticians would have done. Thus, I added listings for FM 2-15 (the earliest horse cavalry manual I can find), Links to some of Upton's work, and for a little deep perspective, Maurice's Stragikon from the Byzantin Empire.
All but the last are fre PDFs.
Modern Manuals:
FM 3-90.1 Tactics: Offense and Defense: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=103287
Select the PDF for download.
FM 3-90.2 Tactics: Reconnaissance, Security, and Tactical Enabling Tasks: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=103288
Digest that, then get:
FM 3-96 Brigade Combat Team: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1021533
FM 3-98 Reconnaissance and Security Operations. armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=105332
The 7th Cavalry role in the LBH is more like a BCT (either Armor or Stryker) then it is a Cavalry Regiment.
Then if you want to dig in more:
ATP 3-21.26 Cavalry Squadron: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=106420
ATP 3-21.21: SBCT Infantry Battalion: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=106191
ATP 3-90.5: Combined Arms Battalion: armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=106191 (Less useful because it deals with Tank/Fighting vehincle units which has no counterpart in 1876, which is why it is 3rd in this list)
To learn more about US Army Horsed cavalry doctrine, I recommend FM 2-15: Cavalry Field Manual: Employment of Cavalry. Sadly, it is from 1940, so it has some different concepts, like motorized cavalry and machine gun troop employment. But it has some useful stuff.
www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM2-15.pdf
I have searched for Upton's Cavarly Tactics, but have not found a pdf of it, it does not appear to be for sale, and my library has not been able to find it for me. However, there is his infantry tactics book:
www.amazon.com/Uptons-Infantry-Tactics-Emory-Upton/dp/124836662X
and, less useful, is this book: Elements Of Military Science And Tactics: Compiled From Upton's U.s. Infantry, Artillery, And Cavalry Tactics, Reed's Signal Tactics, The Army ... Field Fortifications, Wheeler's Art Of War (because it covers many things and is not complete for any one subject).
www.amazon.com/Elements-Military-Science-Tactics-Fortifications/dp/1340441519/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Upton%27s+cavalry+tactics&qid=1617298709&s=books&sr=1-1
If you are really interested, let's go back to Byzantium to get to some core priniciples!
Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy (The Middle Ages Series)
www.amazon.com/Maurices-Strategikon-Handbook-Byzantine-Military/dp/0812217721/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10JU30EHO1FDO&dchild=1&keywords=maurice+strategikon&qid=1617298881&sprefix=Maurice+Stra%2Cstripbooks%2C205&sr=8-1