Asses the impact of transport and communications on the conduct of warfare 1792-1945
Transport
Pace
NAP- speed was limited as relied on marching( faster in industrialised Europe) with all-weather roads
rather than dirt tracks, however in eastern Europe worse road conditions, meaning a lot of materials
and cannons were abandoned on retreat from Moscow.
NAP- As baggage trains were so slow to provide food provisions and supply the army turned to living
of the land, so their speed was not hindered.
CRI- steamships, transported British and French to port of balaclava in less than three weeks
F-A- railways used by French to transport 120,000 men to battlefield in northern Italy, Austrians
only marched 3-4 miles a day, French also used 70,000 men by steamship which meant they were
not fatigued
R-J- Russian failure to have adequate railway network only trans-Siberian allowing Japanese to
consolidate initial gains of port Arthur
Ww1- Russian railway supplies had virtually collapsed by 1916
WW2- blitzkrieg, rapid movment gives element of surprise allowing key communication areas,
disrupting resistance forces aeroplanes dropping paratroopers sized bridges
WW2- only 10% of German army was mobilised rest on foot, therefore not crucial to all elements
Scale
CRI- first purpose built railway 25 miles from balaclava port to front line, transporting 240 tones of
supplies increasing the scope and scale of warfare as armies could be supplied in one place for far
longer unlike NAP.
ACW- finally the full use of railways was recognised particularly by the north and was recognised a
vital. Eg, battles fought near major train stations; Chattanooga, Atlanta and Nashville. And were
ambushed by guerrillas Danial McCullum appointed as director of railways for north (rebuilding of
400 foot bridge over Potomac river)
R-J trans Siberian railway, took long time unfinished around Itrusk
WW1- with the development of the combustion engine was meant to increase transport of troops
offering greater mobility, not relying on trains or on foot, however the road networks were often
overwhelmed, and could only be used on built up roads. However did not prevent use of London
buses and Parisian taxies at Main, this also delayed supplies like weaponry and food
WW2- in comparison the reliability of transport such as planes and motor vehicles was much better
and therfore had a greater impact on increasing manoeuvrability. (reinforcing NAP tactics of maovre
that in ww1 were not possible due to no advancements able to break trench deadlock
WW2- airborne assaults like create in 1941, which was a trial for Britain however took to long, and
less successful op market garden, which failed to hold strongpoint at bridges D-day 23,000
Transport
Pace
NAP- speed was limited as relied on marching( faster in industrialised Europe) with all-weather roads
rather than dirt tracks, however in eastern Europe worse road conditions, meaning a lot of materials
and cannons were abandoned on retreat from Moscow.
NAP- As baggage trains were so slow to provide food provisions and supply the army turned to living
of the land, so their speed was not hindered.
CRI- steamships, transported British and French to port of balaclava in less than three weeks
F-A- railways used by French to transport 120,000 men to battlefield in northern Italy, Austrians
only marched 3-4 miles a day, French also used 70,000 men by steamship which meant they were
not fatigued
R-J- Russian failure to have adequate railway network only trans-Siberian allowing Japanese to
consolidate initial gains of port Arthur
Ww1- Russian railway supplies had virtually collapsed by 1916
WW2- blitzkrieg, rapid movment gives element of surprise allowing key communication areas,
disrupting resistance forces aeroplanes dropping paratroopers sized bridges
WW2- only 10% of German army was mobilised rest on foot, therefore not crucial to all elements
Scale
CRI- first purpose built railway 25 miles from balaclava port to front line, transporting 240 tones of
supplies increasing the scope and scale of warfare as armies could be supplied in one place for far
longer unlike NAP.
ACW- finally the full use of railways was recognised particularly by the north and was recognised a
vital. Eg, battles fought near major train stations; Chattanooga, Atlanta and Nashville. And were
ambushed by guerrillas Danial McCullum appointed as director of railways for north (rebuilding of
400 foot bridge over Potomac river)
R-J trans Siberian railway, took long time unfinished around Itrusk
WW1- with the development of the combustion engine was meant to increase transport of troops
offering greater mobility, not relying on trains or on foot, however the road networks were often
overwhelmed, and could only be used on built up roads. However did not prevent use of London
buses and Parisian taxies at Main, this also delayed supplies like weaponry and food
WW2- in comparison the reliability of transport such as planes and motor vehicles was much better
and therfore had a greater impact on increasing manoeuvrability. (reinforcing NAP tactics of maovre
that in ww1 were not possible due to no advancements able to break trench deadlock
WW2- airborne assaults like create in 1941, which was a trial for Britain however took to long, and
less successful op market garden, which failed to hold strongpoint at bridges D-day 23,000
