Dr Garth Pratten looks at the how the BEF was developing it's organisation, doctrine and weapons in preparation for the Somme Offensive.  Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.  Join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.  If you've learnt something from today's podcast, please leave a review for the Podcast on your podcast player.

Firepower 13: Artillery planning for the Somme Offensive

Learn the lessons of military history by looking at the great battles through the lens of the Principles of War.  Part of the enduring nature of war, all good Generals follow the 10 Principles of War.  The great Generals of history have the ability to know which of the principles are most important at the decisive moments of the campaign.

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This is Part 14 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of battalions on the Kokoda Track and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level. This episode looks at how the Australians and the Japanese generated combined arms on the Kokoda Track. Check out the   show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.

112 - Combined Arms on the Kokoda Track

This is Part 13 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of the 53rd Battalion and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level. This episode looks at the tragic friendly fire incident that occured during the Battle of Isurava, where the 2/14th C Company attacked into the Battalion Headquarters.  What were the factors in this and how could it have been avoided? Check out the   show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.

111 - Friendly Fire on the Kokoda Track

This is Part 12 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of the 53rd Battalion and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level. The Kokoda Campaign for the Japanese is a manifestation of the effects of the manourvrist approach. We then discuss MAJGEN Basil Morris - at the time he took over command of the 8th Military District he was a substantive Colonel.  We look at the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment for the Kokoda Campaign.  What was the decisive terrain in the Morris' plan and how did he use his available resources?  We discuss the 49th Battalion and how they were employed. Check out the   show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.

110 - The JIPOE / IPB for the Kokoda Track

This is Part 11 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of the 53rd Battalion and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level. This episode commences our assessment of the operational level, but before we start, we will look at the psychiatric cost of training and fighting in the jungle.   David Woolley has done an excellent job in documenting issues on the Kokoda Track and suggests some solutions to increasing resilience for troops. We look at what the operational level of war is along with the events within MAJGEN Basil Morris' Area of Operations during the Kokoda Campaign. Check out the  show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.

109 - Operational mistakes in the Kokoda Campaign

  This is the third episode in a three part interview with Dr Robert Lyman about 'Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40', a book he co-wrote with Lord Dannatt, who served as the Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009. This episode looks at how lessons are learnt from victories and defeats and the difficulties in developing doctrine when not in combat.   We discuss the lessons from logistics doctrine development along with why it took so long for doctrine to be combat ready - for the British in was 2nd El Alamein.  Finally we look for the lessons from the interwar period for the contemporary strategic environment. Check out the  show notes for this Professional Military Education podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.  There is also a catalogue of episodes on Leadership, the Principles of War, military history, and Mission Command.  

Firepower 13: Artillery planning for the Somme Offensive

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