Some History Of The British Forces - Strategists

My studies have also taught me the importance of the strategists who formulated the many concepts that have governed how wars have been conducted, whether on the sea, on land or in the air.

Their names are as follows: -

Military Science (Strategy and Tactics) has now progressed to a point far beyond that which would be recognised by, I would suggest, any of the above mentioned individuals. They knew about Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I). However, today, advances in IT have changed that. Therefore the following concepts have come to the fore: - Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I), and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).

Furthermore, I have heard a suggestion that a more complex formula should be applied to UN Operations because the service personnel who participate in them come from such a wide range of countries. This concept is as follows: - Command, Control, Computers, Co-operation, Co-ordination, Compatibility, Credibility, Intelligence and Interoperability (C9I2). At present there is still a large-scale Army and RAF presence in Northern Ireland. However, if the situation improves it could be scaled down to what it was 31 years ago, within a handful of years.

I should mention that whilst I have written a great deal about military operations, I am also interested in the ceremonial aspects of service life.

The reason I have not written about either political history or contemporary politics thus far, is that my knowledge of these subjects has largely stemmed from my study of both the many wars fought by the British and the events following them.

In conclusion, the future is likely to witness the growth of both Asymmetric Warfare and Information Warfare. In the former, a militia or terrorist group uses a combination of its possibly rudimentary weaponry, and IT to attack and hopefully overcome their enemy who may have a more sophisticated arsenal. In the latter, a force that can be large or small, irregular or professional uses both IT and propaganda to try and win a conflict. Future conflicts will of course take place on the sea, on land, and in the air, as at present. In addition, it will be important for any coalition to be equipped with the forces which will allow it to at least attempt to gain superiority within space through the use of weapons systems such as armed satellites.




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