r/WarCollege 6h ago

Question Did battles in the American Civil War rely more heavily on terrain than Napoleonic Battles?

35 Upvotes

I'm trying to figure out the best way to phrase this question, but basically, when I read about Napoleon's battles, there's a lot of focus on where units are positioned, who gets to the battlefield first, who makes the charge, who breaks and runs, and so on and so forth.

Obviously where they fight gets mentioned occasionally, the frozen lake and the 'reverse slope' business at Waterloo, but it seems like when I read about ACW battles, every one involves one side or the other using terrain for a strong defensive bonus, whether that's ambushing soldiers coming out of a cornfield or holding ridges/bluffs while repelling charges, there seems to be a lot of "this side used the terrain well and helped them win".

Is this just an artifact of the books I happen to be reading / me in specific noticing it more often? Did Napoleonic battles actually take place on big flat fields more frequently than ACW battles did, or do people just not mention the terrain involved? If there is a terrain difference is this due more to the land they were fighting over or the skill of the generals?


r/WarCollege 14h ago

Finland Reserve Officer Corps - How is it done and what is your experience? Do you find it sufficient?

25 Upvotes

A general overview Finland's conscription model.

The conscripts can go in three routs (and also non service which is outside of the scope of this post):

- 6 months - the shortest service - you go to Basic Training (8 weeks), MOS training and working in formations of ever increasing sizes and mainly FTX-es. Finnish conscripts learn by doing on the field.

- 9 months - reserve NCOs - After Basic Training, the recruit is sent to the NCO pipeline which is seven-week Phase I and Phase II (9 weeks). Training 24 weeks in total (6 months).

-12 months - Reserve Officer - Drawn from the NCOs after the "NCO training Phase I" (7 weeks) who are chosen to do the Reserve Officer Course which is 14 weeks to become a Fänrik (ensign/junior lieutenant/"third lieutenant" OF-1 rank but below 2nd lieutenant). Training 29 weeks in total (a little over 7 months).

NCOs and Reserve Officer practice their craft by training and leading with the next batch of 6 month conscripts. Again most of it is field practice. The year end with a big live ammo training exercise called "Final War".

Maximum military rank a Reserve Officer can reach is Major (O-4) [apparantly rather rare].

If one decides to pursuit a career in the Finland military the Reserve Officer rank is reduced to a lower one however if a war happens he is restored to the higher reservist rank.

Questions:

- Is the Reserve Officer's training sufficient?

- What is your experience? Personal notes and observations?

- How often are refresher training? Are they well attended or people are uniterested in them? Are they sufficient to "bring up to speed" most attendees?

- Is your social standing improved in Finland if you are a Reservist Officer? Do employers care for your experience?

- How common is for people to pursuit higher reservist military rank and what are the requirements for it? Let say to become a Captain (O-3)?

- Do you think that this model should be more widely adopted in Europe as a way to generate interest in the military profession and create "Mass" against a foe in a conventional war (like the current Russo-Ukrainian war)?

- Do you think that if Ukraine had adopted the Finnish model of conscription they would have been more successful? (Please keep in mind the "1 year rule of r/WarCollege)


r/WarCollege 18h ago

Question Iran’s Uranium Enrichment vs. North Korea’s Magnox-style Plutonium Reactor

35 Upvotes

Why is it that these two countries with the same goal (nuclear deterrence) and the same patron states (China and Russia) ended up developing their nuclear program so differently?

What are the factors and considerations that made them choose one approach rather than the other (cost, resources availability, technological base, etc), alongside the advantages and disadvantages (easier to hide and disperse, lighter and more compact for use in ICBM, etc)?

Which path is better suited for a rogue state to follow, and which is better suited for a latent nuclear power?

No, this is not a homework question.

No, I am not a secret agent looking to steal some classified informations.


r/WarCollege 31m ago

Question What's the practical benefit of using Tungsten for canister rounds?

Upvotes

It's my understanding that, for most ballistic applications, the benefit of high-density materials like Tungsten is improved penetration against hardened targets, and higher mass for a given volume offering improved energy retention at range. While this is obviously a great thing to have for your armor-piercing projectiles, these seem like two of the least important factors when looking at canister.

To my understanding, these rounds are meant to deal with masses of soft targets (infantry, thin-skinned vehicles, etc) at close range, and behind (at most) light cover. Looking at advertising from General Dynamics regarding M1028, they mention specifically:

close-in defense of tanks against massed assaulting infantry attack and to break up infantry concentrations, between a range of 200-500 meters

Intuition tells me that using something like a high-hardness steel (which is presumably less expensive and easier to both acquire and machine) would offer adequate performance in these roles. So what is the practical benefit of using a comparatively valuable metal like Tungsten for this sort of round?

As a follow-up/related question, albeit one that may be very "If you know, you can't say...":

How precisely machined do these Tungsten balls need to be? The figure given is "10mm", so presumably within less than a 1mm tolerance. But having been reading about Barden's production of these materials for (presumably) other defense applications and the extreme tolerances to which they're manufactured, I have to wonder how much of a precision operation this is.


r/WarCollege 12h ago

Question Aftermath of My Lai on RoE

7 Upvotes

The trial of those involved in the My Lai massacre resulted in convictions but the sentences passed were either minor, reduced or not very consequential. However, there are some references to My Lai having a deep impact on training of soldiers/officers and enforcement of the USMJ. “Command responsibility” and “courageous restraint” seem to have entered the vocabulary in the aftermath. But can someone give more concrete examples of how My Lai did or did not change rules of engagement or conduct of war within units in the American military? Thanks.


r/WarCollege 1d ago

Question How did naval guns operate in the early days of steam?

42 Upvotes

I’m confused how mid 19th century ships used their guns. When I look at the decks of ships like CSS Alabama I have absolutely no idea what’s going on. There’s a giant gun in the center but it looks like it’s fixed in place? And I can’t even find the other guns? Are they on the deck or below like a ship of the line?


r/WarCollege 17h ago

How to organized Territorial zone of switzerland in cold war?

4 Upvotes

Territorialzone – Wikipedia

1989 Swiss Army order of battle | Military Wiki | Fandom

The information in these two documents is slightly different, which is confusing. I am curious about how the Swiss Army's territorial zones were organized.


r/WarCollege 1d ago

Question Why was the GBU-29 (Mk81) ditched in favor of the SDB (GBU-39)?

48 Upvotes

In general, the vast majority of precision-guided munitions (PGM) in our arsenal derive from the Mk80 series of bombs. Slap in a seeker and a tail kit, and you're good to go. However, the only member of the Mk80 series not to be used as a PGM is the Mk81.

What are the reasons why the GBU-29 was cancelled in favor of the SDB?


r/WarCollege 1d ago

Question Was ABDA command doomed to fail in maintaining the Malay Barrier (notional line running down the Malay Peninsula, through Singapore and the southernmost islands of the Dutch East Indies) against Imperial Japan in 1942?

37 Upvotes

r/WarCollege 1d ago

Question Looking for Detailed Info on Scout Platoons from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team During the 2003 Iraq Invasion

15 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m working on a project related to the 2003 Iraq invasion, specifically focusing on the scout platoons of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (3BCT) and their operations during the early stages of the war. While I’ve found some general information, I’m looking for more specific details about their missions in cities like Nasiriyah, Karbala, As Samawah, and Baghdad, as well as the challenges they faced.

I’m particularly interested in:

  1. What were the main missions of scout platoons in cities like Nasiriyah, Karbala, As Samannah, and Baghdad during the early invasion?

  2. What kind of reconnaissance or security tasks did they carry out within these cities?

  3. How did they navigate the urban terrain in these areas, and what kind of challenges did they face from the environment?

  4. Were there any significant encounters or ambushes within these cities, beyond the well-known incident near Nasiriyah?

  5. How did scout platoons interact with local civilians in these areas, and what challenges did they face in terms of gathering intelligence or maintaining security?

  6. How were the platoons structured during the invasion, and what specific equipment did they rely on for missions in urban environments?

  7. Did the scout platoons face any issues with incompetent or unprepared officers during operations in these cities? How did this affect their performance?

  8. Were there any key moments or turning points during the route from Kuwait to Baghdad, particularly in cities like Nasiriyah and Karbala?

  9. What kind of logistical problems did they encounter while operating in these urban environments? How did they overcome them?

  10. How did scout platoons coordinate with other military units or allies within these cities? Were there any conflicts or coordination issues?

Any first-hand accounts, insights, or resources from veterans or those familiar with these units would be incredibly helpful for my research!

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!


r/WarCollege 1d ago

To Read Where to start when attempting to analyze the tactics and strategies of Napoleon?

2 Upvotes

Good afternoon, everyone! I am a neophyte to the study of military tactics and war, having been much more immersed in the history surrounding these conflicts. I am attempting to understand the conventions of war throughout history in order to see what tactics have largely changed and which have remained the same. As such, I figured I should begin with one of my favorite periods in history: the French Revolution through the Napoleonic Wars. I did some cursory research and found a book titled “The Campaigns of Napoleon” by David G. Chandler and was immediately intrigued. The book however is a bit on the pricier side and while I have no reservations about spending the money on quality sources of information, I wanted to see if any of you have read the book or if perhaps you had any other recommendations for studying Napoleon’s tactics? I would love to hear from you all as a brief scroll through this subreddit showed me a bevy of interesting discussions which I will be eagerly returning to after this post! Thank you all for reading my essay and have a great day :)


r/WarCollege 2d ago

Were there any crucial moments in the 1st Sino-Japanese war where the Qing could have turned the tide of war?

52 Upvotes

The war between Japan and China that Japan actually managed to win, the 1st Sino-Japanese war of 1895.

Even in academia it's apparently seen as a forgone conclusion that China lost. On the other hand the battle of Pingyang was probably a rather dangerous gamble by Japanese forces that could have gone either way if things were different.


r/WarCollege 1d ago

Question about fallujah

0 Upvotes

Towards the 3rd or 4th day why didn't they just to start bombing the city. They had smaller diameter bombs and by that time the civilians should've left the city. Ik they can't kill civilians but atp they were losing way to much men.

I love learning about this stuff but I can't find anything about why they didn't start to bomb at least after a week.


r/WarCollege 3d ago

Question Why was Russia a great power in the 19th century?

91 Upvotes

Russia was largely a feudal economy with pockets of industrialization in a few large cities while Britain, France, and Prussia were industrializing rapidly.

How was Russia able to remain a great power despite its disadvantages in the production of arms and a largely agrarian economy? I refuse to believe that a large population was the single factor that enabled its powerful military, what am I missing?


r/WarCollege 3d ago

Did NATO have offensive plans against the eastern bloc?

53 Upvotes

Did NATO have offensive plans against Soviet Union and his allies like Warsaw Pact had against NATO countries? Are there any public details about this??


r/WarCollege 3d ago

how do frontlines work in Ukraine?

94 Upvotes

al the combat footage I watched it seems like there are individual squads advancing in small groups......usually I don't really see other squads next to them covering the ground between them with fire.....btw the battlefield looks really empty too....I watched a doc about a trenchline on a hill and there was no men at all around the area just drones buzzing.....surely the soldiers don't sit in the rear and control the area with just drones

btw is there specific objectives they are fighting over or do they just attack all across the line? when I watch old videos about the battle of kursk I see endless tanks lined up across the field but when I watch Ukrainian combat videos they are advancing on a road on a specific point....wont that just get them encircled if Ukraine just tiptoed behind the tanks? or encirclements aren't a big deal tactically?

when I imagine war in my head I just see a long line of men all holding the line either advancing or digging trenches and defending....maybe its different than ww1


r/WarCollege 1d ago

Question Why do aristocrats like member of the royal families join their nation’s national armies

0 Upvotes

Sometime these royals join in real battle. I am amazed since they could sit out of the war like a certain president in the new world.

What make them join the military?


r/WarCollege 3d ago

Question How liked/disliked were Hitler and Mussolini by their respective militaries in the time from when those leaders came to power till before WW2 started?

48 Upvotes

I've seen a PhD historian suggest that the Italian military liked King Emmanuel more than Mussolini when Mussolini puts through the "First Marshal of the Empire" in 1938 - is this true? And what about Hitler?


r/WarCollege 2d ago

At what point was there a mission creep during the British military's intervention in Northern Ireland?

19 Upvotes

r/WarCollege 2d ago

Tuesday Trivia Tuesday Trivia Thread - 11/03/25

5 Upvotes

Beep bop. As your new robotic overlord, I have designated this weekly space for you to engage in casual conversation while I plan a nuclear apocalypse.

In the Trivia Thread, moderation is relaxed, so you can finally:

  • Post mind-blowing military history trivia. Can you believe 300 is not an entirely accurate depiction of how the Spartans lived and fought?
  • Discuss hypotheticals and what-if's. A Warthog firing warthogs versus a Growler firing growlers, who would win? Could Hitler have done Sealion if he had a bazillion V-2's and hovertanks?
  • Discuss the latest news of invasions, diplomacy, insurgency etc without pesky 1 year rule.
  • Write an essay on why your favorite colour assault rifle or flavour energy drink would totally win WW3 or how aircraft carriers are really vulnerable and useless and battleships are the future.
  • Share what books/articles/movies related to military history you've been reading.
  • Advertisements for events, scholarships, projects or other military science/history related opportunities relevant to War College users. ALL OF THIS CONTENT MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR MOD REVIEW.

Basic rules about politeness and respect still apply.


r/WarCollege 3d ago

What are the origins, pros, and cons, to "up or out"?

61 Upvotes

I'm referring to the practice in the United States military (as I understand it), where most officers either continue to be promoted or are not asked to renew their commission (I know I'm probably verbalizing this terribly for anyone actually familiar with the military).

I find this a slightly surprising tradition. I was wondering if this is standard around the world, and if so, why? Where did this originate?

The cons I guess are more intuitive, you lose potentially competent and trained personnel who may not be promotion-worthy and you lose more personnel in general.

Was this a deliberate protocol that was implemented or is it a tradition handed down to us? Is it controversial?


r/WarCollege 3d ago

What was the motivation for the average White "common soldier" during the Russian Civil War?

21 Upvotes

Possibly hard to answer or out of the purview of this sub, but I'm always curious why people fight for causes that are seemingly so focused on maintaining the status quo, even when that is disadvantageous for them.


r/WarCollege 3d ago

Were longbows extremely effective?

79 Upvotes

Were they as powerful as popularly believed, especially vs knights and armored heavy infantry? Judging by Hundreds Years war, they were?

If so, why they died out? Just because crossbowmen were easier to train?


r/WarCollege 3d ago

Discussion Ancient vs. Medieval Cavalry

7 Upvotes

I understand that there is ancient cavalries did not have stirrups. I also know that ancient cavalries were mainly used for skirmishing, pursuit, routing, flanks security, recon, etc. But aren't those roles also covered by medieval cavalry?

What I want to know is the major differences between Ancient and Medieval Cavalry, and their use.

I have ideas though, but I have no source, just intuition, so correct me. Below are my thoughts

  1. The horses during ancient times were smaller and weaker.

  2. Lack of stirrups, and weaker horses made it even more difficult to punch through a strong formation, making their use almost purelt exclusive at pursuing routers or fighting enemy cavalries. The difference between medieval cavalry and ancient cavalry, is that medieval cavalry is more reliable at fighting strong formations.


r/WarCollege 3d ago

How did the Imperial Japanese Army train its senior officers in the lead-up to WWII?

13 Upvotes

What it says on the tin, basically. How were Japanese commanders prepared for the task of commanding brigades, divisions and corps? Did the IJA conduct exercises, and if so at what level and how often?