First
Generation War was “war of line and column tactics, where battles were
formal and the battlefield was orderly.” The classic 1G war was fought
260 years ago between Frederick the Great and the Austrian army
commanded by Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine. This was the Battle
of Hohenfriedberg in which both the armies had at least four
characteristics: state actors, massed manpower, uniformed soldiers and
line & column tactics.
Frederick the Great had 58,500 uniformed soldiers and 192 guns versus Austria’s 58,700 uniformed soldiers and 122 guns. Other 1G wars, with ‘line and column tactics’, include the English Civil War of 1642, the Anglo-Spanish War of 1654 and the Napoleonic Wars that began in 1803.
Second Generation War was about six things: rifled muskets, trench warfare, fire team manoeuvres, artillery support, reconnaissance capacity and camouflage. The classic 2G war was the Battle of Gettysburg fought 149 years ago. Major General George Meade fought and defeated the Confederate States Army commanded by Colonel Robert Edward Lee.
The commanding generals of 2G warfare continued with “lines of battle but focused more on the use of technology to allow smaller units” of men to undertake independent missions. The primary infantry weapon used was the “single-shot, muzzle-loading, rifled musket measuring 4.7 feet long and weighing a little more than 9 pounds.” Both the Union and the Confederate army were supported by artillery. The Union Army had 360 cannons versus 270 with the Confederate Army and the most commonly used smoothbore cannon – by both sides – was the twelve-pound cannon ‘Napoleon’.
The Spanish Civil War of 1936 and WWI are other examples of 2G warfare. The use of smaller units meant “faster advances, less concentrated casualties and the ability to use cover and concealment to advantage.”
Third Generation War is all about mechanised infantry, tanks, air support, bypassing enemy lines, speed, surprise and manoeuvrability. WWII, the Korean War of 1950, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War of 1990 and the 2003 invasion of Iraq are all 3G wars.
Fourth Generation War is right in front of us being fought right within the Land of the Pure. Combatants are the state of Pakistan versus non-state violent actors (VNSA). But the distinction between a combatant and a non-combatant is blurring. The distinction between a soldier and a civilian is blurring. Even the distinction between war and politics is blurring.
The most important characteristic here is that the war is being fought at three different levels – physical, mental and moral. Intriguingly, physical combat is actually the least important. Then comes mental combat – the ‘will to fight’ and the ‘belief in victory’. The most important, however, is moral combat – ‘whose side is God on’.
The VNSAs have two goals: to survive and to convince the state of Pakistan that her goals are either unachievable or too costly. The VNSAs fighting the state of Pakistan have two objectives: To de-legitimise the state, and to make the state expend manpower. The coalition of the VNSAs wants to impose a government of their own or somehow bring back a historical, mythical, ‘divine-sanctioned’ structure of governance.
Frederick the Great had 58,500 uniformed soldiers and 192 guns versus Austria’s 58,700 uniformed soldiers and 122 guns. Other 1G wars, with ‘line and column tactics’, include the English Civil War of 1642, the Anglo-Spanish War of 1654 and the Napoleonic Wars that began in 1803.
Second Generation War was about six things: rifled muskets, trench warfare, fire team manoeuvres, artillery support, reconnaissance capacity and camouflage. The classic 2G war was the Battle of Gettysburg fought 149 years ago. Major General George Meade fought and defeated the Confederate States Army commanded by Colonel Robert Edward Lee.
The commanding generals of 2G warfare continued with “lines of battle but focused more on the use of technology to allow smaller units” of men to undertake independent missions. The primary infantry weapon used was the “single-shot, muzzle-loading, rifled musket measuring 4.7 feet long and weighing a little more than 9 pounds.” Both the Union and the Confederate army were supported by artillery. The Union Army had 360 cannons versus 270 with the Confederate Army and the most commonly used smoothbore cannon – by both sides – was the twelve-pound cannon ‘Napoleon’.
The Spanish Civil War of 1936 and WWI are other examples of 2G warfare. The use of smaller units meant “faster advances, less concentrated casualties and the ability to use cover and concealment to advantage.”
Third Generation War is all about mechanised infantry, tanks, air support, bypassing enemy lines, speed, surprise and manoeuvrability. WWII, the Korean War of 1950, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War of 1990 and the 2003 invasion of Iraq are all 3G wars.
Fourth Generation War is right in front of us being fought right within the Land of the Pure. Combatants are the state of Pakistan versus non-state violent actors (VNSA). But the distinction between a combatant and a non-combatant is blurring. The distinction between a soldier and a civilian is blurring. Even the distinction between war and politics is blurring.
The most important characteristic here is that the war is being fought at three different levels – physical, mental and moral. Intriguingly, physical combat is actually the least important. Then comes mental combat – the ‘will to fight’ and the ‘belief in victory’. The most important, however, is moral combat – ‘whose side is God on’.
The VNSAs have two goals: to survive and to convince the state of Pakistan that her goals are either unachievable or too costly. The VNSAs fighting the state of Pakistan have two objectives: To de-legitimise the state, and to make the state expend manpower. The coalition of the VNSAs wants to impose a government of their own or somehow bring back a historical, mythical, ‘divine-sanctioned’ structure of governance.
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