The Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict [Hardcover]

Julian Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1991

The author of this book traces the pattern of the part played by logistics in armed conflict, from antiquity to the present day. The main emphasis of the book is on campaigns dating from the Korean War of 1950 onwards, but three selected campaigns from World War II produce a run-in for what is to follow - as indeed does his briefer coverage of earlier conflicts. As a former brigade commander in the Falklands War of 1982, Thompson draws a picture of what was, in effect, a microcosm of a much larger affair, the special circumstances of that experience offering a wide spectrum of logistic problems. He concludes with a look at the war on the Central Front that never was, and casts a glance into the future in the light of the impending changes for the defence of Europe.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's (UK) Ltd; 1st English ed edition (September 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0080409776
• ISBN-13: 978-0080409771
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,332,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Logistics and War, September 15, 2000

By 

Mike Kunzer (Colonial Heights, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict (Hardcover)

Thompson takes a good look at the effect logistics had on different wars, throughout history. The book is a good read for the history and for the look at a different part of war. He shows how great leaders understood the importance of taking care of their soldiers. The book is a quick read thorough most of it. Its a little slow toward the end with to much tactical detail.

Overall, it a good book to read for a historic look at the logistic side of war.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not sexy, but important, June 17, 2002

By 

BP (Herndon, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict (Hardcover)

Logistics are the engine of war, but because the movement of troops, ammo, and fuel don't get the average reader's blood moving, it's often overlooked in the literature.

This study gets into the details of why logistics remain incredibly important, even with the technological advances of the modern era, and the story is told in a very detailed and interesting way. It's also comprehensive historically, covering the ancient campaigns of Alexander all the way up to NATO operations in Europe.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended only for those with a real interest in the subject, February 3, 2011

By 

mastermindquiet - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lifeblood of War (Paperback)

The author covers the subject of military logistics by surveying various military operations throughout history. It is not a comprehensive history, rather it uses specific conflicts to illustrate some points about how logistics has developed, or in some cases not developed, in the process of supporting military operations. It is fairly Anglo-centric which explains the fairly detailed chapter on the Falklands War, in which the author was a major player. There is also a sizable amount of the book devoted to Indochina 1945-1975, as well as an excellent account of the logistical challenges faced by the Allies during the campaign in Burma in WW2. For what it is intended to cover it does cover well, however it is not targeted for a general readership, rather those with a more specific interest in the subject.