Warfighting: Maneuver Warfare in the U.S. Marine Corps [Hardcover]

Tom Hayden (Editor), H. T. Hayden (Editor)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853671983
• ISBN-13: 978-1853671982
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,320,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive work of military though, June 2, 2000

By 

Chai - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warfighting: Maneuver Warfare in the U.S. Marine Corps (Hardcover)

This is a slightly edited (along with additional commentary) version of the three volume Marine Corps doctrinal manuals. Based on the ideas of Bill Lind and COL John Boyd, "Warfighting" wraps up all the critical ideas of these influential military thinkers into a useful and concise book. "Warfighting" represents the definitive work of American Military Doctrinal thought of the second half of the 20th Century.

A theoretical, but highly readable example of military doctrine, "Warfighting" suceeds where it's Army counterpart, FM 100-5: Operations, fails miserably. It is interesting, relevant, and easy to read and comprehend. It also expounds a workable military doctrine, called "Maneuver Warfare" that is a significant, and conceptually different method than the Army's ponderous, attrition based "AirLand Battle Doctrine".

Tactical ideas such as objective, mission orders, recon pull, main effort, and other critical concepts are discussed, with relevant historical examples. The Boyd theory and time critical decisionmaking are explained in depth. Tempo and decision cycles are explained, and their decisive impact on military operations is demonstrated.

This is a great choice of books for the young military professional. Any junior leader, especially those in the combat arms will benefit greatly from reading this book.

0 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars don't waste your money, September 21, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Warfighting: Maneuver Warfare in the U.S. Marine Corps (Hardcover)

This book is about as interesting to read as it is to watch grass grow. There is nothing much here that isn't common sense. It also seems to be written for 10th graders. I cannot recommend this unless you are a military type and are not easily bored by the obvious.

8 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The failure of maneuverism and this book, August 6, 2000

By 

Sam Damon Jr. (Fort Bragg, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warfighting: Maneuver Warfare in the U.S. Marine Corps (Hardcover)

This is a dangerous book that appeals to the itching ears of lazy Americans who seek easy victories by posturing or clever maneuver, not always possible against an enemy who is mobilized for TOTAL WAR and ready to defend-in-depth. Maneuver warfare regardless of how entertaining and readable is a poison menu offering easy victories that sets up the American public for dissillusionment and defeat when these lofty promises are undelivered and the clever asymmetric enemy targets perceptions through the media using 4th Generation war means.

This book is fatally dated and needs to be dismissed and replaced by more balanced, innovative thinking that is geared to the 4th Generation war reality we live in today, not trying to relive the German blitzkrieg ala 1940 with 3d Generation war means. Sea-based posturing and small-force Maneuverism failed at the fortified cities of Tobruk, Stalingrad, Bastogne, and more recently in Lebanon and Somalia, something the doctrines espoused in this book do not take into account.

We need REAL original thinking about war, not wannabe German left-overs. We need ACTION and EQUIPMENT not "3 block war" TALK to dominate future city fights, and a doctrine that is more balanced than easy maneuverism cleverly manipulated to advance the agenda of an obsolete sea-based service bureaucracy.

Airborne!