Liddell Hart's 8 Principles of Maneuver Warfare

In military studies, the way units fight is sometimes discussed by distinguishing between attrition warfare and maneuver warfare. Attrition warfare emphasizes the function of firepower in the exertion of combat power, while maneuver warfare emphasizes the function of movement; the mechanisms relied upon to degrade the enemy's combat power differ significantly.

Generally, it is considered that maneuver warfare can achieve greater results relative to troop strength compared to attrition warfare, but it is also known to involve greater risks (see What are the differences in the application of combat power between attrition warfare and maneuver warfare?).

British researcher Basil Liddell Hart (1895-1970) is known as a researcher who examined operational principles for maneuver warfare based on the indirect approach, and he summarized eight principles in his book 'Strategy'. In this article, I would like to explain those principles.

The Essence of Strategy and Tactics

In Chapter 20 of 'Strategy', titled 'concentrated essence of strategy and tactics', the principles regarding the employment of units are summarized. I have extracted the key points here. Principles 1 through 6 are considered active principles, while 7 and 8 are considered negative principles.

1. Adjust your ends to your means. 2. Keep your object always in mind. 3. Choose the line (or course) of least expectation. 4. Exploit the line of least resistance. 5. Take a line of operation which offers alternative objectives. 6. Ensure that both plan and dispositions are flexible—adaptable to circumstances. 7. Do not throw your weight into a stroke whilst your opponent is on guard, or whilst he is in a position to parry it. 8. Do not renew an attack along the same line (or in the same form) after it has once failed (Liddell Hart 1967: pp. 335-6).

A characteristic of Liddell Hart's strategic thought that should be noted is his intention to minimize human casualties resulting from combat as much as possible. He was sent to the Western Front during World War I, where he experienced trench warfare. Because of this experience, even after returning home, Liddell Hart began to explore ways to employ infantry using maneuver warfare tactics.

Even after retiring from the Army and dedicating himself to writing military history, Liddell Hart emphasized the significance of maneuver in strategy and operations. Given that Liddell Hart was an ardent proponent of maneuver warfare, his intention in arguing that one should advance from a direction the enemy does not expect (Principle 3) and strike from a front where the enemy's forces are thin (Principle 4) is clear. What Liddell Hart aimed for was not merely to inflict damage on the enemy, but to seize the initiative in battle.

As stated in the 6th principle, Liddell Hart sought a high degree of flexibility in unit employment. It is important to be able to change the objective immediately if a specific advance objective cannot be reached. An attrition theorist might criticize this principle by arguing that it risks failing to concentrate combat power at the desired time and place when attacking enemy positions, but Liddell Hart would counter that if the enemy is well-defended and prepared for an attack, attacking them in the first place is inappropriate (Principle 7).

However, it cannot be said that Liddell Hart's principles are absolutely correct. While maneuver warfare may be able to defeat an enemy with fewer troops and fewer casualties compared to attrition warfare, it also carries significant risks in its execution and can be considered a less predictable way of fighting.

Liddell Hart himself recognized this difficulty, stating that in maneuver warfare, it is essential for commanders to solve problems while exercising creativity in response to changing situations, and he lamented that the military education and training of his time were unable to cultivate such qualities. To successfully execute maneuver warfare, it will be necessary not only to secure personnel with excellent qualities but also to devise ways to enhance creativity through education and training.

References

Liddell Hart, B. H. 1967(1954). Strategy. Second Edition. London: Faber & Faber. (Japanese translation by Kametsuru Morisawa, 'Strategy: The Indirect Approach', Hara Shobo, 1986)

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