When someone speaks of battles and operations, and refers to “lines of communications”, what exactly does this refer to?
Due to context, it doesn’t seem to mean actual physical lines of communications, and the term becomes meaningless with radio, etc.
From context, it seems to basically refer to the road network that connects various units of one’s forces, so if you were to cut ‘the lines of communication’ between two batallions, for example, you capture the road near them. But I’m not sure.
Can someone clarify what the term encompasses for me, please?
For a guess, that’s a pretty darned good working definition.
NATO defines the term as such:
That definition gives a broader, more modern definition of the term, but if you’re studying any military history prior to the 20th C. you’ll find the term used exactly as you described for land operations which are not significantly influenced by sea power.
One of the biggest prizes in all of land warfare is the successful implementation of a strategic turning movement, whereby an attacker sends part or all of his force in a wide, usually unobserved flanking march around the enemy and places them astride of the defender’s line of communications, cutting off the enemy’s supplies and reinforcements. Generals hate having the enemy behind them just as much as regular soldiers do, and quite often the result is a rout or quick surrender of the turned force. Classic examples include Caesar at Illerda and Napoleon at Ulm. I think you can also make a case for the “Hail Mary” maneuver of the Gulf War.
You don’t need to capture or occupy as much as deny their use, but the concept is spot on. Mines can do it, or a blown up bridge.
Ok, thanks. That’s always how I read it - basically, a broader version of suppy lines which encompasses links that may not actually carry supply, but I wanted to be sure. I read a lot of military history, and my guess almost always fit the context, so I assumed it was correct, but some stuff I read kind of suggested it meant something else, so I figured I’d ask and make sure.