Tuesday Favorites….military strategist and tactician
- Thread starter CDGator
- Start date
- Jul 16, 2018
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- Sep 4, 2014
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There are reports that his family was so shunned afterward that they moved to the northern part of Georgia and decided to shift the family’s focus from military to college football coaching and buzz cuts.
- Aug 17, 2018
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Hannibal is a classic example of "both" from antiquity; same with Alexander the Great.
In more modern times, it's been a bit more rare to have a brilliant tactician be an elite strategist. Mostly because the era of professional militaries have divided the two and there's less movement been the tactical to strategic during wartime itself.
The Civil War was the last big conflict where there was significant overlap between both (and several examples on each side where one could make that argument); but for a 20th Century example, I've always stuck by Giap as being the "best" example of both. And he's also a rare commodity in having been part of significant conflict across three decades of his career.
In more modern times, it's been a bit more rare to have a brilliant tactician be an elite strategist. Mostly because the era of professional militaries have divided the two and there's less movement been the tactical to strategic during wartime itself.
The Civil War was the last big conflict where there was significant overlap between both (and several examples on each side where one could make that argument); but for a 20th Century example, I've always stuck by Giap as being the "best" example of both. And he's also a rare commodity in having been part of significant conflict across three decades of his career.
- Jul 15, 2014
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Good post...
I was thinking about it before posting. Hannibal will always be my "old time" favorite... I think I first started reading about him in 3rd or 4th Grade. The "modern" pick was the one I was struggling with because of that tactical/operational/strategic split you mentioned, but I think you nailed it with Giap... prior to reading you post that, von Manstein was my modern pick, but was struggling with it for the reason you stated.
Also, I don't care what anyone says, Grant still gets hosed in this department and is highly underrated.
- Aug 17, 2018
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De Ruyter is probably the best Admiral who was both a brilliant naval tactician (repeatedly beating the English, French, Swedes, and at least once the English and French together) and strategist.
All his opponents honored him with titles.
All his opponents honored him with titles.
- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
- Aug 17, 2018
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Has to be mentioned--though Quintus Fabius Maximus did his part too.
There's nothing like human conflict to bring out the best in human ingenuity. Moves require countermeasures and countermoves, etc.
It's why it's so hard to be both a great battlefield tactician and strategist when the other side gets wise to your standard operating procedures and adjusts.
- Sep 6, 2019
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One who adjusted on the fly anticipating his opponents moves was Caesar. More than 2000 years ago he used advanced teams, scouts, feints, encircling maneuvers, strategic withdrawals, used intel and shook down prisoners.
- Jul 15, 2014
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I fukkin' hate him (cuz, well, Hannibal fanboy), but I do respect the schit outta him.
- Sep 6, 2019
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I'm waiting for the 2nd Punic wars Battle of Zama movie starring Russell Crowe (as Scipio of course). C'mon Hollywood, make it happen!
- Sep 6, 2019
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James Van Fleet was a great battlefield commander. He was not skilled in the art of military politics however, and he was passed over for promotions in favor of others because he didn't believe in self-promotion.
Here he is as UF football coach, and held a dual role as professor of military science at UF.
The last of the Van Fleet clan passed away in the early 2000s and a couple of antique dealers bought the estate. In their Winter Haven shop I found the plaque (signed by JVF) given by Gator Boosters, Inc to his last survivor--a niece--to commemorate his service to the University. It formerly hung in the "Will to Win" area at Florida Field and was given to the niece when a larger portrait was installed there. I bought it and donated it to UF ROTC in 2017. They were happy to have it back home at UF. James Van Fleet was a life-long Gator fan, retired for many years to a ranch north of Polk City and lived to be 100 yrs old.
Here he is as UF football coach, and held a dual role as professor of military science at UF.
The last of the Van Fleet clan passed away in the early 2000s and a couple of antique dealers bought the estate. In their Winter Haven shop I found the plaque (signed by JVF) given by Gator Boosters, Inc to his last survivor--a niece--to commemorate his service to the University. It formerly hung in the "Will to Win" area at Florida Field and was given to the niece when a larger portrait was installed there. I bought it and donated it to UF ROTC in 2017. They were happy to have it back home at UF. James Van Fleet was a life-long Gator fan, retired for many years to a ranch north of Polk City and lived to be 100 yrs old.
- Feb 15, 2016
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Strategist: Robert E. Lee. No one else is even close. Tactician: Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. However, I do think George Patton understood the genesis of modern mechanized war and applied those concepts as well as anyone on in the 20th century. (Is Van Fleet Hall still the ROTC building?)
