Force concentration

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Force concentration is the practice of concentrating military power on a target to cause disproportionate losses for the enemy. It's based upon the formula that the combat power of a military force is the square of the number of members of that unit:

One tank has the combat power of one tank. (1*1 = 1)

Two tanks have four times the combat power of a single tank. (2*2 = 4)

Basically, twice as many tanks will quadruple the firepower and take four times the punishment. Thus, concentrating two divisions into one point and attacking generates a far greater force than is achieved by spreading two divisions into a line and pushing forward on a broad front.

[edit] History

Modern armour warfare doctrine was developed and established during the run up to World War II. A fundamental key to conventional warfare is the concentration of force at a particular point. Concentration of force increases the chance of victory in a particular engagement. Correctly chosen and exploited, victory in a given engagement or a small number of engagements is often sufficient to win the battle.

For example, visualize a straight defensive line composed of two infantry and two armoured divisions, deployed equally along the length of the line. A numerically equivalent attacker can win by concentrating his armour at one point (with his infantry holding the rest of the line), thus guaranteeing the forcing of the line, then passing through, turning the flank of the two halves of the defensive line and rolling them up.

The defensive line could attempt to counter-attack, but it is not strong at any point and although the combined infantry/armour attack of the defenders is stronger than an infantry only attack, it is not very much stronger (since the divisions are spread out along the entire line) and it is in general much easier to defend than attack.

Thus, concentrating two divisions into one point and attacking generates a far greater force than is achieved by spreading two divisions into a line and pushing forward on a broad front.

Concentration of force requires mobility (to permit rapid concentration) and power (to be effective in combat once concentrated). The tank embodies these two properties and so is the primary weapon.