Hutchinson Atlas of Battle Plans - Hardcover

Anderson, Duncan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1859862411 ISBN 13: 9781859862414

Publisher: Helicon, 1998

Synopsis

Providing insights into familiar battles and looking at the history of war as seen through the success, or otherwise, of well laid plans. Contrasting the battle plans and the action as it took place. Showing how the plans were followed, modified or ruined and their outcome. Includes battle plans and maps.

About this title

From Booklist:

Under the general editorship of the late John Pimlott of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, a dozen distinguished English military scholars have compiled an interesting reference book. From historical battle plans, they have identified six significant lessons that they consider timeless in that they are not affected by modern technology and tactics.

The six lessons are "Classic Ploys," "Surprise," "Misunderstanding," "Mission Impossible," "Underestimating the Enemy," and "Narrow Margins." To illustrate each lesson, there are three battles, chosen from the times of ancient Greece through World War II. For example, the "Classic Ploys" chapter covers the topics of double envelopment, flank attack, and overwhelming force, using the battles of Cannae (216 B.C.), Chancellorsville (1863), and the Second Battle of Alamein (1942), respectively. The chapter "Surprise" covers surprise against the odds, new inventions, and the shock of surprise, with the battles of Crecy (1346), Cambrai (1917), and the Blitzkrieg (1942).

Each chapter is arranged in the same format. There is a famous quotation from a military leader and a brief introduction. For each of the selected battles, there are also a military quotation and an introduction, followed by a discussion of the background, battle plans, and people involved. There is a small locator map for each battle and two half-to full-page battle maps illustrating the battle plan and outcome. Assisting users of these maps is a key showing geographic points, military units, and movements. A sidebar lists the commanding officers of each side, troop strengths, casualties, and critical moments. The discussion ends with an assessment of the results of the battle and a short bibliography listing three to six books. An examination of the bibliographies showed a preponderance of British titles with many current copyright dates. Rounding out the reference is an index, which is poorly designed and is difficult to use.

There are several excellent specialized atlases and histories that provide detailed battle plans, such as The West Point Atlas of American Wars [RBB Ja 1 & 15 1996]; but nothing that is comparable to The Hutchinson Atlas of Battle Plans: Before and After. The Hutchinson work will be popular with war-game and military enthusiasts, and libraries may wish to acquire circulating as well as reference copies. Academic, public, and some high-school libraries should consider this volume for their collections.

Review:

"There is nothing that is comparable.libraries may wish to acquire circulating as well as reference copies. Academic, public, and some high school libraries should consider this volume for their collections."
-"Booklist/RBB
"This small volume is an excellent introduction to analyzing battle plans and the battles themselves and is highly recommended for private, public, high school, and college and university library collections."
-"American Reference Books Annual

About this edition

• Publisher: Helicon
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1859862411
• ISBN 13: 9781859862414
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256