Sun Tzu (544-496 BC), author of the first classic treatise on the art of war (known in the Chinese tradition as The Book of Thirteen Chapters to distinguish it from similarly titled works), is one of the greatest ancient thinkers of the Far East. He was an outstanding military commander who, appointed by King Wu Ho-Lu, became the commander-in-chief in the war against Ch’u.
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War has been translated into many foreign languages. The oldest translation into Japanese dates back to the 8th century. The treatise was published in French in 1772, in Russian in 1860, in English in 1905, and in German in 1910.
It is believed that the French translation of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War by the Jesuit J. J. M. Amiot was read by Napoleon Bonaparte, who put its views into practice, achieving many successes. Napoleon’s military operations also influenced the content of such works as Summary of the Art of War by Antoine H. Jomini and On War by Carl von Clausewitz (whose reflections were cited by George Cyrus Thorpe in his book Pure Logistics: The Science of War Preparation).
Logistics in military operations
Sun Tzu argued that war is a matter of vital importance to the state, the basis of life or death, the path to survival or destruction. Within his theory of war, he identified 5 elements: the way, heaven, earth, command, and principles. It was in the principles, also defined as the laws of organization and military discipline, that he included the issues of “supply routes for things needed by the army”.
He wrote: “Generally, to conduct a war, one needs a thousand light chariots, a thousand heavy supply wagons covered in leather, and 100,000 soldiers in armored belts”. The army had to be supplied twice: when it set out for war and when it returned. This stemmed from the conviction that only weapons and military equipment should be taken from the country. It was realized that transporting supplies over long distances (low capacity of pack and draft transport, low speed, long transport time, relatively large support and escort staff, significant needs for food, fodder, and water) was inefficient. Therefore, the primary source of supply for an army conducting combat operations far from its own base had to be local resources, the exploitation of which, according to Sun Tzu, was essential – “Thus, a wise commander strives to obtain supplies from the enemy. One bushel of food from the enemy is equal to a hundred of our own. One picul of his fodder is worth twenty of ours”. “Thus, an army without heavy equipment and supplies will be defeated. If there are no deliveries – it will be defeated. If there are no supplies – it will be defeated”.
Troops should occupy areas easy to function in, i.e., rich in food, fodder, and water. He warned – “Do not camp on difficult terrain” – where, among other things, the irrigation system has been destroyed – “do not stop in cut-off terrain” – devoid of sources, wells, pastures, and fuel.
Meeting the army’s needs for food, fodder, and water had a direct impact on the psychophysical state of people and animals. Sun Tzu knew this perfectly well, which is why he wrote – “Take care of the army’s nutrition”. He vividly described the symptoms of supply shortages – “When soldiers stand leaning on their weapons, it means they are hungry. When those who bring water drink first themselves, it means the army is suffering from thirst. If the army kills its horses and eats their meat, it means they are short of grain”.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 3/2011.