Tactical victory
Encyclopedia
A tactical victory may refer to a victory that results in the completion of a tactical objective as part of an operation
or a victory where the losses of the defeated outweigh those of the victor.
and are conducted at the "strategic level of war". Operations at a lower level which fulfil the strategic planning are conducted at the "operational level of war". The lowest level of planning which fulfils operational goals and strategy is called the "tactical level of war".
. Tactics include the handling of assets such as soldier
s, vehicle
s, weapon
s, and munitions and tactics might be as simple as the combat maneuvering of an individual soldier in a skirmish with an enemy soldier. The definition of tactical victory may become blurred in large scale tactical maneuvering of troops in division
-sized formations or the operational goals of company
-sized units to exercise control of important positions as these contribute in different ways to the success or failure of operations and strategy.
Nations may have differing strategic objectives for a conflict and their individual combat units may be made to believe in still different objectives. Survival, on an individual or unit level, may become an important objective in battle and these different objectives allow both sides to maintain morale
by declarations of victory to justify the costs of combat. Many battles involving multiple units include elements of tactical success by both of the opposing forces. These individual tactical victories may not cause the force to be successful in that battle or in the larger goals of the conflict.
. The battle was considered a strategic victory
for the Allies
because they stopped a Japanese
invasion but the latter lost less valuable ships. The Allies lost one aircraft carrier
, one destroyer
and one oil tanker
while the Japanese lost one light carrier and one destroyer and so it was considered a tactical victory for the latter.
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
or a victory where the losses of the defeated outweigh those of the victor.
Concepts
Large scale planning of goals may be called strategyStrategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
and are conducted at the "strategic level of war". Operations at a lower level which fulfil the strategic planning are conducted at the "operational level of war". The lowest level of planning which fulfils operational goals and strategy is called the "tactical level of war".
Based on planning
A tactical mission is one within the operational area which aims to complete the goals of the assigned mission or task given by "tactical control" and so a tactical victory would be the successful completion of that mission. Tactical missions contribute to the success or failure of the whole operationMilitary operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
. Tactics include the handling of assets such as soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s, vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s, weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s, and munitions and tactics might be as simple as the combat maneuvering of an individual soldier in a skirmish with an enemy soldier. The definition of tactical victory may become blurred in large scale tactical maneuvering of troops in division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
-sized formations or the operational goals of company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
-sized units to exercise control of important positions as these contribute in different ways to the success or failure of operations and strategy.
Nations may have differing strategic objectives for a conflict and their individual combat units may be made to believe in still different objectives. Survival, on an individual or unit level, may become an important objective in battle and these different objectives allow both sides to maintain morale
Morale
Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a group, is an intangible term used to describe the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and others...
by declarations of victory to justify the costs of combat. Many battles involving multiple units include elements of tactical success by both of the opposing forces. These individual tactical victories may not cause the force to be successful in that battle or in the larger goals of the conflict.
Based on losses
Here the term is applied to a simple tally of the numbers of losses of each side. This may be complicated by the "weight" attached to certain assets lost. An example of a naval tactical victory dependent on losses would be the Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
. The battle was considered a strategic victory
Strategic victory
A strategic victory is a victory that brings long-term advantage to the victor, and disturbs the enemy's ability to wage a war. When a historian speaks of a victory in general, it is usually referring to a strategic victory....
for the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
because they stopped a Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
invasion but the latter lost less valuable ships. The Allies lost one aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, one destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
and one oil tanker
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
while the Japanese lost one light carrier and one destroyer and so it was considered a tactical victory for the latter.