Vojenské Rozhledy

Czech Military Review

Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2009: 59-67

The Theory of the Culminating Point PartIMilitary art

Plk. gšt. Ing. Ján Spišák

This article begins with a theoretical discussion of the culminating point, for both the attack and defence. Key definitions and related concepts provided in Carl von Clausewitz's On War, Joint Publication 3-0, Doctrine for Joint Operations, and U.S. Army Field Manual 100-5, Operations, are discussed in detail. These sources provide many of the factors that can cause a force to reach culmination, and serve as a basis for understanding the difficulties involved in trying to determine the time and place of culmination. Other current factors attributing to culmination are discussed, and recommendations are offered to help operational commanders and planners to zero in on this elusive point. It is of the utmost importance that one's own, and the enemy's culminating point be identified with the highest possible degree of accuracy during the planning phase of a major operation or campaign.

Keywords: doctrines,combat activity,operational concept,operational design,operational plan,operational art,culmination

Published: March 15, 2009  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Spišák, G.J. (2009). The Theory of the Culminating Point PartI. Czech Military Review, 90(1), 59-67
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. CLAUSEWITZ Karl von. O Válce [Vom Kriege]. Brno: Bonus A 1996. ISBN 80-85914-27-1.
    2. CLAUSEWITZ Carl von. On War. Michael Howard and Peter Paret (translators), Princetown University Press, 1976.
    3. EASTWOOD Fred R. III. Zeroing in on the Culminating Point. Naval War College, 2001.
    4. HALL George M. Culminating Points. Military Review, July 1989, pp. 79-86.
    5. SPIŠÁK J. Teoretické vymezení obsahu pojmů těžiště a kulminační bod v podmínkách vedení globální války proti terorizmu. Závěrečná práce 20. KGŠ, IBSN 978-80-7231-275-7, Brno 2007.
    6. WEBB George S. The Razors Edge: Identifying the Operational Culminating Point of Victory. Naval War College, 9 March 1996.
    7. AAP-6, NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions (2007).
    8. Allied Joint Publication 01 (AJP 01), Spojenecká společná doktrína, 2006.
    9. Allied Joint Publication 5 (AJP 5), Spojenecká společná doktrína pro operační plánování, 2006.
    10. Field Manual (FM) 3-0 Operations. Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 2008.
    11. Joint Doctrine Publication (JDP) 01, Joint Operations, UK Armed Forces, March 2004.
    12. Joint Publication (JP) 2-01.3, Joint Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace, May 2000.
    13. Joint Publication (JP) 3-0, Joint Operations, 2006.
    14. Joint Publication (JP) 5-0, Joint Operation Planning, 2006.
    15. Joint Publication (JP) 5-00.1, Joint Doctrine for Campaign Planning, 2002.
    16. Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication (MCDP) 1, Warfighting, 2001.
    17. Vojenský výkladový slovník vybraných operačních pojmů. Ing. Oto Vejmelka (vedoucí zpracovatelské skupiny). Praha: Avis, 2004. Dostupný je také na webových stránkách informačního systému standardizace www.stand.acr, část TERMINOLOGIE.

    Return to the content