Logistics: The Key to Victory. By Jeremy Black MBE. Pen and Sword Books Limited, Barnsley, 2021.
Reviewed by Michael Collinson
In the Preface to “Logistics: The Key to Victory”, Jeremy Black makes it clear that logistics should be analysed with respect to military culture and as a set of dynamic responses to specific contexts, rather than be distracted by technological advancements alone.
He stresses that while technology has solved or at least mitigated supply chain problems, these advancements can present issues in themselves. In particular, Black highlights that a singular focus on technology can distract from the other factors that require attention for a successful logistics strategy and military campaign.
After a thorough assessment of military logistics theory, Black introduces his assertion that victory in war is dependent on a leader’s ability to consider and implement a logistics strategy. This strategy must factor in a comprehensive review of one’s context, including geographical, economic, political, military, and technological factors.
The subsequent chapters traverse the many and various military campaigns from the Fall of Constantinople through to the more modern campaigns of World War Two and Cold War including observations and examples to 2021. Black carefully weaves the range of contextual considerations and examples into each chapter to emphasise why some campaigns were successful, while others faced greater logistic challenges. Black cleverly uses these examples to demonstrate that logistics is not a simple topic of supply and demand, but rather an area that needs to be continually reconsidered.
Black’s extensive knowledge of military history was evident throughout the book and made for an enjoyable read. His ability to contrast historic with modern examples made the book all the more relevant to a practicing logistician.
The book concludes with an insightful view of future logistics considerations. Through this lens, Black sets the scene discussing great power basing in the South China Sea and points to logistics issues presented by modern technology such as the HMS Queen Elizabeth and support requirements for the F35B Fleet.
As a current serving Logistics Officer who has experienced similar issues in a modern context, I greatly enjoyed the canter through historic military campaigns with a focus on the logistics component. This book is recommended reading for logistics professionals and for those that still doubt the decisive nature of a comprehensive logistics strategy.
