Accessibility navigation


Orde Wingate, 'Guerrilla' Warfare and Long-Range Penetration, 1940-44

Anglim, S. J. (2006) Orde Wingate, 'Guerrilla' Warfare and Long-Range Penetration, 1940-44. Small Wars & Insurgencies, 17 (3). pp. 241-262. ISSN 1743-9558

Full text not archived in this repository.

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

To link to this item DOI: 10.1080/09592310600671588

Abstract/Summary

Major General Orde Wingate was a highly controversial figure in his time and remains so among historians. However, his eccentric and colourful personality has drawn attention away from the nature of his military ideas, the most important of which was his concept of long-range penetration, which originated from his observations of his operations in Italian-occupied Ethiopia in 1941, and evolved into the model he put into practice in the Chindit operations in Burma in 1943-44. A review of Wingate's own official writings on this subject reveals that long-range penetration combined local guerrilla irregulars, purpose-trained regular troops and airpower into large-scale offensive operations deep in the enemy rear, with the intention of disrupting his planning process and creating situations regular forces could exploit. This evolved organically from Major General Colin Gubbins' doctrine for guerrilla resistance in enemy occupied areas, and bears some resemblance to the operational model applied by US and Allied forces, post September 2001.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Politics, Economics and International Relations > Politics and International Relations
ID Code:6991
Publisher:Routledge

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation