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The National Revolutionary Army in Operation - Tactics and Strategy

The National Revolutionary Army was heavilly influenced by German Army operational doctrines and strategies - perhaps unsurpsrising given that the two primary military thinkers of the NRA, Lundendorff and Chiang, had fought for Germany during the Great War. This German influence carried strongly in the adoptation of "Hutier" or "Infilitration Tactics."

Under this principle the National Revolutionary Army developed a standard procedure to deal with expected warlord resistance.

1. A short but violent artillery bombardment consisting mostly of high explosives would distrupt enemy lines.
2. A creeping barrage of poison gas and smoke shells would soon follow, disrupting enemy channels of communication/reinforcement and severely demoralizing enemy troops.
3. If the operation was being conducted at a strategic level involving Assault Divisions, these Assault divisions would be the first to rush forward, penetrating through weak points in the enemy line and rushing towards the rear areas. If Assault Divisions were not present, then the Assault Regiment integral in every 'regular' divison would take their place.
4. In the last stage of the assault, regular infantry would pour through the penetrations made by the Assault Troops and 'roll up' the enemy lines by attacking from the flanks.
5. Throughout the assault, air support provided by the Revolutionary Army Air Force would circle overhead, stafing any enemy formations that maintained cohesion and providing close air support. Air assets would also be present in the enemy rear area preventing reinforcement of the front and disrupting overall cohesion.

Although these "Assault Tactics" borrowed heavily from World War I German Army doctrine it is notable that these procedures elaborated a role for air power in the battlefield. This was no mere coincidence, the centralization of officer training of all branches of the Kuomintang miltiary in the Whampoa Military Academy had produced a high level of coordination between the Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

Overally, the theory behind much of the National Revolutionary Army doctrine before the 2nd Northern Expedition was sound. However, it remained to be seen whether these would be as effective in practise.

Next Update: The Air Force and the Navy

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