ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at logistics as a supporting function for strategic, operational and tactical management. It revolves around: Procurement of resources, such as men and material; Planning, organising, movement and stationing of resources. Logistic standards and doctrine are the key elements of logistic planning. They provide the common basis for both the force planning and operational planning activities of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and national logistic planners. The main logistic elements to be covered are: Mission decisive equipment, Munitions, Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants, Maintenance, Medical support, Movement and transportation, Rations/water. The operational availability of an army is defined by the length of downtime, non-operational periods associated with reliability, maintenance and logistics. The abundance of resources made available in a continuous manner was down to logistical autonomy and cohesion on the side of the Germans. Logistical autonomy required logistical cohesion, harmonising the procurement, movement, storage and means to make diverse resources available in a continuous manner.
