94 - The 53rd Battalion on the Kokoda Trail
01/09/23 • 29 min
This episodes starts a new series looking at the Kokoda Track at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This series will look for lessons from the experience of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd is a sister Battalion to the 49th and the excellent 39th Battalions. There is a marked difference between the 39th and 53rd. Despite incredible bravery, the 53rd struggled to achieve some of that tasks assigned to it (through no fault of their own.) Indeed, many of the men went on to fight bravely in the 55th/53rd and 39th Battalion after the 53rd was disbanded.
We look for lessons in training, leadership, strategic surprise and mobilisation from the 53rd on the Kokoda Trail.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.
This episodes starts a new series looking at the Kokoda Track at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This series will look for lessons from the experience of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd is a sister Battalion to the 49th and the excellent 39th Battalions. There is a marked difference between the 39th and 53rd. Despite incredible bravery, the 53rd struggled to achieve some of that tasks assigned to it (through no fault of their own.) Indeed, many of the men went on to fight bravely in the 55th/53rd and 39th Battalion after the 53rd was disbanded.
We look for lessons in training, leadership, strategic surprise and mobilisation from the 53rd on the Kokoda Trail.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.
Previous Episode
93 - Chinese Deception Planning on the Yalu River, 1950
This episodes looks at PLA doctrine in 1950 and how it was used to surprise the UN forces on the Yalu River as well as looking at how deception is employed in contemporary PLA doctrine.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.
Next Episode
95 - A militia Battalion on the Kokoda Trail
This is the second episode in our Kokoda Track series looking at the performance of the 53rd Battalion. The 53rd, a militia Battalion, had some incredibly brave men. Virtually untrained, poorly equipped, with inexperienced leaders, they fought a battle hardened enemy in some of the worst terrain in the world.
This episodes looks at just 4 weeks in the history of the Battalion, from when the started up the track, during their contact with the Japanese and through till the time the were order to leave the battlefield. There is much to learn from their experience.
We look for lessons in training, leadership, strategic surprise and mobilisation from the 53rd on the Kokoda Trail.
Check out the show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.
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