Current military operations rely on troop ratios to produce a certain level of advantage during a battle. During the Battle of Palo Alto, General Taylor and his force of approximately 2,300 soldiers were going against General …show more content…
Although not the case at Palo Alto, a battle can still be won with inferior equipment if the tactics outsmart the enemy. General Taylor's use of the 18 pounder siege cannon had a higher velocity and range. The gun carriage-mounted guns which were maneuvered quickly through the battlefield and were able to outperform the Mexican artillery. Conversely, the Mexican artillery was less efficient, had a shorter range due to faulty gunpowder, and often impacted short of the Americans forward lines. The superior artillery of General Taylor allowed for a greater standoff between the two forces. Effectively ensuring the battle was mostly artillery oriented and keeping it from a full-on hand to hand fight. Modern military operations rely on standoff ranges and suppressive effects on the enemy for as long as possible. Suppression disrupts the enemy and ensures that they must react to your course of action and are not able to continue with their own. Once the friendly force is within direct fire range of the enemy and set the conditions for the assault, and the enemy is most likely neutralized or destroyed providing greater survivability to the friendly