Expedition (military)

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In the military, an expedition is a military operation of a specially equipped large unit in a remote area, the purpose of which is to gain a strategic advantage while largely avoiding combat . Such advantages can u. a. be the security of raw materials or future supply lines, the preventive occupation of a strategically important area, the weakening of the defense lines of an enemy power or the hindrance of opposing offensives.

Characteristic for military expeditions are the overcoming of great distances and the movement in mostly unknown areas, which is why the area and situation exploration and extensive self-sufficiency of the unit or the deployed armed forces are of great importance.

After the First World War , military expeditions became less important because technical developments (including long- range weapons technology and improved military reconnaissance ) made them more difficult.

Historically significant military expeditions