Parameters of Simplicity as a Principle of Special Operations

The study examined whether various aspects of simplicity, as a principle of special operations, were associated with the rate of success. These were a number of objectives, unit size, dependency on the enemy being at a specific location at a specific time, and other case-specific prerequisites. Finnish WWII long range patrols, SAS WWII operations in North Africa, and the Rhodesian Selous Scouts’ external operations were analyzed and compared by means of bootstrapped tetrachoric correlations, totaling 155 cases. Dependency on specific prerequisites, closely associated with von Clausewitz’s notion of friction, was found to be crucial for success and achievement of surprise.