LOGISTICS INSPIRATION FROM ALEXANDER THE GREAT:

Ancient logisticians were innovative, ingenious masterminds. Responsible for transporting cumbersome supplies across tremendously difficult terrain and spanning vast distances, premodern transportation experts were brilliant strategists who have laid the groundwork that powers commerce and pallet shipping today.

According to my research, the seven most brilliant historic logisticians were:

Firstly, the Alexander the Great quote that was talked up so much at the beginning of this artical. The sad part is logisticians still tend to be a humorless lot even without the risk of being slain.

According to the logistics researchers most brilliant historic logisticians were:

• Alexander the Great
• Hannibal
• Sun Tzu
• Napoleon Bonaparte

People remain fascinated by the military career of Alexander the Great. He famously said, "My logisticians are a humorless lot. They know they are the first ones I will slay if my campaign fails."

Clearly, they did their jobs well-- 2,300 years after the life of Alexander the Great, he remains a person of reverence. At age 20, shortly after assuming the Macedonian throne, young Alexander embarked on a conquest across Asia that would last the remainder of his life. He led 40,000 soldiers and 6,000 horsemen to Asia Minor, and did with a meager supply of food.

Alexander carefully planned the timing of the sea journey to Asia Minor-- he made sure that his 30 days of rations would last 10 days beyond the harvest date in the country he was attacking, which provided him with a seamless supply of food and water until he conquered a city or kingdom.

On land, his army could only carry a 10-day supply of food. They covered 19 miles per day, hurtling across Persia and India with a group of men that would eventually exceed 90,000.

Alexander's success was largely in part due to his detailed logistical planning. Detailed knowledge of terrain, the opposing armies, and harvest calendars gave him an advantage over his unprepared opponents.

He eliminated the usual retinue of servants, wagons, and spouses from the marching army, allowing his men to move quickly across terrain. And, perhaps most importantly, Alexander developed alliances with conquered and friendly locals who provided his army with an uninterrupted stream of supplies.

Fortunately, we now have modern transportation that leaves very few places untouchable. Moving supplies, merchandise, and components across vast distances has become easy and profitable. But there are some takeaways that everyone can learn from Alexander the Great:

Be aware of the calendar. Just as Alexander made a point of knowing harvest dates, know what's going on in current events and use that to your advantage.

Alexander always preferred maneuverability and speed, so he fed his army with grain that was easily available everywhere wheat, barley and millet. The dried grain could be stored without spoiling for a long time, and it was ground to flour in hand mills carried by servants to be made into bread.

Whenever possible, the army was fed meat and salted fish, and if these products were in short supply, nuts and dried fruits were added to the rations. When Alexander wanted to arrange a quick assault, he ordered his army to carry several days supply of ready-made food.

This way, separated from the massive baggage train for a few days and free from the burden of crockery and utensils, soldiers moved at lightning speed and were able to inflict sudden and effective blows on the Achaemenids.

During most of his campaigns, Alexander had to cross the relentless landscapes of deserts and steppes. Each soldier consumed 1.4 kg of grain and 2.1 liters of water per day. On top of this, the army needed another 4.5 kg of food and 30 liters of water to keep the animals healthy.

Even camels, a better choice in such conditions, needed 30 liters of water and 10 kg of hay every day to stay healthy and effective. Transportation of rations alone made the baggage train very large and slow. The soldiers also had to carry the collected trophies with them, which meant extra weight and extra animals for the baggage train.

After the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander’s authority in Asia grew, and he sent envoys to the cities to collect supplies for his army. Those who refused to accept his terms suffered a bitter fate.

During the winter, Alexander kept his army near rivers and ports, which he used for navigation, and sent small elite groups to attack and subjugate rebellious cities and fortresses. As we can see, one of the character traits that made Alexander undefeatable was his focus on logistics and advance planning.

In 325 BCE, Alexander the Great was forced to lead his tired and rebellious army that did not want to go deep into India back to Babylon. After 10 years of continuous military campaigns, Alexander’s army turned back.

Moving north along the Makran semi-desert, which stretched along the Indian Ocean to Iran, Alexander lost part of his army. Despite splitting his army in two, he believed that the Macedonian fleet led by Nearchus would deliver them rations and supplies in time.

However, the monsoons delayed the fleet for months, meaning a disaster for the Macedonian army about 75% of the people accompanying the army died.

Logistics is as important in any military campaign as it was in the wars waged by Alexander the Great. The development of this branch of the economy also plays an invaluable role in improving people’s well-being.