▪ I. logistics, n. pl.1
see logistic B. 3.
▪ II. logistics, n. pl.2
(ləˈdʒɪstɪks)
[ad. F. logistique, f. loge-r to quarter, lodge, or logis logis: see -istic.]
The organization of supplies, stores, quarters, etc., necessary for the support of troop movements, expeditions, etc.
| 1879 R. Taylor Destruct. & Reconstr. v. 47, I have written of him [Johnston] as a master of logistics. 1890 Century Mag. Feb. 570/2 The marches of Sherman disturbed all previous axioms of logistics. 1898 Athenæum 10 Sept. 341 Strategy is the art of handling troops in the theatre of war; tactics that of handling them on the field of battle... The French have a third process, which they call logistics, the art of moving and quartering troops, i.e., quartermaster-general's work. 1901 Blackw. Mag. Jan. 3/1 To the small commandos, say of from 50 to 300 men, ‘hanging about’ is the beginning and end of logistics. 1944 A. H. Burne Art of War on Land i. 10 All this must be superimposed on his knowledge of the material conditions—‘the logistics’ of the situation, as pointed out by Lord Wavell. Ibid., Logistics, the science of moving and supplying troops. The term was invented by Baron de Jomini, but is seldom used in this country. 1947 D. S. Ballantine (title) U.S. naval logistics in the Second World War. 1947 Crowther & Whiddington Science at War 117 The Americans use the word ‘logistics’ to describe the technique of packing stores... It is derived from the French ‘maître du logie’. 1963 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 27 Dec. (1970) 21 Bess Abell..and some Filipino stewards arrived at the Ranch yesterday and got preparations under way for Chancellor Ludwig Erhard's visit—the vast logistics of deciding who was going to stay where. 1966 Aviation Week & Space Technol. 5 Dec. 22/1 The new plan is to provide, essentially, separate modules for each of at least three major experimentation areas—astronomy and biology, earth resources, including meteorology, and orbital operations and logistics. 1971 Daily Tel. 8 May 8/6 He was responsible for the administration and logistics of the mine-sweeping forces in the operation Neptune (the invasion of North-West Europe in 1944). |