From the Latin basis (which, in turn, has its origin in a Greek word), the base is the support, foundation or support of something. It can be a physical element (the component that supports a construction or a statue) or symbolic (the support for a person, organization or idea).
Base can be the fulcrum of a structure. For example: “The building fell because it had problems at its base”, “The artist commissioned a 50 kilogram cement base to support the work”.
The place where personnel and equipment are concentrated for the organization of campaigns or expeditions is also known as a base: “We tried to reach the top but, in the face of the storm, we had to return to the base”, “The US operations base in Baghdad was bombarded by insurgent troops”.
At the political or social level, the group of people represented by a leader is known as the base. The base is, therefore, the popular support of a political project or a candidacy: “The bases have demanded a greater effort from the leaders in the defense of economic sovereignty. “
In sports, the base can be each of the corners of the baseball field that the players must defend or the position that the point guard occupies in basketball: “Be careful, they will try to steal our base”, “Steve Nash is the best base of the last years in the NBA”.
The rules that regulate a draw or contest, the line parallel to that on which a geometric figure theoretically rests, and the substance that, in combination with acids, can form salts, are other meanings of this concept.
Headquarters
According to DigoPaul, the area used to concentrate the army at the beginning of a campaign is known as the base of operations, as well as to gather and store everything necessary to sustain itself. Despite presenting different requirements in each case, the base of operations is indispensable in any situation (whether you take offense or defense).
First of all, it must be a solid and resistant structure, since it can be used by the army in an early defeat. It is advisable that some element of considerable dimensions hides it from the enemy’s vision (as with a mountain) or that there is an obstacle difficult to cross between the base and the battlefield (a large river, swamps or lush forests).
However, the more unfathomable the base of operations, the more difficult it will be for your own army to head towards it in an emergency. It is a decision that directly affects the strategy, which is why it is key to the success of a campaign. The ideal conditions are good protection from natural obstacles and a sufficient number of communications with the outside, as well as a depth that allows the troops to relax and regain strength.
When you have a large front, you offer the army greater security of maintaining communication while advancing and, at the same time, the enemy troops are worried, since there are more points to carry out an attack, which usually forces them to be divided.
There are times when it is necessary to choose a base for a time, to increase the threat with greater proximity, or as a midpoint between the current one and a new objective. The name given to this base is “eventual”.
An invasion of a country requires secondary bases to accompany the advance of the troops and offer them at every step the resources for their survival; It is worth mentioning that they must meet the same requirements as the main ones and that the distance between them depends on various factors, both geographical and strategic.
