Military Tactics and Strategies

Sniper Trap

• Sniper intentionally wounds an enemy instead of killing
• Goal: Draw more enemy units into fire

Salvo

• All cannons fire first shot simultaneously
• Effective in water combat to set range
• Widely used in WWI and WWII
• Less relevant today due to cruise missiles

Hold-Down Position

• Tank positioned on a slope with minimal exposure
• Only barrel is visible to the enemy
• Effective but not suitable for all terrains
• Difficult to switch from defense to attack

Creeping Barrage

• Gradual advance of artillery fire to cover infantry
• Keeps infantry safe as they move forward
• Requires precise coordination

Blitz

• Rapid, concentrated force in an arrow shape
• Break through the front line, not attack it
• Used by Germans in WWII
• Causes confusion by changing front lines

Foxholes

• Small dugouts for infantry to hide and cover
• Effective camouflage for near enemies
• Variations: German turrets, Japanese single occupancy

Recon by Fire

• Firing at suspected enemy positions to provoke reaction
• Confirm enemy presence or absence

Single Envelopment

• Decoy division attacks front, another attacks the rear
• Targets enemy reinforcements and communications

Pincer Movement

• Central units hold while wings move to sides
• Encircles enemy on two fronts

Oblique Order

• One part of army attacks side, rest moves obliquely
• Break through enemy lines with force concentration

Feigned Retreat

• Pretend to retreat to lure enemy into vulnerability
• Risky as it can turn into real retreat

Inverted Wedge

• Weak center retreats, wings push forward to encircle
• High dependency on wing units

Crossing the T

• Naval tactic where ships cross perpendicular to enemy line
• Allows more guns to fire at enemy

Bounding Overwatch

• Alternating movement for forward advancement
• One part provides cover while other moves

Ambush

• Surprise attack from hidden positions
• Wait for favorable conditions

Skirmishing

• Light troops engage sporadically to delay and disrupt
• Low-intensity combat

Trench Raiding

• Small night-time attacks on enemy trenches
• Gather intelligence, disable equipment
• Used in WWI

Swarming

• Overwhelm target with multiple autonomous units
• Common in asymmetric warfare

Flying Wedge

• Triangular formation moving forward
• High situational awareness
• Used by police riot squads

Defeat in Detail

• Divide forces to fight smaller enemy units sequentially
• Effective against larger armies

Air Interdiction

• Bomb strategic points to alter course of war
• Tactical (immediate) vs Strategic (long-term)

Siege

• Surround and starve out enemy
• Two lines: contravallation (around enemy) and circumvallation (protection from allies)

Mouse Holing

• Blast through walls in urban combat for cover

Air Assault

• Use helicopters to deploy infantry behind enemy lines
• Modern enveloping tactic

Tank Descent

• Infantry ride on tanks, dismount at final assault point
• Protect tanks from anti-tank weapons

Shoot and Scoot

• Artillery fires and relocates quickly

Marching Fire

• Suppressive fire while advancing

Center Peel

• Retreat technique for small infantry groups
• Similar to bounding overwatch

Defense in Depth

• Delay enemy by making them cover larger area
• Counter-attack when enemy is spread thin

Scorched Earth

• Destroy resources to hinder enemy advance
• Used by Russia in WWII