Military tactics
Military tactics (
Greek:
TaktikÄ", the art of organizing an army) is the collective name for methods of engaging and defeating an
enemy in
battle. Changes in
philosophy and
technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics.
Up until the
nineteenth century, many military tactics were confined to
battlefield concerns, such as how to best maneuver units during combat in open terrain. In current military thought, tactics comprise the
operational use of forces in a particular combat situation. Tactics may be contrasted with
military strategy, which is concerned with the overall means and plan for achieving a long-term outcome.
Specialized tactics exist for many situations, ranging from securing a room or individual building, to large-scale operations such as establishing
air superiority over a region. Today, military tactics are employed at all levels of command, from individual and group up to entire armed forces. Indeed, the units used in warfare have always been a reflection of current military tactics, and their size and composition have varied accordingly. In
British terminology, military tactics involving naval forces are often called
naval tactics (cf. usage of
military).
Common military tactics include frontal assaults, attempts to flank the enemy, keeping troops in reserve and the use of ambushes. Often deception in the form of
camouflage, or misdirection using decoys, are used to confuse the enemy. Another major military tactic is
trench warfare. This was mainly employed in
World War I in the
Battle of Gallipoli and the
western front. Trench warfare often turned to a stalemate, because in order to attack an enemy entrenchment soldiers had to run through an exposed "
no man's land" under heavy fire from an entrenched enemy.
*
Infantry Minor Tactics*
List of military tactics*
Military doctrine*
Military History*
Modern naval tactics*
Operational warfare*
Warfare*
Cavalry tactics*
Roman Military Tactics* Gerhard Muhm : German Tactics in the Italian Campaign , http://www.larchivio.org/xoom/gerhardmuhm2.htm
* Gerhard Muhm : LA TATTICA TEDESCA NELLA CAMPAGNA D'ITALIA, in LINEA GOTICA AVAMPOSTO DEI BALCANI, (Hrsg.) Amedeo Montemaggi - Edizioni Civitas, Roma 1993
*
Cavalry Tactics and Combat during the Napoleonic Wars
