What is a Reverse Slope Defence?

Introduction A reverse slope defence is a military tactic where a defending force is positioned on the slope of an elevated terrain feature such as a hill, ridge, or mountain, on the side opposite from the attacking force. This tactic both hinders the attacker’s ability to observe the defender’s positions and reduces the effectiveness of… Read More

What is the Strategy of the Central Position?

Introduction The strategy of the central position (French: stratégie de la position centrale) was a key tactical doctrine followed by Napoleon in the Napoleonic Wars. Refer to Defeat in Detail and Interior Lines. Outline It involved attacking two cooperating armies at their hinge, swinging around to fight one until it fled, then turning to face… Read More

What is an Oblique Order?

Introduction The oblique order (also known as the ‘declined flank’) is a military tactic whereby an attacking army focuses its forces to attack a single enemy flank. The force commander concentrates the majority of their strength on one flank and uses the remainder to fix the enemy line. This allows a commander with weaker or… Read More

What is Air Assault?

Introduction Air assault (also known by its original term ‘vertical envelopment’) is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft – such as the helicopter – to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind enemy lines. In addition to… Read More

What is Reconnaissance by Fire?

Introduction Reconnaissance by fire (recon by fire), also known as speculative fire, is a warfare tactic used in which military forces may fire on likely enemy positions to provoke a reaction, which confirms the presence and the position of enemy forces. Refer to List of Military Tactics. World War II Reconnaissance by fire was widely… Read More

What is Demoralisation (in Warfare)?

Introduction Demoralisation is, in a context of warfare, national security, and law enforcement, a process in psychological warfare with the objective to erode morale among enemy combatants and/or non-combatants. That can encourage them to retreat, surrender, or defect rather than defeating them in combat. Demoralisation methods are military tactics such as hit-and-run attacks, such as… Read More