Introduction In sailing and warfare, hull-down means that the upper part of a vessel or vehicle is visible, but the main, lower body (hull) is not; the term hull-up means that all of the body is visible. The terms originated with sailing and naval warfare in which the curvature of the earth causes an approaching… Read More
Introduction The Big Wing, also known as a Balbo, was an air fighting tactic proposed during the Battle of Britain, in World War II, by 12 Group commander Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader. In essence, the tactic involved meeting incoming Luftwaffe bombing raids in strength with a wing-shaped formation of… Read More
Introduction Interior lines (as opposed to exterior lines) is a military term, derived from the generic term line of operation or line of movement (a term invented by 19th century Swiss-French officer and prominent author Antoine-Henri Jomini). The term “interior lines” is commonly used to illustrate, describe, and analyse the various possible routes (lines) of… Read More
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
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
Introduction Defeat in detail, or divide and conquer, is a military tactic of bringing a large portion of one’s own force to bear on small enemy units in sequence, rather than engaging the bulk of the enemy force all at once. This exposes one’s own units to many small risks but allows for the eventual… Read More
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
Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute 