Charge (warfare)

A charge is a fast move in battle.

People run or ride fast to reach others. This can be done on foot or on horses.

In the past, knights used horses to charge. They used long spears to help them. Sometimes, people used bayonets on their guns. This was a signal that they were ready to fight. It was a very brave and hard thing to do. Many people used these moves in big wars.

A charge is a fast move in battle.

Soldiers move at their best speed to reach the enemy. They want to fight up close to win the battle. This has been a key part of many wars.

In the past, many people used horses for charges. These were called cavalry charges.

In the Middle Ages, knights used horses and long spears. New tools like saddles and stirrups helped them move with great power. A successful charge often made the enemy run away in fear. But charges could fail if the enemy stood firm.

Later, soldiers used guns. They often used a bayonet, which is a blade on a gun.

A bayonet charge was a way to fight up close. In the 20th century, cavalry charges became rare. This was because of new weapons like machine guns. Still, some units used horses in battle. In 1917, Australian soldiers on horses captured a place called Beersheba. Even today, some groups use horses to manage large crowds.

A charge is a fast attack used in battle. Soldiers or riders move at their best speed toward an enemy. The goal is to reach the enemy for close combat. This move can be a decisive moment in many wars. In the past, large groups of people charged together. Today, charges are usually done by small groups. These modern teams use weapons that fire very quickly. They strike at specific defensive spots like a bunker.

How a charge works depends on speed and fire. Attackers try to move faster than the defenders can shoot. If they reach the enemy, they can win the fight. Many things change how well a charge works. Timing and the shape of the group are very important. The ground or terrain also plays a big role. If a charge fails, the attackers may be in danger. They might face a counter-charge from the enemy.

History shows many different types of charges. In ancient times, Greek soldiers used a group march. Later, Scottish and Irish troops used a special tactic. They would fire guns and then quickly use hand weapons. In the 17th century, the bayonet became very common. A bayonet is a blade attached to a gun. Soldiers used these to charge during the 18th and 19th centuries. Often, the sight of the blades made the enemy run away.

Cavalry charges used horses to create a huge shock. In the Middle Ages, knights used special saddles and stirrups. These tools helped them use the horse's power with a long spear. The Battle of Dyrrhachium in 1081 showed this power. During the 20th century, charges became much harder. New weapons like machine guns made it difficult to stay safe. In 1917, the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade charged at Beersheba. They moved across two miles of open land to win.

Many famous groups used charges in different ways. The Imperial Japanese Army used what others called Banzai charges. This name came from their battle cry for the Emperor. In 1918, the Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers charged at Haifa. They captured many prisoners and several large guns. During World War II, Polish cavalry also made many charges. The last successful cavalry charge in that war was in 1945. These moments show how much battle tactics have changed over time.

A charge is an offensive maneuver used in warfare. It involves combatants advancing toward an enemy at their maximum speed. The primary goal is to engage in decisive close combat. Historically, the charge has served as a dominant shock attack. It often acted as the key tactic that decided the outcome of many battles. In modern warfare, the scale of the charge has changed significantly. Instead of large groups, modern charges usually involve small fireteams. These teams use weapons with a high rate of fire to strike specific defensive positions. These positions might include a bunker or a concertina.

The success of a charge depends on a specific mechanism of speed and fire. Attackers must advance at a rate faster than the defenders can disable them. This is a comparison between the speed of advance and the effectiveness of enemy fire. Several modifiers influence this outcome, including timing, organization, and formation. The terrain, or the physical features of the land, also plays a critical role. If a charge fails to reach the enemy, the attackers may become vulnerable. They might then face a counter-charge from the defending side. For 700 years, the rate of fire in armies has steadily increased. This rise in firepower has made straight charges much less successful since the mid-19th century.

Different types of charges have appeared throughout history. The Highland charge was a tactic used by Irish and Scottish troops in the late 16th century. These troops combined a volley of musketry with a rapid transition to melee weapons. Another type is the bayonet charge, which became a main tactic during the 18th and 19th centuries. A bayonet is a blade attached to a firearm. Interestingly, many bayonet charges did not actually result in close combat. Often, one side would flee before the fighting began. The act of fixing bayonets was used to boost morale. It served as a signal that the soldiers were willing to fight at close quarters.

Cavalry charges use horses to create a powerful shock effect. In the European Middle Ages, new technology made these charges much more effective. The adoption of the frame saddle and stirrups allowed riders to stay secure. Soldiers also used a technique called couching, where they held a lance under the arm. This allowed them to use the full momentum of the horse and rider. The Battle of Dyrrhachium in 1081 is an early example of this medieval charge. However, the rise of professional pikemen and longbowmen changed the battlefield. Men using pikes or halberds could often stop even the best cavalry. This led to knights sometimes dismounting to fight as heavy infantry instead.

To be successful, a heavy cavalry charge requires a specific combination of traits. The unit must possess high morale and excellent training. They also need quality equipment and individual prowess. Most importantly, there must be collective discipline among both the warriors and their mounts. Only highly trained horses will voluntarily charge into a dense, unbroken enemy formation. If a charge lacks these elements, it often fails. Historians note that horses may refuse to gallop into a mass of enemies. In such cases, the charging unit might break up before contact is made.

Significant cavalry successes occurred even into the 20th century. In 1917, the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade conducted a famous charge. They moved across two miles of open terrain to capture Beersheba. In 1918, the Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers charged Turkish positions at Haifa. This successful charge resulted in the capture of 1,350 prisoners. The Lancers also took 17 artillery guns and 11 machine guns. Their own casualties were eight dead and 34 wounded. During World War II, the Polish cavalry performed many charges. While they were often trained as rapid infantry, they executed up to 15 charges during the Invasion of Poland. The last successful cavalry charge of World War II happened on March 1, 1945, at the Battle of Schoenfeld.

In the Pacific War, the term "Banzai charge" was used by Allied forces. This referred to human wave attacks by Japanese infantry units using bayonets and swords. The name came from the Japanese battle cry, "Tennōheika Banzai," which means "Long live His Majesty the Emperor." Today, the traditional large-scale cavalry charge is considered outdated. However, the concept of the charge remains in modern contexts. For example, mounted police sometimes use similar techniques to manage large crowds. The history of the charge shows a constant struggle between the speed of an attacker and the increasing power of defensive weapons.