Flanking maneuver

Soldiers use smart plans to win.

They move around the side of an enemy. This is called a flank. It helps them find a weak spot.

One way is to hide and surprise them. This is called an ambush. Another way is to attack both sides at once.

Leaders use the land to stay safe. They might use a lake or a mountain. This stops the enemy from getting around them.

Some leaders used fast horses to move. Now, tanks are often used to move fast. It is a very old way to fight.

In military tactics, a flanking maneuver is a smart move. An army moves around the side of an enemy. This side is called a flank. Most armies keep their strongest power in the front. By attacking the side, a leader finds a weak spot.

There are different ways to do this. An ambush is a surprise attack from a hidden spot. Another way is a double envelopment. This is when an army attacks both sides at once. A famous example is the Battle of Cannae.

Leaders must also protect their own sides. They can use the land to help. A leader might use a mountain or a lake. This stops the enemy from getting around them. Some leaders even use castles or forts to stay safe.

In the past, fast horses called cavalry did most of the moving. They were very quick. In the 20th century, tanks took their place. These machines help armies move fast to reach the flank.

A flanking maneuver is a smart way to move in a fight. Instead of hitting an enemy head-on, an army moves around the side. This side is known as a flank. Most armies keep their strongest fighting power in the front. By moving to the side, a leader finds a spot where the enemy is less able to defend themselves.

There are several ways to use this tactic. An ambush is a surprise attack from a hidden spot. This is often used by smaller groups that move quickly. Another way is a flank attack during a fight. One part of an army holds the enemy in place with constant fire. This stops the enemy from moving or retreating. The other part of the army then rushes to the side to attack at close range. A third way is a double envelopment. This happens when an army attacks both sides of the enemy at the same time.

History shows many famous uses of these moves. At the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal used a double envelopment to beat the Roman army. Long ago, leaders used fast horses called cavalry to reach the flanks. In the 20th century, tanks replaced horses as the main way to do this. During the Battle of France in World War II, armored vehicles were used for these moves. In the past, the Battle of Marathon saw the Athenian leader Miltiades change his line to prevent being flanked.

Leaders must also work hard to protect their own flanks. They can use the land to help them stay safe. A leader might place their army next to a mountain, a lake, or a deep gorge. This makes it impossible for the enemy to move around them. The Spartans used this at the Battle of Thermopylae. Other leaders used woods, rivers, or marshes to anchor their sides. Even a strong castle or a walled city can help protect a flank.

Flanking can also happen on a much larger scale. This is called operational or strategic flanking. At the operational level, a commander might try to move an entire army around another. The German Schlieffen Plan tried to do this during the First World War. On a strategic level, whole nations might try to surround an enemy. During World War II, the Allies surrounded Nazi Germany from many sides. This forced the country to fight on two different fronts at once.

A flanking maneuver is a specific military tactic used to gain an advantage over an opponent. It involves moving an armed force around the side of an enemy force. These sides are known as the flanks. Most armies concentrate their primary fighting strength at their front. By circumventing the front, a commander can attack an area where the enemy is least able to defend themselves. This movement can happen at the tactical level, the operational level, or the strategic level of warfare.

At the tactical level, there are three standard ways to perform a flank attack. The first is an ambush, which is a surprise attack from a concealed position. This is often used by smaller, mobile forces that use favorable terrain to hide. The second type occurs during an active engagement. One part of the attacking unit uses suppressive fire to pin the enemy in place. This prevents the enemy from retreating or changing position. While the enemy is busy, a second force advances to the flank to attack at close range. The third type is the double envelopment. This involves simultaneous attacks on both sides of the enemy at once.

History provides many famous examples of these tactical maneuvers. During the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal used a double envelopment to defeat the Roman army. This required widening his formations to create gaps, which weakened his center to allow the side attacks. At the Battle of Marathon, the Athenian leader Miltiades lengthened his line to prevent being flanked by the Persians. He did this by decreasing the depth of his center. In the pre-modern era, commanders used cavalry or chariots for flanking because they were fast and maneuverable. By the 20th century, armored vehicles like tanks replaced cavalry, as seen during the Battle of France in World War II.

Defending against a flank is just as important as attacking one. A commander must use the terrain to anchor their line. If a line is anchored to a mountain, a lake, or a gorge, the enemy cannot move around it. The Spartans used this tactic at the Battle of Thermopylae. Other leaders, like Henry V at Agincourt, used woods or marshes to protect their sides. Sometimes, an army can use a fortress or a walled city to secure a flank.

At the Battle of Waterloo, the Allied forces used farmhouses like Hougoumont to protect their sides. At the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union used natural strongholds like Little Round Top to guard their flanks.

When the terrain does not offer natural protection, armies use specific formations. Historically, cavalry was placed on the sides of infantry lines to guard against attacks. At the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal's superior cavalry allowed him to chase off the Roman cavalry and complete an encirclement.

In the hoplite system, the right flank was considered the most critical position. This led to a tradition of placing the best or most senior troops on the right. Some armies also used the echelon formation. This involves placing units in a staircase or arrow-like arrangement. If an enemy attacks the first unit's flank, the unit behind it moves forward to attack the enemy in return.

Flanking can also occur at the operational level. This means a commander tries to move an entire army to catch an opponent off guard. A famous attempt was the modified Schlieffen Plan used by Germany in World War I. The goal was to avoid the French armies by swinging through neutral Belgium. At this level, commanders also try to create second fronts. During World War II, the German Winter Line in Italy was anchored by the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. Successful operations, like the landings at Inchon, can break into the rear of an enemy force. These moves can force an enemy to divert resources away from the main battle.

Finally, strategic flanking occurs when entire nations or groups of nations surround an enemy. This often forces a country to fight on two fronts at once, which is a major disadvantage. During World War II, the Allies surrounded Nazi Germany from multiple directions. The fear of being strategically flanked has even influenced peace-time politics. During "The Great Game," the British and Russian Empires expanded into China. The British feared that Russia would surround British India from both the west and the east. This shows that the concept of the flank affects both the battlefield and global diplomacy.