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An ambush is a long established military tactic in which an ambushing force uses concealment to attack an enemy that passes its position. Ambushers strike from concealed positions such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops. The tactic is generally used to gather intelligence or to establish control over an area. Ambushes have been used consistently throughout history, from ancient to modern warfare. Military tactics is the collective name for methods of engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. ...
Look up hiding in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Underbrush is a term used to describe the low shrubs and young trees that grow on the floor of a forest. ...
A hill in Hungary with a hillside vintage garden For the landform that extends less than 600 metres above the surrounding terrain and that is smaller than a mountain, see the mountain article. ...
Tactics is the collective name for methods of winning a small-scale conflict, performing an optimization, etc. ...
Ancient warfare is war as conducted from the beginnings of history to the end of the ancient period. ...
Modern warfare is a complex affair, involving the widespread use of highly advanced technology. ...
For other uses of War, see War (disambiguation). ...
Procedure
In modern warfare, an ambush is most often employed by ground troops up to platoon size against enemy targets which may be other ground troops or possibly vehicles. During ancient warfare, an ambush often might involve thousands of soldiers on a large scale, such as over a mountain pass. Platoon is a term from military science. ...
In a range of hills, or especially of mountains, a pass (also gap, notch, col, saddle, bwlch or bealach) is a lower point that allows easier access through the range. ...
Planning Ambushes are complex multi-phase operations and are therefore usually planned in some detail. First a suitable killing zone is identified. This is the place where the ambush will be laid. It is generally a place where enemy units are expected to pass, and which gives reasonable cover for the deployment, execution, and extraction phases of the ambush patrol. A path along a wooded valley floor would be a stereotypical example.
Preparation To be successful an ambush patrol must deploy into the area covertly, ideally under the cover of darkness. The patrol will establish secure and covert positions overlooking the killing zone. Usually, two or more cut off groups will be sent out a short distance from the main ambushing group into similarly covert positions. Their job is twofold; firstly to give the ambush commander early-warning of approaching enemy (usually by radio), and secondly, when the ambush is initiated, to prevent any enemy from escaping. Another group will cover the rear of the ambush position and thus give all round defence to the ambush patrol. All round defence is a defensive posture, usually adopted in times of confusion by all military units from squad up. ...
Care must be taken by the ambush commander to ensure that fire from any weapon cannot inadvertently hit any other friendly unit.
Waiting Having set the ambush, the next phase is to wait. This could be for a few hours or a few days depending on the tactical and supply situation. It is obviously much harder for an ambush patrol to remain covert and alert if sentry rosters, shelter, sleeping, sanitary arrangements, food and water, have to be considered. Ambush patrols will almost always have to be self-sufficient as re-supply would not be possible without compromising their covert position.
Execution The arrival of an enemy in the area should be signalled by one of the cut-off units. This may be done by radio or by some other signal, but the enemy must not detect the signal. The ambush commander will have given a clear instruction for initiating the ambush. This might be a burst from an automatic weapon, use of an explosive device (such as a claymore mine or other directonal weapon), or possibly a simple whistle blast. The ambush commander judges when the ambush will be most effective; therefore, giving the signal. The bayonet, still used in war as both knife and spearpoint. ...
Parts of the M18A1 Claymore The M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine is a weapon often used by many countries around the world, named after the large Scottish sword, by the inventor, Norman A. MacLeod. ...
After the firefight has been won, the now compromised ambush patrol will need to leave the area as soon as it is practical to do so. Before this is done it is a common practice to clear the killing zone by checking bodies for intelligence, taking prisoners, and treating any wounded enemy. If communication orders permit, a brief contact report may be sent. This done, the ambush patrol will leave the area by a pre-determined route. See also the town of Battle, East Sussex, England Generally, a battle is an instance of combat between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ...
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