Tactic

The tactical is art to direct a Bataille, by combining, by the operation, the action of the various means of combat in order to obtain the maximum of effectiveness. Apart from the military field and by extension, this term applies to any confrontation (economic, commercial, sporting, ludic, diplomatic, etc) and described art to use in an optimal way the procedures and the means one has, to carry a profit or a decision.

Contrary to the tactic whose stake is local and limited in time (to gain the battle), the Stratégie has a total and longer-term objective: it is art to coordinate the action of the whole of the forces to gain the Guerre or to preserve peace.

Examples of tactics

Three basic movements: support - cover - overflow

Conceived for the Section of Infantry (36 combatants) to three groups of engagements vis-a-vis ten enemies, the principle of the three basic movements can as well be applied by a group of combat vis-a-vis a binomial of Soldat S, as by a company vis-a-vis a section. In this last case, the support will be carried out by the third dimension: Artillery, Aviation, coastal fleet (one speaks then about supports naval fire).

The goal of the operation is to make itself main of a point of the ground. In the order of implementation, we have: support, cover, overflow. After recognition of the ground surrounding the enemy by a team leader or by the section head, the three groups leave the same point.

The group of support faces to the enemy immediately. It is a question for him of immobilizing the enemy during the displacement of the two other groups. The second group ensures the cover of both others by supervising another potentially dangerous direction. It can be used as reserve. The third group largely circumvents the unfavourable position while benefitting from the cover of the second. To the moment when the group of support opens fire or intensifies the shooting on the objective, the third group gives the attack by the side. Once the third group arrived near the objective, the first group defers its shooting on another sector of the ground to avoid the friendly shootings.

Elastic defense or in-depth defense

Used in the static phase of the First World War, it is formalized by the German Armée before being in its turn taken again by the allies and the French Army in particular with the come to power with Clemenceau. It aims at answering the massive offensives on broad proportions of the face. It concerns the principle of economy and concentration of the forces.

Elastic defense, it is initially the installation of the ground, in first line, but also with the back. In a context of Distinct war of S, Bastion S, fear, fortified positions, equipped with Mitrailleuse S are installed. At the back, the means are implemented to organize the quartering of the reserve and their fast displacement on the various sectors of the face.

When the offensive occurs, rather than to break the attack, the troops of line move back in good order on positions prepared in advance, while slowing down the enemy. The fortified towns, as for them, hold. Their role is of:

  1. to slow down the progression to give to the Staff time to direct the reserves on the sector of the attacked face.
  2. to segment in several points and to channel the enemy attack towards the points where the defender who concentrated his troops will initiate the counter-attack.

When the points of the enemy are where one wants to see them, and when the troops for the counter-attack are gathered, the defender pronounces the counter-offensive points after point with the maximum of his reserves in order to obtain a favorable power struggle on the point of the counter-attack while the remainder of the enemy units embourbe.

This tactic will be the first effective use of the heavy Mitrailleuse. It will clarify the role of the sappers (military Engineering) and of the sappers telegraphists (future the Transmissions). It will reach its full effectiveness with the use of the tanks in support of the Infanterie.

See too

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