309:, a "place between the two camps, flat indeed and treeless, but well adapted for an ambuscade, as it was traversed by a water-course with steep banks, densely overgrown with brambles and other thorny plants, and here he proposed to lay a stratagem to surprise the enemy". When the Roman infantry became entangled in combat with his army, the hidden ambush force attacked the Roman infantry in the rear. The result was slaughter and defeat for the Romans. Nevertheless, the battle also displays the effects of good tactical discipline on the part of the ambushed force. Although most of the legions were lost, about 10,000 Romans cut their way through to safety, maintaining
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secondary OPs were established. Runners and radios were used to communicate between the OPs and the main command post. The OPs were located so that enemy movement into the ambush could be observed. They would remain in position throughout the ambush to report routes of reinforcement and withdrawal by the enemy, as well as his manoeuvre options. Frequently the OPs were reinforced to squad size and served as flank security. The command post was situated in a central location, frequently on terrain which afforded it a vantage point overlooking the ambush site.
186:
370:. This particular ambush was to affect the course of Western history. The Germanic forces demonstrated several principles needed for a successful ambush. They took cover in difficult forested terrain, allowing the warriors time and space to mass without detection. They had the element of surprise, and this was also aided by the defection of Arminius from Roman ranks prior to the battle. They sprang the attack when the Romans were most vulnerable; when they had left their fortified camp, and were on the march in a pounding rainstorm.
374:
obstacles, erecting a trench and earthen wall to hinder Roman movement along the route of the killing zone. The result was a mass slaughter of the Romans and the destruction of three legions. The
Germanic victory caused a limit on Roman expansion in the West. Ultimately, it established the Rhine as the boundary of the Roman Empire for the next four hundred years, until the decline of the Roman influence in the West. The Roman Empire made no further concerted attempts to conquer Germania beyond the Rhine.
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466:. The Banu Thalabah tribe were already aware of the impending attack; so they lay in wait for the Muslims. When Muhammad ibn Maslama arrived at the site, the Banu Thalabah with 100 men ambushed the Muslims while they were making preparation to sleep and, after a brief resistance, killed them all except for Muhammad ibn Maslama, who feigned death. A Muslim who happened to pass that way found him and assisted him to return to
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542:, when the firing units are distant from the kill zone where the enemy enters and the firing units lay down bands of intersecting and interlocking fire. This ambush is normally triggered only when the enemy is well into the kill zone. The intersecting bands of fire prevent any attempt of moving out of the kill zone.
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Reconnaissance elements observing a potential ambush target on the move generally stayed 300–500 meters away. A "leapfrogging" recon technique can be used. Surveillance units were echeloned one behind the other. As the enemy drew close to the first, it fell back behind the last recon team, leaving an
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The
Germans did not dawdle at the hour of decision but attacked quickly, using a massive series of short, rapid, vicious charges against the length of the whole Roman line, with charging units sometimes withdrawing to the forest to regroup while others took their place. The Germans also used blocking
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Ambushes are complex multiphase operations and are therefore usually planned in some detail. First, a suitable killing zone is identified. This is where the ambush will be laid, where enemy units are expected to pass, and gives reasonable cover for the deployment, execution, and extraction phases of
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When deploying into an ambush site, the NVA first occupied several observation posts, placed to detect the enemy as early as possible and to report on the formation it was using, its strength and firepower, as well as to provide early warning to the unit commander. Usually, one main OP and numerous
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and hindering their use of heavy weapons and supporting fire. Terrain was usually selected which would facilitate this and slow down the enemy. Any terrain around the ambush site which was not favourable to the ambushing force, or which offered some protection to the target, was heavily mined and
332:, involved repeatedly charging and retreating, forcing the enemy to eventually give them chase, to set up ambushes in difficult terrain where allied forces would be awaiting. In his first victory, he eluded the siege of Roman praetor Gaius Vetilius and attracted him to a narrow pass next to the
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advance group in its place. This one in turn fell back as the enemy again closed the gap, and the cycle rotated. This method helped keep the enemy under continuous observation from a variety of vantage points, and allowed the recon groups to cover one another.
355:. The ambush allowed Curius and Apuleius to steal Servilianus's loot train. However, a tactic error in their retreat led to the Romans retaking the train and putting the Lusitanians to flight. Viriathus later defeated Servilianus with a
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size against enemy targets, which may be other ground troops, or possibly vehicles. However, in some situations, especially when deep behind enemy lines, the actual attack will be carried out by a platoon. A
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487:-sized unit will be deployed to support the attack group, setting up and maintaining a forward patrol harbour from which the attacking force will deploy, and to which they will retire after the attack.
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encamped within striking distance of the Romans with the Trebia River between them, and placed a strong force of cavalry and infantry in concealment, near the battle zone. He had noticed, says
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The use of ambush tactics by early people dates as far back as two million years when anthropologists have recently suggested that ambush techniques were used to hunt large game.
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on the road to Mecca and waited to raid a Meccan caravan returning from Syria. However, the caravan had already passed and the
Muslims returned to Medina without any loot.
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river, where he destroyed his army and killed the praetor. Viriathus's ability to turn chases into ambushes would grant him victories over a number of Roman generals.
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One important feature of the ambush was that the target units should 'pile up' after being attacked, thus preventing them any easy means of withdrawal from the
455:. His group consisted of about twenty Muhajirs. This raid was about a month after the previous one. Sa'd, with his soldiers, set up an ambush in the valley of
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Other elements might also be included if the situation demanded, such as a sniper screen along a nearby avenue of approach to delay enemy reinforcements.
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The VC/NVA prepared the battlefield carefully. Siting automatic weapons at treetop level for example helped shoot down several US helicopters during the
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Bunn, Henry T.; Alia N. Gurtov (16 February 2014). "Prey
Mortality Profiles Indicate That Early Pleistocene Homo at Olduvai Was an Ambush Predator".
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carried out by people lying in wait in a concealed position. The concealed position itself or the concealed person(s) may also be called an "
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Arab tribes during
Muhammad's era also used ambush tactics. One example retold in Muslim tradition is said to have taken place during the
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RAND Corp, "Insurgent
Organization and Operations: A Case Study of the Viet Cong in the Delta, 1964–1966", (Santa Monica: August 1967)
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In the 20th century, a military ambush might involve thousands of soldiers on a large scale, such as at a choke point like a
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Terrence
Maitland, A CONTAGION OF WAR: THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE SERIES, (Boston Publishing Company), 1983, p. 180
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permit the secret movement of troops to the ambush position and the dispersal of troops during withdrawal
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enable the ambush force to set up observation posts for early detection of the enemy
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In recent centuries, a military ambush can involve the exclusive or combined use of
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914:"What was the Roman Empire's greatest defeat? It might be Teutoburg Forest in AD 9"
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A History of the Later Roman Empire: From
Arcadius to Irene (395 A.D. to 800 A.D.)
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the ambush patrol. A path along a wooded valley floor would be a typical example.
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used ambush tactics in his military campaigns. His first such use was during the
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of soldiers or of criminals have been used consistently throughout history, from
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313:. This ability to maintain discipline and break out or maneuver away from a
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26:"Sneak attack" redirects here. For the album by Buddy Miles Regiment, see
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armed-force patrol. Theoretically, a single well-armed, and concealed
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In modern warfare, an ambush can be employed by ground troops up to
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is a hallmark of good troops and training in any ambush situation.
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who performed a meticulous ambush by using the rough terrain as a
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1131:"Military Tactics 101: The Anatomy of the Modern Ambush Attack"
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provide concealment to prevent detection from the ground or air
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Guerreros de Iberia: La guerra antigua en la península Ibérica
859:"Celtiberia histórica | Celtiberia | Celtiberians in campaign"
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allow for heavy weapons emplacements to provide sustained fire
526:. It can easily be controlled under all visibility conditions.
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invaded Syria but were driven back after a Roman ambush near
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enable ambush force to deploy, encircle and divide the enemy
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Extract from Lt Col
Anthony B. Herbert's Soldier's Handbook
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The terrain for the ambush had to meet strict criteria:
536:(fire the length of) the sides of the linear kill zone.
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There are many notable examples of ambushes during the
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Mubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar (Free
Version), p. 127.
1161:"FM 7–85 Chapter 6 Special Light Infantry Operations"
347:, who led a numerically superior army complete with
63:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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532:, when a short leg of firing units are placed to
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439:According to Muslim tradition, Islamic Prophet
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857:GESDINET, ACC TIERRAQUEMADA- (10 March 2019).
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145:: French marine infantry deploy beneath the
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605:The NVA/VC ambush formations consisted of:
339:Another Lusitanian ambush was performed by
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515:Ambush can be described geometrically as:
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123:Learn how and when to remove this message
1061:, Darussalam Publications, p. 205,
1004:, Islamic Book Trust, pp. 217–218,
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892:(in Spanish). La Esfera de los Libros.
451:was ordered to lead a raid against the
397:was mortally wounded in an ambush near
366:sprung an ambush against the Romans at
259:. Conversely, it could involve a small
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1086:. Ranger Training Brigade. April 2000.
1055:Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman Al (2005),
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507:US Army idealised L-shaped ambush plan
297:One example from ancient times is the
978:. Macmillan and Company. p. 436.
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593:booby trapped or pre-registered for
499:US Army idealised linear ambush plan
240:. The term "ambush" is also used in
61:adding citations to reliable sources
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1024:Gabriel, Richard A. (17 May 2007).
888:Benjamín Collado Hinarejos (2018).
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740:"The improvised explosive solution"
417:' discovery of a planned ambush by
401:in 363 during the retreat from his
324:, in particular by their chieftain
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345:Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus
208:against Russian forces during the
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801:"(ebook) US Army Ranger Handbook"
720:from the original on 15 July 2024
658:Viet Cong and PAVN battle tactics
320:Ambushes were widely used by the
165:by the French and Indians in 1755
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716:. U.S. Armor Association. 2004.
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368:Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
190:Massacre of Elphinstone's army
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470:. The raid was unsuccessful.
328:. Their usual tactic, called
945:"Battle of Teutoburg Forest"
787:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.11.002
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429:Arabia during Muhammad's era
284:improvised explosive devices
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974:Bury, John Bagnell (1889).
696:"Ambush" definition in the
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464:First Raid on Banu Thalabah
435:List of battles of Muhammad
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949:World History Encyclopedia
832:World History Encyclopedia
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1265:Guerrilla warfare tactics
771:Quaternary International
673:List of military tactics
998:Haykal, Husayn (1976),
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228:". Ambushes as a basic
21:Ambush (disambiguation)
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1001:The Life of Muhammad
863:CELTIBERIA HISTÓRICA
612:main-assault element
299:Battle of the Trebia
57:improve this article
28:Sneak Attack (album)
19:For other uses, see
779:2014QuInt.322...44B
449:Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas
362:Germanic war chief
341:Curius and Apuleius
1105:www.moore.army.mil
943:Schousboe, Karen.
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1058:The Sealed Nectar
1011:978-983-9154-17-7
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663:Flanking maneuver
618:observation posts
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828:"Viriathus"
322:Lusitanians
192:during the
175:Zulu attack
113:August 2007
1249:Categories
1030:HistoryNet
684:References
419:Shahrbaraz
330:concursare
246:journalism
161:'s troops
83:newspapers
724:1 October
590:kill zone
524:kill zone
474:Procedure
415:Heraclius
391:Antigonia
387:Parthians
334:Barbesuda
326:Viriathus
315:kill zone
265:insurgent
261:irregular
250:marketing
244:studies,
206:partisans
1270:Ambushes
1214:20 April
1208:Archived
1169:Archived
1145:20 April
1139:Archived
1115:20 April
1109:Archived
1034:Archived
959:20 April
953:Archived
928:20 April
922:Archived
873:20 April
867:Archived
842:20 April
836:Archived
718:Archived
647:See also
540:V-shaped
534:enfilade
530:L-shaped
491:Planning
441:Muhammad
364:Arminius
307:Polybius
303:Hannibal
263:band or
159:Braddock
157:General
72:"Ambush"
1175:15 July
1040:24 June
775:Bibcode
754:11 July
595:mortars
485:company
480:platoon
457:Kharrar
453:Quraysh
399:Samarra
383:Carrhae
301:River.
290:History
273:soldier
269:regular
234:ancient
196:in 1842
97:scholar
1083:Ranger
1065:
1008:
896:
811:5 July
678:Sniper
559:, 1967
520:Linear
468:Medina
407:Anglon
395:Julian
385:, the
248:, and
226:ambush
218:ambush
212:, 1863
99:
92:
85:
78:
70:
744:msnbc
713:Armor
220:is a
177:on a
104:JSTOR
90:books
1216:2024
1177:2024
1147:2024
1117:2024
1063:ISBN
1042:2021
1006:ISBN
961:2024
930:2024
894:ISBN
875:2024
844:2024
813:2023
756:2020
726:2020
351:and
179:Boer
141:The
76:news
783:doi
279:.
236:to
216:An
59:by
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