Back Atac envoltant Catalan Obchvatný manévr Czech Ystlysu (tacteg filwrol) Welsh Flanking maneuver English Maniobra de flanco Spanish تاکتیک جناحی Persian Manœuvre de flanquement French איגוף HE Manuver kepungan ID Serangan merusuk Malay

Flanking maneuver

The Battle of Marathon, an example of the double-envelopment, a form of flanking maneuver
The Battle of Chancellorsville, Jackson's flanking maneuver against Howard

In military tactics, a flanking maneuver (also called a flank attack), is an attack on the sides or rear of an opposing force.[a] If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the opposing force would be surrounded or have to fight from two or more directions. This reduces the ability of the outflanked force to move or defend itself. Unlike an envelopment, which depends on the enemy's defensive position, any obstacles and the terrain, a flanking maneuver uses the enemy's forward movement to create an attackable flank.[3] A psychological advantage may also be present. The confusion and threat from multiple directions can often cause shock and panic.[4] This may cause soldiers to run from the battle. A larger-scaled tactical flanking is called a strategic flanking. This is where the targets of the flanking could be as large as divisions or even entire armies.

  1. ↑ Thomas Wilhelm, A Military and Naval Encyclopædia: Comprising Ancient and Modern Military Terms (San Francisco, CA: Headquarters, Eighth infantry, United States army, 1879), p. 309
  2. ↑ "flank". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Offensive Operations". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  4. ↑ John Hamilton, Turning Points of the American Revolution (Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Publishing Company, 2013), p. 30


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