boarding action
Naval vessel capture
A boarding action is a naval combat tactic in which attackers physically board an enemy vessel to capture it or engage in close-quarters fighting.
The term evokes historical warfare—pirates swarming a merchant ship, marines storming an enemy frigate.
In science fiction, the concept transfers to spacecraft: The cruiser launched a boarding action against the station.
The phrase emphasizes the aggressive, direct nature of the assault.
- navalOf maritime warfare
- piratesMaritime thieves and raiders
- cutlassCurved slashing naval blade
- grapplingClose-quarters combat technique
- shipSeagoing transport vessel
deck · marines · all hands on deck · assault · swarm · hooks · combat · raid · siege · plank · swords · cannons · ropes · breach · close quarters · hand to hand · storm · crew
- Naval Eventsnaval battle, sea battle, shipwreck, sinking, collision
- naval warfarenaval battles, naval battle, battleship, destroyer, sea battles
- combatbattle, fight, combat, unarmed combat, grappling
- Privateeringletter of marque, prize money, marque, prize court, war prize
boarding actionartillery barrage
Concentrated heavy weapons fire
naval bombardment · shelling · cannon fire · missile strike · torpedo attack
boarding actionretreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
withdrawal · disengagement · fleeing · evasive action · breaking off
boarding actionbombardment
Sustained projectile assault
naval bombardment · shelling · cannonade · ranged attack · artillery fire
board, boarding, action, boards, boarded, boarder, boarders, onboard, shipboard