flanking maneuvers
Attacks from sides
Flanking maneuvers are military tactics that attack an enemy's side rather than meeting them head-on.
The flanks—left and right edges of a formation—are typically more vulnerable than the front.
The term extends to any indirect approach that circumvents direct opposition: The senator's flanking maneuvers avoided a confrontation with party leadership.
Also used in singular form.
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- feintingDeceptive combat maneuver
- pincer movementTwo-pronged tactical encirclement
- cavalry chargesHorse-borne military advances
- envelopmentAct of surrounding completely
reconnaissance · circling · siege warfare · counterattack · tactical retreat · hammer · covering fire · infiltration · ambush tactics · Hannibal · pack hunting · ambush · positioning · swarming · blocking · guerrilla warfare · supply lines · siege
- cavalrycavalry, cavalryman, cavalry brigade, cavalry charges, cavalry officer
- war mapsbattle map, military maps, tactical map, campaign map, invasion routes
- cavalry tacticscavalry charge, cavalry charges, cavalry raids, hit and run, encirclement
- infantry tacticsbattle drills, defensive positions, ambush tactics, bayonet charge, leapfrogging
- Revolutionary WarGeorge Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross flag
- historic momentsturning points, heroic act, triumphs, sacrifice, victories
flanking maneuversfrontal assault
Attack from the front
direct attack · charge · brute force attack · attrition warfare · pitched battle
flanking maneuversentrenchment
Fortified or fixed position
defensive stand · defensive position · holding action · defensive line · fortification