Shock tactics

Shock tactics,shock tactic,orshock attackis the name of an offensivemaneuverwhich attempts to place the enemy under psychological pressure by a rapid and fully-committed advance with the aim of causing theircombatantsto retreat. The acceptance of a higher degree of risk to attain a decisive result is intrinsic to shock actions.

Pre-modern

Shock tactics were usually performed byheavy cavalry,but were sometimes achieved byheavy infantry.The most famous shock tactic is themedieval cavalry charge.This shock attack was conducted by heavilyarmouredcavalry armed withlances,usually couched, galloping at full speed against an enemyinfantryand/orcavalryformations.

Modern

After the introduction offirearms,the use of the cavalry charge as a commonmilitary tacticwaned.Infantryshock action required the holding of fire until the enemy was in very close range, and was used in defence as well as attack.^[1]The favorite tactic of theDuke of Wellingtonwas for the infantry to fire a volley and then give a loud cheer and charge.^[2]^[3]The increasing firepower ofmachine guns,mortars,andartillerymade this tactic increasingly hazardous.World War Isaw the infantry charge at its worst, when masses of soldiers made frontal, and often disastrous, attacks onentrenchedenemy positions.

Shock tactics began to be viable again with the invention oftanksandairplanes.DuringWorld War II,theGermansadapted shock tactics to modernmechanized warfare,known asblitzkrieg,which gained considerable achievements during the war and was afterwards adopted by most modern armies.

The United States tactic ofshock and aweduring theSecond Gulf Warwas a shock tactic based on overwhelming military superiority onlandand unchallenged dominance innavalandaerial warfare.

Famous examples

The charge of thePolishcavalry (September 12, 1683) at theBattle of Viennain theGreat Turkish War.
Charge of the Light Brigade(October 25, 1854) at theBattle of Balaklavain theCrimean War.
Pickett's Charge(July 3, 1863) at theBattle of Gettysburgin theAmerican Civil War.
Charge of the21st Lancers(September 2, 1898) at theBattle of Omdurmanin theMahdist War:the last cavalry charge in battle by a British cavalry unit.
Battle of Beersheba(October 31, 1917) inWorld War I:one of the last successfulBritish cavalrycharges in history.
Charge at Krojanty(September 1, 1939) inWorld War II:a cavalry charge that gave birth to the myth ofPolish cavalrycharging German armoured vehicles.

Shock units

Cavalry

Infantry

Mechanized

References

^Griffith,P., Chapter 14 the Infantry Firefight in The Civil War soldier: a historical reader
^Black, Jeremy, (2000) War, Past Present and Future, page 52
^Forward into battle: fighting tactics from Waterloo to the near future

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[1] Griffith,P., Chapter 14 the Infantry Firefight in The Civil War soldier: a historical reader

[2] Black, Jeremy, (2000) War, Past Present and Future, page 52

[3] Forward into battle: fighting tactics from Waterloo to the near future

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