Ambush

For other uses, seeAmbush (disambiguation).

"Sneak attack" redirects here. For the album by Buddy Miles Regiment, seeSneak Attack (album).

TheBắc Lệ ambush:French marine infantry deploy beneath theNui Đồng Naicliffs in 1884

GeneralBraddock's troopsambushed and decimatedby the French and Indians in 1755

Depiction of aZulu attackon aBoercamp in February 1838

Massacre of Elphinstone's armyduring theFirst Anglo-Afghan Warin 1842

Ambush of Polishpartisansagainst Russian forces during theJanuary Uprising,1863

Anambushis asurprise attackcarried out by people lying in wait in a concealed position.The concealed position itself or the concealed person(s) may also be called an "ambush".Ambushes as a basicfighting tacticof soldiers or of criminals have been used consistently throughout history, fromancienttomodern warfare.The term "ambush" is also used inanimal behaviorstudies,journalism,andmarketingto describe methods of approach and strategy.

In the 20th century, a military ambush might involve thousands of soldiers on a large scale, such as at a choke point like amountain pass.Conversely, it could involve a smallirregularband orinsurgentgroup attacking aregulararmed-force patrol. Theoretically, a single well-armed, and concealedsoldiercould ambush other troops in asurprise attack.

In recent centuries, a military ambush can involve the exclusive or combined use ofimprovised explosive devices(IED). This allows attackers to hit enemy convoys or patrols while minimizing the risk of being exposed to return fire.

History

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.

One example from ancient times is theBattle of the TrebiaRiver.Hannibalencamped 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, saysPolybius,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, maintainingunit cohesion.This ability to maintain discipline and break out or maneuver away from akill zoneis a hallmark of good troops and training in any ambush situation.

Ambushes were widely used by theLusitanians,in particular by their chieftainViriathus.Their usual tactic, calledconcursare,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 theBarbesudariver, 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.

Another Lusitanian ambush was performed byCurius and Apuleiuson Roman generalQuintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus,who led a numerically superior army complete withwar elephantsandNumidian cavalry.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 asurprise attack.

Germanic war chiefArminiussprung an ambush against the Romans atBattle of the Teutoburg Forest.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.

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 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.

There are many notable examples of ambushes during theRoman-Persian Wars.A year after their victory atCarrhae,theParthiansinvaded Syria but were driven back after a Roman ambush nearAntigonia.Roman EmperorJulianwas mortally wounded in an ambush nearSamarrain 363 during the retreat from hisPersian campaign.A Byzantine invasion of Persian Armenia was repelled by a small force atAnglonwho performed a meticulous ambush by using the rough terrain as aforce multiplierand concealing in houses.Heraclius' discovery of a planned ambush byShahrbarazin 622 was a decisive factor inhis campaign.

Arabia during Muhammad's era

Main article:List of battles of Muhammad

According to Muslim tradition, Islamic ProphetMuhammadused ambush tactics in his military campaigns. His first such use was during theCaravan raids.In the Kharrar caravan raid,Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaswas ordered to lead a raid against theQuraysh.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 ofKharraron 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.

Arab tribes during Muhammad's era also used ambush tactics.One example retold in Muslim tradition is said to have taken place during theFirst Raid on Banu Thalabah.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 toMedina.The raid was unsuccessful.

Procedure

In modern warfare, an ambush can be employed by ground troops up toplatoonsize 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. Acompany-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.

Planning

US Army idealised linear ambush plan

US Army idealised L-shaped ambush plan

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 the ambush patrol. A path along a wooded valley floor would be a typical example.

Ambush can be described geometrically as:

• Linear,when a number of firing units are equally distant from the linearkill zone.It can easily be controlled under all visibility conditions.
• L-shaped,when a short leg of firing units are placed toenfilade(fire the length of) the sides of the linear kill zone.
• V-shaped,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.

Viet Cong ambush techniques

The VC/NVA prepared the battlefield carefully. Siting automatic weapons at treetop level for example helped shoot down several US helicopters during theBattle of Dak To,1967

Ambush criteria

The terrain for the ambush had to meet strict criteria:

• provide concealment to prevent detection from the ground or air
• enable ambush force to deploy, encircle and divide the enemy
• allow for heavy weapons emplacements to provide sustained fire
• enable the ambush force to set up observation posts for early detection of the enemy
• permit the secret movement of troops to the ambush position and the dispersal of troops during withdrawal

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 thekill zoneand 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 booby trapped or pre-registered formortars.

Ambush units

The NVA/VC ambush formations consisted of:

• lead-blocking element
• main-assault element
• rear-blocking element
• observation posts
• command post

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.

Command posts

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 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.

Recon methods

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 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.

See also

• Ambush predator
• Viet Cong and PAVN battle tactics
• Flanking maneuver
• Flypaper theory (strategy)
• List of military tactics
• Sniper

References

• Extract from Lt Col Anthony B. Herbert's Soldier's Handbook