Tactical formation
{{Short description|Arrangement of movable military forces}}
{{War}}
In military-style operations, a tactical formation (or tactical order) is the arrangement or deployment of movable military or policing forces such as infantry, cavalry, AFVs, military aircraft, or naval vessels.
History
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Formations occur in tribal societies, such as the {{lang | mi | pua rere}} of the Māori.20:32; 27:57, Journal of the Polynesian Society Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman armies developed effective disciplined infantry formations.
{{cite book
|last1 = Cole
|first1 = Myke
|author-link1 = Myke Cole
|date = 18 October 2018
|title = Legion versus Phalanx: The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World
|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HHVmDwAAQBAJ
|publication-place = Oxford
|publisher = Bloomsbury Publishing
|isbn = 9781472828439
|access-date = 6 March 2025
}}
Ancient or medieval formations include shield walls (skjaldborg in Old Norse), phalanxes (lines of battle in close order), testudo formations, and skirmish lines. A renewed emphasis on military formations came with the mass use of firearms in the European Military Revolution of the Early modern period.
List of tactical formations
Tactical formations include:{{cite web |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN3039-TC_3-21.76-000-WEB-1.pdf |title=Ranger Handbook |website=armypubs.army.mil |access-date=30 March 2023 |date=April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306041432/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN3039-TC_3-21.76-000-WEB-1.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-06}}{{Cite web |url =https://www.presby.edu/doc/military/FM3-21-8.pdf |title=Military document |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-date=2023-03-15 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230315062906/http://www.presby.edu/doc/military/FM3-21-8.pdf |url-status=live }}
- Forlorn hope
- Formation flying
- Baguazhen
- Box
- Coil: Similar to the Herringbone formation, the coil formation allows for 360 degree security while at the halt. This type of formation is also used when refueling aircraft as well as during resupply. Sometimes platoon leaders also use it when briefing to platoon sergeants. Air guards and dismounted fire teams are also in position while this formation is being used.
- Column
- Echelon
- Herringbone
- Line
- Skirmish
- Square
- Stack{{cite web |url=https://dod.defense.gov/OIR/gallery/igphoto/2001874553/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201064239/https://dod.defense.gov/OIR/gallery/igphoto/2001874553/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |title=Stack Formation |publisher=United States Department of Defense |access-date=January 6, 2025}}
- Staggered column
- V formation
- Vanguard
- Wedge and inverted wedge
- Svinfylking
- File: The file formation is used in elements of up to a platoon size. A file formation is used for close terrain, often in dense vegetation or when there is low visibility. The file formation is easiest to control, and provides fire to the ranks should an ambush from the side occur.
- Diamond: Similar to the Wedge and inverted wedge, the diamond formation allows for the fourth section to follow the lead element. The advantages to this formation include having the ability to control elements even in a tight terrain, and allows for quick maneuverability to assign squads as the assaulting element, and assign certain squads to support-by-fire.
See also
References
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Sources
- Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vols. 1-19, 1892–1910
{{Cite web| title = FM 3-21.71 Chapter 3| accessdate = 2022-12-08| url = https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-21-71/ch3.htm}}
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