An ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving or temporarily halted enemy. An ambush is a
long established military tactic in which an ambushing force uses concealment to attack an enemy that passes its position. Ambushers strike from concealed positions such as
among dense underbrush or behind hilltops. The tactic is generally used to gather intelligence or to establish control over an area. Ambushes have been
used consistently throughout history, from ancient to modern warfare. An ambush predator is an animal who uses similar
tactics to capture prey without the difficulty and wasted energy of a chase.
German
infantry ambushed by US Army France 1944.
Procedure
In modern warfare, an ambush is most often employed by ground troops up to platoon size
against enemy targets which may be other ground troops or possibly vehicles. However in some situations especially ones deep
behind enemy lines, although the actual attack will be carried out by a platoon, a company 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. During ancient
warfare, an ambush often might involve thousands of soldiers on a large scale, such as over a mountain pass.
Planning
Ambushes are complex multi-phase operations and are therefore usually planned in some detail. First a suitable killing
zone is identified. This is the place where the ambush will be laid. It is generally a place where enemy units are expected
to pass, and which gives reasonable cover for the deployment, execution, and extraction phases of the ambush patrol. A path along
a wooded valley floor would be a stereotypical example.
Ambush can be described geometrically as
- Linear, when a number of firing units are equally distant from the linear kill zone.
- L-shaped, when a short leg of firing units are placed to enfilade the sides of
the linear kill zone
- V-shaped when the firing units are distant from the kill zone at end that the enemy enters, so the firing units lay down band
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 stop any attempt to move out of the kill zone.[1]
Preparation
To be successful an ambush patrol must deploy into the area covertly, ideally under the cover of darkness. The patrol will
establish secure and covert positions overlooking the killing zone. Usually, two or more cut off groups will be
sent out a short distance from the main ambushing group into similarly covert positions. Their job is twofold; first to give the
ambush commander early-warning of the approaching enemy (usually by radio or cellphone), and second, when the ambush is
initiated, to prevent any enemies from escaping. Another group will cover the front and rear of the ambush position (blocking
force) and thus give all round defence to the ambush patrol.
Care must be taken by the ambush commander to ensure that fire from any weapon cannot inadvertently hit any other friendly
unit.
Waiting
Having set the ambush, the next phase is to wait. This could be for a few hours or a few days depending on the tactical and
supply situation. It is obviously much harder for an ambush patrol to remain covert and alert if sentry rosters, shelter,
sleeping, sanitary arrangements, food and water, have to be considered, so this should be done in a patrol harbour away from the
site chosen for the ambush. Ambush patrols will almost always have to be self-sufficient as re-supply would not be possible
without compromising their covert position.
Execution
Support elements needed for a successful large scale attack
Diagram of a Vietcong ambush
The arrival of an enemy in the area should be signalled by one of the cut-off units. This may be done by radio or by some
other signal, but the enemy must not detect the signal. If radio silence is necessary the
pre-electronic expedient of a cord linking the groups, tugged once or twice as a signal, may be employed. The ambush commander
will have given a clear instruction for initiating the ambush. This might be a burst from an automatic weapon, use of an explosive device (such as a Claymore
mine or other directonal weapon), or possibly a simple whistle blast. The ambush commander judges when the ambush will be
most effective; therefore, giving the signal. Against vehicles, the lead and rear vehicles are the primary targets to keep the
targets in the killing zone for as long as possible. Targets are prioritised to rapidly destroy the targets cohesiveness. The
order of priorities against an enemy infantry unit is the enemy radio operator (in the past identified by the whip ariel of the
backpack radio unit such as the British Army's Clansman system), the enemy's unit commander (a more difficult task today when
officers and NCOs are dressed and armed in an identical manner to the rest of the infantry squad), and the platoon or section
machine-gunner.
After the firefight has been won, the now compromised ambush patrol must leave the area as
soon as it is practical to do so. In hit and run operations, especially against superior numbers and forces, the ambush force
will begin disengaging even before the firefight has been won. In the past, accepted protocol was to check bodies for
intelligence, take prisoners, and treat any wounded enemy. Once this was accomplished the ambush patrol would leave then
exfilitrate the area by a pre-determined route. It is no longer common practice to search the enemy after an ambush but rather to
leave the area straight away, as the potential gains are far outweighed by the possibility that the enemy may have a larger force
en route or have even arranged an artillery strike on the ambush location while the ambush was being initiated.
If time has allowed the ambush force will have prepared their exit, for example placing land
mines to cover their retreat, the members of the force making and following a safe route through the mines. If possible a
subsidary ambush may be planned along the exit route to catch pursuing troops, and if available the egress may be covered by
mortar or artillery fire.
Surviving an ambush
By definition, the ambush contains the element of total surprise, which means the victims of the ambush have no knowledge of
how it has been constructed, or what measures may have been employed to prevent escape. Therefore—and this has been proven by the
experience of war—the only sure method of survival is withdrawal from the killing zone "the way you came in". All other
routes out of the killing zone may be blocked, and in a very well-planned and well-executed ambush, even the "back door" will
have been closed by the time the ambush is sprung. The military doctrines are "to attack the ambush", but this is very likely to
have been anticipated by the ones who set the ambush, and often plays into their hands. The value of withdrawal is the
preservation of the force to "fight another day", when not so taken by surprise.
The best way to survive an ambush is not to run in to them, in order for this to happen movement must not be predictable in
timing or route, avoiding the most obvious routes. Rather than moving at a constant speed and direction, the patrol should vary
these, with occassional stops to observe both the route ahead and changes behind. Units should move in such a way that they are
close enough together for mutual support but far enough apart that one burst of automatic fire will not take out the entire unit.
When on foot if possible the patrol should move in such a way to maximise their firepower, for example the arrowhead and
spearhead formation, they should not allow themselves to be skylined. Units on foot should have a point man some way ahead of the
main body and if possible a rearguard as well. Those travelling in vehicles follow the same procedures with lead and trailing
vehicles ahead and behind the main body of vehicles.
References
See also
External links
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