Military tactics facts for kids

A German World War I observation post hidden as a tree.

Military tactics are the clever ways armies use their soldiers and weapons to fight an enemy in a battle. The word comes from the Greek word Taktikē, which means "the art of organizing an army." Tactics are different from strategy, which is about the bigger, longer-term plan for winning a whole war. Tactics focus on what happens right now, during a fight. Over time, tactics have changed a lot, mostly because new military technology has been invented.

What Are Military Tactics?

Military tactics are the methods used to control soldiers and equipment during a fight. They include many different actions. For example, a common tactic is a frontal assault, where soldiers attack the enemy head-on. Another is to flank the enemy, which means attacking them from the side or behind. Armies also use tactics like keeping some troops in reserve, ready to join the fight when needed. They might also set up ambushes, hiding and then surprising the enemy.

Tactics for Different Situations

There are special tactics for almost every situation. Some tactics are for small actions, like how a few soldiers might clear a single room or building. Other tactics are for much larger operations. For example, a military might use tactics to gain air superiority over a whole region. This means controlling the skies so enemy planes cannot fly there. Another example is Shock tactics, which involve a sudden, powerful attack meant to surprise and overwhelm the enemy quickly.

Who Uses Tactics?

Military tactics are used at every level of an army. Individual soldiers use tactics in their own small fights. Small groups of soldiers, like a squad, also use tactics together. Even entire armed forces use tactics for huge battles involving thousands of soldiers. A famous military thinker named Carl von Clausewitz once said something important about this. He explained that "tactics is the art of using troops in battle." He also said that "strategy is the art of using battles to win the war." This means tactics help you win a battle, but strategy helps you win the whole war.

See also

In Spanish: Táctica militar para niños