Everyone heard or mentioned in a conversation such a term as "ambush." This word has several meanings. It is used both literally and figuratively. About the term "ambush", its meaning, composition of the word, as well as its synonyms will be discussed in this article.
Meaning, composition, synonyms
The main meaning of the term "ambush" is the location of a warrior, hidden from the enemy. Example in a sentence:
- Making our way through the thicket, we ran into an enemy ambush.
- Being in an ambush, we were waiting for the enemy, when he approached, we went on the attack.
- The detachment, which went to the aid of the first company, was ambushed and was practically destroyed.
Here is another example of the use of the word under study:
- “Here's an ambush,” exclaimed Ivan when he discovered the phone was missing.
From the above examples, you can see that the concept of "ambush" is used both in the literal and figurative sense. That is, it can be both a place prepared for the attack, and a sudden problem. In this case, the second option is conversational.
The composition of the word "ambush" is as follows. It has the prefix "for", the root "garden" and the ending "a".
Synonyms for the word "ambush" include:
- trap;
- difficulty;
- trap;
- trap;
- problem;
- complication.
Next will be considered in detail the concept and types of ambush related to the interpretation of the word in the literal sense.
general information
An ambush is a concept that is a place prepared in advance, which is located where the enemy is supposed to appear, so that you can suddenly attack him. An ambush is used in all types of combat operations and in any terrain - on land, in water, and also in the air.
Ambushes are organized both at night and in the daytime. They are arranged in front of the front, behind enemy lines and on the flanks. Ambushes are also arranged along the path of the enemy troops. In this case, the enemy, moving in full combat gear, with support vehicles, is not in full combat readiness and does not expect an attack at all.
Ambush objectives
The main goal of an ambush is to take the enemy by surprise and attack him. In this case, surprise is a significant advantage, which increases the chances of winning the battle. When creating an ambush and further attack from it, it is assumed either the complete destruction of the enemy, or inflicting serious damage on him in manpower, equipment, if any.
The objectives of creating an ambush include the partial destruction of the enemy and the capture of the remaining forces for obtaining important military data. In principle, in both cases, in case of victory over enemy forces, the result will be successful.
Ambush success
To achieve success, it is necessary that the soldiers in ambush have a significant advantage over their enemies (the object of the ambush). It can be obtained subject to several mandatory conditions.
First of all, a positional advantage is needed. In other words, the chosen position should put the enemy forces in deliberately losing circumstances, which will be beneficial to those who arrange an ambush. In fact, the use of a favorable position and surprise attacks is the meaning of the described event.
Benefits
The advantage of an ambush group may lie in the weapon used, that is, its characteristics and efficiency of use. A quantitative advantage is also possible. However, if the number of attackers exceeds the number of defenders, this is not always the decisive factor.
The main thing is the tactically correct choice of position. So, for example, an ambush group, which has fewer soldiers than a defending group, can get a quantitative superiority in the first minutes of the battle. This can be achieved thanks to massive fire from various weapons with a successful, prepared position.
In addition to a fire strike on enemy forces, an ambush group has the ability to mine approaches to an ambush, as well as the path of a possible enemy retreat. This will increase his losses and give an even greater advantage to those who arrange an ambush.
Ambush of Senior Lieutenant Kolobanov
During the Great Patriotic War in August 1941, a unique tank ambush was set up on the approaches to Leningrad. Senior Lieutenant Kolobanov received an order from the division commander to block immediately three roads that lead to the city.
A company of five tanks under the command of Kolobanov took an advantageous position at a height from which intersections of all roads were clearly visible. Having previously camouflaged all combat vehicles, namely KV-1 tanks, the company froze in anticipation of the fascist transport convoy.
After aerial reconnaissance carried out by the Nazis, after some time a motorcyclist reconnaissance group appeared on the road, which was passed by Kolobanov’s ambush group. After a column of German tanks approached the distance of a successful shot, a company of Soviet tanks opened fire.
Operation Results
First of all, the first, the last, and the tank that were following in the middle of the fascist transport convoy were hit. The Germans did not expect an attack and were in a state of panic. Soviet tanks, competently delivering the first blow, deprived the Nazis of the possibility of both further advancement and retreat. The terrain itself did not allow the Germans to simply leave the road.
Taking advantage of the confusion in the ranks of the enemy, the company Kolobanova continued to conduct aimed fire. A competently created ambush allowed in just half an hour to destroy as many as 42 fascist tanks, as well as an artillery battery, two companies of Hitler's infantry and one car.
Thus, having a company of only five tanks, the Soviet troops managed to destroy the enemy forces, several times superior in number.
Ambush Features
As follows from the example given earlier, an ambush is often a key factor in combat. Its main feature is surprise. Such a sudden attack simply does not allow you to correctly orient yourself and make a number of right decisions. The panic and erroneous actions of those who were ambushed give even more advantages to its organizers.
The features also include a night ambush. This is another factor that gives an advantage to the ambush group. In addition to the fact that the enemy does not expect an attack and the right position has been tactically chosen, night time increases the possibility of victory in the upcoming battle even more.
This is due to the fact that those who set up an ambush manage to explore the area, get used to the dark, and also know the exact place where enemy forces will appear. It is also possible to use night vision devices, which become another advantage. The enemy, moving around, each time finds himself in a new and unfamiliar area. Plus to all - the visibility limited by darkness.
With such factors, the ambush group has almost ideal conditions for an attack. Moreover, success in this case is almost guaranteed.
Example of surprise and quantitative factor
One example can be given that shows how important the effect of surprise is and indicates the insignificance of quantitative superiority. The military documentary devoted to sniper business describes such a case.
During the American invasion of North Vietnam in 1967, Marines of the US occupation forces set up a sniper ambush. Two American snipers, being in the Vietnamese rainforest, destroyed near the company of Vietnamese soldiers. This was made possible thanks to the following factors:
- First of all, the position. While in the forest, US Marines, after several shots fired at Vietnamese soldiers, began to move. Overcoming the distance to several hundred meters, they did not stop observing the Vietnamese who were in the open.
- American soldiers took advantage of the fact that the Vietnamese were in direct sunlight, which didn’t affect their well-being (overheating, the risk of sunstroke).
- Also, the soldiers of North Vietnam were deprived of the possibility of redeployment due to the threat of new shots from the enemy. They had to lie on the ground without raising their heads, having no opportunity for a counterattack, since the location of the American soldiers was unknown.
- High efficiency weapons of attackers, which allowed targeted fire from a distance of about 800 meters. The characteristics of the weapons that allowed firing from such a distance, in fact, made the US Marines invulnerable to the Vietnamese.
- Different level of training. It should be noted that the US Marines were fairly well trained, and the Vietnamese military were recruits.
- The right choice of goals. First of all, American snipers killed the Vietnamese officers, thereby depriving the rank and file of command. The recruits in the current situation could not act correctly, moreover, they did not know what to do at all. As a result, they began to make fatal mistakes. Some of them, succumbing to panic, tried to escape, but were immediately killed. As a result of this ambush, almost the entire company of the Vietnamese military was destroyed.
It can be noted that all of the above factors allowed American snipers to fire almost as if in a shooting gallery. Without risking their lives, they managed to destroy the enemy in a fairly short period of time.
Ambush preparation
Photos, maps, and a visual tour of the area are essential to preparing this event. A large number of factors should be taken into account: weather conditions, time of day, terrain and road surface, the number of enemy forces, their armament and level of military training. One of the most important roles is played by the place for the ambush group, as well as its disguise.
All of this will be a decisive factor during a combat clash. This will not only determine the outcome of the battle, but also directly affect the number of combat losses. That is why, setting up an ambush, the command with great care approaches its proper organization.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the importance of an ambush is very important. She, undoubtedly, is one of the most important tactical methods, which brings impressive results. Vivid examples described in the article eloquently speak about the reliability of this conclusion.