Ambush

For other uses, see Ambush (disambiguation).
"Sneak attack" redirects here. For the album by Buddy Miles Regiment, see Sneak Attack (album).

The Bắc Lệ ambush: French marine infantry deploy beneath the Nui Đồng Nai cliffs in 1884
General Braddock's troops ambushed and decimated by the French and Indians in 1755
Depiction of a Zulu attack on a Boer camp in February 1838
Massacre of Elphinstone's army during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1842
Ambush of Polish partisans against Russian forces during the January Uprising, 1863
Look up ambush in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

An ambush is a surprise attack carried out by people lying in wait in a concealed position.[1] The concealed position itself or the concealed person(s) may also be called an "ambush". Ambushes as a basic fighting tactic of soldiers or of criminals have been used consistently throughout history, from ancient to modern warfare. The term "ambush" is also used in animal behavior studies, journalism, and marketing to 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 a mountain pass. Conversely, it could involve a small irregular band or insurgent group attacking a regular armed-force patrol. Theoretically, a single well-armed, and concealed soldier could ambush other troops in a surprise attack.

In recent centuries, a military ambush can involve the exclusive or combined use of improvised explosive devices (IED). This allows attackers to hit enemy convoys or patrols while minimizing the risk of being exposed to return fire.[2][3]

  1. ^ "Ambush" definition in the New Oxford American Dictionary
  2. ^ Armor. U.S. Armor Association. 2004. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  3. ^ "The improvised explosive solution". msnbc. 5 March 2007. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2020.