When attacking and destroying an enemy position, it is normal to employ a tactic called “fire and maneuver”. In the most basic terms, it means that A) one team lays down a base of fire against the enemy position, and that B) another team sneaks around and outflanks the enemy from the side and kills or captures him.

Fire and maneuver is important because it is a relatively simple, but extremely effective attack, if carried out well. It combines two elements: firepower, meaning that one team keeps firing mercilessly at the enemy, keeping his head down – as soon as he moves, he’ll exposed and you’ll kill him; and the other, maneuverability, meaning that another team keeps shifting position and can suddenly attack from an unexpected direction.

There are four main interesting effects of fire and maneuver.

• Surprise: One of the most crucial advantages you can get is the element of surprise. The enemy, who did not expect an attack at that time, from that direction, or in such numbers, will not be prepared; and it will take him time to judge the situation, get into position and defend himself. This gives you a crucial window of opportunity to act.
• Shock: When an attack is pressed, surprise may progress into shock, which is the inability to process information and make rational decisions from it. The enemy may be “stunned”; meaning he is unable to grasp the situation correctly and act accordingly. Responses carried out in shock may be wrong and may even aggravate the enemy’s situation. The faster you can be (i.e. maneuverability), the faster the situation will proceed, which may push the enemy even further; when he finally realizes the threat and counters it, the response it too late because you’ve already advanced, thus maintaining his state of shock.
• Suppression: The objective of maintaining a base of fire towards the enemy is a suppression of enemy activity. If he cannot move without being shot at, he may, simply out of fear of being harmed, remain passive. Suppression may be accomplished through direct firepower being brought against the enemy, or by threat – such as a well-concealed sniper who shoots at the enemy every time he looks out. Achieving suppression means that you can move in on the enemy position and act without him knowing it.
• Isolation: Correctly using fire and maneuver against the enemy will cause him to believe, eventually, that he is surrounded. The realization that he is cut off from his own forces and helpless, will in many cases cause him to surrender. Even large enemy forces may surrender if isolated and surrounded, which is of course far more effective than having to close with the enemy and eliminate him. The enemy does not have to be surrounded, but he must believe he is.

All of these effects are interesting because they are psychological. This is the purpose of fire and maneuver; at a sudden time and place bring such overwhelming firepower against him, while at the same time moving in with such speed, that the unprepared enemy (surprise) becomes unable to grasp the situation (shock), and unable to act (suppression) and ultimately isolated and surrounded.

The faster and more violent the attack is, the easier it will be to press this state on the enemy. This is one reason why armored vehicles in large contingents are so excellent; giving an operational maneuverability which will outperform the enemy.

This is part of the reason why, for instance, France collapsed in a few weeks in 1940. The German forces, suddenly breaking through the Ardenner forest, emerged in force with several armored corps and broke through the relatively weak defenses. Using their speed, they proceeded to cut straight through the Allied rear-echelon units (command and logistics) and cause havoc. The French and British were unprepared for this sudden, ferocious assault, shocked by its force and speed, suppressed by the overwhelming air attacks, and ultimately cut off and surrounded at Dunkirk.

(For more information, see Infantry Magazine: Fire and maneuver effects)