Flanking

[Bad_Intel]

In my personal opinion and experience - flanking is the most basic of all strategies in any attack: animal or human.

Without manouvering to the side of the enemy you are merely face to face with them and therefore in a neutral situation. A deviation in combat that you instigate in a flanking position - hopefully gains you an advantage in any engagement.

Its so simple that this probably sounds lame, but hey, think about it next time you are caught in a Mexican standoff.

[TS_Welshy]

Re: Flanking

just a little flanking story..

I remember a game at Xsite in High Wycombe.. we were defending these objectives.. and i spawned at the furthest back.. and took a little detour and found myself on the flank of the enemy trying to take a different objective. crept forward with my M4 through the bushes, and virtually all of their team was behind a big windmill. i sprayed in their direction, and at least 5 put their hands up and walked off.

I expected to be spotted and shot striaght after, but for some reason they paid no notice of me, I wasnt even well hidden. Crouched in the foliage, I watched as the 5 or 6 guys returned to the windmill where their team was sheltering from a firefight with our guys. I sprayed again, and moved forward a little way hoping to get more of them. got 5 or 6 AGAIN! Couldnt believe my luck, but then I was pointed out and received returning fire. got another 2 and then got hit.

Shows you how destructive flanking can be! (especially if the other team dont notice you!)

[Bad_Intel]

Re: Flanking

Good story. I had a similar one in paintball one time, crept up the game borderline through brambles etc and just waited until enemy were along a parallel line to me and then Rambo'd along that line taking out 4 sleeping souls and eventually going down with a shot to the hand, which welted up immediately and didnt go for about 3 weeks, which was a great talking point... about flanking.

Keep the stories coming!

[Zanzibar]

Re: Flanking

flanking ftw

[7.62mm]

Re: Flanking

I have found that in order to effectively flank an enemy you first need a base of fire to 'fix' the enemy in a position - taking cover and incapale to move and return fire to facilitate a flanking move.

In airsoft though, where frontlines are less than fixed it's easier to outflank an enemy because uniforms are generally very similar and people are slighly less tactically aware plus there is usually a lot of confusion.

[sheard]

Re: Flanking

youve got to be sneaky when flanking other wise it will be another haed to head face off just at a diferent angle.

[specialist]

Re: Flanking

I have found that in order to effectively flank an enemy you first need a base of fire to 'fix' the enemy in a position - taking cover and incapale to move and return fire to facilitate a flanking move.

In airsoft though, where frontlines are less than fixed it's easier to outflank an enemy because uniforms are generally very similar and people are slighly less tactically aware plus there is usually a lot of confusion.

Yes, putting down effective (or suppressive) fire is key and so is the route taken by the flanking team. Masking their egress with smoke is a good idea otherwise you're likely to hear the opfor shouting "they're flanking us" As usual speed and agression would go not go amiss either to save on ammo

Effective fire means at least pinning down the opfor seriously limiting their options - that should get their undivided attention at least long enough for the flanking team to get into position. A SAW / Support gunner putting down a good volume of fire (or large volume for suppressive fire) assisted by rifleman and a splash of pyro from a good position/angle should do it. When flanking team is in position the TL should make the call for the final phase of the attack.

Radio comms will help to coordinate the attack, minimise the chance of blue-on-blue and help to ensure a coordinated effort all round.

[Bad_Intel]

Re: Flanking

Well, I went to my 1st skirmish yesterday (sunday 22.03.09) and really enjoyed myself. I racked up over 20kills in 8 games and majority was through flanking. As Specialist said - supporting fire will cover any advancements. Also a strong firing position (high elevation, strong protective structure) will ensure you have some advantage in the situation.

I was personally lucky enough in my 1st game of the day to find a route around right flank of enemy and took to lying prone on a hill which overlooked about 50metres ahead towards a building and soft cover. One head popped up on an opposite brow, maybe 3metres shorter than our position and I took him down with semi-fire, with a headshot. Not knowing enemy numbers I asked a sound guy with a SAW to cover me and 2 others with AEGs to do the same. I flicked to Auto and did the rambo thing, ran up brow of their hill and found 6 enemies all clustered, talking, looking sheepish. Sprayed and prayed - hit 2 and then got my ass peppered. It was so much fun for my 1st game in my 1st skirmish.

This is more of a story than tactic discussion, but I do feel this invaluable tactic, when used at the right time and place can yield enemy takedowns, objective success and great amounts of fun.

Keep it coming!

[The Angry Goose]

Re: Flanking

I gennerally tend to go for the sneaky option and take a high flanking route. if you run into trouble, you generally have the higher ground and can defend a little better.

[BBear]

Re: Flanking

Flanking can be very usefull.

[BraveMau5]

Re: Flanking

You can look at flanking in two ways really..
1. Gaining the upper hand in an engagement by sweeping round and catching your enemy off guard, with the element of suprise.
2. Alternatively you could always use a flanking manouvere as a way of opening up another angle of attack, giving your enemy another thing to think about. Possibly a distraction maybe?

[Monkreadusuk]

Re: Flanking

After playing for almost a year and not doing too well, I borrowed a mates G36C and tried to rake on the stance of never staying still unless needed. Normally I sit on the front line, dig in and return fire. 90% of the time I get out ranges or out gunned. However this time I used the light and compact G36C and went off for a wander. Keeping low at all times and alert allowed me to get behind 10 or so of the other team and get close enough to hit them. I took aim and hit 5, the others ducked into cover and returned fire.

Now this is where I would usually dig in and hold position, in a kind of standoff. But I decided instead to back off and flank them. I did so, and again took out a few. I then fled into the pine forest and made my way to the hill (thier other obj). I sat hidden on the aide of the hill and waited for more to turn up. They arrived from where I had come fr and I got the lot. Because I was always relocating I could hear them shouting at thier own team for friendly fire. In the complete confusion I could take out more and more.

It proved to me how much flanking in airsoft works, and from now on, I will try and fla k whenever I can. If done well it can really confuse the other team (and yours, watch out fr FF) and can help win the game

[B.E.N.]

Re: Flanking

Flanking is obviously great as it causes the opposing force to divide their firepower and you minimise their cover.

Ideally you want to strike at once though...

[Scarface73]

Re: Flanking

Flanking can be a mixed blessing.

If you go too far out you can engage additional forces. If you stay too close in then you're spotted and then all you've done is extend you position and spread yoursleves thin but with the advantage of additional angles of fire.

Flanking is best put to use with a hit and run attack, ambush or on a fast fire and maneuver assault. Once you have a flank assault and kill, if the front do it as well you'll take out a team in minutes.

What usually happens is you just end up with multiple dug in semi-circles.

[Pete Holt]

Re: Flanking

This is a standard military doctrine in a firefight. Gain fire superiority, then Manouver into position so that the enemys flanks can be hit and their fire onto groups is split.
This allows the FSG to provide suppresion and the assault groups to move in and destroy the enemy.

This form of movement is normally supported by indirect fire.