Night operations (military)
Encyclopedia
Night operations are military activity performed in the very low light environments, typically at night. Due to restricted visibility, until recently night operations were among the most difficult for troops to perform tasks and carry out missions, and were rarely undertaken.
The shinobi
of feudal Japan were experts of night operation.
In 1453, the Byzantines launched a night attack during the Fall of Constantinople
, using a powder keg to blow up a Turkish siege tower
.
In 1462, during a Turkish invasion of Wallachia
, Voievode Vlad III Dracula launched The Night Attack
, with great tactical
success.
Carl von Clausewitz
in his classic On War
briefly describes night operations, and points out the difficulties of launching them. There are many psychological factors that influence night operations.
The Soviet Union made the widest use of night operations during World War II as a means of securing the element of surprise.
The shinobi
Shinobi
Shinobi is the Japanese word for male ninja. It may also refer to:*Shinobi , a series of video games**Shinobi , the original video game in the series developed by Sega**Shinobi , the PlayStation 2 sequel...
of feudal Japan were experts of night operation.
In 1453, the Byzantines launched a night attack during the Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
, using a powder keg to blow up a Turkish siege tower
Siege tower
A siege tower is a specialized siege engine, constructed to protect assailants and ladders while approaching the defensive walls of a fortification. The tower was often rectangular with four wheels with its height roughly equal to that of the wall or sometimes higher to allow archers to stand on...
.
In 1462, during a Turkish invasion of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
, Voievode Vlad III Dracula launched The Night Attack
The Night Attack
The Night Attack of Târgovişte was a skirmish fought between forces of Vlad III the Impaler of Wallachia and Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire on Thursday, June 17, 1462. The conflict initially started with Vlad's refusal to pay the Jizya to the Sultan and intensified when Vlad Ţepeş invaded...
, with great tactical
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
success.
Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz
Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier and German military theorist who stressed the moral and political aspects of war...
in his classic On War
On War
Vom Kriege is a book on war and military strategy by Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz , written mostly after the Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, and published posthumously by his wife in 1832. It has been translated into English several times as On War...
briefly describes night operations, and points out the difficulties of launching them. There are many psychological factors that influence night operations.
The Soviet Union made the widest use of night operations during World War II as a means of securing the element of surprise.
External links
- http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Sasso/SASSO.asp
- http://blackmarketpress.net/info/books/Nightmovement.htm
- http://www.nightvision2020.com