Military tactics (Greek: Taktikē, the art of organizing an army) 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.

Before the nineteenth century, many military tactics were confined to battlefield concerns, such as how to best maneuver units during combat in open terrain. In current military thought, tactics are the lowest level of planning, involving small units ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred men. Units are organized into formations, comprising a higher level of planning known as the operational use of forces. The third tier of military planning is strategic, which is concerned with the overall means and plan for achieving a long-term outcome. Operational warfare is thus an intermediate level in which the aim is to convert the strategy (highest level) into tactics (lowest level of planning).#wikipedia

Defensive tactics

German defensive squad tactics stressed the importance of integration with larger plans and principles in posts scattered in depth. A Gruppe was expected to dig in at 30 to 40 meters (33-45yd) (the maximum that a squad leader could effectively oversee). Other cover such as single trees and crests were said to attract too much enemy fire and were rarely used. While digging, one member of the squad was to stand sentry. Gaps between dug-in squads may be left, but covered by fire. The placing of the machine gun was key to the German squad defence, which was given several alternative positions, usually being placed 50 meters (55yd) apart.

Pairs of soldiers were deployed in foxholes, trenches, or ditches. The pair stood close together in order to communicate with each other. The small sub-sections would be slightly separated, thus decreasing the effect of enemy fire. If the enemy did not immediately mobilize, the second stage of defense, entrenching, was employed. These trenches were constructed behind the main line where soldiers could be kept back under cover until they were needed.

The defensive firefight was conducted by the machine gun at an effective range while riflemen were concealed in their foxholes until the enemy assault. Enemy grenades falling on the squad's position were avoided by diving away from the blast or by simply throwing or kicking the grenade back. This tactic was very dangerous and U.S. sources report American soldiers losing hands and feet this way.

In the latter part of the war, emphasis was put on defense against armored vehicles. Defensive positions were built on a "tank-proof obstacle" composed of at least one anti-tank weapon as well as artillery support directed by an observer. To intercept enemy tanks probing a defensive position, squads often patrolled with an anti-tank weapon.#wikipedia

SEAL Team One

SEAL Team ONE is based in Coronado, CA. Commanded by a Navy Commander (O-5), it has eight operational SEAL platoons and a headquarters element. SEAL Team ONE’s geographic area of concentration is Southeast Asia. SEAL Team ONE deploys platoons to Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE in Guam and conducts Deployments for Training (DFTs) throughout the Pacific and Central theaters.

History

SEAL Team One was commissioned on 1 January 1962. The majority of Team One's plankowners were drawn from the ranks of Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) 11 and 12. Already skilled in underwater demolition and diving techniques, the men were soon sent to a wide variety of military schools in order to obtain the skills that would be required of small infantry units operating in the jungle. Having been restricted to near shore operations while with the UDTs, the SEALs would be expected to move further inland than any previous naval commando unit. This required an entirely new focus.

Almost immediately after its founding, two officers were sent to Vietnam to determine in what capacity the new force could provide both the Vietnamese and U.S. forces in-country. This month-long survey resulted in the recommendation that the naval commandos provide traning for Mobile Training Team 7. In March, this mission was expanded and two SEALs were sent for a six month tour to train Vietnamese in clandestine military operations. Shortly thereafter, SEAL Team One would join Team Two in providing a steady stream of advisors for the Mobile Training Teams (MTT). The MTTs would prove invaluable tools for instructing other Vietnamese units in the techniques of jungle warfare and related skills.

It was also at this time - around 1962-63 - that SEAL Team One personnel were detached from the Teams to serve with the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Operations Group (SOG).

SEAL Team One would continue to contribute heavily to the U.S. forces in Vietnam until the withdrawal of forces in 1975. Official Navy estimates concluded that One was responsible for 1,000 confirmed kills, and 370 probables. Additionally, three SEALs were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in the Vietnam War, all from Team One:

	LT Tom Norris
	LTJG Joseph Kerrey
	EN2 Thornton

Other SEAL Team One Deployments of Note:

May 1975 - SEAL Team One would again be called on following the capture of the SS Mayaguez, a container vessel, off the coast of Cambodia. Delta Platoon, based in Subic Bay, Philippines, was placed on alert in the event a rescue mission was initiated.

1982 - Platoon from ST1 assisted U.S. Secret Service agents in the protection of Queen Elizabeth during the West Coast portion of her tour in the United States.

U.S. Navy SEALs

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

posted by Jiri Wagner

F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night and in all weather conditions.

The F-14 can track up to 24 targets simultaneously with its advanced weapons control system and attack six with Phoenix AIM-54A missiles while continuing to scan the airspace. Armament also includes a mix of other air intercept missiles, rockets and bombs.

The Grumman F-14, the world's premier air defense fighter, was designed to replace the F-4 Phantom II fighter (phased out in 1986). F-14s provided air cover for the joint strike on Libyan terrorist targets in 1986. The F-14A was introduced in the mid-1970s. The upgraded F-14A+ version, with new General Electric F-110 engines, now widespread throughout the fleet, is more than a match for enemy fighters in close-in, air combat

General characteristic F-14D
Primary function	Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter
Contractor	Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Power plant	Two General Electric F-110-GE-400 augmented turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust	2x 27,000 lb		2x 120.7 kN
Length	61 ft 9 in		19.10 m
Height	16 ft		4.88 m
Wingspan	minimum	64 ft	19.54 m
	maximum	38 ft	11.65 m
Wingarea	565 sq ft		52.49 sq m
Weight	empty	41,780 lb	18,951 kg
	gross	64,093 lb	29,072 kg
	max. takeoff	74,350 lb	33,724 kg
Ceiling	53,000 ft		16,150 m
Max. speed	1,242 mph		1,998 km/h
Comat radius	1,240 miles		1,996 km
Crew	Two (pilot and radar intercept officer)
Armament	Up to 13,000 pounds of AIM-54 Phoenix missile, AIM-7 Sparrow missile, AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, air-to-ground ordnance, and one MK-61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon
Unit cost	$38 million
Date deployed	1971