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About This Quiz
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." - Sun TzuÂ
Fighting should be avoided at all cost, but when you have to fight, it is always best to be ready and know exactly what you're doing. Do you know what effective military strategy is? Could you pass a quiz on it? Here's your chance to find out!Â
War has waged since the beginning of time, and though much of the style of fighting has changed, particularly in the last 200 hundred years, many of the tactics that were prevalent thousands of years ago still apply today. Over time, those tactics have only been added to or exploited further, as war has become both more efficient and deadly.Â
Are you an expert on military tactics, though? Could you lead an army into battle with the confidence of any of the great military leaders? Why not find out with this quiz?Â
If you're up for the challenge, get started and prove your knowledge of offensive and defensive military tactics!Â
When marching always send what ahead?
Tanks
Civilians
A scout
Scouts are supposed to travel light and fast. If they cross the enemy, sometimes they'll engage or harass the troops in order to slow them down.
The newest soldiers
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What's it called when one side has complete control over air warfare?
Air dominant
Eagles of the sky
Air supremecy
During World War II, the British Air Force was crucial against Germany. They managed to stop Germany from crossing the English Channel to conquer the last of Western Europe.
Kings of the sky
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What's it called when you win a war because you have more resources?
War of attrition
A war of attrition can be damaging to both sides. If the war rages long enough, even the victor will have a tough time recovering when it's over.
Resource management
Supply dominant
Full resources
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What was the German warfare strategy of using force and speed called during World War II?
Attack and destroy
Blitzkrieg
This strategy allowed Adolf Hitler to quickly conquer Western Europe. It was initially effective in Eastern Europe as well, but the Russian winters eventually slowed it down.
Annihilation​
Total war
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Which strategy is used against insurgents who take control of an area?
Clear and hold
Terrorism can be a form of insurgency. Terrorism is usually influenced by an ideology which must be combated as well.
Wipeout
Annihilation
Scorched earth
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What's another name for a strategy of military ambushes?
Hide and seek
Quick kill
Forrest ghost
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare​ was commonly used by North Vietnam in the Vietnam War. The guerrilla soldiers would use underground tunnels to help in their escape.
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What's it called when part of one army attacks the side of the opposing army?
Sideswipe
Corner hit
Flanking
During the American Civil War, Stonewall Jackson, a southern general, was killed during a flanking attack. This was a crucial blow to the Confederate Army.
Corner push
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This is when all of a country's resources are NOT devoted to a war.
Half war
Total war
Limited war
The Korean War was considered a limited war. The goal was not to defeat North Korea, but to protect South Korea.
Patrial war
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What's it called when you try to break through the enemy's line of attack?
Ramming
Penetration
Penetration can be crucial during a retreat. During the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee failed to penetrate the Union Army while retreating from Petersburg and was forced to surrender at Appomattox Court House.
Center blow
Forced attack
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What's it called when an army flanks both sides of an attacking enemy army?
Into the jaws
Pincer movement
One of the earliest uses of the pincer movement occurred at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. During this battle, the outnumbered Athenian army defeated the superior Persian army.
U boat
Horseshoe
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This is when you cut off an enemy from leaving their fortified position or receiving any resources.
Scorched earth
Infiltrate
Envelopment
Siege
The longest siege in history lasted 22 years. It occurred in the 17th century when the Ottoman Empire placed 60,000 troops around Candia.
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What's it called when an entire nation and its resources are dedicated to winning a war?
Full war
Max war
Total war
Germany was committed to a total war in World War II. The entire country had responsibilities related to the war.
Cold war
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Where do you attack the enemy in a turning maneuver?
Right
Left
Side and center
Rear
A turning maneuver helps separate enemies from their defensive positions. This leaves the enemy with nowhere to retreat.
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What's it called when you pull your flank back to avoid losing it to the enemy?
Weakside
Refusing the flank
Refusing the flank can be a dangerous maneuver. It leaves one side of your formation weak against an enemy attack.
Heavy side
Hold corner
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This is when you destroy anything useful to the enemy while you advance through their territory.
Wipe out
Scorched earth
William Sherman used this strategy during his "March to the Sea" near the end of the Civil War. The one city he didn't destroy was Savannah, Georgia, which he promised as a gift to Abraham Lincoln.
Total destruction
Resource drain
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What's it called when you try to force an enemy into a confined area?
Close quarters
Tight confines
Entrap
Choke point
Choke points are created by the natural environment. A valley on land or a strait at sea are two examples.
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What's the name of the strategy that tries to wear an enemy down over time instead of launching frontal assaults?
Fabian strategy
The Fabian strategy is named after Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus. He was a Roman general during the Roman Republic.
Caesar strategy
Roman maneuver
Hannibal tactic
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What's it called when you try to gain information about the enemy?
Sonar
Intel
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance missions rely on stealth. Therefore, the soldiers usually carry very little supplies with them.
Info mission
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This is when part of your forces attack while the others try to gain a more favorable position.
Fire and movement
Napoleon Bonaparte believed nothing was more important than time and space in battle. He particularly emphasized time.
Search and cover
Hit and run
Attack and run
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What's it called when your flank defeats the enemy's flank then begins to surround the enemy?
Broken flank
Envelopment
The longest war in history was the Hundred Years War fought between Britain and France. The war was actually longer than a 100 years, though.
Turned side
Encircled camp
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This is when you make a surprise attack on an enemy who is entrenched.
Trench assault
Hole crashing
Trench raiding
Trench warfare defined World War I. During the war, thousands of miles of trenches were carved out in Europe.
Into the grave
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What is large scale bombing of a select area of land called?
Select bombing
Group bombing
Planned bombing
Carpet bombing
Carpet bombing is meant to shorten a war. However, it can also be very damaging to both the environment and civilians.
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What's another name for a triangular formation?
Pointed formation
Wedge formation
In the United States, the Department of Defense is the largest employer in the country. It has more than 3 million employees.
Three-sided formation
House formation
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This is a supporting unit that provides cover fire for an advancing unit.
Bunker unit
Back unit
Base of fire
There are five branches in the United States military. They are the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.
Fire unit
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Is low ground or high ground a better defensive position?
High ground
High ground has many strategic advantages. If the enemy has the high ground, it's best to draw them away from their position.
Low ground
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What is a device set up to kill someone by suprise called?
Trick attack
Surprise trap
Undercover trap
Booby trap
Land mines are considered booby traps. Land mine fields were commonly used throughout World War II.
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What are you trying to avoid in a hit-and-run?
Retaliation
The war between the United States and Russia was known as the Cold War. This was because there was no direct conflict despite economic and political conflict.
Losing ground
Attacking enemy resources
Getting out safely
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What is it called when navy ships surround an enemy's port?
Sea hold
Port block
Blockade
The Union used blockades to put a strangle hold on the Confederacy during the Civil War. The strategy was known as the Anaconda Plan.
Ocean wall
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This is a term for building several fortifications around an enemy fortification during a seige?
Battalia
Circumvallation
The Siege of Vicksburg was a famous siege during the Civil War. It was executed by Ulysses S. Grant after he failed to capture the city by storm.
Column
Defilade
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What's another name for a deceptive movement where you fake-out your opponent?
Scuttling
Sortie
Vedette
Feint
During the Civil War, both armies made fake guns to trick the opposing side. These guns were often made of painted logs.
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This is when you sneak soldiers inside an enemy fortress.
Hide and seek
Infiltrate
One famous case of infiltration was during the Trojan War. During the war, the Greeks used a fake wooden horse to sneak inside the city of Troy.
Undercover
Break-in​
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What's it called when you lure an enemy into an attack?
Suprise attack
Pull and kill
Bait and bleed
In the video game, Call of Duty, this is known as "camping." It is one of the most hated tactics.
Hide and kill
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Why fight a battle of annihilation?
Quick victory
The Battle of Cannae is an example of a battle of annihilation. The battle saw the forces of Carthage defeat the Romans in a decisive victory.
Avoid using soldiers
Avoid using resources
Drain your enemies resources slowly
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This is when you scare the enemy into surrendering.
Scare attack
Fright attack
Shock and awe
The dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan is considered an extreme case of shock and awe. After the second bomb, Japan was forced to surrender.
Fear attack
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What's NOT a reason for the divide and conquer strategy?
Split the enemies command post
Turn enemies against each other
Defeat the enemy's forces separately
Defeat the enemy in one battle
The divide and conquer strategy was often used in the Middle East. Division was typically easy because of religious differences.
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You Got:
/35
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