plural The employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each otherJoint Publication 1-02 U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms; 12 April 2001 (As Amended Through 14 April 2006)
[noun]: the military science that deals with securing objectives set by strategy, especially the technique of deploying and directing troops, ships and aircraft in effective maneuvers against an enemy [Theme]
( 1) The employment of units in combat and (2) the ordered arrangement and maneuver of units in relation to each other and/ or to the enemy in order to use their full potentialities
In warfare, the art and science of fighting battles. It is concerned with the approach to combat, placement of troops, use made of weapons, vehicles, ships, or aircraft, and execution of movements for attack or defense. In general, tactics deal with the problems encountered in actual fighting. Tactical thinking attempts to coordinate personnel with the existing weapons technology and apply both to the terrain and enemy forces in a way that uses the fighting force to best advantage. Deployment involves placing each type of weapon where it can do the most damage to the enemy or provide the most protection to one's own forces. Timing and direction of attack are also important considerations. At sea, direction was especially crucial in the era of wind-powered warships. In recent wars, timing has been a crucial factor in mounting airborne strikes that take advantage of the element of surprise. See also strategy
n 1 Decisions that are based primarily on current situations and short-term goals adj ical 2 In a wargaming sense, using a low level of abstraction to simulate conflict For example, using counters to depict individual soldiers or squads instead of platoons or battalions