Flushing (military tactic)
Encyclopedia
Flushing is a military tactic whereby grenade
s, smoke
, gunfire
, riot control agent, chemical weapons
, or various other methods can be used to flush opponents out from cover
.
Flushing can cause opponents to leave their cover, possibly making them vulnerable to further action, or force them to take up a new position more favorable to the attacker, or disperse enemies completely. This generally makes it easier for the attacking force to deal with its opponents without unduly increasing the risk to themselves. It is mostly used in Urban combat through the use of hand grenades, or in situations where defenders are dug in a fortified position, such as a bunker, behind sandbags, or hiding in buildings.
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
s, smoke
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
, gunfire
Gunfire
Gunfire can refer to:* Gunshot, the discharge of a firearm* Gunfire , a DC comic book superhero* Gunfire , a 1934 Western starring Rex Bell* Gunfire , a 1950 Western starring Don "Red" Barry...
, riot control agent, chemical weapons
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
, or various other methods can be used to flush opponents out from cover
Cover (military)
In military combat, the concept of cover refers to anything which is capable of physically protecting an individual from enemy fire. This differentiates it from the similar concept of concealment, in that an object or area of concealment only affords the benefit of stealth, not actual protection...
.
Flushing can cause opponents to leave their cover, possibly making them vulnerable to further action, or force them to take up a new position more favorable to the attacker, or disperse enemies completely. This generally makes it easier for the attacking force to deal with its opponents without unduly increasing the risk to themselves. It is mostly used in Urban combat through the use of hand grenades, or in situations where defenders are dug in a fortified position, such as a bunker, behind sandbags, or hiding in buildings.