Envelopment

Envelopment is a military maneuver in which a force seeks to surround an opponent by moving around its flanks and rear, with the objective of severing retreat and cutting supply lines. The tactic aims to apply pressure from multiple directions, turning a frontal clash into a controlled encirclement or a decisive knockout.

Practically, envelopment is achieved through turning movements, feints, and coordinated outflanking attacks that detach units to strike behind the enemy while other elements pin the front. Depending on execution, an envelopment can result in a partial surround or a complete encirclement that traps forces with limited options.

Historically, envelopment has been a defining instrument of maneuver warfare. The double envelopment at the Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) is cited as a classic example. In the Napoleonic era and in modern campaigns, commanders used turning movements and pincer-like operations to disrupt and defeat adversaries. In World War II, German forces frequently employed envelopment and related encirclement tactics to neutralize Allied and Soviet units.

Contemporary usage emphasizes timing, terrain, and logistics. Envelopment remains a risky but potentially decisive tactic, requiring rapid maneuver, secure communications, and the ability to prevent the enemy from breaking out of the encirclement or to exploit any gaps in the ring.

See also: encirclement, pincer movement, flank attack.