The Mandarin Duck Formation, an ancient and effective formation, is one of the tactics commonly used in ancient Chinese warfare. It is characterized by the fact that in the event of an engagement, through the different arrangements and coordination of soldiers, the maximum combat effect is achieved.
The following is a detailed description of the Mandarin Duck Formation:
1. The basic composition of the formation:
Striker: The main duty of the striker is to disrupt the enemy army, attract the attention of the enemy army, and at the same time create conditions for the offensive of the Chinese army. They usually consist of faster, lighter soldiers, such as light infantry or cavalry. These soldiers are armed with spears, knives, etc., and light ** to quickly defeat the enemy's front-line troops.
Chinese Army: The Chinese Army is the main body of the Mandarin Duck Formation, mainly composed of the main soldiers. Their task is to launch an offensive against the enemy's main forces under the cover of the forward, using spears, broadswords and other heavy **. Chinese soldiers usually have high combat qualities and experience and are able to play a key role on the battlefield.
Backup: Backup is the last line of defense of the Mandarin Duck formation, mainly composed of archers and artillery. Their mission is to provide fire support while the Chinese army is engaged with the enemy, while preventing the enemy from breaking through the defensive line. Backup soldiers need to have high shooting skills and observation skills in order to accurately hit the target.
2. Battle Strategy:
The battle strategy of the Mandarin Duck Formation mainly includes the following aspects:
Separate and combined attacks: When the enemy attacks in a dense formation, the Chinese army can use the "long snake formation" to meet the enemy. The Striker uses his speed advantage to cut through the enemy's front-line troops, splitting them into several parts;The main force of the Chinese army used spears, broadswords and other heavy ** to launch an attack to disrupt the enemy's formation;The backup provided fire support to assist the Chinese army in completing the attack.
Guerrilla raids: When the enemy forces are scattered and deployed, the Mandarin Duck Formation adopts the strategy of "guerrilla raids". The striker uses the advantage of mobility to harass the enemy and exhaust the enemy;The main forces of the Chinese army kept their distance and waited for the enemy to become tired or flawed before attackingReinforcement continues to provide fire support, but care is also taken to prevent enemy surprise attacks.
Flexible change: The formation of the Mandarin Duck Formation can be flexibly changed according to the battlefield situation. For example, when the enemy uses pikemen as the main force, the Chinese army can use a "phalanx" to counter;When the enemy uses archers, the backup can be adjusted to a "rain of arrows" to counterattack. This flexible strategy allows the Mandarin Duck Array to exert maximum effectiveness in a variety of combat conditions.
3. Advantages and limitations:
Advantages: The Mandarin Duck Formation makes full use of the characteristics and advantages of different types of soldiers, making the entire formation highly mobile and flexible. The close coordination and mutual cover between the forward, the center and the support have improved the overall combat effectiveness. In addition, the Mandarin Duck Array can adapt to various battlefield environments and enemy situations, and has a wide range of applicability.
Limitations: The Mandarin Duck Array also has its limitations and shortcomings. For example, if there is a hole in the striker or back-up, the entire formation may be broken. In addition, this formation requires a high level of quality and training for soldiers, and it is difficult to master and apply it in a short period of time. Therefore, the Mandarin Duck Formation needs to be treated with caution in the process of training and application.
4. Application and Impact:
The Mandarin Duck Formation was widely used in ancient Chinese warfare and was a very effective tactical strategy. This formation had a profound impact on later military thought, such as "The Art of War" and other classic military works have mentioned tactical strategies similar to the mandarin duck formation. In addition, the Mandarin Duck Formation has also had a certain influence on the troop formation and combat strategy in modern warfare, showing its historical and cultural value.