What is Flanking maneuver?
[[File:Battle of Marathon Greek Double Envelopment.png|thumb|330px|The [[Battle of Marathon]], an example of the double-envelopment, a form of flanking maneuver]] [[File:Chancellorsville May2 small.png|thumb|350px|{{center|The [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], Jackson's flanking maneuver against Howard}}]] In [[military tactics]], a '''flanking maneuver''' (also called a '''flank attack'''), is an attack on the sides or rear of an opposing force.{{efn|A '''Flank''' is a military term for the sides or ends of a military formation.<ref>Thomas Wilhelm, ''A Military and Naval Encyclopædia: Comprising Ancient and Modern Military Terms'' (San Francisco, CA: Headquarters, Eighth infantry, United States army, 1879), p. 309</ref> Typically an enemy formation has a left flank and a right flank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flank |title=flank |author= |date= |website=The Free Dictionary |publisher=Farlex |accessdate=28 August 2016}}</ref>}} If a [[wiktionary:flank|flank]]ing [[Maneuver warfare|maneuver]] succeeds, the opposing force would be [[Envelopment|surround]]ed or have to fight from two or more directions. This reduces the ability of the outflanked force to move or defend itself. Unlike an [[envelopment]], which depends on the enemy's defensive position, any obstacles and the terrain, a flanking maneuver uses the enemy's forward movement to create an attackable flank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/5-71-2/chap3.htm |title=Offensive Operations |author= |date= |website= |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |accessdate=23 August 2016}}</ref> A [[wikt:psychological|psychological]] advantage may also be present. The [[confusion]] and [[threat]] from multiple directions can often cause shock and [[wikt:panic|panic]].<ref>John Hamilton, ''Turning Points of the American Revolution'' (Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Publishing Company, 2013), p. 30</ref> This may cause [[soldiers]] to run from the [[battle]]. A larger-scaled [[Military tactics|tactical]] flanking is cal