A tactical formation is the arrangement or deployment of moving military forces such as infantry

Infantry tactics

Infantry tactics are the combination of military concepts and methods used by infantry to achieve tactical objectives during combat. The role of the infantry on the battlefield is typically to close with the enemy and kill or capture him and infantry tactics are the means by which this is achieved...

, cavalry

Cavalry tactics

For much of history , humans have used some form of cavalry for war. Cavalry tactics have evolved over time...

, AFVs

Armoured fighting vehicle

An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....

, military aircraft

Military aircraft

A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:...

, or naval

Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...

 vessels. Formations were found in tribal societies such as the "pua rere" of the Māori, and ancient or medieval formations which include shield wall

Shield wall

The wall, is a military tactic that was common in many cultures in the Pre-Early Modern warfare age...

s (skjaldborg in Old Norse

Old Norse

Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....

), phalanxes

Phalanx formation

The phalanx is a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons...

 (lines of battle in close order

Close order formation

A close order formation is a military tactical formation wherein soldiers are close together and regularly arranged for the tactical concentration of force. At about the time of the U.S. Civil War , such combat formations of soldiers became unnecessary, when improved small arms and artillery made...

), Testudo formation

Testudo formation

In Ancient Roman warfare, the testudo or tortoise formation was a formation used commonly by the Roman Legions during battles, particularly sieges. Testudo is the Latin word for "tortoise"...

 and skirmishers

Light infantry

Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...

.
Tactical formations include:

• Column
  Column (formation)
  A military column is a formation of soldiers marching together in one or more files in which the file is significantly longer than the width of ranks in the formation...
  
  
• Line
  Line (formation)
  The line formation is a standard tactical formation which has been used in Early modern warfare.It continues the phalanx formation or shield wall of infantry armed with polearms in use during antiquity and the Middle Ages....
  
  
• Square
  Infantry square
  An infantry square is a combat formation an infantry unit forms in close order when threatened with cavalry attack.-Very early history:The formation was described by Plutarch and used by the Romans, and was developed from an earlier circular formation...
  
  
• Wedge
  Flying wedge
  A flying wedge is a configuration created from a body moving forward in a triangular formation. This V-shaped arrangement began as a successful military strategy in ancient times when infantry units would move forward in wedge formations to smash through an enemy's lines...
  
  
• Echelon
  Echelon formation
  An echelon formation is a military formation in which members are arranged diagonally. Each member is stationed behind and to the right , or behind and to the left , of the member ahead...
  
  
• Vee
• Staggered column
  Staggered column
  Staggered column is a military formation often used for walking along roads where squad members will walk in a zig-zag pattern.-References:http://www.tpub.com/content/armychemicaloperations/cm3300b/cm3300b0047.htm...
  
  
• Coil
• Herringbone
  Herringbone (formation)
  Herringbone is a military formation where one member of the squad at the front faces forwards, then all members behind alternate facing left-right-left-right until the member at the back who faces backwards. When the squad moves the person next to the person facing backwards will tap the person...
  
  

A vanguard

Avant-garde

Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....

, also known as Avant-garde in French, is the forward element of a column formation, and the rear-guard is the rear-most element of the column formation.
In naval use only "van" and "rear" are applied to a formation of ships sailing in column.

Examples of military aircraft tactical formations are the vee formation

Vee formation

A V formation is the symmetric V-shaped flight formation of flights of geese, ducks, and other migratory birds. V formations are also used on military flight missions.-Aerodynamics:...

, echelon

Echelon formation

An echelon formation is a military formation in which members are arranged diagonally. Each member is stationed behind and to the right , or behind and to the left , of the member ahead...

, the combat box

Combat box

The Combat box was a tactical formation used by heavy bombers of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. The combat box was also referred to as a "staggered formation"...

, and the finger-four

Finger-four

The "Finger-four" formation , is a flight formation used by fighter aircraft. It consists of four aircraft, and four of these formations can be combined into a squadron formation.- Description :...

 (also known as the "fluid four.")

A tactical formation is not to be confused with military organization

Military organization

Military organization is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer military capability required by the national defence policy. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nation's armed forces...

 or the table of organization and equipment

Table of Organization and Equipment

A table of organization and equipment is a document published by the U.S. Department of Defense which prescribes the organization, staffing, and equippage of units. Also used in acronyms as 'T/O' and 'T/E'....

 (TOE).

See also

• Laager
• Close order formation
  Close order formation
  A close order formation is a military tactical formation wherein soldiers are close together and regularly arranged for the tactical concentration of force. At about the time of the U.S. Civil War , such combat formations of soldiers became unnecessary, when improved small arms and artillery made...
  
  

Wikipedia Tactical Formations Category

Sources

• Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vols. 1-19, 1892–1910