Editing Hit-and-run tactics (section)

{{short description|Military doctrine of evasive attacks}}
{{About|military tactics||Hit and run (disambiguation)}}
[[File:JGSDF Type73 Light Truck 20081025-2.JPG|thumb|upright=1.35|A [[Japan Ground Self-Defense Force]] military light truck armed with a [[heavy machine gun]] for anti-personnel harassment operations.]]
[[File:Wearing of the gray; being personal portraits, scenes and adventures of the war (1867) (14739731186).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|[[Jeb Stuart]]'s cavalry performed a series of raids around [[George McClellan]]'s army in the [[Seven Days Battles]] by using hit-and-run tactics.]]

'''Hit-and-run tactics''' are a [[Military tactics|tactical]] [[doctrine]] of using short surprise attacks, withdrawing before the enemy can respond in force, and constantly maneuvering to avoid full engagement with the enemy. The purpose is not to [[decisive victory|decisively defeat]] the enemy or capture territory but to weaken enemy forces over time through [[raid (military)|raids]], harassment, and [[skirmishing]] and limiting risk to friendly forces. Such tactics can also expose enemy defensive weaknesses and achieve a psychological effect on the enemy's [[morale]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brunnstrom |first=David |date=2011-04-12 |title=NATO expects hit and run tactics by Gaddafi |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-nato-idUSTRE73B3TU20110412 |access-date=2023-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Cadde |first=Aweys |date=2012-02-09 |title=Renewed Fighting in Hosingow |url=https://piracyreport.com/index.php/post/2744/Renewed_Fighting_in_Hosingow |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130614205727/http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/2744 |archivedate=2013-06-14 |accessdate=2013-06-15 |publisher=Somalia Report}}</ref>

Hit-and-run is a favored tactic where the enemy overmatches the attacking force and any sustained combat is to be avoided, such as [[guerrilla warfare]], militant [[resistance movement]]s, and [[terrorism]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Ibrahim |first=Abdifitah |date=2011-04-26 |title=Hit-And-Run Tactics Shows Insurgent Weakness |url=http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/611/Hit-And-Run_Tactics_Show_Insurgent_Weakness |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130616073932/http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/611/Hit-And-Run_Tactics_Show_Insurgent_Weakness |archivedate=2013-06-16 |accessdate=2013-06-15 |publisher=Somalia Report}}</ref> However, 
[[regular army]] forces often employ hit-and-run tactics in the short term, usually in preparation for a later full-scale engagement with the enemy when and where conditions are more favorable. Examples of the latter include [[commando]] or other [[special forces]] attacks, [[reconnaissance-in-force]], or [[sortie]]s from a fortress, castle, or other [[strongpoint]]. Hit-and-run tactics were also used by the lightly-armed [[horse archer]]s, typical of the [[Eurasian steppe]] peoples, who excelled at them. That holds especially true for such troops that were not part of a large army (such as [[reconnaissance|scouting parties]]), but it was common to see them employed in such a way even as part of a major force.