File (formation)
A file is a military term for a number of troops drawn up in line ahead, i.e. one behind the other in a column. The number of files is the measure of the width of a column of troops in several ranks one behind the other.[1][2][3][4]
![](../I/m/U.S._army_troops_marching_in_single_file.jpg)
Troops from the U.S. and Bangladesh March in single file during a tactical training exercise during 2014.
Usage
Files are useful when troops don't know where the enemy is, since there are overlapping fields of fire from each soldier, and cover from a possible flanking attack. Files are at a disadvantage when there are heavy weapons nearby, supported by infantry, especially machine guns and tanks.[1][2]
Ancient Greek use
A file of men in the Greek phalanx was called a lochos (Greek: λόχος) and usually ranged from eight to sixteen men.[2][5][6]
gollark: Yes, I know, it's very exciting.
gollark: We got blue LEDs (→ LED lighting) and lithium ion batteries (→ ~every portable device and now cars) within about the same timeframe, I think.
gollark: (Specifically the replies to those)
gollark: (What advancements? See here (yes, I know, twitter, but the answers are good): https://mobile.twitter.com/jasoncrawford/status/1230975051916169217 https://mobile.twitter.com/josephflaherty/status/1230972996061450241 )
gollark: I see. I don't really agree with that view, since there actually is a decent amount of new non-computer tech, and you're also saying "excluding very fast growth in a highly impactful area, we haven't had progress".
References
- McNab, p. 55.
- Schwartz, p. 9
- Holbrook, p. 10.
- United States Army, p. 9.
- Duparcq, p. 16.
- Royal military panorama, p. 149.
Bibliography
- Royal military panorama, or, Officers' companion. 3. 1813. OCLC 8007063.
- Duparcq, Edouard Le Barre (1863). Elements of Military Art and History: Comprising the History and Tactics of the Separate Arms; the Combination of the Arms; and the Minor Operations of War. D. Vand Nostrand. OCLC 3104705
- Holbrook, John (1826). Military Tactics: Adapted to the Different Corps in the United States, According to the Latest Improvements. E. A. Clark. OCLC 3139910
- McNab, Chris (2007). Combat Techniques: An Elite Forces Guide to Modern Infantry Tactics. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-36824-1
- Schwartz, Richard B. (2008). Tactical Emergency Medicine. Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-7332-4
Web sources
- United States Army (2001). "Basic Formations, Movement Techniques, and Hand-and-Arm Signals" (PDF). global.security.org. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
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