Flying wedge

United States Marines pose in a wedge formation in 1918.

A flying wedge (flying V or 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 (sometimes called the "boar's head") to smash through an enemy's lines. This principle was later used by Medieval armies in Europe, as well modern armed forces that have adapted the V-shaped wedge for armored assault.

In modern times the effectiveness of flying wedge means it is still employed by civilian police services for riot control. It has also been used in some sports, although the use of wedges is banned due to the danger it poses to defenders.

Military

Antiquity and Medieval periods

Tactic principles of the Flying Wedge.

The wedge (έμβολον, embolon in Greek; cuneus in Latin, colloquially also caput porcinum, "boar's head"), was used by both infantry and cavalry. The men deployed in a triangular or trapezoid formation with the tip leading the way. According to Arrian and Asclepiodotus, the wedge was first used by the Scythians, and then the Thracians. Philip II of Macedon adopted it from them as the main formation of his Companion cavalry and Alexander the Great faced Persian cavalry arrayed thus, as Arrian attests. The use of this formation enabled the concentration of missiles against a limited front and thus was used not only to smash into the enemy line, but to also add to the effectiveness of long range, usually hurled weapons like javelins and hand axes. As an infantry formation it is attested by Frontinus to have been used by the Romans in Pydna against the Macedonian line of Perseus. It was also used to great effect by the Roman legions, with the wedge proving effective in campaigns in Britain, such as during Boudicca's Revolt, where a greatly outnumbered Roman army used it to defeat the Iceni. In the Late Roman army, several cavalry units were designated as cuneus [equitum].

A complete description of an infantry wedge is given by Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum. He depicts it as a formation 10 men deep with the first rank being composed of 2 men, each rank composed of 2 more. Thus, each Viking wedge was composed of 110 men, 10 deep, 2 men on its tip, and 20 on its base. According to the Vikings, the wedge formation, called by them svinfylking, cf. the Latin caput porcinum, was invented by Odin himself.

Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phocas analyzes the wedge formation of the Byzantine Cataphracts in the third chapter of his Praecepta Militaria. There, he relates that the wedge must be formed by 354 cataphracts and 150 horse archers to a total number of 504 men. The row of the first line comprised 20 horsemen, the second 24, the third 28, down to the 12th line, which consisted of 64 men. If such a number of men is not available, he proposes that the wedge be formed by 304 cataphracts and 80 horse archers, or a total of 384 men, the first line comprising 10 men. In his next chapter (Ordinance on Cavalry Deployment), he ordains that the wedge must be accompanied by two cavalry units, which will guard its flanks. A wedge whose ranks are not complete in the middle is shaped as an Λ instead of a Δ and is called a hollow wedge, or in Greek κοιλέμβολον, koilembolon.

In the Middle Ages, the tactic was especially effective against defensive shield wall formations when defenders would link their shields together to form an all-but impenetrable barrier. Armored, heavily-armed infantry could use their momentum in wedge formation to drive open small sections in the shield wall. This would break up the shield wall exposing the defenders to flank attacks. The wedge became a popular tactic employed by Viking and Germanic peoples.

Modern warfare

The wedge is still used in modern armies, especially by tanks and other armored units. An example of this is the Panzerkeil or "armored wedge" used by the Germans in World War II.

The wedge formation is used ceremonially by cadets at the United States Air Force Academy during the annual graduation parade, when the soon-to-be commissioned first-class cadets (seniors) leave the Cadet Wing. This is the reverse of the acceptance parade, held each fall, when the new fourth-class cadets (freshmen) join the Cadet Wing in the inverted wedge formation.

Civilian applications

Riot police employing the flying wedge.

Police riot squads sometimes charge in flying wedge formations, to break into a dense crowd as a snatch squad to arrest a leader or speaker, or to chop a long demonstration march into segments. It can also be used to escort VIP's through hostile crowds.

Sports

Although originally permitted in most full contact team sports, the use of the flying wedge is now banned for safety reasons in Rugby union, Rugby league and American football. The principle is similar to the military application, the ball carrier starts an attack and is joined on both sides by team mates who drive them forward towards the goal line. However due to the number of serious injuries related to the flying wedge, any attempt at this formation is now punished by in-game penalties.

In American football, the formation was first introduced by Harvard in an collegiate game against Yale in 1892. But despite its practicality, it was outlawed two seasons later in 1894 because of its contribution to serious injury. Nevertheless its concept continued to influence several football plays in the modern game, until 2009 when NFL league owners agreed to strengthen its ban to completely disallow any type of blocking wedge formation.

See also

• V formation
• Inverted wedge

Notes

External links

• Description and image of a sporting Flying Wedge