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==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] avantage, from Anglo-French, from avant before, from Late [[Latin]] abante
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 16th Century]
==Definitions==
*1: superiority of position or condition <higher ground gave the enemy the advantage>
*2: a [[factor]] or circumstance of benefit to its possessor <lacked the advantages of an [[education]]>
*3a : benefit, gain; especially : benefit resulting from some [[course]] of [[action]] <a mistake which turned out to our advantage>
:b obsolete : interest
*4: the first point won in tennis after deuce
— to advantage
: so as to produce a [[Favor|favorable]] impression or [[effect]] <[[wishing]] to be seen to advantage>
==Description==
An '''Advantage''' ''of terrain'' occurs when [[military]] personnel gain an advantage over an enemy utilizing, or [[simply]] in spite of, the terrain around them. The term does not exclusively apply to battles, and can be used more generally regarding entire [[campaigns]] or theaters of [[war]].
[[Mountain]]s, for example, can block off certain areas, making it unnecessary to station troops within the inaccessible area. This deployment [[strategy]] can be applied with other formidable [[environmental]] features as well, such as [[forest]]s and cliffs. In the former instance, dense vegetation can provide concealment for [[tactical]] movements such as setting up an ambush. In the latter, the elevation can provide an advantage to soldiers using projectile weapons, such as arrows or artillery pieces. Elevation itself is perhaps the most well-known example of terrain advantage, with [[gravity]] working to the advantage of the more elevated party.
While securing a terrain advantage is an important [[consideration]] for a modern commander, particularly those [[engaged]] in unconventional tactics such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_warfare guerrilla warfare], it was undoubtedly of even greater concern for pre-industrial forces, as lack of mobility and first [[generation]] warfare left soldiers very vulnerable to its [[effects]]. The [[ancient]] [[military]] strategist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun-Tzu Sun-Tzu], for example, [[dedicated]] an entire chapter in his [[influential]] treatise [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War The Art of War] to terrain and situational positioning.
[[Category: General Reference]]
==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] avantage, from Anglo-French, from avant before, from Late [[Latin]] abante
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 16th Century]
==Definitions==
*1: superiority of position or condition <higher ground gave the enemy the advantage>
*2: a [[factor]] or circumstance of benefit to its possessor <lacked the advantages of an [[education]]>
*3a : benefit, gain; especially : benefit resulting from some [[course]] of [[action]] <a mistake which turned out to our advantage>
:b obsolete : interest
*4: the first point won in tennis after deuce
— to advantage
: so as to produce a [[Favor|favorable]] impression or [[effect]] <[[wishing]] to be seen to advantage>
==Description==
An '''Advantage''' ''of terrain'' occurs when [[military]] personnel gain an advantage over an enemy utilizing, or [[simply]] in spite of, the terrain around them. The term does not exclusively apply to battles, and can be used more generally regarding entire [[campaigns]] or theaters of [[war]].
[[Mountain]]s, for example, can block off certain areas, making it unnecessary to station troops within the inaccessible area. This deployment [[strategy]] can be applied with other formidable [[environmental]] features as well, such as [[forest]]s and cliffs. In the former instance, dense vegetation can provide concealment for [[tactical]] movements such as setting up an ambush. In the latter, the elevation can provide an advantage to soldiers using projectile weapons, such as arrows or artillery pieces. Elevation itself is perhaps the most well-known example of terrain advantage, with [[gravity]] working to the advantage of the more elevated party.
While securing a terrain advantage is an important [[consideration]] for a modern commander, particularly those [[engaged]] in unconventional tactics such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_warfare guerrilla warfare], it was undoubtedly of even greater concern for pre-industrial forces, as lack of mobility and first [[generation]] warfare left soldiers very vulnerable to its [[effects]]. The [[ancient]] [[military]] strategist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun-Tzu Sun-Tzu], for example, [[dedicated]] an entire chapter in his [[influential]] treatise [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War The Art of War] to terrain and situational positioning.
[[Category: General Reference]]
