Hasty attack Hasty attack is a specific form of attack identified within United States and Canadian military doctrine , in which upon contact with an enemy that is unprepared a unit decides to conduct an attack with limited planning and coordination and with rapid preparation and execution to exploit an enemy ' s weakness . Though applicable to infantry operations historically and in modern times , hasty attacks are a hallmark of mechanized force operations . During the Civil War , the command for a hasty attack was " sally forth " . FM 17 - 97 , the United States Army field manual for Cavalry Troop operations , defines it as : " A hasty attack is conducted with a minimum of preparation to defeat an enemy force that is not prepared or deployed to fight . It is a course of action routinely employed in cavalry operations to seize or retain the initiative , or to sustain the tempo of operations . A hasty attack can be executed while the troop is engaged with a zone reconnaissance mission or movement to contact . " The hasty attack stands in contrast to a " deliberate attack " , an offensive mission conducted to defeat enemy forces in prepared defensive positions or strongpoints , employing detailed tactical planning and rehearsal of the attack , or a " raid " which is an attack into enemy territory for a specific purpose , with no intent to gain or hold terrain , and where the unit returns to friendly lines after the attack . A textbook example of a hasty attack was the Battle of 73 Easting . There the cavalry troop commander Captain H . R . McMaster upon advancing into an Iraqi Armor Brigade assembly area ordered his unit to advance and engage the Iraqis , exploiting surprise and momentum to win a decisive victory over a much larger and heavily armed force . Critical tasks . In executing a successful hasty attack , the following tasks are considered critical : Hasty attack techniques . Successful hasty attacks rely much upon the commander ' s sense of timing in executing the critical tasks in the proper sequence . The ability to synchronize , concentrate and apply all the different forms of offensive capability available against the enemy at the right times and places is crucial to a good hasty attack . The decision to conduct a hasty attack is usually made after reconnaissance of an enemy force shows that the element of surprise has presented a compelling opportunity or winning requires a quick strike with little preparation . According to FM 17 - 97 , tactics for conducting a hasty attack have three common features : Preparing for hasty attack . The commander may first become aware of the possibility for hasty attack when scouts in contact with the enemy recommend a hasty attack as a course of action . The unit commander may then decide to execute the recommended course of action . In that case the commander will then issue orders to position forces to execute an attack with minimal planning and preparation . Leading up to the hasty attack , the reconnaissance element in contact with the enemy will generally continue to reconnoiter the enemy ' s position and perform their tasks . Often one section will remain in contact with the enemy while another will continue its reconnaissance up to a limit of advance established by the commander . Both reconnaissance elements are looking for the presence of other enemy units , to the flanks or rear , supporting the objective enemy unit . Immediately prior to the attack the commander may choose to direct the battle from the position of the reconnaissance element in overwatch . In a hasty attack often a fire support team will be positioned in such a way that allows it to oversee the battlefield to control the indirect fire . Any organic fire support , like mortar sections , will establish firing positions and prepare to suppress the enemy position . The size and strength of the enemy may require the use of tank and / or anti - tank units .