grand tactics

Grand tactics, a term coined around 1780, referred to the conduct of major battles. This concept has largely been replaced by the operational level of war, as pitched battles between main forces are no longer common. Tactics, in general, involve the art of fighting and disposing forces. The word originates from the Greek "taxis," meaning order or arrangement.1

Fundamental principles of tactics, like strategy, are eternal. They stem from the interaction of two independent wills aiming to destroy each other while avoiding destruction. This can be achieved through force (concentration of resources) or guile (dispersion and deception). A key tactical principle is to create a dilemma for the enemy, forcing them into unfavorable choices.2