Shock tactics

The acceptance of a higher degree of risk to attain a decisive result is intrinsic to shock actions.

After the introduction of firearms, the use of the cavalry charge as a common military tactic waned.

Infantry shock action required the holding of fire until the enemy was in very close range, and was used in defence as well as attack.

[1] The favorite tactic of the Duke of Wellington was for the infantry to fire a volley and then give a loud cheer and charge.

World War I saw the infantry charge at its worst, when masses of soldiers made frontal, and often disastrous, attacks on entrenched enemy positions.