A surprise attack is a military tactic in which an attacking force takes the enemy by surprise, usually by launching a sudden and unexpected offensive. The three crossword solutions for this term are RAID (4 letters), AMBUSH (6 letters), and ONSET (5 letters). RAID is a type of surprise attack in which a military force quickly enters an area to capture or destroy targets. An AMBUSH is a surprise attack from a concealed position, often involving the use of firearms. ONSET is the beginning of an attack, usually referring to the initial stage of a surprise attack.