Herringbone

In military parlance, Herringbone is a method used by a vehicle Convoy to stop by the side of a road without obstructing that road, and while providing plenty of space for each vehicle and its dismounting passengers.

To perform a Herringbone, the first vehicle in the convoy turns off-road and quickly comes to a complete stop; and the next vehicle behind it does the same - except on the opposite side of the road. Each vehicle repeats this alternating pattern. Thus, if vehicle 1 stops right of the road, then vehicle 2 stops on the left, 3 on the right, 4 on the left, and so on.

This method gives each vehicle plenty of space on its side of the road, minimizing the risk of collisions as each vehicle halts, and reducing the risk of dismounting troops being run-over by the next vehicle. This also gives each vehicle plenty of space to maneuver back onto the road once the convoy starts moving again. Since all vehicles in the Herringbone go off the road before stopping, the road itself remains open to be used by other vehicles while the convoy is stopped.

After stopping, the resulting formation bears some resemblance to the removed spine and ribs of a filleted fish, hence the term "Herringbone".