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Good Question and the answer is far more complex than you might imagine.
@TheSatishDua
Infantry was broadly comprised into two groups, Line (well, the guys who lined up and shot at each other) and Skirmishers.
Now Skirmishers were the elite sharpshooters, operated in pairs or https://twitter.com/preb0y/status/1355430981176446978
@TheSatishDua
Infantry was broadly comprised into two groups, Line (well, the guys who lined up and shot at each other) and Skirmishers.
Now Skirmishers were the elite sharpshooters, operated in pairs or https://twitter.com/preb0y/status/1355430981176446978
2/n small groups and did exactly what your tweet says. Use terrain to hit and run.
But the rifles of that era had a massive constraint, Range.
A Charleville. 69 cal French musket had an effective range of 95mtrs. Given that Musket balls were not aerodynamic and lost velocity
But the rifles of that era had a massive constraint, Range.
A Charleville. 69 cal French musket had an effective range of 95mtrs. Given that Musket balls were not aerodynamic and lost velocity
3/n far more than a bullet, the actual combat range was around 50 mtrs.
The 2nd constraint was firing rate. The most effective soldier could put out 4-5 shots / min. That's one every 12-15 seconds. Again these were the creme da la creme of the armies. The average conscript
The 2nd constraint was firing rate. The most effective soldier could put out 4-5 shots / min. That's one every 12-15 seconds. Again these were the creme da la creme of the armies. The average conscript
4/n could put out maybe 2-3 / min. Or one every 15-20 seconds.
Then we come into the 2nd arm of the armies of that era. Attack helicopters. No I kid, but we are talking cavalry.
If Infantry were out hiding and shooting, they had an effective range of 100 mtrs. A horse in
Then we come into the 2nd arm of the armies of that era. Attack helicopters. No I kid, but we are talking cavalry.
If Infantry were out hiding and shooting, they had an effective range of 100 mtrs. A horse in
5/n gallop with a Dragoon / lancer on it will cover 250-300 mtrs / min. Or a bare minimum of 4-5mtrs / second. So the effective firing range will be covered in less than 20 seconds (cavalry charges were actually very slow, so as to maintain formation, 20-22kmph was the norm)
6/n then we have the noise and smoke generated by concentrated musket fire + churning of sand etc. After a few rounds there would be so much smoke that you would only be able to shoot in a general direction. If you didn't have your men in line... Hello friendly fire
7/n finally, Morale.
While a few armies of that era had a core standing army (Brits or Prussians were one), most were conscripts. France under Napoleon was in its early days almost all noobs. A stacked line with 3 rows meant the average soldier could not just break and run
While a few armies of that era had a core standing army (Brits or Prussians were one), most were conscripts. France under Napoleon was in its early days almost all noobs. A stacked line with 3 rows meant the average soldier could not just break and run
8/n you had 3 basic formations
1) column - used in marches, highly vulnerable to attack
2) line - could deploy devastating amounts of firepower on target in a short time but if cavalry breached you, you formed...
3) a Square - 4 sided 4-5 rows deep. A literal hedgehog
1) column - used in marches, highly vulnerable to attack
2) line - could deploy devastating amounts of firepower on target in a short time but if cavalry breached you, you formed...
3) a Square - 4 sided 4-5 rows deep. A literal hedgehog
9/9 it was only the advent of much longer range, reliable rifles, fighting in urban and varied terrain etc that created the fire and move doctrine you see today.
The end.
The end.
