Why did old soldiers fight in lines?
They were influenced by cavalry, order and communication, and the tactics of the enemy. As warfare technology advanced, so, too, did battlefield tactics. One example Johnson gives is how horses influenced warfighting. Cavalry was effective against infantry, so the line formation was adopted to defend against cavalry.
What were the chances of surviving a medieval battle?
The average mortality rate for legions in combat was around 5.6 percent (124). And defeats were around 4 times as costly as victories: victories saw mortality rates of around 4.2 percent of participants, while defeats saw mortality rates around 16 percent (118).
Why do soldiers fight in lines?
Second it was easier to maneuver large numbers of men in a rigid formation as otherwise they would have been separated. And disoriented. Especially in the smoky. Environment on the battlefield.
Why did armies line up and shoot?
In some cases, it was possible to overturn the enemy with just one volley at a short distance. The line was considered as the fundamental battle formation as it allowed for the largest deployment of firepower.
What formation did the soldiers use in battle?
The line formation is a standard tactical formation which was used in early modern warfare. It continued the phalanx formation or shield wall of infantry armed with polearms in use during antiquity and the Middle Ages.
What is the difference between light infantry and line infantry?
Light Infantry have a slightly greater range than Line Infantry. They become invisible to the enemy when immobile and at a sufficient distance, or when in tall grass or woods. They also all fire at once, giving them a firepower advantage against Line Infantry regiments before the Fire by Rank technology is researched.
How violent were medieval times?
An exceptional case, even by medieval standards, is provided by 14th‑century Oxford. Levels of violence there were considered unacceptably high by contemporaries: in the 1340s, the homicide rate was around 110 per 100,000. (In the UK in 2011, it was 1 per 100,000.)
How were medieval battles gruesome?
Ancient battles were bloody and gory. It turns out that piercing people with arrows and slicing them with swords leads to a lot of blood, a lot of guts, and a lot of dismembered limbs littering the battlefield. Intestines were often present.
How long would an ancient battle last?
According to John Keegan’s “A History of Warfare” – and excepting sieges (which could last months) – typical battles in ancient times (greek/roman era) were indeed short, most lasting a few hours. Some would last an entire day.
Who has the best light infantry?
Yorkshire 3 Rifles in Lithuania: the soldiers dubbed ‘the best light infantry in the world’
What is considered heavy infantry?
Heavy infantry consisted of heavily armed and armoured infantrymen who were trained to mount frontal assaults and/or anchor the defensive center of a battle line.
Is light infantry elite?
These were considered elite units, since they required specialised training with emphasis on self-discipline, manoeuvre and initiative to carry out the roles of light infantry as well as those of ordinary infantry.
What was the most brutal punishments in medieval times?
Perhaps the most brutal of all execution methods is hung, strung and quartered. This was traditionally given to anyone found guilty of high treason. The culprit would be hung and just seconds before death released then disemboweled and their organs were then thrown into a fire – all while still alive.
What was the most brutal period in history?
World War II
The war pitted the Allies and the Axis power in the deadliest war in history, and was responsible for the deaths of over 70 million people. Known for its genocidal campaign against the Jewish people, the war was also responsible for the deaths of more than 50 million civilians.
Why were medieval punishments so cruel?
The History of Medieval Crime and punishment is filled with harsh punishments. The punishments were harsh because the overall system was influenced by the Church and such punishments were given in order to create fear in the hearts of the people and to keep them from committing crimes.
Why did they fight in formation during the Civil War?
Wherever possible, commanders sent their troops along the flanks of the enemy, and when that wasn’t possible, would use the line formation to swamp an enemy’s position with raking sheets of fire that overwhelmed a numerically inferior, or otherwise frazzled enemy.
Did the civil war use line infantry?
Infantry in the Civil War typically marched in lines or columns, quite similar to their forebears in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. This technique is sometimes ridiculed since it gives the enemy a long warning that attackers are headed for them.
Why did soldiers fight in lines Reddit?
Commanders viewed line infantry as an effective tactic because it was an effective tactic, and it proved its effectiveness in many battles. Quite simply, these tactics produced real-world results. Line formation was a very tactically sound formation, given the weapons of the era.
When did line warfare end?
Infantry ceased wearing it almost completely after 1660, and the armour carried by cavalrymen grew steadily shorter until all that remained were the breastplates worn by heavy cavalry—the cuirassiers—as late as the 20th century.
What is a line of soldiers called?
brigade. noun. a large group of soldiers, larger than a battalion.
Why did armies march in columns?
The column formation allows the unit rapid movement and a very effective charge (due to weight of numbers), and it can quickly form square to resist cavalry attacks, but by its nature only a fraction of its muskets are able to open fire.
How did the phalanx work?
The hoplites would lock their shields together, and the first few ranks of soldiers would project their spears out over the first rank of shields. The phalanx therefore presented a shield wall and a mass of spear points to the enemy, making frontal assaults against it very difficult.
How do you break a phalanx?
A phalanx is any bone of the fingers or toes. A phalanx fracture is a crack or complete break in one of these bones. A phalanx fracture can happen when your finger or toe is hit, pulled, jammed, crushed, or twisted. It is also possible for a tumor or cyst to weaken the bone, causing it to break easily when injured.
How did legions defeat phalanx?
At the Battle of Cynocephalae in 197 BCE, the Romans defeated the Greek phalanx easily because the Greeks had failed to guard the flanks of their phalanx and, further, the Greek commanders could not turn the mass of men who comprised the phalanxes quickly enough to counter the strategies of the Roman army and, after …
What is the best military formation?
Flying Wedge. The wedge formation is a very old and very effective formation when employed correctly. Historically used with cavalry, the formation involves a mass of troops in a triangular wedge with the tip charging at the enemy.
Who is considered the best military strategist?
Scipio Africanus (236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and later consul who is often regarded as one of the best military commanders and strategists of all time.
What was the most genius war tactic in history?
And yet somehow, we bet you’ll be surprised by exactly how many of these classic military strategies you already know.
The Most Genius Military Strategies Ever
- Raiding (Resource Denial) …
- Air Superiority (Taking the High Ground) …
- Blitzkreig. …
- Infiltration. …
- Choke Point. …
- Divide and Conquer. …
- Feint.
Does the bigger army always win?
Throughout history, in various wars and conflicts, there have been a number of historic victories won by a smaller force, against a larger foe. Conditions and situations for these sorts of military victories against the odds have been numerous.
Which Army won the most battles?
Which countries have won the most battles?
| Rank | Country | Won battles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 1115 |
| 2 | The United Kingdom / England | 1105 |
| 3 | United States | 833 |
| 4 | Russia | 491 |
Which general won the most battles in history?
Napoleon
Napoleon benefited from the large number of battles in which he led forces. Among his 43 listed battles, he won 38 and lost only 5. Napoleon overcame difficult odds in 17 of his victories, and commanded at a disadvantage in all 5 of his losses. No other general came close to Napoleon in total battles.
Did North or South Vietnam win?
Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the following year.
Could the US win Vietnam War?
History fraught with misconceptions mistakes and outright blunders vietnam remains unique as a war where america snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. But these are the ways the us could have won.
Why did the US lose Vietnam War?
There were a couple of reasons for this. First, the Americans were an invading force, and the Vietnamese were fighting on their own soil. Second, the Americans were not willing to make an all-out commitment to win.
Why did the US fail in Vietnam?
Failures for the USA
The Vietcong guerrillas knew the jungle and made use of elaborate underground bases and tunnels to shelter from US bombs, and often re-used unexploded American bombs against US soldiers.
How many wars has America lost?
US lost five major wars after 1945
However, the US was unable to get any significant victory in its wars abroad. America fought five major wars after 1945 including Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan in addition to some minor wars in Somalia, Yemen, and Libya.
Was the Vietnam War a mistake?
To others, the Vietnam War was a forfeit, a just war needlessly lost by timid policymakers and a biased media. For many who study foreign affairs, the Vietnam War was a tragic mistake brought about by U.S. leaders who exaggerated the influence of communism and underestimated the power of nationalism.