Light infantry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For regiments in the British Army, see The Light Infantry and The Rifles.
Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from heavy infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight formations that were the core of large battles. Light infantry often fought in close co-ordination with heavy infantry, where they could screen the heavy infantry from harassing fire, and the heavy infantry could intervene to protect the light infantry from attacks of enemy heavy infantry or cavalry. Heavy infantry originally had heavier arms and more armour than light infantry, but this distinction was lost as the use of armour declined.
The concept of a skirmishing screen is a very old one and was already well-established by Greek and Roman times. Regular armies usually relied on irregulars to perform the duties of light infantry skirmishers. Later, the dragoons of the 17th century were the light infantry skirmishers of their day – lightly-armed and armoured infantrymen who rode into battle but dismounted to fight.
In the 18th and 19th centuries most infantry battalions had a light company. Its members were usually smaller, agile men capable of using their initiative, since they did not fight in disciplined ranks as did the ordinary infantry but often in widely dispersed groups. They were also often chosen for their shooting ability and sometimes carried lighter muskets than ordinary infantrymen. Some light infantry units carried rifles instead of muskets, and wore rifle green uniforms; they became known as Rifle regiments. Unusually, light infantry officers often carried muskets as well and their swords were lighter and curved, as opposed to the heavy, straighter swords of other infantry officers. Orders were sent by bugle or whistle instead of drum (since the sound of a bugle carries further and it is difficult to move fast when carrying a drum). Some armies, including the British and French, converted whole regiments into light infantry. These were sometimes considered elite units, since they required more training and self-discipline to carry out the roles of light infantry as well as those of heavy infantry.
By the late 19th century the concept of fighting in formation was on the wane and the distinctions between light and heavy infantry began to disappear. Essentially, all infantry became light infantry in practice. Some regiments retained the name and customs, but there was in effect no difference between them and other infantry regiments.
[edit] Light infantry today
Today, the term light infantry is used to refer to infantry who are not transported in armoured fighting vehicles, instead walking or using un-armoured vehicles and aircraft. They usually also lack other dedicated heavy equipment, like heavy artillery. Examples include certain Infantry units in modern armies and Marines organisations, such as Britain's Royal Marines.
Air assault (meaning air-mobile) infantry units, which often use helicopters for transportation to and from missions, are also light infantry. The term "light" also refers to the lower amount of weight and smaller amount of equipment that needs to be moved when deploying a light division or battalion to the area of operations. Light infantry units could be deployed around the world in days instead of the weeks it takes for heavy mechanized infantry units.
Another type is Special Operations Light Infantry. They are separate units trained to conduct limited Special Operations such as raids, reconnaissance and airfield seizure. They are also used to provide Infantry support to Special Forces missions. For this role, they are trained in parachuting and Air-mobile operations. Such units also have a conventional Light Infantry role as well. Examples include the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment and Britain's Special Forces Support Group.
Two characteristics of light infantry units are mission flexibility and rapid deployment. Some examples of common light infantry missions include Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) (Known as FIBUA, or Fighting in Built Up Areas, in Europe), ambushes, raids and attacks behind enemy lines, search and destroy, and defensive operations, combined with patrolling to deny an area to the enemy. Light infantry also train for airfield seizure and peacekeeping missions.
United States Army Light infantry attend schools such as Ranger School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, Airborne School, Jungle warfare School, Sniper School, Combat Lifesaver School, Anti-armor School, Lightfighters Course, and Northern Warfare Training (glacier training and mountain/rock climbing, amongst other things). U.S. Army light infantry are highly "encouraged" to test for and obtain the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB), which requires around 35 individual tests (each quite complex) and expert qualification with the rifle, and to meet the EIB standard on the physical training test. The German Jägertruppe, the Canadian Airborne Regiment (disbanded in 1995), the British Parachute Regiment and the U.S. Army Rangers are examples of elite light infantry.
