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
medium,
heavy or
line 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 and gunpowder weapons became standardized.
History of the light infantry
Antiquity
The concept of a skirmishing screen is a very old one and was already well-established by
Greek and
Roman times in the form, for example, of the Greek
peltast and the Roman
velites. As with so called 'light infantry' of later periods, the term more adequately describes the role of such infantry rather than the actual weight of their equipment. Peltast equipment for example grew steadily heavier at the same time as
hoplite equipment grew lighter. It was the fact that peltasts fought in open order as skirmishers that made them light infantry, and that hoplites fought in the battle line as a
phalanx that made them heavy infantry.
Modern age
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 regiments or
battalions
had a
light company. Its members were often smaller,
agile men, or soldiers with extensive combat experience, capable of using initiative, since they did not always 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 designated as
rifle regiments in Britain and
Jäger (hunter) regiments in
German speaking Europe. In France, during the
Napoleonic Wars, light infantry were called
voltigeurs and the sharpshooters
tirailleurs.
Unusually, light infantry officers sometimes carried muskets as well and their
swords were lighter and curved
sabres; 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 ordinary infantry. During the period 1777-1781, the
Continental Army of the
United States adopted the British Army practice of seasonally drafting light infantry regiments as temporary units during active field operations, by combining existing light infantry companies detached from their parent regiments.
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.
Light infantry today
Today the term "light" denotes the
table of organization and equipment defining units lacking heavy weapons, armor and/or a reduced vehicle footprint. Light infantry units lack the lethality, tactical mobility and survivability of heavy units, but possess greater strategic mobility and the ability to execute missions under restrictive terrain and weather that may otherwise impair a heavy unit's mobility. Light infantry forces typically rely on their ability to operate under restrictive conditions, surprise, violence of action, training, stealth, field craft, and fitness level of the individual soldier to address their reduced lethality. Ironically, forces in a light unit will normally carry heavier individual loads versus other forces; literally they must carry everything they require to fight, survive and win due to lack of vehicles.
In the 1980s, the United States Army increased light forces to address contingencies and increased threats requiring a more deployable force able to operate in restrictive environments for limited periods. At its height, this included the
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry),
7th Infantry Division (Light),
25th Infantry Division,
6th Infantry Division (Light), and other battalion and
brigade combat teams in mixed heavy/light units.
Operation Just Cause is often cited as proof of concept. Almost 30,000 U.S. Forces, mostly light, deployed to
Panama within a 48 hour period to execute combat operations.
During the 1990s the concept of purely light forces came under scrutiny due to their decreased lethality and survivability. This scrutiny has resulted in the
Stryker Brigade Combat Team, a greater focus on task organized units (such as
Marine Expeditionary Units) and a reduction of purely light forces.
Despite their reduction, light forces have proven successful in
Afghanistan (
Operation Enduring Freedom), underlining the continued need for light infantry.
Examples of current light units:
Note that in some armies Light Infantry are usually considered as an
elite, but in other countries they may be considered inferior due to their lack of equipment.
See also
References and notes
