| The bayonet was invented in France approximately in 1640, and after a number of improvements was added to
the armory in 1699. The flintlock
was developed and implemented from about 1670. With the abolition
of the pike, the infantry got rid of all kinds of defensive
weapons. All these changes took place
during the first years of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714).
By the early 18th century the infantry was greatly changed. It was comprised of
uniformly dressed
musketeers and grenadiers (the best soldiers trained to throw
grenades). During the War of the Spanish Succession, Prince Leopold Dessau (1676-1747, the Duke Angalt Dessau, creator of
the "classical" Prussian
infantry) decreased the formation depth to 4 and later 3 ranks. He also introduced
the iron ramrod, which increased the rate of fire. The Prussian infantry of that time may be considered the
classic infantry of the 18th century. Armies were taught to shoot while advancing
(earlier, shooting was carried out without movement). They
would fire from a distnace of 200 yards; the closer the enemy, the shorter
their paces and the more
rapid was their fire. Whole battalions or platoons fired in salvos,
as this was considered to produce a demoralizing effect for the enemy. Platoons
produced salvos one by one with short intervals to prevent attacking cavalry from making their way through the infantry formations within the salvo
intervals. When close to the enemy, infantry would attack with
bayonets. An attack by infantry was usually preceded by an
attack by light field cannons.
About 3 cannons for every one thousand people were considered quite normal.
Besides the linear infantry fighting in close formations, there
was also light infantry. The
objective of this infantry was to wage guerilla and diversionary wars,
as well as fight cross-country. They fought in loose formations and were keen
shooters. |
