British Army

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"The enemy advances and you tremble. They've better numbers, you say. Better weapons. Better training."

―General Israel Putnam describing Continental reaction to the British regulars.

The British Army is the ground force of the United Kingdom. As the backbone of the British military, it was the primary means of conquest and expansion for the British Empire.

During the 18th century, the British Army saw action in the Seven Years' War, where, with the support of the Templars, they emerged victorious against the Kingdom of France and acquired all of Canada. Following this triumph, its persistent presence in the British colonies of North America helped foster the growing resentment of the locals against the royal government, leading to the outbreak of the American Revolution.

In the ensuing American Revolutionary War, the British Army served as the principal enemy to the Continental Army, itself formed by the rebellious colonists popularly known as the Patriots. In that conflict, their infantry, or the British Regulars, were colloquially referred to as the Redcoats or Lobsterbacks by the opposition due to their iconic scarlet uniforms. Although the British Army ultimately lost the war, in the next century, they partook in campaigns across the world that facilitated Britain's emergence as the premier world power during Queen Victoria's reign.

Arms and tactics

The British infantry regular soldiers of the 18th century were armed with the standard British Army smoothbore flintlock musket, often known as the Brown Bess, and a fifteen-inch socket bayonet that could be locked onto the end of the musket barrel, which was often employed when receiving cavalry or, obviously, during a bayonet charge. The battle cry "Huzzah" often accompanied a bayonet charge, for intimidation. Dragoons and other cavalry were armed with carbines and swords.

Haytham Kenway fighting several British soldiers

British soldiers were drilled extensively in the use of these primary weapons until they could load and fire their muskets with their eyes closed. A well-trained infantryman could average around three shots per minute from his musket, whereas a sub-par soldier could accomplish perhaps two. British officers usually armed themselves with flintlock pistols and sabers, although it was not unknown for light infantry officers to carry their own musket or rifle as the war progressed. ^{[citation needed]}

When on patrol, British soldiers usually marched in a column of 6-9 men. These groups consisted of one commissioned Officer, a Drummer, one scout, three regulars, and four grenadiers. These numbers changed over the course of the Revolutionary War.

British regulars stationed at Bunker Hill during the eponymous battle

The British greatly emphasized mass line infantry fire and prized discipline. In this regard, the punishment was strict for deserters and disobedience. Mass line infantry differed from, for example, the French firing patterns. The firing line allowed for the maximum number of muskets to be brought to bare on a target, and therefore the highest volume of fire. As the British army was a great deal smaller than its continental peers (particularly the French army), the need for good training was paramount. ^{[citation needed]}

The guerrilla warfare of the rebels was frowned upon by the British commanders, who considered it dishonorable, though the British Army did deploy similarly-trained soldiers. Many of the rebels were in fact trained by the British as light infantry, or "light bobs", and such units continued to be employed by the British, though they were scarcely used in place of line fire. It was found, however, that such guerrilla warfare, over time, was highly effective against the line and file tactics of the day, though the Regulars were hard to match in pitched battles or over open ground. Later British forces under General Charles Cornwallis saw a greater increase in small unit tactics, but it was somewhat late in the war, and could not make an impact when arrayed against the combined American, Spanish, French, and Dutch forces. However, these developments were later employed to great success with Ezekiel Baker's Baker Rifle and similar accurate weapons, making light infantry tactics greatly more viable. ^{[citation needed]}

Historically, however, despite this advantage, the rebels had difficulties facing the British cavalry even with the latter's use being limited in the war. The British 16th and 17th Light Dragoons, in particular, became a terror to the Patriot forces as many veterans of the French and Indian War in the colonies were not experienced in facing cavalry charges. ^{[citation needed]}

In the Battle of White Plains, British cavalrymen had broken the ranks of colonial forces. Fortunately for the rebels, it was costly to bring a large number of cavalry units to the American continent and the terrain made it difficult to deploy horses. The lack of major cavalry support on the British side allowed George Washington to retreat in many disastrous battles, such as the Battle of Long Island. ^{[citation needed]}

As many battles were focused around ranks of line infantry unleashing volleys of synchronized musket fire, and often in pursuit of an objective; many thousands of lives would be laid down for a small gain, although such battles were not to emerge until the development of conscription in 1791 by the French revolutionary government. The discipline of the British would allow soldiers to march past and over their fallen comrades and continue to fight for their objective, with a ferocity bred from poverty, as were the conditions in which many of the infantry were raised. Once the enemy lines faltered, British Dragoons and other cavalry units would draw swords and charge to cut down the remaining enemy soldiers. ^{[citation needed]}

Trivia

• Despite the British Army having withdrawn from Colonial America in 1783, remnants of British Regulars can still be found around the Frontier, Boston, and New York after the completion of the Assassin's Creed III's story, until the player has captured all the forts.
• The British regulars appropriately wear the Pattern 1742 uniform in Assassin's Creed: Rogue. However, in Assassin's Creed III, they wear the P1742 uniform for the entire game. While this is appropriate for the Seven Year's War segments, it's not appropriate for the American Revolution period. Curiously, the E3 UK cinematic trailer for the game has the British wearing the period-accurate Pattern 1768 uniform.
• The uniforms of the British Army during the Seven Years' War differs slightly between their portrayals in Assassin's Creed III and Rogue. British soldiers in Assassin's Creed III wear white boots and a black vest underneath the red jacket while they wear a yellow vest and dark brown or black boots with a yellow outline in Rogue. They also usually seem to wield more swords than muskets. The British guards in Rogue resemble those seen in early versions of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
• British officer uniforms during the American Revolution were based on the era's Dragoons. Historically, however, Dragoons were a form of mounted infantry, who would ride into battle, dismount, and fight as infantry. They later became merely another form of cavalry as the carbines they carried became outmoded.
• The original concept art of a British soldier largely resembles the soldiers during the War of 1812.
• In The Tyranny of King Washington, the soldiers of the rebellion against King Washington have the character models of British regulars from the main game whereas Washington's forces have the models of Continental Army soldiers. This way, the roles of the two factions are reversed, with the Redcoats serving as allies to the player and the Patriots as enemies. However, the Redcoats are technically American rebels and not actual British soldiers.

Gallery

Concept artScreenshotsModels

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  Concept art of a British infantryman
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  Concept art of a British soldier
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  Concept art of a Jäger in service of the British
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  Illustration of British soldiers
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  Connor surveying a British army encampment
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  The Coldstreams Guards

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  A British army camp in the Frontier
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  Connor watching a British patrol
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  Connor fighting three British soldiers in the snow
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  Connor being halted by a British soldier in the Boston docks
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  Connor killing two British soldiers
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  A British Army encampment in Boston

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  British Regular
  Early 18th cen.
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  British Grenadier
  Early 18th cen.
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  British Gunner
  Early 18th cen.
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  British Scout
  Early 18th cen.
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  British Captain
  Early 18th cen.
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  British Regular
  Mid-18th cen.
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  British Grenadier
  Mid-18th cen.
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  British Gunner
  Mid-18th cen.
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  British Scout
  Mid-18th cen.
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  British Captain
  Mid-18th cen.
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  British Regulars
  Late 18th cen.
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  British Grenadier
  Late 18th cen.
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  British Officer
  Late 18th cen.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India
• Assassin's Creed: Conspiracies
• Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Blade of Aizu
• Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Highlands Children
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Resurrection Plot (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR