British Army

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

―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 late 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. 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 the reign of Queen Victoria.

Arms and tactics

The British Infantry Regulars 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.

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.

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.

The British greatly emphasized mass line infantry fire and prized discipline. In this regard, 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.

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 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.

Historically however, despite this advantage, the rebels had difficulties facing 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.

In the Battle of White Plains, British cavalrymen had broken the ranks of colonial forces. Fortunately for the rebels, it was costly to bring 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.

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.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India

References

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