The Infantry in Airsoft
What is the infantry?
The infantry are the men and women on the ground fighting. The infantry was designed for a fast assault force with the objective of defeating the enemy. Infantryman are trained to fight in the toughest conditions and places.
History of the Infantry
During the American War for Independence, the British had the strongest and most disciplined army in the world. Wars and battles were fought with both sides facing each other about 50 yards apart and trading shots with each other. After both sides trade shots, they both will charge at each other and whoever takes the battlefield wins, simple as that. It seems simple right? Wrong it is not that simple. After charging at each other caos soon consumes the battlefield. The Americans fought on the defensive and fought with patience. With being able to be patient and fighting on the defensive, that was how the Americans defeated the British forces.
Types of weapons issued to the infantry:
- Brown Bess Musket (Revolutionary War)
- Kentucky Long Rifle (Revolutionary War)
- Springfield Rifle (Civil War)
- Smith Carbine (Civil War)
- Burnside Carbine (Civil War)
- Lee-Enfield Rifle (WWI-WWII)
- Springfield M1903 (WWI)
- M1 Garand (WWII)
- M1 Carbine (WWII)
- M16 (Vietnam)
- M4 Carbine (Present day)
Form the Brown Bess to the modern day M4 carbine, weapons have certainly evolved. Since now we have listed the evolution of weapons. Let's move onto the evolution of the infantry uniform.
Evolution of the infantry uniform
Let's start off in the 18th and the style of the uniform. The uniforms the were used by the infantry in the 1700's, were dress uniforms, that were brightly colored and were worn by the officers. For now, I will explain the evolution of the officers uniform in combat throughout history. From the early 1700s all the way up to 1914, the uniform of the infantry started to become more suitable for battle. The uniform started to become less ornate and more leaning towards the camouflage style. But the uniform still had drawbacks. These uniforms were made of cotton and were very uncomfortable to wear in extreme heat and also in the rain. When the cotton got wet it got itchy and became heavy. When the weather was hot the soldier would get very hot and very sweaty, the cotton would again start to itch. Towards the middle of WWI, we start to see a lighter breathable uniform being issued to soldiers. The military stopped using a heavier cotton and started to use a lighter cotton. In WWII we start to see cotton and polyester mixed into a more lighter, breathable, moveable uniform. During the end of the Korean War and leading up to the start of the Vietnam War, the uniform started to have a camouflage pattern being used in combat. From jungle camouflage of Vietnam all the way up to the modern day digital camouflage. Now let's move onto the evolution of tactics utilized by the infantry.
Overview of infantry tactics
When smooth bore muskets were the primary weapon of the infantry, the musket was only effective at 50 yards. The typical tactic of the infantry from the Revolutionary War and up until the construction of trenches of WWI, the two armies would stand 50 yards apart and trade shots at each other . After both sides traded shots, they both would charge at each other and try to take the battlefield. During WWI we start to see trenches being built on both sides with a "no man's land" in between the opposing trenches. When WWII starts we start to see Airborne Infantry being used in comba, and urban combat started being common. From trading shots at each other from 50 yards and to the tactics being utilized by modern infantry today, the infantry has certainly changed.
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