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Warmatrix

War Matrix - Line infantry

Age of Discovery 1480 CE - 1620 CE, Armies and troops

French line infantry
French line infantry
Line infantry is an organization of musket-armed infantry that is deployed in shallow, broad formations. It was a break from older infantry line-ups that used deep formations to add pushing power to their ranks of pikemen. Instead, line infantry was armed with muskets and used its firepower to shoot at the enemy rather than engage in melee.
Line infantry was first used by the Spanish in the late 16th century. The development really took off with Maurice of Nassau at the Battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600 CE. He deployed his troops 10 ranks deep and had them use volley fire against the enemy. In this tactic, the first line fired its guns simultaneously and then the second line took over while the first reloaded. Volley fire was used in formations that were 2 - 4 lines deep and could be practiced while staying put or slowly retreating.
Line formations and volley fire required good discipline and and a lot of practice. Maurice achieved this by near-permanent 'drill', repeated exercise in loading, shooting and maneuvering. Also he provided regular pay, which made his troops endure much more training than their mercenary predecessors would have put up with. Another benefit was that his troops behaved well towards civilians and were often quartered in houses of the population.
Line infantry became the dominant organization of regular European infantry after the introduction of the flintlock musket and the bayonet. Infantry armed with these weapons had no more need of pikes and became pure musket-troops. This transition was not sudden but gradual; the ratio of pikemen over musketeers slowly turned in favor of the latter.
The new line infantry units were smaller than their pike-wielding predecessors and as a result, more maneuverable in battle. They normally deployed in broad lines for maximum firepower, but could also form hollow squares to protect themselves from cavalry attacks.
Volley fire was a useful defensive tactic, though added little to attack. Line infantry had to maintain formation and thus moved very slow, which was a disadvantage in battle. The next step was taken by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, who added mobile field artillery and aggressive cavalry to the mix.
Other armies employed "dragoons", infantry that rode into position on horses, but dismounted to fire their guns. This allowed them to wield heavier guns than true cavalry could handle. Later dragoons evolved into normal cavalry.
Line infantry tactics remained at the core of infantry tactics for about 2½ centuries, until the introduction of the rifled musket. In time, the number of lines of infantry musket formations steadily decreased, from 10 in the early 17th century to 6 in 1650 CE; 5 around 1680 CE - 1700 CE; 4 when bayonets were introduced and finally 2 - 3 around 1750 CE.