Line (formation)The line formation was a standard tactical formation which was used in early modern warfare. It continued the phalanx formation or shield wall of infantry armed with polearms in use during antiquity and the Middle Ages. The line formation provided the best frontage for volley fire, while sacrificing maneuverability and defence against cavalry.
Peninsular War1807–1814 war against Napoleon in IberiaBelligerentsSpain United KingdomPortugalFirst French EmpireNapoleonic Spain [(1807–1813)Napoleonic ItalyKingdom of NaplesConfederation of the Rhine (1807–1813)Duchy of WarsawHolland (1807–1810)Swiss ConfederacyCommanders and leadersMiguel de ÁlavaJoaquín BlakeFrancisco CastañosGregorio CuestaJuan O'DonojúJuan DíezJosé de PalafoxJosé de San MartínSpencer Perceval XRobert JenkinsonArthur WellesleyWilliam BeresfordRowland HillThomas GrahamJohn Moore †John HopeEdward PakenhamJohn VIMiguel ForjazBernardim Freire XFrancisco SilveiraNapoleon IJoseph IMariano UrquijoPierre AugereauJean BessièresJean JourdanJean JunotJean LannesFrançois LefebvreJulien MermetJacques MacDonaldLaurent Saint-CyrAuguste MarmontAndré MassénaB.A. de MonceyÉdouard MortierPierre MerleJoachim MuratMichel NeyJean-de-Dieu SoultLouis SuchetClaude PerrinHorace SébastianiGuillaume DuhesmeDavid ChasséUnits involvedSpanish Army (1808–1814)British Army (1793–1815)Portuguese Army (1808–1814) • Anglo-Portuguese ArmyFrench Imperial Army (1804–1815) • Armée d'Espagne • Grande ArméeStrengthNovember 1808: 205,000 regulars (125,000 first line, 80,000 second line) 31,000 35,0001811: 55,000 guerrillasApril 1813:Wellington: 172,000 Allied troops (British and Portuguese, and Spanish under British command and subsidy) 160,000 regularsCoalition: 81,318 (53,749 British and 27,569 Portuguese) 64,000 (annual average, 1808–1814) May 1808: 165,103November 1808: 244,125February 1809: 288,551January 1810: 324,996July 1811: 291,414June 1812: 230,000October 1812: 261,933April 1813: 200,000Casualties and losses 1,000,000+ military and civilian deadLisbonMadridValenciaBailénTudelaCorunnaTalaveraCádizAlbueraCiudad RodrigoSalamancaBurgosTordesillasVitoriaToulouse1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by the Iberian nations Spain and Portugal, along with the United Kingdom, against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars.
File (formation)In military organization, a file is a number of troops drawn up in line ahead (i.e. one behind the other) in a column. The number of files is the measure of the width of a column of troops in several ranks one behind the other. UsageFiles are useful when troops don't know where the enemy is, since there are overlapping fields of fire from each soldier, and cover from a possible flanking attack.
French Revolutionary WarsThe French Revolutionary Wars (French: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802. They pitted France against Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and several other countries. The wars are divided into two periods: the War of the First Coalition (1792–1797) and the War of the Second Coalition (1798–1802).
Infantry squareAn infantry square, also known as a hollow square or square formation, was a musket-era historic close order formation used in combat by infantry units, usually when threatened with cavalry attack.
French ArmyLand warfare force of FranceMilitary unitThe French Army (French: Armée de terre, lit. 'Land Army') is the land service branch of the French Armed Forces. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT), who is subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA), who in turn is responsible to the President of France. CEMAT is also directly responsible to the Ministry of Armed Forces for administration, preparation and equipment.
Napoleonic Wars1803–1815 series of wars led by NapoleonBelligerentsCoalition forces: United Kingdom Habsburg monarchy Holy Roman Empire HanoverLiechtensteinand others... Austria Hungary Russia PrussiaSpainPortugalSwedenand others...
Rank (formation)A rank is a line of military personnel, drawn up in line abreast (i.e. standing side by side). UsageCommonly, you start out with a height line. Shortest person in front, all the way to the tallest person in the rear. Subsequently, when troops/sailors are called to "By the right, fall in!" they do so by forming in line abreast, shortest person "falling in" on the farmost right of the company commander.
Tactical formationIn military-style operations, a tactical formation (or tactical order) is the arrangement or deployment of movable military or policing forces such as infantry, cavalry, AFVs, military aircraft, or naval vessels.
Military terminologyMilitary terminology refers to the terms and language of military organizations, personnel, and military doctrine. Much like other forms of corporate jargon, military terminology is distinguishable from colloquial language by its use of new or repurposed words and phrases typically only understandable by current and former members of the military or associated companies and agencies.
ArtilleryLong-ranged guns for land warfareFrench artillerymen in the Franco-Prussian War, 1870Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and led to heavy, fairly immobile siege engines. As technology improved, lighter, more mobile field artillery cannons were developed for battlefield use.
SkirmisherSkirmishers are light infantry or light cavalrysoldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They may be deployed in a skirmish line, an irregular open formation that is much more spread out in depth and in breadth than a traditional line formation.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.