In 1800, an "Experimental Corps of Riflemen", was raised by Colonel Coote Manningham and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Stewart, drawn from officers and other ranks from drafts of a variety of British regiments. The Corps differed in several regards from the Line infantry of the British Army. Most significantly, the Rifles were armed with the formidable Baker rifle, which was more accurate and of longer range than the musket, although it took longer to load. As the rifle was shorter than the musket, it was issued with a 21-inch sword bayonet.
Riflemen wore dark green jackets rather than the bright red coats of the British line infantry regiments of that time; close-fitting pantaloons, rather than breeches; black facings and black belts rather than white; a green plume on their "stovepipe shakoes" which the light infantry also wore, as well as other accoutrements unique to Rifles regiments.
The riflemen were trained to work in open order and to be able to think for themselves. They were to operate in pairs ahead of the main infantry, which were bunched in close formations. They were taught to make best use of natural cover and to harass the enemy with aimed shots. These tactics, which had originated in campaigns in North America, were unorthodox for the time. It was considered too impractical for individual soldiers to aim at specific targets (see "Battle tactics of Napoleon and his enemies" by Nosworthy) and conventional tactics favoured the mass volley from a close formation and the bayonet.
The treatment of soldiers in the new Rifle Corps was markedly different from the line infantry. Although flogging existed as a means of enforcing military discipline, it was seldom used. The unit held regular shooting and sporting competitions, and men were rewarded for their achievements. Officers would regularly dine with their men and so became familiar with each man in their respective companies, an unusual practice at the time.
the black and the green,
the finest colours ever seen.
A play on the word colours.[1][2]
To aid speed and mobility, the Rifles used bugles to transmit commands rather than the drums used by Line infantry and for the same reason did not carry Colours.
The new regiment was armed with the Baker rifle which, though it generally took twice as long to load[3] due to the rifled barrel and required a separate calibre of ball (leading to supply issues), was considerably more accurate and effective at a longer range than the standard issue Brown Bess musket of the line regiments and regular light infantry companies.
This rifle was an accurate weapon for its day, with reported kills being taken at 100–300 yards (270 m) away. During the Peninsular War, Rifleman Thomas Plunkett of the 1st Battalion, 95th Rifles, shot the French General Auguste-Marie-François Colbert at a range that may have been even greater.[4] He then shot a second French officer who rode to the general's aid, proving that this was not just a lucky shot. By comparison, a standard issue Brown Bess musket was unlikely to hit a man-sized target at ranges beyond 80 yards.
The origins of the modern British military rifle are within its predecessor the Brown Bess musket. While a musket was largely inaccurate over 80 yards due to a lack of rifling and a generous tolerance to allow for muzzle-loading, it was cheaper to produce and could be loaded quickly. The use in volley or in mass firing by troops meant that rate of fire took precedence over accuracy. A similar tactical preference would be a factor in considerations regarding rifle design in the late 19th century and early 20th century, when rate of fire would be a key design consideration for British bolt action rifles.
Beginning in the late 1830s, the superior characteristics of the new rifles caused the British military to phase out the venerable .75 calibre Brown Bess musket in favour of muzzle loading rifles in smaller calibres. Early rifles were non-standard and frequently used adaptations from components of the Brown Bess, including, locks, stocks and new rifled barrels. It was not until the late 19th century that the rifle fully supplanted the musket as the primary weapon of the infantryman.
Senior Officers
Colonel [Col]
Lieutenant Colonel [LtCol]
Major [Maj]
Junior Officers
Captain [Capt]
Lieutenant [Lt]
2nd Lieutenant [2Lt]
Non Commissioned Officers
Regimental Sergeant Major [RSM]
Company Sergeant Major [SgtM]
Colour Serjeant [CSjt]
Sergeant [Sgt]
Corporal [Cpl]
Enlisted
Lance Corporal [LCpl]
Chosen Man [ChM]
Veteran Rifleman [VRfm]
Rifleman [Rfm] / Bugler [Bug]
Private [Pte]
Cadet [Cdt]
Recruit [Rct]
member of the 85th Rifles
Senior Officers
85th_Rifles_Col_York_Travis
85th_Rifles_LtCol_York_Robert_Edward
85th_Rifles_Major_York_Tarek
Junior Officers
85th_Rifles_Capt_Scots_Ryan
Non Commissioned Officers
----
Enslisted
85th_Rifles_Cdt_Gamer
85th_Rifles_Rct_Scots_Michael
85th_Rifles_Rct_York_Lancaster
85th_Rifles_Rct_Royal_Pirate
85th_Rifles_Rct_JasonDead
85th_Rifles_Rct_GrandPa
85th_Rifles_Rct_nameless
85th_Rifles_Rct_Arwen
85th_Rifles_Rct_waterjester
85th_Rifles_Rct_Thor
85th_Rifles_Rct_James
85th_Rifles_Rct_William
85th_Rilfes_Rct_Supermen
85th_Rifles_Rct_Maestro
85th_Rifles_Rct_Phillon
85th_Rifles_Rct_Dragon
85th_Rifles_Rct_York_Conner
85th_Rifles_Rct_Neikon
85th_Rifles_Rct_Baker
85th_Rifles_Rct_Marine
85th_Rifles_Rct_Integer
85th_Rifles_Rct_David
85th_Rifles_Rct_Scots_Davies
size = 27 men 1 women total 28 member
Name:
Steam ID/Profil
Age:
Nationality:
Adde travis2110
TS: Adresse: ts2.krypton-bouncer.de:9994
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fStTQB5YUXo[/youtube]
the thread is under construction
