Napoleon: Total War expert above me...
Aiello makes good points, but I have to note that melees in open battles were very uncommon in the later 18th centuries and after that.Ya basically as the benefits of light troops became more and more irrelevant due to technology and change in tactics little distinction in use would actually exist between regular and light formations. Modern day light troops carry less equipment and bring less armor to be more mobile in terrain where it is particularly difficult to bring things like tanks, heavy artillery guns, etc.
So when were light companies put into regular line infantry battalians? That is what I am asking here, not what they were used for and not what they were armed with but what years were light companies were first used.
That's not true. Most armies kept their light infantry strictly in their own formation.
So when were light companies put into regular line infantry battalians? That is what I am asking here, not what they were used for and not what they were armed with but what years were light companies were first used.
So when were light companies put into regular line infantry battalians? That is what I am asking here, not what they were used for and not what they were armed with but what years were light companies were first used.
Just say the country mate, none of the countries had them implemented at the exact same time. For a general idea say mid 1700's sometime before and after the War of Austrian Succesion.