Regarding the advantages and disadvantages of linear tactics, in 1899, no one in the world knew better than Roque.
Linear tactics have indeed played a big role in history. In the era of smoothbore muskets and flintlock muskets, due to the limitations of weapons flaws, in order to increase the killing effect, the only way to increase the hit rate was to approach and shoot in a queue to kill.
The British went to the extreme in this regard. The Lobster Soldiers were also called the "Redwood Army." This habit was retained during the Civil War. In order to distinguish the white-shirted troops who supported the king, the troops supporting the Parliament used bright red as their colors.
The color of the uniform, with the confirmation of the constitutional monarchy, the lobster soldiers wearing three-cornered hats finally conquered the world with the British Empire.
Linear tactics are the main tactic used by the lobster soldiers to conquer the world. This tactic requires very high discipline and coordination. During the battle, the infantry must listen to the march played by the musicians on the battlefield, step by step with fixed steps to the beat.
It was during this period that the goose step, which was later widely used, began to take shape.
The famous march song used by the British army is "The Grenadier March". The style of this song is very fresh and pleasant. Accompanied by this brisk song, the "Lobster Soldiers" faced the enemy's bullets and endured the pain of their comrades around them.
He suffered casualties, walked through various complex terrains, fearlessly faced all kinds of enemies, and established a glorious empire on which the sun never sets.
The most representative example of linear tactics is the Battle of Waterloo. At that time, the Duke of Wellington demanded that the British army must allow the French Guards Cavalry to charge within 20 yards before firing. What is the concept of 20 yards?
18 meters!
It’s almost the length of a bus. From this distance, soldiers from both sides can almost see the freckles on each other’s faces. The other side is still a cavalry!
Since linear tactics had their glory days, the British had no reason to change, so in the Second Boer War, the British troops still used linear tactics.
It cannot be said that the British are stubborn. No one will improve a tactic until it is completely eliminated by the times. It was not until World War I that linear tactics were completely eliminated by the times. The Maxim machine guns and barbed wire in World War I became
The nightmare of linear tactics. The British and French forces lost more than 60,000 lives in one day during the Battle of the Somme. Linear tactics became history.
In fact, in the Second Boer War, linear tactics were already exhausted. The total population of the Boers was only 400,000, and they were unable to engage in direct combat with the British Expeditionary Force. Therefore, the Boers had to use small-scale militia groups. In Germany
Lansvaal and the British fought a guerrilla war.
The record of the Boers was indeed brilliant. In the just past Battle of Ladysmith, the British army had 1,139 killed and 250 missing, while the Boer army only had 8 killed and 30 wounded.
It looked like the result of the battle was that the Boers were fighting a black tribe, which the arrogant British simply could not accept.
Of course, with the huge difference in overall strength, the British could indeed conquer the Boers. This also made the weaknesses of linear tactics not completely exposed, and also caused the British and French forces to suffer heavy losses in World War I.
Except for Roark, no one knows all this. Even if Roark tells all this, no one will believe it. However, if Henry tells it, the effect will be completely different.
"——Do you understand? If you still stubbornly use bright red as the color of military uniforms, if you still stubbornly use linear tactics without making progress, then sooner or later the empire will face more tragic losses. Think about it, the Boers do not have machine guns
, the population is sparse, but if it were replaced by another country that is not much smaller than the empire, what would be the result?" Rock could only pick out what he could say, which was shocking enough.
"What will be the result -" Henry subconsciously repeated Roque's words. After Mrs. Clicquot opened it, Henry hadn't taken a sip, but his mouth was already dry.
"You have also had experience in serving in the army, and you also know the power of the Maxim machine gun. So think about it, when soldiers line up in neat lines and charge against an army with Maxim machine guns, what will they face? Originally?
A battle evenly matched will turn into a one-sided massacre!" Rock is not an alarmist, this kind of war scene will definitely happen in the future.
No, this kind of war scene has actually happened, and it was caused by the British.
In the Zulu War five years ago, a British unit of more than 50 people repelled dozens of charges from more than 5,000 Metabilis with only four Maxim heavy machine guns, and killed 3,000 people in the entire battle.
There are many Metabili warriors and the advantages of the Maxim heavy machine gun are undoubtedly revealed.
"No, that kind of thing can never happen, we have to do something." It was a coincidence that Henry had experienced the Zulu War, so he knew the power of the Maxim heavy machine gun. When the advantage belonged to his own side, Henry was proud, but when the advantage
Belongs to the other party——
Henry was instantly frightened and broke into a cold sweat.
"We can't do anything. Don't forget that we are the police. No matter what we say, we will be regarded as talking in our dreams. Uh, that's not right. You are also from the army. You should have some connections in the army. Otherwise, you can go find it.
Your old superiors? They should be in Ladysmith." Rock still thought of a way. Henry was from the army and must have some connections in the army.
"No, no, I can't go find them." Henry refused repeatedly, with a very embarrassed expression on his face, and he actually blushed very rarely.
"What's going on? This doesn't seem like your style. By the way, how did you leave the army in the first place?" Rock was quite curious, which could make Henry, a bastard, blush, which means that Henry should have had a rather ugly past.
.
"Don't ask, I won't tell you!" Henry was a little angry and his tone was very firm.
Rock didn't speak and looked at Henry up and down with malicious eyes. Henry soon became embarrassed.
"Well, I was pursuing General Hopkins' daughter -" Henry didn't have much money, but he was still very honest with his friends, which marked a big step forward in the relationship between Henry and Rock.
"Ha, you made the general's daughter pregnant!" Luo Ke was very imaginative. This kind of thing is not uncommon among nobles.
"No, I don't. Lacey and I really love each other, but Lacey is already engaged-" Henry couldn't continue, with tears in his eyes, he picked up the cup in front of him and drank it all.
This time it was Rock who was embarrassed. Who could have not experienced several failed relationships? Rock no longer laughed at Henry, nor did he apologize to Henry. He silently added wine to Henry's glass and silently picked up the glass in front of him.