Composition of the Army Flashcards
Men at Arms
Dismounted Knights would sometimes fight on foot
Significance of Men at Arms?
They would serve as heavy, well armoured ‘elite’ infantry and would be used to hold vulnerable positions or as a hammer to smash through the oppositions lines.
Who used the men at arms?
A strategy used heavily by the English troops in their battles against France in the middle ages.
Advantages of pikemen?
. Easy to train and use
. effective against cavalry
Mounted Knights?
. used by richer people
Ratio of cavalry?
1:2 in 1250 to 1:10 in the 1440s
What were pikes replaced by?
bayonet
Schiltron
A circular formation of pike men with the pike
facing outside forming an impenetrable circle
of pikes
What was a bombard
A type of cannon used to fire large (180kg)
solid stone balls at Castle walls
How many men were there by the end of the 17th century?
130,000
Role of artillery 1500-1700?
1500- used in sieges
1700- used on battlefields
Role of battle of Bicocca
1522
. spanish musketeers defeated swiss pikemen
Who were the dragoons?
Mounted infantry Armed with muskets, but riding horses
Role of Infantry 1700-1900?
.75% of the Army
. growing to 80% by 1850
What was the Brown Bess musket?
It was a muzzle loaded flintlock musket
. could fire a 30g ball of lead
. an effective range of around 100 metres.
What did it partner with?
In close combat or in dealing with enemy cavalry a socket bayonet would be attached
Role of cavalry 1700-1900?
20% of the Army in 1700
declining to 15% by 1850
Light cavalry?
.armed with sabres
.tended to focus on scouting, raiding and gaining intelligence on enemy locations
Heavy cavalry?
.armed with swords
. used in a break-through tactic on the battlefield
Dragoons in 1700-1900?
Dragoons were still used although they were phased out during the period
Artillery in 1700-1900?
5% of the army
What were cannons equipped with?
1700-1900
with rifled barrels which would launch artillery shells up to 5 kilometres
Size of army change 1849-1899
115,000 in 1849 to 250,000 in 1899.
Change in army size 1900-?
This is down to technology being
able to do more and more things
that human beings can do
Infantry in 2015?
25% of british army
Cavalry in 1914?
10%
What replaced cavalry?
How many of them in 2015?
.tanks
.10%
Artillery in 1914 vs 2015?
20%
10%
What are specialist troops?
.doctors
.engineers
.electrcians
Specialist troops 1914v2015?
5%-55%
Haldane’s reforms?
1908
- brouhght in after poor performance in Boer War
- permanent force of 150,000 that could sent abroad fast.
- 270,000 part time
Modern army?
82,000 full time
30,000 part time
1940 EODs?
-bomb disposal
- 25 units
- cleared 420 bombs in 3 months
-
1945 EODs?
-109 units
- defused 25,000
2015 EODs?
2000
300 sniffer dogs
Army service corps?
1900- provided supplies
1915- 300,000 men 10% of army
Role of army service corps at D-Day
4300 ships transported 130,000 men and 20,000 vehicles in one day
1993 change?
Royal Logistics corps
15% of army
role of RLC in Iraq?
supplied 45,000 with food
.73 ships
