Editing Light infantry (section)

==History==

===Ancient history===
[[File:Agrianian3.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Agrianes|Agrianian]] [[peltast]], {{circa|4th century BC}}]]
The concept of a skirmishing screen is a very old one and was already well-established in [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Roman Republic|Roman]] times in the form, for example, of the Greek [[peltast]] and [[psiloi]], and the Roman ''[[velites]]''. As with the so-called "light infantry" of later periods, the term more adequately describes the role of such infantry rather than the actual weight of their equipment. Peltast equipment, for example, grew steadily heavier at the same time as [[hoplite]] equipment grew lighter. It was the fact that peltasts fought in open order as skirmishers that made them light infantry and that hoplites fought in the battle line in a [[phalanx formation]] that made them heavy infantry.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

===Modern history===
Early regular armies of the modern era frequently relied on [[Irregular military|irregulars]] to perform the duties of light infantry skirmishers. In particular, the French Army employed detachments of German and Balkan mercenaries to serve as patrols in the rough country until a permanent corps of Mountain [[Fusilier]]s (''Fusiliers des Montagnes'') was raised in the 1740s.<ref>{{cite book|first=Rene|last=Chartrand|page=37|title=Louis XV's Army (4) Light Troops and Specialists|date=1997 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=1-85532-624-8}}</ref> In the 17th century, [[dragoon]]s were sometimes employed as the skirmishers of their day, as [[mounted infantry]]men who rode into battle but dismounted to fight, giving them a mobility lacking to regular foot soldiers.<ref>{{cite book|first=Rene|last=Chartrand|page=37|title=Louis XIV's Army|date= 1988 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=0-85045-850-1}}</ref>

In the 18th and 19th centuries most [[infantry]] regiments or [[battalion]]s had a '''light company''' as an integral part of its composition. Its members were often smaller, more [[agility|agile]] men with high shooting ability and capability of using initiative. They did not usually fight in disciplined ranks as did the ordinary infantry but often in widely dispersed groups, necessitating an understanding of skirmish warfare. They were expected to avoid [[melee]] engagements unless necessary and would fight ahead of the mainline to harass the enemy before falling back to the main position.

During the period 1777–1781, the [[Continental Army]] of the United States adopted the British Army practice of seasonally drafting light infantry regiments as temporary units during active field operations, by combining existing light infantry companies detached from their parent regiments.

[[File:Une compagnie d'infanterie légère française dans les bois.jpg|thumb|French light infantry in the woods during the [[Napoleonic era]], by [[Victor Huen]].]]

Light infantry sometimes carried lighter muskets than ordinary infantrymen while others carried rifles and wore [[rifle green]] uniforms. These became designated as ''rifle regiments'' in Britain and ''[[Jäger (military)|Jäger]]'' and ''[[Schützen (military)|Schützen]]'' (sharpshooter) regiments in German-speaking Europe. In France, during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], light infantry were called ''[[voltigeurs]]'' and ''[[chasseurs]]'' and the sharpshooters ''[[tirailleur]]s''. The Austrian army had [[Grenzer]] regiments from the middle of the 18th century, who originally served as irregular militia skirmishers recruited from frontier areas. They were gradually absorbed into the line infantry becoming a hybrid type that proved successful against the French, to the extent that Napoleon recruited several units of Austrian army Grenzer to his own army after victory over Austria in 1809 compelled the Austrians to cede territories from which they were traditionally recruited. In Portugal, 1797, companies of ''[[Caçadores]]'' (Hunters) were created in the Portuguese Army, and in 1808 led to the formation of independent "Caçador" battalions that became known for their ability to perform precision shooting at long distances.

Light infantry officers sometimes carried [[musket]]s or [[rifle]]s, rather than [[pistol]]s, and their [[sword]]s were light curved [[sabre]]s; as opposed to the heavy, straighter swords of other infantry officers. Orders were sent by [[Bugle (instrument)|bugle]] or [[whistle]] instead of [[Military drums|drums]] (since the sound of a bugle carries further and it is difficult to move fast when carrying a drum). Some armies, including the [[British Army|British]] and [[French Army|French]], recruited whole regiments (or converted existing ones) of light infantry. These were considered [[Military elite|elite units]], since they required specialised training with emphasis on [[self-discipline]], manoeuvre and initiative to carry out the roles of light infantry as well as those of ordinary infantry.

By the late 19th century, the concept of fighting in formation was on the wane due to advancements in weaponry and the distinctions between light and heavy infantry began to disappear. Essentially, all infantry became light infantry in operational practice. Some regiments retained the name and customs, but there was in effect little difference between them and other infantry regiments.

[[File:Jaakaripataljooa libaussa.jpg|thumb|The pioneer company of the [[27th Jäger Battalion (Finland)|27th Jäger Battalion]] returning from a parade in [[Liepāja]] (Libau) in 1917.]]

On the eve of World War I, the British Army included seven light infantry regiments. These differed from other infantry only in maintaining such traditional distinctions as badges that included a bugle-horn, dark green home service helmets for [[full dress]], and a fast-stepping parade ground march.<ref>Maj. R. M.Barnes, pp. 298–305 "A History of the Regiments & Uniforms of the British Army", Sphere Books 1972 {{ISBN?}}</ref>

===Contemporary===

[[File:23.LeichtesInfanteriebattailon.jpg|thumb|[[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] 23rd Light Infantry Battalion (joined by a few US Marines) on joint military exercise, 2005]]
Today, the term "light" denotes, in the United States [[table of organization and equipment]], units lacking heavy weapons and armor or with a reduced vehicle footprint. Light infantry units lack the greater firepower, operational mobility, and protection of mechanized or armored units, but possess correspondingly greater tactical mobility and can execute missions in severely restrictive terrain and  areas where weather makes vehicular mobility difficult.

Light infantry forces typically rely on their ability to operate under restrictive conditions, surprise, violence of action, training, stealth, field craft, and fitness levels of the individual soldiers to compensate for their reduced lethality. Despite the usage of the term "light", forces in a light unit actually normally carry heavier individual loads vis-à-vis other forces, because they must –&nbsp;due to their lack of vehicles –&nbsp;carry everything they require to fight, survive, and win. 

Although American units like the [[101st Airborne Division|101st Airborne (Air Assault)]] and the [[82nd Airborne Division]] are categorized as Air Assault Infantry and Airborne Infantry respectively, they also fall under the overall concept of light infantry. Light infantry forces are typically infantry forces intended for difficult terrains such as: 

* amphibious assault – e.g., the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marines]], [[Royal Marines]];
* mountains or arctic conditions – e.g., the [[United States Army]] [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]], [[United States Army]] [[86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain)]], [[Italian Army]] [[Alpini]], [[French Army]] [[Chasseurs Alpins]]; or
* jungle – e.g., the [[Philippine Army]] [[1st Scout Ranger Regiment]] and [[Brazilian Army]] Jungle Infantry Brigades.

In the 1980s, the United States Army increased light forces to address contingencies and increased threats requiring a more deployable force able to operate in restrictive environments for limited periods.  At its height, this included the [[6th Infantry Division (United States)|6th Infantry Division]] (light), [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]] (light), [[10th Mountain Division]] (light infantry), [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]], and the [[75th Ranger Regiment (United States)|75th Ranger Regiment]]. [[Operation Just Cause]] is often cited as proof of concept. Almost 30,000 U.S. Forces, mostly light, deployed to [[Panama]] within a 48-hour period to execute combat operations. On 30 September 1985, the 29th Infantry Division (Maryland and Virginia Army National Guard) was reactivated at Fort Belvoir, Virginia as the only light Infantry Division in the US Army's reserve components.

During the [[Falklands War]] in 1982, both Argentina and the United Kingdom made heavy use of light infantry and its doctrines during the campaign, most notably the Argentine [[5th Naval Infantry Battalion (Argentina)]] and [[25th Infantry Regiment (Argentina)]] and the British [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]] and [[Royal Marines]] of [[3 Commando Brigade]]. Due to the [[Falkland Islands]]' rocky and mountainous terrain, the operations on the ground were only made possible with the use of light infantry; the terrain severely limited using mechanized infantry or armor. These conditions led to the "[[Yomp]]" across the Falklands, in which Royal Marines and Paras yomped (and tabbed) with their equipment across the islands, covering 56 miles (90&nbsp;km) in three days carrying 80-pound (36&nbsp;kg) loads after disembarking from ships at [[San Carlos, Falkland Islands|San Carlos]] on [[East Falkland]] on 21 May 1982.

During the 1990s, the concept of purely light forces in the US military came under scrutiny due to their decreased lethality and survivability.  This scrutiny has resulted in the [[Brigade combat team#Stryker brigade combat team|Stryker Brigade Combat Team]], a greater focus on task organized units (such as [[Marine Expeditionary Units]]) and a reduction of purely light forces.

Despite their reduction, light forces have proven successful in [[Afghanistan]] ([[Operation Enduring Freedom]]), underlining the continued need for light infantry.