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For other uses of the term, see Light Infantry.

Light Infantry NTW Britanny Icon

Light Infantry are a type of light infantry in Napoleon: Total War and The Peninsular Campaign.

Description[]

Light infantry are skirmishers who harass the enemy while screening the main body of an army.

These men are versatile soldiers: whether firing in a disciplined line or skirmishing in loose formation, they bring a good self-discipline and accuracy to the battle. They carry smoothbore, muzzle-loading muskets, but do not rely on massed fire. Instead they aim at individuals within the enemy ranks, killing officers, sergeants and anyone else who takes charge. They also fight their own specialised battle, driving off enemy skirmishers. However, they may prove weak when pitted against line infantry or highly expert skirmishers such as riflemen.

By the early 1800s, light infantry had a much greater role on the battlefield, at least in Napoleon’s forces. Many armies still saw light infantry as little more than auxiliary troops, choosing to favour the old, tried and tested tactics of massed volley fire and close formations. Napoleon, on the other hand, recognised the advantage flexibility conferred, and used light infantry extensively, to harass enemy lines to pieces, then closing up for a final rush.

General Information[]

Light infantry are the generic Light Infantry in Napoleon: Total War, available to many minor factions. Compared to the more unique light infantry fielded by other factions, they are slightly below average, being worse than Light Foot or Prussian Fusiliers. about tied with Chasseurs and Grenzers, and superior at range to Russian Jägers (though Russian Jägers have a much better charge bonus). They are an intermediate unit type between skirmishers and line infantry, with characteristics of both: their range and number of men per regiment are between that of line infantry and skirmishers, they can use light infantry behavior like skirmishers or stand in dense formations like line infantry, and they use bayonets but cannot use Square Formation. Compared to line infantry, they have superior range, and all their ranks may fire at once. This can give them superior killing power, particularly when placed many ranks deep and firing in conjunction with other units at a specific target.

Light Infantry use muskets, which are are reloaded significantly more quickly than the rifles used by most skirmishers. This, combined with their superior numbers, means that light infantry can sustain a volley from skirmishers, close the gap, and still win an engagement comfortably. In most situations, light infantry are superior to skirmishers. However, they lack the numbers of line infantry, and cannot form square, so they cannot be used to simply substitute line infantry without risk. They are highly vulnerable to cavalry when unsupported, particularly if they are unable to fire an accurate volley before the cavalry close the gap.

When stationary on the world map for more than one turn and attacked, Light Infantry have the options of deploying Chevaux de Frise (anti-cavalry barricades), Earthworks (protective barriers against missile fire), and Fougasse (land mines).

Great Britain can train light infantry when controlling traditionally Spanish regions. When trained by Great Britain, these units are named Spanish Light Infantry instead of light infantry. Compared to standard British Light Foot, they have worse stats in most categories, particularly reloading and accuracy. They are cheaper and available throughout nearly the entirety of the campaign map, however, and benefit from several technologies: Local Recruitment Initiatives improves replenishment rate, and Call to Arms reduces recruitment costs, and British Training Methods increase their initial experience.

Light Infantry's statistics are different between Spain and other factions; differences are listed below (traits that to not differ are not listed). In The Peninsular Campaign, Spanish light infantry employed by Great Britain have Spanish stats. Spain does not have light infantry in the Europe Campaign, using Cazadores, instead.

Faction Reloading Defence Cost Upkeep
Spain 35 8 500 SP/600 MP 120
General 45 6 560 SP 140
Napoleon: Total War Infantry
Line Infantry 18th Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne "The Brave"1st Regiment Emperor's Own47th (Czech) Regiment88th Foot "Connaught Rangers"Archduke Charles' LegionBeylik Janissary MusketeersBrunswick Line InfantryFootFusiliers (Line Infantry)Fusiliers of LineGerman FusiliersHighland FootHungarian FusiliersInfantryKings German Legion FootLine InfantryMoscow MusketeersMusketeersNizam-I Cedit InfantryPolish LegionProvincial Nizam-I CeditRevolutionary InfantrySwiss FootVoluntarios de la CoruñaVoluntarios de la Cruzada del Tietar
Militia FenciblesLandwehrLibyan BedouinMilitiaMilitiamenNational GuardOpelcheniePalestinian AuxiliariesPeasant LevyProvincial Militia
Grenadiers 1st East Prussian Grenadier BattalionBeylik Janissary GrenadiersGerman GrenadiersGrenadiersGrenadiers of the LineHungarian GrenadiersPavlovsk Grenadiers
Irregulars & Light Infantry 17th Jäger Regiment6th Regiment d’Infanterie LégèreAzzarsCazadoresCazadores de CataluñaCazardores Francos NumantinosChasseursDutch FlanquersFusiliers (Light Infantry)GuerillasGuerrilla CazadoresGrenzersKings German Legion Light FootLight FootLight InfantryLombardy-Cisapline LegionNizam-I Cedit Light InfantryPrussian FusiliersRegimento de ArlanzaRussian Jägers
Skirmishers 95th FootContra-GuerrillasCorso Terrestre de NavarraGuerrilla TiradoresJägersLandesschutzenNassau JägersNizam-I Cedit RiflesNorwegian Ski TroopsRiflesSharpshootersSilesian SchuetzenTiradoresTiradores de CantabriaVoltiguersWindbüchse Jägers
Elite Infantry 42nd Foot (The Black Watch)8th Life RegimentColdstream GuardsDutch GrenadiersFoot GuardsGrenadier GuardsGuard SeamenGuardias de InfanteriaLife Guards of FootLife RegimentLifeguard FootOld GuardRepublican GuardsSemenovski LifeguardVelite GrenadiersWalloon GuardsYoung Guard
Melee Infantry Bashi-BazouksCemaat Janissaries
Mobs Armed CitizenryArmed PopulaceFirelock Armed Populace
Mounted Infantry 10th HussarsCazadores Voluntarios de MadridDragoon GuardsDragoonsEmpress DragoonsKings German Legion DragoonsKings German Legion Light DragoonsLight DragoonsMounted CazadoresMounted JagersMounted Nizam-I CeditMounted RiflesRoyal Scots Greys
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