Infantry: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Military personnel who engage in ground combat}}

:''For the computer game, see [[Infantry (computer game)]].''

{{Redirect|Foot soldier|other uses of "foot soldier"|Foot soldier (disambiguation)}}

{{For-multi|1=the professional journal of the United States Army |2=Infantry (magazine) |3=the 1999 video game |4=Infantry (video game)}}

{{text-source|date=August 2022}}

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{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

[[File:CJEF joint training Exercise Wessex Storm 2020 MOD 45167425.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[French Army]] and [[British Army]] infantry during a [[military exercise]] in 2020]]

{{War}}

'''Infantry''', or '''infantryman''' are a type of [[soldier]] who specialize in ground [[combat]], typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadly encompasses a wide variety of subspecialties, including [[light infantry]], [[irregular infantry]], [[heavy infantry]], [[mountain infantry]], [[motorized infantry]], [[mechanized infantry]], [[Airborne forces|airborne infantry]], [[Air assault|air assault infantry]], and [[Marines|naval infantry]]. Other subtypes of infantry, such as [[line infantry]] and [[mounted infantry]], were once commonplace but fell out of favor in the 19th century with the invention of more accurate and powerful weapons.

== Etymology and terminology ==

[[Image:Royal Irish Rifles ration party Somme July 1916.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Infantry of the [[Royal Irish Rifles]] during the [[Battle of the Somme (1916)|Battle of the Somme]] in [[World War I]].]]

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}}

[[File:Tafel Io.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Various infantry of the 17th through 18th century ([[halberdier]], [[arquebus]]ier, [[pikeman]], and mix of [[musketeer]]s and [[grenadier]]s) of [[Duchy of Württemberg]]|left]]

'''Infantry''' are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with [[small arms]] in organized [[military unit]]s, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means.

In English, use of the term ''infantry'' began about the 1570s, describing [[soldier]]s who march and fight on foot.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Infantry - Etymology, Origin & Meaning |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/infantry |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=etymonline |language=en-US}}</ref> The word derives from [[Middle French]] {{Lang|frm|infanterie}}, from older Italian (also Spanish) ''infanteria'' (foot soldiers too inexperienced for cavalry), from Latin ''[[wikt:infans|īnfāns]]'' (without speech, newborn, foolish), from which English also gets ''[[wikt:infant|infant]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infantry|url=http://www.etymonline.com/word/infantry|website=Online Etymology Dictionary|access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> The individual-soldier term ''infantryman'' was not coined until 1837.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infantryman|url=http://www.etymonline.com/word/infantryman|website=Online Etymology Dictionary|access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> In modern usage, foot soldiers of any era are now considered infantry and infantrymen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infantry|url=http://www.dictionary.com/browse/infantry|website=Dictionary.com|access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>

==History==

{{History of war}}

With few exceptions, most armies in history have been built around a core of infantry. While the specific weapons have varied, the common factor is that these soldiers have relied on their feet for operational movements (transportation behind the lines, especially in the pre-industrial era) and [[military tactic|tactical]] movement (movement in battle) although they may sometimes be transported to the battlefield by various means.

From the mid-18th century until 1881, the [[British Army]] named its infantry as numbered regiments "of Foot" to distinguish them from [[cavalry]] and [[dragoon]] regiments (see [[List of regiments of foot|List of Regiments of Foot]]).{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In earliest days, infantry were essentially armed mobs, fighting in loosely organized opposing lines under the voice direction of individual commanders in the immediate vicinity (within earshot) of the troops under their command. However, the benefits of uniform equipment, weaponry and above all training led to the development of formations able to carry out pre-arranged tactical maneuvers in the heat of battle.

Infantry equipped with special weapons were often named after that weapon, such as [[grenadier]]s for their [[grenade]]s, or [[fusilier]]s for their ''fusils''. These names can persist long after the weapon speciality; examples of infantry units that retained such names are the [[Royal Irish Fusiliers]] and the [[Grenadier Guards]].

Infantry organization has focused since recorded history began on striking a balance between heavily-armed formations (such as the [[Greece|Greek]] [[phalanx formation|phalanx]]) fighting in rigid formations, and more lightly-armed but more mobile units (like the [[Roman legion]]) able to move relatively quickly around the battlefield and exploit opportunities as they arose. Mobility, weaponry, and protection have been the competing yet complementary factors to be balanced.

[[Dragoon]]s were created as [[mounted infantry]], with horses for travel between battles; they were still considered infantry since they dismounted before combat. However, if [[light cavalry]] was lacking in an army, any available dragoons might be assigned their duties; this practice increased over time, and dragoons eventually received all the weapons and training as both infantry and cavalry, and could be classified as both. Conversely, starting about the mid-19th century, regular cavalry have been forced to spend more of their time dismounted in combat due to the ever-increasing effectiveness of enemy infantry firearms. Thus most cavalry transitioned to mounted infantry. As with grenadiers, the ''dragoon'' and ''cavalry'' designations can be retained long after their horses, such as in the [[Royal Dragoon Guards]], [[Royal Lancers]], and [[King's Royal Hussars]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

=== Classical Period ===

Examples of infantry units of the Classical period are the [[phalanx formation|phalanx]]es of [[ancient Greece]] and the [[Roman legion|legion]]s of [[Imperial Rome]]. In contrast to the strictly organized phalanxes and legions, most armies of the ancient world also employed units of [[skirmisher]]s (often [[mercenaries]] or [[slaves]]) who wore minimal armor and carried an eclectic mix of weapons ranging from [[sword]]s and [[javelin throw|javelin]]s to slings and bows. Infantry was the primary combat arm of the period in open battles, as a result of multiple factors, including the cultural bias toward hand-to-hand combat and the relatively limited effectiveness of ranged weapons. Ranged weapons were primarily used as [[artillery]] and [[siege weapon]]s. Classical [[cavalry]] was considered largely ineffective for anything but [[harassment]], largely due to the fact that [[stirrups]] had yet to be brought to Europe.

[[File:M2 loading.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Infantry of the [[3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment]] of the [[United States Army]] boarding an [[M2 Bradley]] IFV in [[Iraq]] in 2006]]

Large, well-disciplined units of infantry were common to the wars of the ancient world. However, as the [[Roman Empire]] declined and fell to the depredations of Germanic tribes such as the [[Vandal]]s, [[Goths]], and [[Visigoths]] in the 5th century AD, the political and military resources necessary for the maintenance of such units largely disappeared until the later Middle Ages with the appearance of the large bureaucratic systems associated with the [[monarchy|monarchical]] [[nation-state]]s.

Similarly, [[motorised infantry]] have trucks and other unarmed vehicles for non-combat movement, but are still infantry since they leave their vehicles for any combat. Most modern infantry have vehicle transport, to the point where infantry being motorised is generally assumed, and the few exceptions might be identified as modern ''light infantry''. [[Mechanised infantry]] go beyond motorised, having transport vehicles with combat abilities, [[armoured personnel carrier]]s (APCs), providing at least some options for combat without leaving their vehicles. In modern infantry, some APCs have evolved to be [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s (IFVs), which are transport vehicles with more substantial combat abilities, approaching those of [[light tank]]s. Some well-equipped mechanised infantry can be designated as ''armoured infantry''. Given that infantry forces typically also have some tanks, and given that most armoured forces have more mechanised infantry units than tank units in their organisation, the distinction between mechanised infantry and armour forces has blurred.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

===Middle Ages===

For most of the Middle Ages, warfare and society were dominated by the [[cavalry]] (horse-mounted soldiers), composed of individual [[knight]]s. Knights were generally drawn from the aristocracy, while the infantry levies were raised from commoners. This situation slowed the advance of infantry tactics and weapon technologies; those that were developed by the end of the Middle Ages included the use of long [[spear]]s or [[halberd]]s to counter the long reach of knights' [[lance]]s, and the increased use of ranged weaponry to counter the cavalry's advantages of momentum, speed, height, and reach.

== History ==

[[Image:Relief infantry.jpg|left|thumb|300px|[[Imperial and Royal Army during the Napoleonic Wars|Austrian infantry]] wearing [[bicorne]]s and carrying [[musket]]s.]]

{{Main|History of infantry}}

While bows remained in use long after the development of [[firearm]]s, technological fine-tuning (along with the development of the [[wheel-lock]]) allowed firearms to supersede even the feared [[English longbow]] as the ranged weapon of choice for infantry. The bow also declined in favor due to the ease with which musketeers could be trained (days or weeks to attain moderate proficiency, as opposed to many years for the longbow).

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}}

[[File:Greek soldiers of Greco–Persian Wars.png|thumb|Ancient Greek infantry of the [[Greco-Persian Wars]] (499–449 BC): [[light infantry]] (left, [[Sling (weapon)|slinger]]), and the [[heavy infantry]] (middle and right, [[hoplite]]s)|left]]

After the Spanish [[Tercios]], many other nations combined firearms with extremely long [[pike (weapon)|pike]]s into units that were virtually invincible against cavalry formations. Eventually, with the development of the [[bayonet]], the pikemen were dropped from the formation, resulting in the first examples of an infantry unit as recognizable today.

The first military forces in history were infantry. In [[ancient history|antiquity]], infantry were armed with early melee weapons such as a [[spear]], [[battle axe|axe]], or [[sword]], or an early ranged weapon like a [[javelin]], [[sling (weapon)|sling]], or [[bow and arrow|bow]], with a few infantrymen being expected to use both a melee and a ranged weapon. With the [[History of gunpowder|development of gunpowder]], infantry began converting to primarily [[firearm]]s. By the time of [[Napoleonic Wars|Napoleonic warfare]], infantry, cavalry and artillery formed a basic triad of ground forces, though infantry usually remained the most numerous. With [[armoured warfare]], [[armoured fighting vehicle]]s have replaced the horses of cavalry, and [[airpower]] has added a new dimension to ground combat, but infantry remains pivotal to all modern [[combined arms]] operations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Christopher |title=Contemporary Warfare, the Utility of Infantry, and Implications for the Project Land 400 Combined Arms Fighting System |url=https://researchcentre.army.gov.au/library/australian-army-journal-aaj/volume-7-number-2-winter/contemporary-warfare-utility-infantry-and-implications-project-land-400-combined-arms-fighting-system |website=Australian Army Journal |publisher=Directorate of Future Land Warfare |access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>

The first warriors, adopting [[hunting weapon#History|hunting weapons]] or improvised melee weapons,<ref name="Kelly">{{cite journal|last=Kelly|first=Raymond|date=October 2005|title=The evolution of lethal intergroup violence|journal=PNAS|volume=102|issue=43|pages=24–29|doi=10.1073/pnas.0505955102|pmc=1266108|pmid=16129826|doi-access=free}}</ref> before the existence of any organised military, likely started essentially as loose groups without any organisation or formation. But this changed sometime before [[recorded history]]; the first [[List of empires|ancient empires]] (2500–1500 BC) are shown to have some soldiers with standardised military equipment, and the training and discipline required for battlefield formations and manoeuvres: [[Regular army|regular infantry]].<ref>Keeley, ''War Before Civilization'', 1996, Oxford University Press, p. 45, Fig. 3.1</ref> Though the main force of the army, these forces were usually kept small due to their cost of training and upkeep, and might be supplemented by local short-term mass-conscript forces using the older [[irregular infantry]] weapons and tactics; this remained a common practice almost up to modern times.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Newman|first1=Simon|title=Military in the Middle Ages|url=http://www.thefinertimes.com/Middle-Ages/military-in-the-middle-ages.html|website=thefinertimes.com|date=29 May 2012|access-date=6 October 2015}}</ref>

=== Modern ===

Before the development of [[railroad]]s in the 19th century, infantry armies got to the battlefield by walking, or sometimes by [[ship]]. The Marines were first conceived in the 16th century by the Spanish ([[Infanteria de Marina]]), followed in the 17th century by other European countries including the United Kingdom. Due to Britain's island status, a large army was unnecessary, however infantry soldiers were still required for eventual landings. A typical Royal Navy warship carried 600 men. Of these men, 120-180 would be Royal Marines. These men usually had a deck to themselves and had little to do with sailing the vessel. The men were proficient in the use of metal-working, gunpowder and modern weapons of the day and would form landing parties when exploring. The Marines also defended the vessel if boarded and would repair damaged weapons and cannons after a battle.

[[File:Rocroi, el último tercio, por Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau.jpg|thumb|''Rocroi, el último tercio'' ("Roicroi, the last tercio") by [[Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau]], portraying infantry of a battered Spanish ''[[tercio]]'' at the 1643 [[Battle of Rocroi]]]]

In the 1890s and later, some countries used [[bicycle infantry]], but the real revolution in mobility started in the 1920s with the use of motor vehicles, resulting in [[motorized infantry]]. Action in [[World War II]] demonstrated the importance of protecting the soldiers while they are moving around, resulting in the development of [[mechanized infantry]], who use armored vehicles for transport. World War II also saw the first widespread use of [[paratroop]]s, which played key roles in several campaigns in the European theater. During the [[Vietnam War|Vietnam conflict]], the [[United States Army]] pioneered the use of [[helicopter]]s to deliver large numbers of infantry quickly to and from key locations on the battlefield. During that era such formations were referred to as [[airmobile]]. Today, delivering infantry into battle by way of helicopter is known as an [[air assault]].

Before the adoption of the [[chariot]] to create the first mobile fighting forces {{circa|2000 BC}},<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilford|first1=John Noble|title=Remaking the Wheel: Evolution of the Chariot|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/22/science/remaking-the-wheel-evolution-of-the-chariot.html|website=The New York Times, Science|access-date=12 November 2017|date=22 February 1994}}</ref> all armies were pure infantry. Even after, with a few exceptions like the [[Mongol Empire]], infantry has been the largest component of most armies in history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Infantry {{!}} Soldiers, Tactics, Combat {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/infantry |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

Modern-day mechanized infantry is supported by [[armored fighting vehicle]]s, [[artillery]], and [[aircraft]], but along with [[light infantry]], which does not use armored fighting vehicles, is still the only kind of military force that can take and hold ground, and thus remains essential to fighting wars. However, the tactic of having massive formations of infantry on open terrain fight it out has fallen into disuse ever since [[World War II]]. This is mainly because of advanced technology which can support, replace, and exceed the capabilities of infantry. Modern politics have also to some extent kept the practice of total war and mass combat to a minimum.

In the [[Western world]], from [[Classical Antiquity]] through the [[Middle Ages]] ({{circa|lk=no}} 8th century BC to 15th century AD), infantry are categorised as either [[heavy infantry]] or [[light infantry]]. After the fall of Rome, the quality of heavy infantry declined, and warfare was dominated by [[heavy cavalry]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kagay|first1=Donald J.|last2=Villalon|first2=L. J. Andrew|title=The Circle of War in the Middle Ages|date=1999|publisher=Boydell Press|isbn=978-0851156453|page=53}}</ref> such as [[knight]]s, forming small elite units for decisive [[shock combat]], supported by peasant infantry [[militia]]s and assorted light infantry from the lower classes. Towards the end of Middle Ages, this began to change, where more professional and better trained light infantry could be effective against knights, such as the [[English longbow]]men in the [[Hundred Years' War]]. By the start of the [[Renaissance]], the infantry began to [[Infantry revolution|return]] to a larger role, with [[Swiss pikemen]] and German [[Landsknechts]] filling the role of heavy infantry again, using [[pike square|dense formations of pikes]] to drive off any cavalry.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Carey|first1=Brian Todd|title=Warfare in the Medieval World|date=2006|publisher=Pen & Sword Military|___location=London|isbn=978-1848847415|page=chapter 6}}</ref>

Modern infantry even in designated "light" divisions travel around in amored vehicles. They travel along in uparmored humvees using infantry soldiers as turret gunners on heavy weaponry. When they get to ___location they dismount and fulfill their mission objectives. Modern infantry need to be trained on heavy weaponry as well as their personal weapons due to the increased role of traveling in convoys.

Dense formations are vulnerable to ranged weapons. Technological developments allowed the raising of large numbers of light infantry units armed with ranged weapons, without the years of training expected for traditional high-skilled archers and slingers. This started slowly, first with [[crossbow]]men, then [[hand cannon]]eers and [[arquebus]]iers, each with increasing effectiveness, marking the beginning of [[early modern warfare]], when [[firearm]]s rendered the use of heavy infantry obsolete. The introduction of [[musketeer]]s using [[bayonet]]s in the mid 17th century began replacement of the pike with the [[infantry square]] replacing the pike square.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Archer|first1=Christon I.|title=World History of Warfare|url=https://archive.org/details/worldhistoryofwa00arch|url-access=registration|date=2002|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0803219410|page=[https://archive.org/details/worldhistoryofwa00arch/page/291 291]}}</ref>

== Organization ==

[[Image:Military camp.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Historical recreation of infantry in a [[military camp]]]]

Infantry is notable by its reliance on organized formations to be employed in battle. These have been developed over time, but remain a key element to effective infantry development and deployment. Up until the 20th Century, infantry units were for the most part employed in close organized formations up until the last moment possible. This was necessary to allow commanders to retain control of the unit, especially while maneuvering, as well as allowing officers to retain discipline amongst the ranks.

[[File:French bayonet charge.jpg|thumb|French Army infantry in a line formation performing a [[bayonet charge]] in 1913|left]]

With the development of weapons with increased firepower, it became necessary to disperse the infantry over a wider expanse of terrain. This made the unit less susceptible to high explosive and rapid fire weapons. From World War I, it was recognized that infantry were most successfully employed when using their ability to maneuver in constricted terrain and evade detection in ways not possible for other weapons such as vehicles. This decentralization of command was made possible by improved communications equipment and greater focus on small unit training.

To maximise their firepower, musketeer infantry were trained to fight in wide lines facing the enemy, creating [[line infantry]]. These fulfilled the central battlefield role of earlier heavy infantry, using ranged weapons instead of melee weapons. To support these lines, smaller infantry formations using dispersed [[skirmish line]]s were created, called light infantry, fulfilling the same multiple roles as earlier light infantry. Their arms were no lighter than line infantry; they were distinguished by their skirmish formation and flexible tactics.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

== Missions ==

The most important role of the infantry has been as the primary force of an army. It is the infantry which ultimately decides whether ground was held or taken, and it is the presence of infantry that assures control of territory. While the tactics of employment in battle have changed, the basic missions of the infantry have not.

The modern [[rifleman]] infantry became the primary force for taking and holding ground on battlefields as an element of [[combined arms]]. As firepower continued to increase, use of infantry lines diminished, until all infantry became light infantry in practice. Modern classifications of infantry have since expanded to reflect modern equipment and tactics, such as [[motorised infantry]], [[Mechanised infantry|mechanised or armoured infantry]], [[mountain infantry]], [[marine infantry]], and [[airborne infantry]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

'''Attack''' operations are the most basic role of the infantry, and along with defense, form the two primary stances of the infantry on the battlefield. Traditionally, in an open battle, or [[meeting engagement]], two armies would maneuver to contact, at which point they would form up their infantry and other units opposite each other. Then one or both would advance and attempt to defeat the enemy force. The goal of an attack remains the same: to advance into an enemy-held objective and dislodge the enemy, thereby establishing control of the objective. Attacks are often feared by the infantry conducting them due to the high number of casualties suffered while advancing under enemy fire. Successful attacks rely on sufficient force, preparative reconnaissance and bombardment, and retention of unit cohesion throughout the attack.

== Equipment ==

'''Defense''' operations are the natural counter to attacks, in which the mission is to hold an objective and defeat enemy forces attempting to dislodge the defender. Defensive posture offers many advantages to the infantry, including the ability to use terrain and constructed fortifications to advantage and the reduced exposure to enemy fire compared with advancing forces. Effective defense relies on minimizing losses to enemy fire, breaking the enemy's cohesion before their advance is completed, and preventing enemy penetration of defensive positions.

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2017}}

[[File:Feldküche im Hof der Sekundarschule Spitalacker - CH-BAR - 3241487.tif|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Swiss Army]] infantry kits arrayed in front of a [[field kitchen]] in Spitalacker, [[Bern]] during a workers' strike, {{circa|1918}}]]

'''Patrol''' is the most common infantry mission. Full scale attacks and defensive efforts are occasional, but patrols are constant. Patrols consist of small groups of infantry moving about in areas of possible enemy activity to discern enemy deployments and ambush enemy patrols. Patrols are used not only on the front-lines, but in rear areas where enemy infiltration or insurgencies are possible.

Beyond main arms and armour, an infantryman's "military kit" generally includes [[combat boot]]s, [[battledress]] or combat [[Military uniform|uniform]], [[camping gear]], heavy weather gear, [[Survival kit#Military kits|survival gear]], secondary weapons and [[ammunition]], weapon service and repair kits, health and hygiene items, [[Mess kit#Military|mess kit]], [[Field ration|rations]], filled [[Canteen (bottle)|water canteen]], and all other consumables each infantryman needs for the expected duration of time operating away from their unit's base, plus any special mission-specific equipment. One of the most valuable pieces of gear is the [[entrenching tool]]—basically a folding [[spade]]—which can be employed not only to dig important defences, but also in a variety of other daily tasks, and even sometimes as a weapon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Military kit through the ages: from the Battle of Hastings to Helmand|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11011316/Military-kit-through-the-ages-from-the-Battle-of-Hastings-to-Helmand.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804182848/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11011316/Military-kit-through-the-ages-from-the-Battle-of-Hastings-to-Helmand.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2014|website=The Telegraph|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> Infantry typically have shared equipment on top of this, like tents or heavy weapons, where the carrying burden is spread across several infantrymen. In all, this can reach {{convert|25-45|kg|lb|-1|abbr=on}} for each soldier on the march.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Patricia|title=Weight Of War: Soldiers' Heavy Gear Packs On Pain|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/10/134421473/weight-of-war-soldiers-heavy-gear-packs-on-pain|newspaper=NPR|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> Such heavy infantry burdens have changed little over centuries of warfare; in the late Roman Republic, legionaries were nicknamed "[[Marius' mules]]" as their main activity seemed to be carrying the weight of their legion around on their backs, a practice that predates the eponymous [[Gaius Marius]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Taylor |first=Michael J |date=2019 |title=Tactical reform in the late Roman republic: the view from Italy |url=https://biblioscout.net/article/10.25162/historia-2019-0004 |journal=Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=76–94 |doi=10.25162/historia-2019-0004 |s2cid=165437350 |issn=0018-2311|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

'''Pursuit''' is a role that the infantry often assumes. The objective of pursuit operations is the destruction of enemy forces which are not capable of effectively engaging friendly units before they can build their strength to the point where they are effective. Infantry traditionally have been the main force to overrun these units in the past, and in modern combat are used to pursue enemy forces in constricted terrain (urban areas in particular), where faster forces, such as armored vehicles are incapable of going or would be exposed to ambush.

[[File:2013 09 26 SL Foot Patrol E.jpg (9977498896).jpg|thumb|[[Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces]] infantry "packing light" during a [[patrol]] in 2013]]

'''Escort''' consists of protecting other units from ambush, particularly from other infantry. This is one of the most important roles for the modern infantry, in particular when operating along side armored vehicles. In this capacity, infantry essentially conducts patrol on the move, scouring terrain which may hide enemy infantry waiting to ambush friendly vehicles, and identifying enemy strong points for attack by the heavier units.

When combat is expected, infantry typically switch to "packing light", meaning reducing their equipment to weapons, ammunition, and other basic essentials, and leaving other items deemed unnecessary with their transport or [[baggage train]], at camp or rally point, in temporary hidden caches, or even (in emergencies) simply discarding the items.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Handy | first1=Aaron Jr. |title=That Powerless Feeling |publisher=Trafford Publishing |date=2010 |isbn=978-1-4251-3155-5 |section=Part Two, chapter 3 }}</ref> Additional specialised equipment may be required, depending on the mission or to the particular terrain or environment, including [[satchel charge]]s, [[demolition]] tools, [[Land mine|mines]], or [[barbed wire]], carried by the infantry or attached specialists.

'''Maneuver''' operations consume much of an infantry unit's time. Infantry, like all combat units, are often maneuvered to meet battlefield needs, and often must do so under enemy attack. The infantry must maintain their cohesion and readiness during the move to ensure their usefulness when they reach their objective. Traditionally, infantry have relied on their own legs for mobility, but modern infantry often uses trucks and armored vehicles for transport.

Historically, infantry have suffered high casualty rates from [[disease]], exposure, exhaustion and privation—often in excess of the casualties suffered from enemy attacks.<ref>{{cite book |last=McPherson |first=James M. |title=Battle cry of freedom : the Civil War era |date=1989 |publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=0345359429 |page=[https://archive.org/details/battlecryoffreed00jame/page/485 485] |edition=1st Ballantine books |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/battlecryoffreed00jame/page/485 }}</ref> Better infantry equipment to support their health, energy, and protect from environmental factors greatly reduces these rates of loss, and increase their level of effective action. Health, energy, and morale are greatly influenced by how the soldier is fed, so militaries issue standardised [[field ration]]s that provide palatable meals and enough calories to keep a soldier well-fed and combat-ready.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

'''Reserve''' assignments for infantry units involve deployment behind the front, although patrol and security operations are usually maintained in case of enemy infiltration. This is usually the best time for infantry units to integrate replacements into units and to maintain equipment. Additionally, soldiers can be rested and general readiness should improve. However, the unit must be ready for employment at any point.

Communications gear has become a necessity, as it allows effective command of infantry units over greater distances, and communication with artillery and other support units. Modern infantry can have [[GPS]], encrypted individual communications equipment, surveillance and night vision equipment, advanced intelligence and other high-tech mission-unique aids.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

'''Construction''' can be undertaken either in reserve or on the front, but consists of using infantry troops as labor for construction of field positions, roads, bridges, airfields, and all other manner of structures. The infantry is often given this assignment due to the quantity of men within the unit, although it can lessen a unit's morale and limit the unit's ability to maintain readiness and perform other missions.

Armies have sought to improve and standardise infantry gear to reduce fatigue for extended carrying, increase freedom of movement, accessibility, and compatibility with other carried gear, such as the American [[all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment]] (ALICE).{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

== Equipment ==

[[Image:2ID Recon Baghdad.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Modern infantrymen of the [[United States Army]].]]

The equipment of infantry forces has evolved along with the development of military technology in general, but certain constants remain regarding the design and selection of this equipment. Primary types of equipment are weaponry, protective gear, survival gear, and special equipment.

=== Weapons ===

[[Infantry weapon]]s include all types of personal weapons, i.e. anything that can be handled by individual troops, as well as some small crew-served weapons that can be carried and used by infantry. Modern infantry weaponry include [[rifle]]s, [[machine gun]]s, shoulder-fired [[Shoulder-launched missile weapon|rocket launcher]]s and [[missile]]s, and lighter [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s and [[grenade launcher]]s. Older examples of infantry weapons include all sorts of [[melee weapon]]s and some light ranged weapons such as [[spear]]s, [[Bow (weapon)|bows]], and [[sling]]s. During operations, especially in modern times, infantry have a tendency to scavenge and employ whatever weapons they can acquire in addition to those given them by their superiors.

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2017}}

[[File:Рисунки к статье «Древне-русское вооружение». Вклейка № 1. Военная энциклопедия Сытина (Санкт-Петербург, 1911-1915).jpg|thumb|Russian weapons from the 13th to 17th centuries]]

[[Infantry protective gear]] includes all equipment designed to protect the soldier against enemy attack. Most protective gear comprises body armor of some type. Classical and Medieval infantry employed leather and metal armor as defense against both ranged and melee attacks, but with the advent of firearms, such armor could no longer defeat attacks and was discarded. The return to use of the helmet was prompted by the need to defend against high explosive [[fragmentation]], and further developments in materials led to effective bullet-defeating armor within the weight acceptable for infantry use. The use of body armor is again becoming widespread amongst infantry units, primarily using [[Kevlar]] technology. Infantry must also often carry protective measures against chemical and biological attack, including gas masks, counter-agents, and protective suits.

Infantrymen are defined by their primary arms – the [[personal weapons]] and [[body armour]] for their own individual use. The available technology, resources, history, and society can produce quite different weapons for each military and era, but common infantry weapons can be distinguished in a few basic categories.<ref name="Germany at War">{{cite book |last1=Zabecki |first1=David T. |title=Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History |publisher=ABC-CLIO |date=28 October 2014 |isbn=978-1598849806 |page=640 }}</ref><ref name="List of weapons">{{cite web |last1=Blumberg |first1=Naomi |title=List of weapons |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-weapons-2058724 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |publisher=The Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

Infantry survival gear includes all of the items soldiers require for day-to-day survival in the combat environment. These include basic environmental protections, medical supplies, food, and sundries. Traditionally, infantry have suffered large casualty rates from disease, exposure, and privation--often in excess of those suffered from enemy attacks. Better equipment of troops in this area greatly reduce this rate of loss. One of the most valuable pieces of gear is the [[entrenching tool]]--basically a small shovel--which can be employed not only to dig important defenses, but also in a variety of other daily tasks and even as an effective weapon.

* <u>Ranged combat weapons</u>: [[javelin]]s, slings, [[blowgun]]s, bows, [[crossbow]]s, hand cannons, [[arquebuses]], [[muskets]], [[grenades]], [[flamethrower]]s.<ref name="List of weapons" />

Specialized equipment consists of a variety of gear which may or may not be carried depending on the mission and the level of equipment of an army. Communications gear has become a necessity, as it allows effective command of infantry units over greater distances. In some units, individual communications are being used to allow the greatest level of flexibility. Engineering equipment, including demolitions, mines, and other gear, is also commonly carried by the infantry or attached specialists. A variety of other gear, often relating to a specific mission, or to the particular terrain in which the unit is employed, can be carried by infantry units.

* <u>Melee combat weapons</u>: bludgeoning weapons like [[Club (weapon)|clubs]], [[flail (weapon)|flails]] and [[mace (bludgeon)|maces]]; [[bladed weapons]] like swords, [[dagger]]s, and [[axe]]s; [[polearm]]s like spears, halberds, [[naginata]], and pikes.<ref name="List of weapons" />

* <u>Both ranged and close weapons</u>: the bayonet fixed to a firearm allows infantrymen to use the same weapon for both ranged combat and close combat. This started with [[musket]]s and its use still continues with modern [[assault rifle]]s.<ref name="List of weapons" /> Use of the bayonet has declined with the introduction of [[automatic firearm]]s, but are still generally kept as a weapon of last resort.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kontis |first1=George |title=Are We Forever Stuck with the Bayonet? |url=http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=531 |website=Small Arms Defense Journal |access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

Infantrymen often carry secondary or back-up weapons, sometimes called a [[Sidearm (weapon)|sidearm]] or ancillary weapons. Infantry with ranged or polearms often carried a sword or dagger for possible hand-to-hand combat.<ref name="Germany at War" /> The ''[[pilum]]'' was a javelin the Roman legionaries threw just before drawing their primary weapon, the ''[[gladius]]'' (short sword), and closing with the enemy line.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zhmodikov |first1=Alexander |title=Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte |chapter=Roman Republican Heavy Infantrymen in Battle (IV-II Centuries B.C.) |volume= 49 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |date=2000 |issue=1 |isbn=978-1598849806 |page=640 }}</ref>

There are some general rules to which all infantry equipment must adhere to be effective and widely adopted:

Modern infantrymen now treat the bayonet as a backup weapon, but may also have [[handgun]]s as [[Sidearm (weapon)|sidearms]]. They may also deploy anti-personnel mines, booby traps, incendiary, or explosive devices defensively before combat.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

* Reliability: Equipment failure is fatal to the infantry, and if equipped with unreliable gear, morale will suffer greatly. Soldiers tend to prefer reliable proven technology to new, unproven gadgets. Additionally, the conditions in which infantry operate are often extreme and gear must be able to survive and operate in these conditions without fail.

* Utility: Infantry have very limited weight capacity, and thus gear which does not help them do their job will be discarded.

* Availability: Since infantry units are often large, and must be able to be raised in quantity, a particular tool must be available in sufficient quantity to equip the units. This means that it must be inexpensive enough to afford in quantity during peacetime, and producible enough to meet wartime demands.

* Simplicity: Infantry relies on large numbers of troops, often conscripted and therefore of lesser quality than those available to other branches. An army must be able to train its troops uniformly in minimal time on the tools of the trade. Overly complex gear will often be useless in combat due to a lack of training or the difficulty of maintenance under field conditions.

=== Protection ===

== Historical descriptions ==

{{unreferenced section|date=October 2017}}

* "I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without." [[Ernie Pyle]]

*"I'm convinced that the infantry is the group in the army which gives more and gets less than anybody else." [[Bill Mauldin]], ''Up Front'' (1945)

*"Queen of Battle." — motto of the [[United States Army]] Infantry, in reference to the queen chess piece.

*"Follow me" — motto of the [[United States Army Infantry School]]

*"To seek out and close with the enemy; to kill or capture him; to seize and hold ground; to repel attack, by day or night, regardless of season, weather or terrain" — The stated role of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, an Arms Corps of the [[Australian Army]].

*"The infantry doesn't change. We're the only arm of the military where the weapon is the man himself." [[C.T. Shortis]]

*"Ah, yes, mere infantry — poor beggars…" [[Plautus]]

*"To close with and engage the enemy in all operational environments, in order to bring about his defeat" The British Army Infantry Mission

*"The Infantry to be structured, equipped, manned, trained and motivated to fulfil its Mission, in accordance with the British Army's Manoeuvrist doctrine. It must be capable of successful, high tempo and sustained Warfighting, in concert with other Arms, as part of a light, medium or heavy force in a Joint or Multinational context. The Infantry must be able to operate simultaneously, across the spectrum of conflict prevention, conflict and post conflict activities, in all terrain, and in all environmental and climatic conditions." Director Of Infantry's Intent, DInf, British Army

*"To Close with and Destroy the enemy" Role of the Canadian Army Infantry

*"Ducimus" Motto of the Canadian Infantry ("We Lead")

*"The army's infantry is its most essential component. Even today, no army can take and hold any ground without the use of infantry." Nafziger

*"You breath and you've got a heart beat? You're in infantry now!" Annonymous

[[Image:Roman turtle formation on trajan column.jpg|thumb|The [[Roman legion|Roman]] ''[[testudo formation|testudo]]'' performed during a [[siege]], as shown on [[Trajan's Column]]]]

==See also==

* [[Military history]]

* [[Army]]

* [[Marine (armed services)|Marine]]

* [[Armoured infantry]]

* [[Mechanized infantry]]

* [[Mounted infantry]]

* [[Light Infantry]]

* [[Mobile infantry]]

Infantry have employed many different methods of protection from enemy attacks, including various kinds of armour and other gear, and tactical procedures.

{{Commons|Infantry}}

The most basic is [[personal armour]]. This includes [[shield]]s, [[military helmet|helmets]] and many types of armour – [[Gambeson|padded linen]], leather, [[Lamellar armour|lamellar]], [[mail (armor)|mail]], [[plate armor|plate]], and [[kevlar]]. Initially, armour was used to defend both from ranged and close combat; even a fairly light shield could help defend against most slings and javelins, though high-strength bows and crossbows might penetrate common armour at very close range. Infantry armour had to compromise between protection and coverage, as a full suit of attack-proof armour would be too heavy to wear in combat.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[Category:Infantry| ]]

[[File:960411-A-1972C-002 - LTC Bill Kazdobe and SFC Ira Cherrie.jpg|thumb|Two U.S. Army soldiers presenting the [[Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops]] body armor, then regularly issued to American infantry, in 1996]]

[[Category:Military occupations]]

As firearms improved, armour for ranged defence had to be made thicker and heavier, which hindered mobility. With the introduction of the heavy arquebus designed to pierce standard steel armour, it was proven easier to make heavier firearms than heavier armour; armour transitioned to be only for close combat purposes. Pikemen armour tended to be just steel helmets and breastplates, and gunners had very little or no armour at all. By the time of the musket, the dominance of firepower shifted militaries away from any close combat, and use of armour decreased, until infantry typically went without wearing any armour.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[Category:Walking]]

Helmets were added back during World War I as artillery began to dominate the battlefield, to protect against their [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]] and other blast effects beyond a direct hit. Modern developments in bullet-proof composite materials like kevlar have started a return to body armour for infantry, though the extra weight is a notable burden.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

{{Link FA|he}}

In modern times, infantrymen must also often carry protective measures against [[chemical warfare|chemical]] and [[biological warfare|biological]] attack, including [[military gas mask]]s, counter-agents, and protective suits. All of these protective measures add to the weight an infantryman must carry, and may decrease combat efficiency.

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=== Infantry-served weapons ===

[[ar:مشاة]]

{{unreferenced section|date=October 2017}}

[[bs:Pješadija]]

[[bg:Пехота]]

Early crew-served weapons were [[siege weapon]]s, like the [[ballista]], [[trebuchet]], and [[battering ram]]. Modern versions include [[machine guns]], [[anti-tank missiles]], and infantry [[mortar (weapon)|mortars]].{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[ca:Infanteria]]

[[cs:Pěchota]]

== Formations ==

[[da:Infanteri]]

{{Main|Tactical formation}}

[[de:Infanterie]]

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2017}}

[[el:Φαντάρος]]

[[es:Infantería]]

[[File:Stele of Vultures detail 01a.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ancient depiction of infantry formations, from the [[Stele of the Vultures]], [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)]], {{circa|2500 BC}}]]

[[eo:Infanterio]]

[[fr:Infanterie]]

Beginning with the development the first regular military forces, close-combat regular infantry fought less as unorganised groups of individuals and more in coordinated units, maintaining a defined [[tactical formation]] during combat, for increased battlefield effectiveness; such infantry formations and the arms they used developed together, starting with the spear and the shield.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[hr:Pješaštvo]]

[[id:Infanteri]]

A spear has decent attack abilities with the additional advantage keeping opponents at distance; this advantage can be increased by using longer spears, but this could allow the opponent to side-step the point of the spear and close for [[hand-to-hand combat]] where the longer spear is near useless. This can be avoided when each spearman stays side by side with the others in close formation, each covering the ones next to him, presenting a solid wall of spears to the enemy that they cannot get around.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[it:Fanteria]]

[[he:חיל רגלים]]

Similarly, a shield has decent defence abilities, but is literally hit-or-miss; an attack from an unexpected angle can bypass it completely. Larger shields can cover more, but are also heavier and less manoeuvrable, making unexpected attacks even more of a problem. This can be avoided by having shield-armed soldiers stand close together, side-by-side, each protecting both themselves and their immediate comrades, presenting a solid [[shield wall]] to the enemy.

[[mk:Пешадија]]

[[nl:Infanterie]]

[[File:Charge of the French Cuirassiers at Waterloo.jpg|thumb|The charge of the French [[Cuirassier]]s at the [[Battle of Waterloo]] against a British [[infantry square]]]]

[[ja:歩兵]]

[[no:Infanteri]]

The opponents for these first formations, the close-combat infantry of more [[Tribal society|tribal societies]], or any military without regular infantry (so called "[[barbarian]]s") used arms that focused on the individual – weapons using personal strength and force, such as larger swinging swords, axes, and clubs. These take more room and individual freedom to swing and wield, necessitating a more loose organisation. While this may allow for a fierce running attack (an initial shock advantage) the tighter formation of the heavy spear and shield infantry gave them a local manpower advantage where several might be able to fight each opponent.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[pl:Piechota]]

[[pt:Infantaria]]

Thus tight formations heightened advantages of heavy arms, and gave greater local numbers in melee. To also increase their staying power, multiple rows of heavy infantrymen were added. This also increased their shock combat effect; individual opponents saw themselves literally lined-up against several heavy infantryman each, with seemingly no chance of defeating all of them. ''Heavy infantry'' developed into huge solid block formations, up to a hundred meters wide and a dozen rows deep.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[ru:Пехота]]

[[sk:Pechota]]

Maintaining the advantages of heavy infantry meant maintaining formation; this became even more important when two forces with heavy infantry met in battle; the solidity of the formation became the deciding factor. Intense discipline and training became paramount. Empires formed around their military.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

[[sl:Pehota]]

[[sh:Pješadija]]

== Organization ==

[[fi:Jalkaväki]]

{{Main|Military organization}}

[[sv:Infanteri]]

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2017}}

[[tl:Impanteriya]]

[[yi:פוס סאלדאטן]]

[[File:2014.8.26 GOP 통신병 Republic of Korea Army 6th Infantry Division (14925350059).jpg|thumb|[[Republic of Korea Army]] infantry of the [[6th Infantry Division (South Korea)|6th Infantry Division]], [[Reconnaissance|Reconnaissance Battalion]] during an exercise in 2014]]

[[zh:步兵]]

The organization of military forces into regular military units is first noted in Egyptian records of the [[Battle of Kadesh]] ({{circa|1274 BC}}). Soldiers were grouped into units of 50, which were in turn grouped into larger units of 250, then 1,000, and finally into units of up to 5,000 – the largest independent command. Several of these Egyptian "divisions" made up an army, but operated independently, both on the march and tactically, demonstrating sufficient military [[command and control]] organisation for basic battlefield manoeuvres. Similar hierarchical organizations have been noted in other ancient armies, typically with approximately 10 to 100 to 1,000 ratios (even where [[base 10]] was not common), similar to modern [[Section (military unit)|sections (squads)]], [[Company (military unit)|companies]], and [[regiment]]s.<ref>{{cite book|author-link1=Miguel A. Centeno |last1=Centeno |first1=Miguel A. |last2=Enriquez |first2=Elaine |title=War and Society |date=31 March 2016 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-313-22348-8 |pages=81–84 |chapter=Origins of Battle}}</ref>

== Training ==

{{Unreferenced section |date=October 2017}}

[[File:Calgary Highlanders Exercise Black Bear 2004.jpg|thumb|right|[[Canadian Army]] [[Primary Reserve]] infantry during [[urban warfare]] training in 2004]]

The training of the infantry has differed drastically over time and from place to place. The cost of maintaining an army in fighting order and the seasonal nature of warfare precluded large permanent armies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Training of Infantry in history |url=https://www.bing.com/search?q=Training+of+Infantry+in+history&cvid=cb1de104f8b04e649129bbec13bbb0e4&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQABhAMgYIAhAAGEAyBggDEAAYQDIGCAQQABhAMgYIBRAAGEAyBggGEAAYQDIGCAcQABhAMgYICBAAGEDSAQkxODU1NmowajmoAgSwAgE&FORM=ANAB01&PC=NMTS |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Bing |language=en}}</ref>

The antiquity saw everything from the well-trained and motivated citizen armies of Greece and Rome, the tribal host assembled from farmers and hunters with only passing acquaintance with warfare and masses of lightly armed and ill-trained militia put up as a last ditch effort. [[Kingdom of Kush|Kushite]] king [[Taharqa]] enjoyed military success in the [[Near East]] as a result of his efforts to strengthen the army through daily training in long-distance running.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Török|first=László|date= 1998|title=The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization |place=Leiden |publisher= Brill|pages=132–133, 153–184|language=en|isbn=90-04-10448-8}}</ref>

In medieval times the foot soldiers varied from peasant levies to semi-permanent companies of mercenaries, foremost among them the Swiss, English, [[Aragon]]ese and German, to men-at-arms who went into battle as well-armoured as knights, the latter of which at times also fought on foot.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The creation of [[standing army|standing armies]]—permanently assembled for war or defence—saw increase in training and experience. {{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The introduction of national and mass armies saw an establishment of minimum requirements and the introduction of special troops (first of them the engineers going back to medieval times, but also different kinds of infantry adopted to specific terrain, bicycle, motorcycle, motorised and mechanised troops) culminating with the introduction of highly trained special forces during the first and second World War.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

== See also ==

<!-- Note this section is a work-in-progress, part of a long-term whole article rewrite, as discussed on talk. Many of these are future article subtopics to be properly described linked in this article, to be moved out of "See also" at that time. -->

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

* [[Air Assault Troops|Air assault troops]] / [[Airborne forces]]

* [[Ashigaru]]

* [[Combined arms]]

* [[Foot guards]]

* [[Fusilier]]s

* [[Glider infantry]] / [[Paratrooper]]

* [[Grenadier]]s

* [[Indonesian Army infantry battalions]]

* [[Infantry Branch (United States)]]

* [[Infantry of the British Army]]

* [[Infantry tactics]]

* [[Line infantry]]

* [[Marines]]

* [[United States Army Rangers]]

* [[Riflemen]]

* [[Royal Canadian Infantry Corps]]

* [[School of Infantry]]

* [[Special forces]] / [[Commando]]

* [[Pathfinder (military)]]

{{div col end}}

== References ==

=== Citations ===

{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===

{{refbegin}}

* English, John A., Gudmundsson, Bruce I., ''On Infantry'', (Revised edition), The Military Profession series, Praeger Publishers, London, 1994. {{ISBN|0-275-94972-9}}.

* ''The Times'', Earl Wavell, Thursday, 19 April 1945 [http://regimentalrogue.com/misc/in_praise_of_infantry.htm In Praise of Infantry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316124637/http://regimentalrogue.com/misc/in_praise_of_infantry.htm |date=16 March 2021 }}.

* Tobin, James, ''Ernie Pyle's War: America's Eyewitness to World War II'', Free Press, 1997.

* Mauldin, Bill, Ambrose, Stephen E., ''Up Front'', W. W. Norton, 2000.

* Trogdon, Robert W., ''Ernest Hemingway: A Literary Reference'', Da Capo Press, 2002.

* ''The New York Times'', Maj Gen C T Shortis, British Director of Infantry, 4 February 1985.

* Heinl, Robert Debs, ''Dictionary of Military and Naval Quotations'', Plautus in ''The Braggart Captain'' (3rd century AD), Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1978.

* Nafziger, George, ''Napoleon's Invasion of Russia'', Presidio Press, 1998.

* McManus, John C. ''Grunts: inside the American infantry combat experience, World War II through Iraq'' New York, NY: NAL Caliber. 2010 {{ISBN|978-0-451-22790-4}} plus [https://web.archive.org/web/20130510234341/http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/Home/John-C-McManus.aspx Webcast Author Lecture] at the [[Pritzker Military Library]] on 29 September 2010.

{{refend}}

*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/OspreyCampaign148OperationBarbarossa19412ospreyCa/Osprey%20-%20Elite%20160%20-%20world%20war%20ii%20infantry%20assault%20tactics/mode/2up|title=World War II Infantry Assault Tactics|first=Gordon|last=Rottman|year=2008|isbn=978-1-84603-191-5|publisher=Osprey Publishing}}

== External links ==

{{Commons}}

* Historic films and photos showing Infantries in World War I at [http://www.europeanfilmgateway.eu/node/33/infantry%20efg1914%20OR%20efg1914%20infantries/multilingual%3A1 europeanfilmgateway.eu]

* [http://regimentalrogue.com/misc/in_praise_of_infantry.htm In Praise of Infantry], by Field-Marshal Earl Wavell; First published in "The Times", Thursday, 19 April 1945.

* [http://www.nato.int/kfor/chronicle/2003/chronicle_02/12.htm The Lagunari "Serenissima" Regiment] KFOR: KFOR Chronicle.

* [http://www.infantrydrills.com/ Web Version of U.S. Army Field Manual 3–21.8] – The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad.

* {{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Infantry |volume=14 |pages=517–533 |short=1}} — includes several drawings

{{Military and war}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Infantry| ]]

[[Category:Combat occupations]]