What Is a Light Brigade?
A light brigade is a small military unit designed to perform actions in a fast manner with a secondary focus on communications. The light brigade has been used for centuries as a major component in combat warfare. Although the light brigade is mostly relegated to history, the 21st century saw a resurgence of the methodology in the structure of the armed forces conducting the War on Terror.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
A light brigade is able to conduct a variety of operations not available to larger groups of forces. Light brigades focus on reconnaissance, skirmishes and raids.
Features
-
A light brigade, such as the 32nd Infantry Brigade from Wisconsin's National Guard, is a military unit designed to be agile in combat. Without heavy armor, troops are more easily able to conduct smaller missions.
-
Current Significance
-
The United States military began a period of restructuring in 2001. Part of the reorganization was the creation of light brigade combat units capable of doing fast strikes. Each light brigade features 3242 soldiers.
History
-
Light brigades have had a long place in history, most notably as small cavalry units and skirmishing groups from the feudal era to the 20th century. Traditional weaponry, such as swords and bows, could be used on the run.
Tennyson
-
One of the most famous light brigades in history took part in a British cavalry charge in the 1854 Battle of Balaclava against Russian forces in the Crimean War. This battle was captured in a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of The U.S. Army
