I'm currently watching a documentary on Victorian Britain, and as it speaks about the failures of the British Army during the Crimean War, I got to wondering about just when the British Army was at it's most professional/disiciplined/strongest during its history.
I've picked up Empire: Total War and Assassin's Creed 3 recently, and there's something about seeing huge lines of 'RedCoats' all fire on the order of an officer to create a barrage of perfectly timed Musket fire that just sends shivers down your spine thinking about it.
I'm leaning towards seeing 18th Century Britain, when soldiers were classically seen as 'RedCoats' as their strongest point. Although I am quite far from an expert. Just to me I imagine huge lines of highly disciplined men, all in red-coats carrying their 'Brown Bess' along with them, ready to get into formation and fire on the order of their officer. Taking down any enemy that comes across them. How accurate is my imagination stretching here?
Thanks!
I'm leaning towards seeing 18th Century Britain, when soldiers were classically seen as 'Red Coats' as their strongest point
Probably not; from what I've read and seen on this subreddit, the British had a hell of a time trying to find men for the army, and discipline and training (esp. in the Revolutionary War) was quite poor. There were other armies that were vastly better than the British Army, like the Prussian and French Armies.
This is my opinion (which in the context of the question makes this a borderline poll question), but the British Army was at it's best in 1918 in France and Flanders. 60+ divisions in five armies, easily the best armed, equipped and motorized/mechanized force of it's kind in the day, masters of the modern 'deep' battle, the greatest military effort in British history. Nothing before or since equalled it.
