For the former British infantry regiment, see The Light Infantry.
Type of mobile infantry
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Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly-equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought as scouts, raiders, and skirmishers. These are loose formations that fight ahead of the main army to harass, delay, disrupt supply lines, engage the enemy's own skirmishing forces, and generally "soften up" an enemy before the main battle. Light infantrymen were also often responsible for screening the main body of a military formation.
Post-World War II, the term "light infantry" evolved to include rapid-deployment units (including commando and airborne units) that emphasized speed and mobility over armor and firepower. Some units or battalions that historically held a skirmishing role have kept their designation "light infantry" for the sake of tradition.
fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, lightinfantry often fought as scouts, raiders, and...
The Maratha LightInfantry is a lightinfantry regiment of the Indian Army. It traces its lineage to the Bombay Sepoys, raised in 1768, making it the most...
The Sikh LightInfantry is a lightinfantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment is the successor unit to the 23rd, 32nd and 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers...
The 10th Mountain Division (LightInfantry) is an elite lightinfantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. Formerly designated...
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire LightInfantry was a lightinfantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1881 until 1958, serving in the...
The Highland LightInfantry (HLI) was a lightinfantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881. It took part in the First and Second World Wars, until...
The 1st Battalion, Rhodesian LightInfantry (1RLI), commonly The Rhodesian LightInfantry (RLI), was a regiment formed in 1961 at Brady Barracks (Bulawayo...
The LightInfantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. The regiment was one of four 'large' regiments formed after...
Infantry is a specialization of military personnel who engage in warfare combat. Infantry generally consists of lightinfantry, irregular infantry, heavy...
The Durham LightInfantry (DLI) was a lightinfantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers...
the line" as opposed to lightinfantry, skirmishers, militia, support personnel, plus some other special categories of infantry not focused on heavy front...
The Jammu and Kashmir LightInfantry (JAK LI) is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regimental center is in Srinagar's Airport Complex at Awantipora...
Reserve. The British Army's Infantry takes on a variety of roles, including armoured, mechanised, air assault and light. Traditionally, regiments that...
active troops of all ranks in 2000. There were 337 infantry battalions, including 266 lightinfantry battalions as of 2000. Although the Myanmar Army's...
The Sri Lanka LightInfantry (SLLI) is the oldest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of sixteen...
The LightInfantry Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1968. The Brigade administered the regular English light infantry...
The Northern LightInfantry Regiment (NLI) is a lightinfantry regiment in the Pakistan Army, based and currently headquartered in Gilgit, Pakistan. Along...