"British Marine Tactics" Topic

I'm working on a 15mm ACW project that includes British Marines and am unsure as to how to base them. Can anyone tell me whether they would have used close order formations like line infantry or more open ones like light infantry?

By that period both British line and light troops could fight in open or close order (light troops always could), the distinctions were simply traditional.

So, not a traditional ACW scenario….

Note the full title – Royal Marine Light Infantry.

The Royal Marines were not given the 'royal' designation until after their loyal service for the Crown during the navy mutinies in the late 1790s.

So, during the Revolution they were just Marines. The title Royal Marines was bestowed officially in 1802 by George III.

The Royal Marine Light Infantry, differing from the Royal Marine Artillery, was a title not given until 1855. The RMA was organized in 1804 and were given a blue, vice a red, uniform like the Royal Artillery.

In the War of the American Revolution the facings of the British Marines were white. After the granting of the 'royal' title, facings were changed to dark blue in recognition of their new status.

The Royal Marines were not given the 'royal' designation until after their loyal service for the Crown during the navy mutinies in the late 1790s.

So, during the Revolution they were just Marines. The title Royal Marines was bestowed officially in 1802 by George III.

The Royal Marine Light Infantry, differing from the Royal Marine Artillery, was a title not given until 1855. The RMA was organized in 1804 and were given a blue, vice a red, uniform like the Royal Artillery.

In the War of the American Revolution the facings of the British Marines were white. After the granting of the 'royal' title, facings were changed to dark blue.

198 – Oki was asking about mid- 19th century period.
Oki- I would think that basing would be dependent upon your organization and unit size. You could consider individual basing and then use movement trays. This would allow for deployment in skirmish or in close order.

Actually what I had in mind was the American Revolution, which is the mid- to late- 18th Century. Might carry over into the Napoleonic period as well. I prefer not to use individual basing – too fiddly for my tastes, especially given that I use a relatively large number of 15mm figures. But might have to consider it. Thanks.

Also, there is a difference between open and skirmish order. Open is about 1.5 times the frontage of close, while skirmish is roughly 10 times the frontage of close order.

So, AWI, not ACW.

AWI=American War of Independence (or War of the American Revolution--hey that one works well as an acronym, too!)

ACW=American Civil War (the north vs south unpleasantness)

Rob

The Marines during this era normally served in detachments on ships. They were assembled as battalions during the Boston campaign and fought as line (not light) infantry.

They were trained in Boston during Howe's tenure, so they no doubt learned the open order tactics the rest of the army learned and converted their uniforms (round hats and trousers).

For our games, we mount them as standard infantry (4 to a stand for British Grenadier) with the ability to open files (e.g., open space between stands) to extend frontage.

It's important to remember that all British troops did this, not just the light infantry.

And there's our webpage.

link

Thank you Virginia Tory. I'm grateful that, after a lot of others who merely danced around it, someone finally answered my question!

No problem…we spent a lot of time figuring this out in our reenacting group, as well as gaming.

As Virginia Tory noted, the marines served on both land and ship during the period. There were to battalions formed in Boston that included both Lights and Gren companies. They sailed out with the rest of garrison in spring of 1776. one of the battalions was then stationed at Halifax, one dispersed back to the fleet, and the Lights garrisoned a fort in Nova Scotia and the grens stayed with the converged gren battalions as noted, being recalled in spring of 1778 to the fleet.

Marines used the same training as the army, though they often served on board ships (usually did not fight from the tops, but instead stayed on deck), and served in various landing operations throughout the war. They could fight either as formed troops or in an independent/skirmish role. All troops under Howe, etc., used close order, order (18 inches apart, also sometimes called common order) and extended order (spacing as directed by the commanding officer).

Apparently the Marine light infantry companies wore a style of light infantry cap, though how long that lasted I have no idea.

There were Marine Light companies prior to the war. The cap in the CMH's plate is largely been dismissed as something else/unknown.

Finding accurate info on Marine flank company details remains a challenge.