Context: British v Boers (especially early on) have far different philosophies, the British start out with standard bunched together formations while the Boers fall back and pick off the British during early engagements.
The British had better artillery and more men, pulling infantry from all over the empire. The Boers, armed with magazine fed Mausers could fire incredible quickly compared to the older and heavier Lee Enfield. Smokeless powder also made it much safer for a concealed infantryman to fire multiple rounds without having to be concerned with giving away a position.
Avoiding British artillery while also focusing on living to fight another day (not a whole lot of reinforcements) meant this strategy of guerrilla warfare was particularly effective.
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Context: British v Boers (especially early on) have far different philosophies, the British start out with standard bunched together formations while the Boers fall back and pick off the British during early engagements.
The British had better artillery and more men, pulling infantry from all over the empire. The Boers, armed with magazine fed Mausers could fire incredible quickly compared to the older and heavier Lee Enfield. Smokeless powder also made it much safer for a concealed infantryman to fire multiple rounds without having to be concerned with giving away a position.
Avoiding British artillery while also focusing on living to fight another day (not a whole lot of reinforcements) meant this strategy of guerrilla warfare was particularly effective.
Bah. Wars are not won by such “jack in the boxes”
– Redvers “Reverse” Buller