Redcoat

> "*British ranged heavy infantry armed with a musket and bayonet. Good against Shock units in melee.*"
> ― In-game description.
>
>

## Overview

The Redcoat is a unique British heavy infantry unit that is stronger than other Line Infantry units. They are expensive to train but they have more hitpoints and melee multiplier against Shock Units. Like all Heavy Infantry units, they are still vulnerable to Skirmish Units and Artillery.

Their combat capabilities can be further boosted by a General if the player sends the **Sir Thomas Picton** shipment that is available from the Home City.

## History

*Few military uniforms in history are as iconic as the brilliant red coats of the British Army. A symbol of British military might for centuries, the regular soldiers of the British Empire wore bright red coats and/or tunics that remained in service from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. The origins of the British Redcoats can be traced back to the English Civil War (1642-1651) when Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell established the New Model Army in 1645. He chose the color red as it was available for cheap, coming from the alizarin chemical compound found in the madder rose plant.*

*Many began to refer to the regular infantrymen of the British army as the “Redcoats” due to their distinctive appearance. Originally used as a derogatory term, public perception began to improve following the long war against Napoleon’s armies in France. While a few other nations such as Denmark and Poland wore red as part of their standard uniform, none of Britain’s contemporaries inspired the same respect that the British army commanded.*

*During the 19th Century, two major reforms would impact the organization of the Redcoats. The first were made by the Duke of York in 1800 and contributed largely to the allied victory in the Napoleonic Wars. He established a Royal Military Academy at Woolwich to ensure a better crop of officers, removed the majority of corporal punishment, and encouraged newer light infantry tactics following the “Shorncliffe System” where some detachments of infantry were made to skirmish before the main force arrived. It was here that the “Thin Red Line” firing system was also developed.*

*The second major reform came during the time of Edward Cardwell as a response to the pitiful performance of the Redcoats during the Crimean War and the unification of Germany in 1870. His reforms removed flogging and other corporal punishments during peacetime, removed the purchase of officer posts, and established a reserve force which would eventually be known as the Territorial Army. This reserve force would later be organized into 70 regiments by the Childers Reforms of 1881.*

*However, during this time the Redcoats began to realize the drawbacks of their uniforms. Their iconic red uniforms made them easy targets for their enemies who increasingly used irregular tactics against the more conventional British army. Around that time, the Khaki colour began to supplant the traditional red. Its use began in India from the late 1840s, then spread to all overseas forces by the 1890s. In 1902, the red was retired except for ceremonial positions, and the Khaki service uniform came into being, ending the era of the Redcoats.*

## Gallery

In-game model of RedcoatIn-game model of Veteran RedcoatIn-game model of Guard RedcoatIn-game model of Imperial Redcoat
## Changelog

### Patch 1.0.15e

* Redcoats have been reworked as a general-purpose Heavy Ranged Infantry and losing their Hitpoints aura bonus. In exchange they have stronger individual stats.

### Patch 1.0.14

* Redcoats have received a couple of changes:
	+ Queen’s Own Redcoats now increases hitpoints and attack of Redcoats by 40% instead of 50%.
	+ Hitpoints aura reduced to 100% from 170% at maximum (1.014 from 1.02 per unit).

## See Also

* Highlander
* Line Infantry
* Regular
* Bevaring
* Conscript
* Batallon Civico
* Recruit
* Neftenya