Light Infantry Attacks – A Thread
Why does our @J_JHelin keep rejecting the "human waves" narrative, instead calling the reported North Korean attacks in Kursk "basic infantry drills"?
Let’s dive into light infantry on the attack and why this distinction matters.
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What is light infantry?
At its core, light infantry are troops that:
Operate on foot in combat.
Have little to no support from vehicles.
Move organic support (mortars, MGs) on foot or trucks. Rely primarily on infantry weapons to fight.
Pictured: Finnish Jäger Company
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To put it in perspective:
Most WWII infantry would be classified as “light” today. No armored vehicles, minimal mechanization, and reliant on basic infantry tactics.
Modern light infantry is generally built for flexibility, not brute force, at least in the west.
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Why is light infantry relevant?
Post-Cold War world Western forces are mechanized, but light infantry remains because:
It’s cheap.
Has a smaller logistical footprint (easier to feed/supply).
Can be rapidly deployed.
Offers superior tactical mobility in rough terrain.
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For states with limited resources or for operations where vehicles can't maneuver easily (dense forests, mountains, urban areas), light infantry remains the go-to force.
Its flexibility comes at a cost: higher casualties, especially in frontal assaults.
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How does light infantry operate? Despite technological advancements, basic infantry tactics have changed little since the World Wars.
Units operate in fireteams, squads, platoons, and companies. Core principles: Fire and movement.
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Fire & Movement explained:
This is the bread and butter of infantry tactics, scaled from individuals to squads:
While one element suppresses the enemy (fire), another advances (movement). “I’m up, they see me, I’m down” – the mantra of infantry advancing under fire.
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Suppressive fire can come from individual soldiers within the assaulting element or a base of fire section. The goal is to pin the enemy down, create openings, and exploit those opportunities.
Without fire and movement, light infantry is just a vulnerable mass of soldiers.
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Movement in the attack
When advancing, infantry ideally uses cover and concealment to:
Avoid being seen.
Minimize casualties while closing the distance. Maneuver to the enemy's flank or weak point.
But the terrain and situation don't always allow this.
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Frontal assaults These are a last resort, risky and bloody but sometimes necessary if:
There’s no viable flanking route.
Terrain is open
Time is of the essence.
Light infantry attacking prepared positions will likely take heavy losses—it’s the nature of the fight.
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Light infantry doesn’t operate in isolation.
Success often depends on:
Support from higher-echelon weapons (artillery, mortars, drones).
Coordination with heavier forces (if available).
But when resources are limited, light infantry must rely solely on organic weapons.
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Succesful or unsuccesful, infantry assaults have usually led to high casualties.
Notable examples include Coles Charge at Carentan in 1944 and the Finnish assault at Äyräpää Church in 1941.
Also pictured: Warfare History Network on the Battle of Best
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Although modern environment differs from the WW2 the infantry fundamentals haven't greatly changed.
Western forces have rarely had to fight in a near-peer environment post-WW2, and have almost always had the superiority of fires and other supporting elements.
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Why does this matter?
Reports of North Korean troops in Kursk often mention “human wave” tactics. This narrative oversimplifies what’s likely happening: They’re employing basic, scalable infantry drills. These are rooted in fire and movement, not mindless rushing.
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The terrain also restricts infantry maneuver.
However, we see a lack of supporting fires and other fire-support elements. It's unclear why North Koreans don't seem to receive upper-echelon artillery support, although drones seem to be hunting their organic mortars.
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Nevertheless the term "human waves" conjures up imagery of reckless, suicidal assaults. What we see in Kursk aligns more with light infantry doctrine. The losses? Heavy, yes. But that's expected when light infantry attacks prepared positions.
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Black Bird Group will be taking a further look at the North Korean attack tactics soon.
As always our activity is made possible by @wihurinrahasto and their generous grant.
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