Editing War of the Austrian Succession (section)

===Military methods and technologies===

European warfare in the [[early modern period]] was characterised by the widespread adoption of [[firearm]]s in combination with more traditional [[Edged and bladed weapons|bladed weapons]]. Eighteenth-century European armies were built around units of massed [[infantry]] armed with [[smoothbore]] [[flintlock]] [[musket]]s and [[bayonet]]s. [[Cavalry]]men were equipped with [[sabre]]s and [[pistol]]s or [[carbine]]s; [[light cavalry]] were used principally for [[reconnaissance]], [[Screening (tactical)|screening]] and [[tactical communications]], while [[heavy cavalry]] were used as [[Military reserve|tactical reserves]] and deployed for [[Shock tactics|shock attack]]s. Smoothbore [[artillery]] provided [[fire support]] and played the leading role in [[siege warfare]].<ref name="Black 38">{{Harvp|Black|1994b|pp=38–52}}</ref> Strategic warfare in this period centred around control of key [[fortification]]s positioned so as to command the surrounding regions and roads, with lengthy sieges a common feature of armed conflict. Decisive field battles were relatively rare, though they played a larger part in Frederick's theory of warfare than was typical among his contemporary rivals.<ref>{{Harvp|Black|1994b|pp=67–80}}</ref>

The War of the Austrian Succession, like most European wars of the eighteenth century, was fought as a so-called [[cabinet war]] in which disciplined [[Regular army|regular armies]] were equipped and supplied by the state to conduct warfare on behalf of the sovereign's interests. Occupied enemy territories were regularly taxed and extorted for funds, but large-scale atrocities against civilian populations were rare compared with conflicts in the previous century.<ref>{{Harvp|Clark|2006|p=209}}</ref> [[Military logistics]] was the decisive factor in many wars, as armies had grown too large to support themselves on prolonged campaigns by foraging and plunder alone. Military supplies were stored in centralised [[Supply depot|magazines]] and distributed by [[baggage train]]s that were highly vulnerable to enemy raids.<ref>{{Harvp|Creveld|1977|pp=26–28}}</ref> Armies were generally unable to sustain combat operations during winter and normally established [[Cantonment|winter quarters]] in the cold season, resuming their campaigns with the return of spring.<ref name="Black 38"/>