How to Break the Trenches (9)

Napoleon's artillery established the formula 'mobility = firepower' a century ago, developing doctrine of continuously moving while firing.

Looking closely at the Battle of Friedland, where he gave that famous "Action Front!" order commanding half to advance and half to fire with plenty of shells, shows how fanatical Napoleon was about mobile artillery.

One artillery unit fires shells while others advance. Then when the advanced artillery units begin firing, those firing from behind move.

This method, like 13th century Mongol cavalry shooting arrows while mounted, created an illusion to enemies that Napoleon's artillery was firing while moving.

A century passed since then.