skirmishers

[augustus]

I've just returned to the game from a somewhat long absence, and have been going through the manual. From what I can tell, in Detailed combat skirmishers provide many bonuses, but no drawbacks. Do they have a reduced fire rating, or what? Is there any reason why I would not want my infantry units to deploy skirmishers?

[Floyd]

Penalties i've found in the manual/appendix:
The units move slower ( -2 ), p. 140
Skirmishers inside forts being fired upon do -50% to damage, p. 145
Skirmishers Can’t Cause Panic – Charging infantry with skirmishers
deployed cannot cause panic among the charged units, p. 152

Looking at the boni i would use the skirmishers in a defensive role,
but not for flanking manneuvers or where high mobility is needed.

[Kielec]

Honestly - never deployed skirmishers myself, and never seen the AI do it.
Cannot be bothered to go back to the manual now, since I don't want to go back to the game anyway before the new patch, but I do not remember them bonuses... or at least they never stuck to my memory and that's why I never used them skirmishers... Is there anything there worth the slower movement? If I ever played the USA, the bonuses would have to be of a rather grand value to overweight the limitation in MP for the thing to be worth using. Given the innitial condition of the USA containers and all...

[Randomizer]

I have found Skirmishers are effective in close country where two brigades run into each other and ranged fire is impossible.  I have also seen the AI employ them in a variety of situations.
 
Best Regards

[Lanconic]

I just finished some tests of units with and with out skirmishers.

First I have not yet seen the AI use them.

Second....they 'tend' to lower losses due to rifle fire, by about 25%

I ran ten tests, five with and five w/o.

Maybe it is a good way to compensate for the AI's 'Hail Mary' shots.