During the War for Spanish Heritage prince Leopold Dessau (1676 - 1747, the Duke Angalt Dessau, the creator of "classical" Prussian infantry) lessened the formation depth to 4 ranks and followed with 3 ones. He also introduced an iron ramrod, which allowed increasing the rate of fire. The Prussian infantry of that time may be considered the classical XVIII century infantry. The armies were taught to shoot while advancing (earlier, shooting was carried out without movement). Fire was shot from 200-yard distance, the closer was the enemy the shorter was pace and the more rapid was fire. Fire was shot in salvos by whole battalions or platoons - it was considered to produce demoralizing effect on the enemy. Platoons produced salvos one by one with short intervals to prevent attacking cavalry from making their way through the infantry formations within the salvo intervals. When close to the enemy infantry would dash into bayonet attack. The infantry attack was usually preceded by light field cannons attack. About 3 cannons per thousand people were considered quite normal. Except linear infantry fighting in close formation there also was light infantry. The objective of this infantry was to wage guerilla and diversion wars, hold fire combats on the cross-country. They fought in loose formation and were keen shooters.