Army composition for Review and Advice

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Army composition for Review and Advice

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Started 1 year ago by drsid
Latest reply from Eugene dB

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drsid
Member

Okay. After getting some advice, looking through great blog example by John DTN, I've gone over my figures. I have quite a few more figures than needed for the base British Infantry Division. My plan is to assemble and paint up a number of different regimental units and then assemble an actual tabletop army from these units. Sort of like I do with my fantasy and sci fi miniatures. I have more than can be fielded, but pick and choose what to play in any given game.

Also, I am putting together a Peninsula "army," using a mish mash of British regiments in the theater. Even though I am putting together some LARGE units, I figure I can always take out 2 bases when needed. I am assembling the following:

COMMANDERS & SUBCOMMANDERS

Picton & General
Moore & ADC
Wellington & Staff
Crauford & ADC
"Generic General" & ADC

INFANTRY UNITS

79th Cameron Highlanders - LARGE - ELITE

7th Foot - SMALL

34th Foot - SMALL

28th Foot - SMALL

52nd Foot - LARGE

66th Foot - SMALL

1/48th Foot - SMALL

2/48th Foot - SMALL

39th Foot - SMALL

23rd Foot - SMALL

95th Rifles - SMALL - ELITE (on order)

95th Rifles - 8 Skirmisher Bases

CAVALRY

20th Light Dragoons - SMALL

20th Light Dragoons - SMALL

4th Heavy Dragoons - SMALL

4th Heavy Dragoons - SMALL

ARTILLERY

Royal Artillery Battery - SMALL (4 gun bases)

I have also placed orders for an additional Rifle Regiment that I will field in close formation, as noted above. I have also ordered limbered artillery and some sappers. Anything else I should get?

Thanks!

Posted 1 year ago #
John de Terre Neuve
Member

Looks good, but your artillery have 1 base too many.

John

Posted 1 year ago #
Biggreenbugeyedmonster
Member

79th Foot - why do you rate them as a LARGE unit? In the Peninsula the only LARGE units were either fresh units only just out from Britain (who hadn't been reduced in strength by campaigning), or the Guards, the 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the 95th Rifles.

7th Foot - these are the Royal Fusiliers (ever heard of a wee skirmish called Albuhera?) - ELITE.

34th Foot - a battalion who had fought in most battles from the Douro onwards, including actions such as at Maya would qualify them as ELITE.

28th Foot - aka "the slashers". Don't forget to paint the distinctive "back badges" on their shakos. ELITE.

52nd Foot - these are Moore's original Light Infantry, exceptionally well trained veterans. LARGE ELITE.

66th Foot - the "most massacred" regiment in the British Army yet they never ever broke. ELITE (if only for Albuera).

48th Foot - the regiment of Douro, Talavera, Albuera, Salamanca - ELITE.

23rd Foot - these are the Royal Welch Fusiliers of Albuera and Salamanca fame. ELITE.

Interesting that, with the exception of the 79th Cameron Highlanders and the 52nd Light Infantry, you have a lot of 'Albuhera' regiments there.

Posted 1 year ago #
drsid
Member

BigGreen - thanks for the information. That is very helpful. I rated the 79th "large" simply because I have enough to create 6 bases. I suppose I could use a different highland regiment.

I have heard of Albuera, but have only recently gotten into reading about the Napoleonic wars. Honestly, I come from a fantasy gaming background and Napoleonics is my first venture into historical gaming. I am learning the history as I am assembling an army. Probably a bit backward, but oh well.

Its interesting that I have apparently filled my ranks with numerous elite infantry. Given the quality and experience of British regiments, are there any that wouldn't count as elite? I look at the concept of "elite" in game mechanics as a relative thing. I rated the 79th as elite purely because they wear kilts ... I realize that is probably a stupid reason from a historical perspective, but any dudes wearing kilts into combat count as elite.

With regard to your point about the 79th and 52 being absent from Albuera, any highland regiment and light regiment fight in Albuera that you would recommend as replacements? :)

Again, appreciate the information. BTW, where do you find out about a given regiment's history? Is it simply dispersed across the various history books on the period or is there a single seminal source?

Posted 1 year ago #
cam_millar
Member

You need to remember the rule that British players adhere to - all British infantry units must be rated as Elite. They are British and they single handedly won the Napoleonic wars, so they must be Elite.

French players are much easier to satisfy - they just need a special top grade for the Old Guard - and available only for the Old Guard. (Don't give us any nonsense about other troops being equal to the Old Guard, Mr Mustafa.)

Austrian, Prussian and Russian players are just happy if the ratings mean their troops don't run away at the mere approach of British or French troops.

Cam

Posted 1 year ago #
drsid
Member

@Cam ... nice. :)

Posted 1 year ago #
Biggreenbugeyedmonster
Member

"Given the quality and experience of British regiments, are there any that wouldn't count as elite?"
It depends where and when!
In 1809 most of Wellington's battalions were well trained but mostly young soldiers in their first campaign. Those same battalions by 1813 were veterans who believed they were unbeatable!
And it depends on the formation. The "fighting third" division under Picton were veteran battalions with excellent leadership who had beaten the French every time they fought them. On the other hand, the 7th Division ("the mongrels") arrived later in the campaign and never acquired the same aggressive confidence that Picton's division had. At Fuentes d'Onoro battalions of the 3rd Division held the village in bloody street fighting and defeated the French elite combined grenadiers, while the raw 7th Division had to retreat. At the battle of Salamanca, the 3rd Division obliterated a French division in 15 minutes of fighting, while the 7th Division was kept in reserve. At the battle of Vittoria the 3rd Division attacked "like a meteor" and smashed through the French battle line, while the 7th Division arsed about.

If you want to consider why British battalions, in general, performed well in combat, have a look at:
Brent Nosworthy, 'With Musket, Cannon, and Sword: Battle Tactics of Napoleon and his Enemies'; Rory Muir, Robert Burnham, Howie Muir and Ron McGuigan, 'Inside Wellington's Peninsular Army, 1808-1814'; or Edward Coss, ‘All for the King’s shilling: an analysis of the campaign and combat experiences of the British soldier in the Peninsular war, 1808-1814’.

"any highland regiment and light regiment fight in Albuera that you would recommend as replacements?"
Sadly, no red-haired kilt wearing maniacs were present at Albuera, and the only Light Infantry were the King's German Legion Light Infantry (who wore dark green jackets and black leather equipment like riflemen). :(

"BTW, where do you find out about a given regiment's history?"
Try the Osprey books. Its not regiment specific, but I highly recommend Stuart Reid, 'Wellington's Army in the Peninsula 1809-1814.'

And the 'Sharpe' series is fun (historical fiction, it captures the flavour of the war well).

Posted 1 year ago #
Eugene dB
Member

I would add some Portuguese - just like Wellington did :)!

Posted 1 year ago #

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