XIX - Question - infantry

[piero1971]

I really like the XIX database.

a question on infantry units:

- what is the difference between grenadiers, line infantry, light infantry, etc. in the first half part of the century?

I mean, at later stages in the XIX century, equipment dictates the infantry unit in the DB, per gun, etc.

but in the first part of the century, would there be really differences between, say grenadiers and line infantry (I think not, but I might be wrong) in the XIX COW database.?

[JMS]

I really like the XIX database.

a question on infantry units:

- what is the difference between grenadiers, line infantry, light infantry, etc. in the first half part of the century?

I mean, at later stages in the XIX century, equipment dictates the infantry unit in the DB, per gun, etc.

but in the first part of the century, would there be really differences between, say grenadiers and line infantry (I think not, but I might be wrong) in the XIX COW database.?

Light infantry was meant to be squirmishers in front of the main line, tasked with taking out officers and NCOs and causing ruckus. Line infantry would be the guys deployed shoulder to shoulder to deliver volleys of musket fire, charge, etc. Grenadiers presumably were elite troops, though the formations would be similar to line infantry.

[JMS]

Light infantry was meant to be squirmishers in front of the main line, tasked with taking out officers and NCOs and causing ruckus. Line infantry would be the guys deployed shoulder to shoulder to deliver volleys of musket fire, charge, etc. Grenadiers presumably were elite troops, though the formations would be similar to line infantry.


This is likely to explain the difference far better than I:

http://www.wargamesjournal.com/napoleonic/infantry.asp

[piero1971]

thanks a lot. nice link.

I see, so I presume that for line vs. grenadiers (and voltigeurs, and zouaves, etc.) it is just the same equipment, with just variations of proficiency.

for light infantry, (Tirailleurs, jagers, berrsaglieri, etc) it will be sharpshooters (but what equipment simulated that before 1860's) ?

[JMS]

thanks a lot. nice link.

I see, so I presume that for line vs. grenadiers (and voltigeurs, and zouaves, etc.) it is just the same equipment, with just variations of proficiency.

for light infantry, (Tirailleurs, jagers, berrsaglieri, etc) it will be sharpshooters (but what equipment simulated that before 1860's) ?

Touchy issue, because light infantry was unable to held back a charge, but was capable of causing some very sensible losses. Presumably, light rifle and rifle kind of thing, but with light rifle having recon ability so they are more lethal in the first round and can disengage more easily.

[JMS]

Touchy issue, because light infantry was unable to held back a charge, but was capable of causing some very sensible losses. Presumably, light rifle and rifle kind of thing, but with light rifle having recon ability so they are more lethal in the first round and can disengage more easily.

I been thinking of this a bit more. I think you need 3 types of infantry: line, light and skirmishers. Line would be the baseline (say 4 anti-personnel value), light would be the same with a lower values, as the French voltigeurs were not adopted universally and IIRC the Prussians in 1806 used their light infantry as line. Given worse training and equipment a lower value would be appropiate (say 3). Skirmishers would be the voltigeurs and light infantry proper, deployed to the front and flanks of the formation to kill officers and cause ruckus, so they would have a lower value (2) but are going to have recon ability, so they get their punched first and are able to withdraw. Using the armor/anti-armor values for cavalry combat could finish the model.