"Sappeurs" Topic

"For the work site under fire, in the excavation of mines and "parallel", the engineers can be equipped with heavy bullet-proof armor, more appropriate than the seventeenth century or the beginning of the century. This armor consists of a helmet with protective collar and flaps hinged to the cheeks, a breastplate and a backplate. Generally, the uniform consisted of short-tailed jacket and long sleeves. This garment was blue with fists, probably black and red piping and buttoned to the chest with ten buttons.
Although there were never more than 10,000 engineers at all, his professionalism made ​​a great impact. Responsible for all the site works and fortifications, they were not used consistently. After 1809 every body had a sapeurs battalion and a company of miners, equipped with 35 trasnports containing 1700 pickaxes , 170 miners peaks, 1,700 shovels, 680 axes, and a proportionate amount of hand tools and implements of demolition . The quality of this tools was so good that in the War of Independence British engineers prefer to using tools taken from the French that their own"
Oht from
link

Questions

1. Do you used them in your wargames?
2. If the answer is yes, they fought or you only used them for advancing trench/site works?
3. What status do you give them? Veterans? Line troops? etc.
4. Can they be used for replacement of casualties of artillery soldiers?
5. In the case of "hand to hand" combat, did you give them a plus point for wearing an armor (as the Cuirassiers).

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Amicalement
Armand

Yes.
Mostly for show, but other times for heading an assault.
Veterans, or if they come from a battalion, one step above the common soldier.
A case can be made, but no.
No. Since the rules I use take into account the status, I have always felt that was enough of a perk. Not all would have it anyway.

Many thanks for your guidance Michael!! (smile).

Amicalement
Armand

Similar to 21eRegt. I used them only for assault, 1 figure per Brigade, and attached to the leading battalion or 'forlorn hope' of an assault. Any casualties taken during the assault, the first is the sapper. While he survives, the unit he's attached to is upgraded by one level… i.e. Line to veteran.

Another variation I used was to attach an entire company to the assaulting unit. If may have too many sappers at that point, but I portend that the sappers take the first casualties. At least there's a chance some of them will survive the assault.

I only use them once per battle. Finally, where I've had a 2 Division Corps on the table, I'll allow a company per Division.

I give them a plus for the cuirass in hand to hand combat.
Thanks for your guidance Paul!.

Amicalement
Armand