"7YW Prussian Sapper/Grenadiers - use?" Topic

The Old Glory 15's have a grenadier with an axe in their set, and I wonder how those of you into this line use these figures.

Engelman & Dorn is my only source for information, and this book notes that in 1748 Fred decided to use the six gunners from each grenadier company to man the battion guns of the unit. In 1750 he raised the number to 7 each, and assigned them to the first company of the first musketeer or fusilier battalion.

In 1754, they lost their particular uniform, and were integrated as artillerymen.

So it looks like they never went into battle as "axe men" with grenadier mitre cap.

But lots of ideas for imaginations units! 1 axe man as part of a battalion gun crew. 1 axe man in the first company of the musketeer/fusilier battalion, etc.

GdeP

Mine are based with the general officer commanding the reserve formations. I do this for all my generals commanding infantry brigades, "divisions" or wings. A useful spot for extra officers, standard bearers and drummers.

Cheers,

Looks like a good idea, Timurilank. I have not painted a general officer for anything since my old 7 Years War freikorps army of long ago! I'll keep that in mind.

By the way, all, I meant "six Grenadier sappers" above, used as gunners.

GdeP

We played a game once where sappers went ahead of the men to break down a wooden gate which was blocking their way and later broke into a tower which had a warning beacon on top. Had to make up a rule on the spot.

So far as I know, OG15s supply both Prussians and Austrians with axe wielding figures.

Cheers,

Sadly the Austrian figure – a nice sculpt – is wearing a tricorn. I have seen them with bearskin, and can imagine then with the jager-like high-fronted shako.

I would like to mix Austrian Jagers with such sappers, going ahead of the columns to build bridges over minor creek obstacles to permit "division-wide" movement. Good be a scenario where they run into a Prussian light unit to start an "encounter" battle.

GdeP

There are some *hints* suggesting that the battalion guns of the Gardes Françaises and Gardes Suisses were crewed by the regimental pioneers (called charpentiers, carpenters, then -fits better with their traditional ax than sapeurs sappers, theoretically earth-moving specialists). TMP link
Anyway, outside special scenarios (clearing way for the unit across undergrowth, spearheading the assault on a building…) a battalion gun crew could be a good location for a sapper mini.