"28mm Napoleonic French Hussars - 24 man Regiments basing?" Topic

Hi

I have been (slowly) working on my 28mm Napoleonic French, almost finished 4 units of Line and 2 units of Legere (all 36 man units). I am looking to have each Infantry Regiment to have 2-3 Battalions. Now I want to treat myself to some Cavalry, having promised myself I would do a unit once got core done.

I will be playing Black Powder (locally) or In The Grand Manner (if able to get down to Wargames Holiday Centre).

I know Napoleon said that "squadron will be to the cavalry what the battalion is for infantry."

I could paint my French Cavalry as 4 Squadrons as units of 12 figures each for a Regiment of 48 figures, but that feels too much. I could paint each unit of 12 figures as a Regiment, but that feels too few. So as a compromise I will be painting my French Cavalry in Regiments of 24, to be fielded as 2 units of 12 for Black Powder.

The question I have is how to handle the Elite companies and Command figures. With 24 figures to a Regiment, that means 3 figures per Squadron. If I assume that fielding each 12 man Cavalry unit as 6 models wide by 2 models deep)how do I fit in the Elite Company and Command Figures in the front 6 models, whilst getting command fairly central??

My initial thoughts are:
-Elite Company: two Elite Troopers and Officer
-Line Company: Standard, Bugler and Trooper
i.e. T,T,O,S,B,T

How does that sound?

Thanks

James

I would think in 28mm going two deep would really make the unit depth completely out of whack with ground scale. Have you thought about basing in a single rank?

So Cavalry Unit 12 wide and one deep?? With 20mm width per Cavalry figure, that unit would be 240mm wide!!

Whereas French Line infantry Battalion 36 man strong with 6 bases with 15mm width per Infantry figure, in Column of Attack, that unit would be 90mm wide.

If Cavalry Unit was 6 wide and 2 deep, that unit would be 120mm wide.

Cheers

James

I made my 4th hussars 24 strong, with 3 squadrons of 8.

see link

1st squadron, 1st company: elite
1st squadron, 2nd company: red pompom, white centre

2nd squadron, 1st company: blue pompom
2nd squadron, 2nd company: blue pompom, white centre

3rd squadron, 1st company: yellow pompom
3rd squadron, 2nd company: yellow pompom, white centre

Col Blancard-
Lovely painting.

What made you pick 3 squadrons to a unit?
Or squadrons 8 strong?

Cheers

James

For what its worth, I made mine 24 strong, with 4 squadrons of 6.

thanks James,

in November 1813 the 4th hussars was 588 strong (4 squadrons). I assumed that one squadron was in depot, and rounded up the numbers… (at the usual 1:20 ratio)

for the basing, I used 25mm frontage (couldn't squeeze them any closer) and took the liberty to make deep bases.

Normal itgm basing for 24 man units is pretty much as described above, 4 squadrons of 6, capable of fighting in 2 ranks.
Based at 20 mm a figure. Yes, it is a bit of a squeeze occasionally, but perfectly feasible

FWIW, for Black Powder I go with 18 man 'normal' sized cav regiments, without worrying too much about the internal squadron organisation…

@ Col Blancard – if I was doing for Genreal de Brigade for a specific campaign as you are, then I can see the appeal of such detail. For ITGM and especially for Black Powder I am aiming for less campaign specific unit strucure, aiming more for a (sensible) generic structure that I could use for variety of Campaigns, as will only have one 28mm French army to cover Peninsular War, Central Europe and 100 Days.

On bases themselves, I know my friend has used 20m width and as that is the recommended width for ITGM, I will probably have to stick with it. However base depth is less important than width, so I may well go for deeper bases to protect the horeses and give me touch more flexibility about posing horses.

@ Christot-
Thanks – I am thinking of 8 Companies / Regiment purely for getting the right plume colours for easch Company. But it might look good to have each squadron led by an officer (I do have the requisite number of Officers),whch would help if using ITGM the 24 man light Cavalry Regiments are split into 4*6 man units.

@ Navy Fower Wun Seven-
Your iunits do look great but my friend and other local players do tend to use 12 man Cavalry unts for Black Powder.

Geeting more back to the original question:

"The question I have is how to handle the Elite companies and Command figures. With 24 figures to a Regiment, that means 3 figures per Squadron. If I assume that fielding each 12 man Cavalry unit as 6 models wide by 2 models deep)how do I fit in the Elite Company and Command Figures in the front 6 models, whilst getting command fairly central??

My initial thoughts are:
-Elite Company: two Elite Troopers and Officer
-Line Company: Standard, Bugler and Trooper
i.e. T,T,O,S,B,T

How does that sound?"

Thanks

James

There are two companies per squadron, and only the first company of the first squadron is elite (wearing colbacks). Also, it is this elite company which was supposed to carry the Eagle…

now as we all know the Eagle was not carried by cavalry into battle – yet we all choose to use them :)

Yes I know that only first company of 8 was Elite.
I am just asking for advice on how to model my front rank of 6 figures.

From what you are saying, maybe I should switch my front rank of 6 figures to the following:
-Elite Company: two Elite Troopers and Standard
-Line Company: Officer, Bugler and Trooper

Thanks

James