"Number of NCOs and Officers per French Battalion" Topic
11 Posts
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Ooh Rah | 20 Jul 2015 10:50 a.m. PST |
So, how many figures do you use in a 36-figure French battalion to represent officers and NCOs? I'm using one mounted officer for the Chef de Battalion on the command stand along with the eagle bearer and the drummer. Additionally, I may use the following figures distributed across the remaining company stands: one captain, one lieutenant, one sous-lieutenant, one sergeant-major, two sergeants, and two corporals. But that seems like too many. Maybe it would be better to use only one captain, one sergeant-major, one sergeant, and one corporal, just for variety's sake. Anyway, I'd like to know what others are doing. Food for thought and all. Thanks! |
Frankss | 20 Jul 2015 1:01 p.m. PST |
Not Napleanic but for my SYW 36 figure battalion. I have 2 officers on foot. Two NCO's ; two drummers and two standard bearers. I may have a mounted officer but since there serms to be a lack of variety of mounted officers I may only have the one for more than one battalion of the same Regiment. I like the look and size of 36 figure 28mm battalions |
Artilleryman | 20 Jul 2015 2:36 p.m. PST |
In my French battalions of 36 I have one free-standing mounted chef de battalion, two fusilier officers on foot and three or four sergeants (1 grenadier, 1 voltigeur and 1 or 2 fusiliers. The foot figures are in the ranks with one on each of the 6 stands. It gives a pleasing variety without diluting the 'serried' effect. |
Garde de Paris | 20 Jul 2015 4:03 p.m. PST |
For the French in 28mm, 36 figures, I use 1 drummer in the middle of the rear rank (or perhaps a cornetist in the voltigeur company). There were two drummers for each company, making 11 drummers and one cornetist – 1 is actually too many in 1:20 representation. The eagle bearer was an officer later in the Empire, and that is often the only officer I use. Sometimes one on the right of the first rank, or left of the first rank. The 26th Line in Spain has battalions 4, 5, and 6, and their eagle was trapped in the West Indies! No eagle in Spain. There were enough actual sergeants and corporals in a French battalion to have 4 among the 36. I will use two to flank the Eagle bearer if their uniform is in any way unique, otherwise 1 at left AND Right of the first rank, one at left AND right of 3rd rank. Yes, I often "deploy" three ranks deep. The 36 in 3 ranks, with eagle, look like the actual 7 Years War French company, 1:1! 1 officer with the eagle, 4 sergeants, 1 drummer. = 6. If I have good data on drum majors, sapeurs and the like – and have the figures – I sometimes use them in the rear rank for color. Sapeur in the rear of the grenadier company might take the place of a corporal. Drum Major on one side of the Eagle bearer, drummer on the other, 3 other sergeants/corporals. I build my British at 40. 2 officers with colours; 2 drummers and 2 sergeants. Again 6 figures. My only mounted officers are Generals and aides – brigade; Division; Corps. I do Prussian 7YW battalions at 48 figures (Old Glory 15's). Officers right and left of front rank. 2 colours at the center of the 2nd rank, flanked by sergeants. One sergeant and a drummer at each end of the 3rd rank. I have 10 such personality figures in these units. I do Austrians at 48 as well, but use only 2 sergeants – each end of the 3rd rank, with a drummer each. Austrian battalions had very few true NCO's. Colours flanked by officers to use up the Old Glory 15 figures! So much for "purity!" GdeP |
christot | 20 Jul 2015 11:46 p.m. PST |
For a 36 man unit I generally use 1 mounted officer, 3 foot officers, 2 drummers, and 1 std bearer. I might sling in some ncos or not, largely depending on whether I have the right figures available. |
Jcfrog | 21 Jul 2015 5:15 a.m. PST |
Actually if you have so many minis, the cadres are outside of the line, between and behind. Why not put one each nco, officer added to the 36, maybe as a second officer, one in the " line". Standing behind the line, they could be used as markers, for morale or else. Simple swaps from left / right to show someting. Could look good. |
Ooh Rah | 22 Jul 2015 3:19 p.m. PST |
My initial thought was to have one mounted chef de battalion, three foot officers (captain, lieutenant, sous-lieutenant), one sergeant-major, two sergeants, and two corporals. That's nine. From what others are doing, that seems like a lot. I may pare it down a bit. I'm sold on how the mounted chef de battalion looks on the command stand. Now just need to decide on the foot officers and NCOs. These are AB 18mm and my painting is probably not good enough to distinguish a captain from the lieutenants anyway, so think I'll include just one foot officer. I'd like to use an "enthusiastic" figure for the sergeant-major. Add two sergeants and two corporals and it should look pretty good! |
JimDuncanUK | 23 Jul 2015 6:57 a.m. PST |
I'd go for a mounted Colonel, Eagle Bearer, Sergeant and Drummer with the command stand, a Captain and a Sergeant on the RHS of the battalion and a Corporal on the LHS. Everyone else will be a ranker. |
Ooh Rah | 23 Jul 2015 3:43 p.m. PST |
Well, here's what I primed last night. Hopefully they will be done this weekend. A captain on the right side with the fusilier coy next to the grenadier. A lieutenant on the left side with the fusilier coy next to the voltigeur. An "enthusiastic" sgt-major in the middle. When the BN is in line, the sgt-major will be next to the eagle bearer on the command stand. Also, I'll paint a sergeant and a corporal, too. That's five officers and NCOs, which sounds about what most are doing or suggesting. Appreciate all the insights. I don't want to do something that looks ridiculous. |
stoneman1810 | 25 Jul 2015 2:34 p.m. PST |
For my 48 figures 18mm battalions I have 6 bases (companies) with 8 figures each. The Command stand has 1 Officer, 1 Eagle bearer, 1 private and 1 NCO in the front rank and 2 drummers and 2 sapeurs in the rear rank. For the other 5 companies I usually do 1 officer, 1 drummer, 1 NCO, and 1 private in the front rank and 4 privates in the rear rank. (Sometimes I omit the drummer.) The battalion is commander by a mounted officer on a separate base. |
Ooh Rah | 26 Jul 2015 10:55 a.m. PST |
What rules, stoneman? I'm using General de Brigade, that's why French BNs are 36 figures each (actually 35 figures each because the mounted chef de battalion on the command stand occupies the same space as two foot figures). Each of your stands represents a company very nicely, I would think! |
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