"WSS Battalion frontage: by Battalion or Manpower?" Topic

For 18th century and Napoleonic battalions that averaged about 600 men I usually use the rule of thumb of ~160yds per battalion.

600 men in 6 companies giving about 100 men per company.

3 ranks giving 30 man frontage (10 NCO/officers in a line behind). Each man 2.5 feet giving 75 feet.

Colour party 3 men wide giving 7.5 feet.

2.5 foot interval between companies, 6 intervals (7 groups – 6 companies and the colour party) giving 15 feet.

Total 472.5 feet (6x75 + 7.5 + 15), or 157.5 yards. There would also be an interval between units, so 160 yards.

And somewhat conveniently, the frontage of a battalion is more or less equivalent to effective musket range.

What rules are you using? I would strongly recommend ga pa, where french battalions are usually 100 or 150 paces, and british dutch etc are 150-200

I doubt that people felt that 160y was effective musket range, but believe it would be long range. I believe 80y as effective, and 40y as murderous.

160yds – effective insofar as volleys delivered at that range could cause SOME casualties (thiugh admittedly not many). In other words the distance at which it is worth calulating the effect of musketry in a wargame.

This article provides salient reading:
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and this:
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