"Basing for Wuerttemburg?" Topic

Empire sizes Wuerttemburg battalions at 9 figures. Full strength was 600 so 540 is not unreasonable. They had 4 companies per battalion. Would you suggest mounting in pairs with the odd figure based by itself such that a column is five figures deep rather than four, or 3 by 3 which also doesn't quite match history?

I've got pretty much their entire army and elected to use 3 x 3 (actually 2 stands of 3, 1of 2, and a single) but have been rethinking lately.

I base my Wurttemburgers as either 10 or 9 figures in 4 companies. This results in either 1x3 & 3x2, or 2x3 & 2x2.
The first casualty always goes to the 3 figure company.

Why not 4 stands of 2?

That's 80% of full strength, which seems a reasonable amount after just a couple of weeks in the field.

Since the Wurttemberg tyically were 2 battalion regt. in the field.
I mounted them "column par Serrier"( spelling?)
Two columns by company next to each other with the left hand battalion lead by the 4th/grenadier company instead of the first co.
This means the left hand battalion formed line to the left and right hand battalion formed to right. It was used alot by French and French allies in the field!
If needed to "close" a charge in column, you still had bigger force/numbers ( 2 battalions against 1) against the initial target.

Unit is 6 stands total.
This reduces the number of 2 man fiddly bases.
so…. I have 1 command stand of 2 and one of 3 for a 2+3 first rank ( each with flag), then 5 per stand for the balance 2 ranks, then another 2+3 stands for the last rank or 20 figs for the regiment. Two battalions in line at 10 per! One or 2 of the 5 man stands can be 4 man instead to give the more 540 unit size desired.

MG

You're in the same dilemma as an Russian collector (assuming Wurtemburg similarly forms columns of companies). The math works out to a company width of 2.5 figures (~50 files) at paper establishment (using your figure of 600). The reason this decision is significant is 2 figure battalions take major enfilade/overlap modifiers vs 3 figure or 4 figure battalions.

Sometime I will run a full post on the math, but in general battalions should only be getting none or partial (50%) overlaps not full (100%) overlaps vs other battalions. This is especially true if one side is "amalgamating" battalions rather than running at historical strength. It's an annoying flaw in the system, but somewhat inherent in the need for a basing convention.

I'd build them at 3x3 figure stands (they look better that way anyway). If your group runs units at historical strengths, rather than "pick up games" 4x 2 figure basing would give more flexibility.

Thanks for all of the input.

Per Appendix F in Empire V, Wuerttemburg may not form columns with 2 company front nor deploy grenadiers to the right. All other French allies except Saxony prior to 1810 can do 2 company front, but not Wurt. Not having any historical data to argue the point it seems best to follow the rule book.

Even strength companies would have 2.25 castings so the regiment would have 4.5 which rounds to 5. I'm leaning towards 4 x 2 plus a single; in one battalion per regiment I'll deploy the single in the front and in the other to the rear to give the regiment 5 castings in the front rank until the first casualty. Not as pretty as the way I have them now (3 × 3), but more in keeping with correct organization.

You lost me with that extra single. A five figure frontage in column? I take it you mean when activating both battalions of the regiment and moving then as a regimental mass(Emp. V, Section 11.17)?

I claim no special knowledge Re: Wurtemburg, but unless the tactical unit was the regiment I don't see how this better models the organisation. For Empire's mechanics the only thing that is important is that your frontage in line and column is accurate.

Battalions deployed in same regimental zone, one having frontage of 2 castings, other with frontage of 3. Not elegant, but in Napoleonic army can move and fire both battalions together and 5 castings is fair.

G'Day Gents

If I may assist…the battalion structure must have four divisions when in column…this is mandatory at all times. This is straight out of the general principles for a column in any army that has four divisions while in column.

Therefore divide the number of figures a battalion has and that gives you your width of the column. If you have a battalion that has seven or nine figures…then do as I do and have one figure on the flank which is an officer.

My 2eme Swiss of 1815 are only 7 figures…and it must be in three divisions while in column (decree of 1808), therefore I have one officer on the flank of the column…but it is considered with a width of two figures.

To have a single column with a five figure frontage would require a column of 20 figures.

Best Regards
Art

G'Day Gents,

As all of you must know…much has been learned since the creation of Empire V…

While it is possible for a colonne par regiment to have as many as 5 battalion formed into one column…in this case it was a formation in reserve….and not a manoeuvring formation.

When a colonne par regiment was expected to be used as a manoeuvring formation the battalions were formed on a one peloton (one figure for each battalion) frontage.

Best Regards
Art