"Flankers, with or without?" Topic

Next question. Should I put a Grenadier company and a Light company in my battalion? Specifically I am talking about the 42nd Highland Regiment again. Perry makes the highland Grenadiers and light figures for this.

I would have a base of each either side of my center and command companies. Our bases have three figures each on a 30 x 36mm base.

I know that the British almost always put together composite battalions of each and I have those composite units. I understand I can do what I want. But in general, is it okay to put flankers in my regiment? I don't see anyone else doing that. Which indicates to me the answer is no.

I have 24 man British units, 16 line , 4 lights, and four grenadiers.
My lights are based individually while my grenadiers are four to a base like the line unit.
I converge my Grenadiers and lights into composite battalions.
But that is me, they are your figures, base them however you like.

I converge my Lights and Grenadier figs into their own battalions.

I think adding flank company figures to your hatmen looks…messy!
Converged is the way to go for me too!

But, as said above, its Your choice, do whatever you like and 'damn the torpedoes'!

I am not aware of the British ever keeping the flankers with their parent regiments in the AWI.

If you have the 42nd's flank company figs already, put them in a converged unit. The troops in coverged units wore the uniforms of the parent regiment.

Once light companies were stripped from their parent regiments those regiments still needed skirmishers and so created unofficial "flankers" or "marksmen". One man per company was chosen. Once they got good at their jobs they sometimes were stripped out in their turn to form new ranger or light units. A marksmen of the 21st foot wore a short jacket and light infantry cap but not light infantry distinctions such as wings.
(information paraphrased from Men At Arms 285 King Georges Army 1740-93 Vol: 1 Infantry.)

FWIW, I believe the Foot Guards kept their companies, flank and 'centre' in one brigade.

I would not recommend putting your flankers in your battalion. I would recommend that when you paint your battalion, you paint the flankers at the same time. This way you can build up your converged flanker battalions at the same time that you are painting the center companies.

@BillN
I believe the OFM has mentioned that once before.

Good advice from all.

Thanks!

Bill N uses my procedure.

I believe the OFM has mentioned that once before

I know a good idea when I steal it. Someone should figure out how to pin that post. It was some of the better advice seen here.

There were occasions during the AWI when British line units retained their flank companies. Two instances that come to mind were the units on Rhode Island, and the 40th Foot in the attack on Fort Griswold towards the end of the war. There were certainly other instances in Canada at the start of the war, or later on with the 60th and 71st Foot in the South, where units were either dispersed, or forced to fight in small detachments, and centre companies and flank companies were mixed together; there were also occasions where Loyalist units did this – the Queen's Rangers infantry operated as a distinct unit throughout the war.

SM, did they not form a Light Infantry corps of various odds and sods in the South under the unhinged Major Baird of the 71st, including his own lights of the 71st (whose grenadiers remained in the north)?

Was that a sentence? I am not sure.

I would argue in the south you have converged flanker battalions in which center companies were serving along with grenadiers or light infantry. Long topic though.

They did, but at times, the 71st lights also served alongside their centre companies, which was the essence of the OP, I think.

Ultimately it depends on your budget!