"Formation question." Topic

So i understand the basic formations, and how to form them using say six bases. If attack column is 2 bases wide and three deep, and line is 1 base deep and 6 wide, what formation would 3 wide and 2 deep be ? That seems to be the default formation for many games I've seen, and even in the war and peace filme(1966) is what the troops advanced in, but what's it called ? I've seen it referred to en masse, but is that's a real name ?

Wargames units usually bear little resemblance to real formations.

You have a lot of reading and research to do.

As Jim has said, unless you wargame at 1:1 (and some do) then the formations of your little soldiers are only representative. I wargame at 1:20 with six figures on an infantry base giving an average unit six bases. So taking Hiker's point a formation of the unit 1 base x 6 bases side by side is the line, 1 base by 6 bases one behind the other is column of route, and all others (2x3 or 3x2) is a column.

I prefer a 3 x 2 formation for attack columns, at least for my French and their allies. The French, iirc, generally deployed their columns with a 2 company frontage, approx. 60 men, and a depth of 9 men plus company intervals.

Ok cool, so either count as an attack column, that's actually what I've used it as. It's for kings of war where 3x2(wxh) is the standard unit size(well closest to 100mm anyway). I guess no amount of reading will tell me a name that doesn't actually exist.

The only real formation I can think of would be a double line--rare, but the British did employ double lines at Waterloo.

Happyhiker, my first thought for three wide and two deep would be column of half-battalions. It was rare, but taught. And of course Attila's right: double line would look just the same on a tabletop. One persistent problem in miniatures is that we can't shrink frontage and depth in proportion, and it's made worse in that the depth of a column can vary greatly depending on whether companies were allowed enough room to maneuver.

When you get a chance, read some of the books which describe battalion drill of the period, and you'll see some of the problem. And of course some of this changes with whether your "unit" is a battalion or a brigade. I thoroughly enjoy Napoleonics, but it does have its complications.

Another option if using six bases is to have the 1 base deep 6 base wide formation represent open order and 2X3 line. Everything else is a column unless it is a square.

French deployed double lines at Austerlitz against the allied cavalry attack near the allied far Right. IIRC it was the allied guard cav?
The French had Hvy cavalry support to the inf formation's rear, to counter attacked the "now disordering" allied cav.

French attack columns seem to look best with double co/stand front and 3 deep.