"Napoleonic Cavalry" Topic

Okay, really new to Napoleonic wargaming. I was called out for the size of my Cavalry units.
Did some searches on line and that was even more frustrating.

Anyway, what do you guys use as a standard unit size for Napoleonic Cavalry. Even ratio of Infantry unit to Cavalry unit.

Thanks

For large battle games I'm going 12-14 horses for a regiment. Compared with infantry which I do 36 man battalions.

For sharp practice I use units of 20ish (8 + 8 + leaders, musician, maybe a flag).

Ratio of cavalry to infantry varied a ton, some smaller battles had little or no cavalry, some had tons. Depends on how planned the engagement was, how the corps were moving, etc

Depends on the game really, what are you playing?

It depends on the rules. What is the size of the typical cav regiment of the rules you are using? In my experience, cav regiments run 6-12 figures depending on the rules. Some rules count stands, while others count figures. What rules are you using, and what is the size of your units?

Allegedly, the 36 figure infantry battalion is 1:20, representing 720 men – probable high field strength.

But for a give day, you can us 1:12 or any ratio you choose for a worn-down division, etc.

French cavalry SQUADRONS at proposed strength might be 2 companies of 5 figures, or 10 figures. I like to use 6 figures for a squadron, and use squadrons from different regiments for a composite regiment. French regiments in Spain often had 3 or fewer squadrons present. Rarely all 4. It was also poor country for getting horses in any number.

I originally planned to do 3 infantry divisions of 12 battalions each (36) total 1296 figures. I was generous using 24 figures as a composite regiment for each division – total 72 figures.

Adding 16 squadrons of dragoons – 96, +72 light cavalry with the infantry gave total of 168 cavalry to 1,246 infantry.

Ratio of about 8 infantry to 1 cavalry figure.

GdeP

I think they were using 30 to 1 figures to real men. Don't remember rules name, was being tutored with several others, mostly newbies.

Sounds like it is a good rules set, but they said my Cavalry units were to big. current have 18 to 20 figures in a Infantry battalion and 12 to 14 in Cavalry.

Thanks for replies, much appreciated.
Tony L

It also depends on which army you're fielding (establishments vary widely from county t country). And sometimes what class of cavalry (e.g., Austrian light cavalry regiments are bigger than Austrian heavies).

Tony L: In the old system, 36 French Infantry to a battalion, and 10 cavalry figures to a squadron – using 3 squadrons would make your 3-squadron cavalry units about right.

My composite lt cav "regiments" would be 24 figures vs a 36 figure infantry battalion. Your infantry at 18, and cavalry at 12 (3 squadrons of 4 figures) would be the same.

GdeP

8 cav
16 inf

4 bases/unit

Seems I read somewhere about British infantry battalions being slightly larger than French. Referring to later war here, 1810 on.

Just checked and the rules are a spin off of Black Powder with a bunch of modifications.

Love the look of the really large units, but when you new into this takes a while to get numbers of figures on the table.

Currently have about 12 to 14 infantry battalions each of France and British, (that is with 18 to 20 figs each).

Depending on how many cavalry in a regiment will have 2 to 4 units each. Currently using 2 guns to represent a battery, again pretty even here between British & French 3 batteries a piece.

Thanks ALL for replies, much appreciated.
Tony L

1=60 Prussian and Russian inf battalion 10 – 12 > 16
Cav regiment 8 – 12 > 16

I believe that British would be bigger units, perhaps 40 figures to French 36, because of ships coming from England with reinforcements. 4 figures for each British company, 2 deep, looks great deployed for battle as full unit of 40. French under threat from guerrillas along the lines of communications.

You could start with British battalions of 20. 2 gren, 2 light – perhaps on single-figure stands; and 16 center company figures. Later, put two units of 20 together to make unit of 40.

The French could begin at 18 figures. 3 gren; 3 Voltigeurs; 12 fusiliers and command. Combine 2 of 18 to get 36. 6 voltigeurs on single stands make good skirmish line, and could be used for skirmish games.

GdeP