"KGL Cavalry in the Peninsula?" Topic

Just starting out in Napoleonics with the SP2 rule set. (Friend has been bugging me for years to get into Naps, but have no interest in the rather static massed 'March-Attack' poses many bigger games seem to display.)

I am collecting a 28mm British Force for the Peninsula, and have gone with the Victrix plastics initially, although I have a few Front Rank Portuguese and British command figures as well.

Am now looking into what cavalry to add, and am interested in the King's German Legion.

What units were present in the peninsula 1808-1812, nad what uniforms did they wear?

I would suggest the KGL Hussars (three regiments), probably the best of the British cavalry units in the Peninsula. They could be used for both battlefield and scouting.

The two heavy dragoon regiments were also very good as battlefield cavalry. It was the 1st Regiment that broke the French squares at Garcia Hernandez after the battle at Salamanca. Until they were converted to light dragoons, their headgear was a bicorne, not the helmet used in other British dragoon guards and dragoon regiments.

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Jim

@ColCampbell

I think British heavy cavalry also wore bicornes until around 1811/12, when they switched to the helmets.

Welcome to napoleonic gaming. You will find there is a practical reason why most gamers choose the march or march attack pose for their figure collections. When it comes to forming company based figures into column the bayonets of firing figures jam into the company ahead sometimes causing broken bayonets, especially with plastics.

Thanks, guys!

KGL Hussars it is. Perry Plastics should do it, then.

And IronDuke, point taken on the March-Attack pose, but think I'll try to stick with Grand Skirmish a la Sharp Practice… For now ;-)

King's German Legion
In August 1803 Baron Decken was commissioned to raise a corps of light infantry with the title "The King's Germans", shortly afterwards titled ‘King's German Regiment'. At the same time Major Colin Halkett was empowered to raise an infantry battalion. ‘All foreigners, but preferably gallant Germans, are hereby invited to take service in this corps….'. Copies of this proclamation were circulated in Hanover, resulting in many former Hanoverian soldiers taking passage to Britain to enlist. In December the numbers resulted in the proposal for a force of all arms be raised and to be known as "The King's German Legion".

By January 1805 the Legion comprised:
1 Heavy Dragoon Regiment
1 Light Dragoon Regiment
4 Line Battalions
2 Light Battalions
2 horse artillery batteries
3 foot batteries

By February 1806 the Legion comprised:
2 Heavy Dragoon Regiments -converted to Light Dragoons at the end of 1812.
3 Light Dragoon Regiments – called Hussars from late 1808 though not officially converted until end of 1812.
8 Line Battalions
2 Light Battalions
2 horse artillery batteries
4 foot batteries

In 1813 a Foreign Veteran Battalion was formed for worn out soldiers of the KGL.

Each of the battalions had 10 companies each of 111 men; and a sharpshooter detachment of 58 men armed with rifles. Battalion HQ was 13 men.
Cavalry regiments had a HQ of 17 men, and 4 squadrons each of 178 men.
Batteries had 225 personnel.

In 1815, battalions had 6 companies each of 112 men, HQ of 14 men – light companies were rifle armed as were the light battalions. Cavalry Regiments had HQ of 15 men and 4 squadrons each of 176 men. Horse batteries had 230 men & foot batteries 231 men.

As for their Peninsula service:
1st line battalion
2nd line battalion
3rd line battalion (part East Coast 1812-13)
4th line battalion (East Coast 1812-13)
5th line battalion
6th line battalion (part East Coast 1812-13)
7th line battalion (1808-11 then part East Coast 1812-13)
8th line battalion (part East Coast 1812-13)
1st light battalion 1808-09; 1811-14
2nd light battalion 1808-09; 1811-14
1st Dragoons 1809-14
2nd Dragoons 1812-14
1st Hussars 1809-14
2nd Hussars 1811-13
3rd Hussars 1808-09

Try this link – it seems to be one of the better researched ones and is focused solely one the KGL.

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Good link BillyNM….many thanks

2nd and 3rd Hussars would have been only on the East Coast and did not serve with Wellington's main army, IIRC.

All the KGL Cavalry was good- but I'd always opt for the square crushing Dragoons in their original heavy form.