Wargamers, traditionally, though sometimes slowly, develop interests in many historical periods. For me, I suspect that each of my historical wargame preferences came to fruition because of some stimulus in childhood which later fired my curiosity. Perhaps more specifically, the pagentry of various heroic events and/or the seemingly incredible accomplishments of some of history's great captains sparked my enthusiasm. Photo at right: 25mm Hincliffe Prussian 3rd (Leib) Kurrasiers by Rob Oldenburg. It is acknowledged that other historical miniatures periods may take precedence over the Seven Years War for many wargamers. However, today more and more gamers are broadening their areas of interest to experience the use of different tactics, the visual appeal of new uniforms, and simply the flavor of a totally new era. To a great extent we will get out of any new period what we put into it. I believe I can trace my initial interest in the Seven Years War back to what now seems a rather simple statement made long ago in a high school world history class that a king of Prussia named Frederick the Great held off odds of 3:1 against himself for seven long years in a great war known as the Seven Years War. To my young mind that sounded incredible. It still does. l had to know more. You may have a latent interest in the Seven Years War because of the heroic events of the time or because of the accomplishments of Frederick or someone else. However, there are additional reasons why some may want to raise forces for the period. The purpose of the following article will be to present a few of thos reasons. THE SCOPE OF THE WAR The Seven Years War (1756-1763) was actually a world war. Military operations occurred in many far flung locations on the globe from India to the New World, though we usually recall only the struggles of the great powers on the continent of Europe. One will therefore find a variety of sub- periods, one of which may, hopefully, be of interest. The naval wargamer, for example, will find close action aplenty as he tacks his way through the history books describing events in the Pacific, landings on Mediterranean islands and fleet actions in the Atlantic or Caribbean. The Hornblower or Bolitho reader, though reading about a different era (the Napoleonic Period and the American Revolution) will discover bountiful inspiration for many a wargame scenario and campaign. For those landlubbers among us, imagine stalking Abenaki Indians with a few companies of Rogers Rangers or the battle for Fort Ticonderoga or Quebec in North America in that phase of the Seven Years War known as the French and Indian War. Additionally, Colonial wargamers take note. The British and French also fought, in of all places, India. As a matter of course most Seven Years Wargamers are primarily interested in the European conflagration. There one will find the teeming armies of France, Austria, Russia and a variety of lesser Allies marching across the map to outwit the Alliance of Prussia, England and another set of lesser allied states. Two Campaign Areas We may divide the European theatre into basically two campaign areas. One was centered in what is naw northwestern Germany while the other was located along the southern and eastern boundaries of Prussia in what is known today as eastern Europe. In the western zone, France operated against the English electorate of Hanover and the states of Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick. There combinations of British, Hanoverians, Kessians and Brunswickers fought off the French assisted by a Saxon Corps from 1757 to 1762. Further east in Saxony, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Poland, Prussia and to the north in Pomerania, the Austrians allied with Russians, Swedes, Wurtenburgers and a host of catholic mini-states of the Holy Roman Empire attempted to drown Frederick's Prussians with their overwhelming numbers from 1756 to 1763. Photo at right: 25mm Garrison Austrian brigade with Hincliffe mounted personalities by Kurt Donzelli. It is with these two campaign areas that most concentrate their efforts if involved in the Seven Years War. Perhaps, as in Napoleonics, one of the many armies which fought at this time will interest you. THE CAST OF CHARACTERS One fine day long ago, Ken presented my deployed French and Saxon corps with the dubious honour of a new commander in chief in the form of The Marshall Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise. Retchl and Good Griefl In my book this particular prince did more to lose the war for France than any other French general that took the field. My ensuing howls, good natured protests and threatened meltdowns did no good. Soubise was there to stay, but I would have nothing to do with him and particularly so when my forces had been hitherto commanded by such fine and historically able fellows as Lieutenant General (immediately promoted Marshall!) Victor Francois the Duke de Broglie, Lieutenant General F. de Chevert and the Comte de Lusace (Prince Xavier, the Saxon heir). I am afraid poor Soubise never got much of a chance when I was around. Other new players later, after I moved from Omaha, tried to elevate him to new heights of well . . . whatever . . . to rectify the wrongs of his flesh and blood ancester. I didn't keep track if they did, but I do get the opportunity to see the Marshall at least once a year these days. However, I insure he commands a sector far from me. This year I have a surprise for Ken. I've painted up the English General Cumberland, another of history's losers. The trouble is the fellows here in Milwaukee are doing a good job with him! We have a lot of fun with personalities of the Seven Years War as the antics just described indicate. I suspect with a little research you can find generals which suit your taste to command your forces. Consider the following few examples in addition to those cited already: Prussia: General Seydlitz, the dashing cavalry commander and victor of Rossbach. Frederick the Great, "Old Fritz" the talented Prussian General king; the cause of it all. England: Marquis of Granby, famous for the phrase "going in it baldheaded." Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, the talented Prussian General in the service of England who time after time outmaneuvered the French. Brunswick: Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, "The Erbprinz," the charismatic and energetic youngster who accomplished so much with so little. Hanover: Graf Nikolaus von Luckner, the crotchety, virtually illiterate and humorous light troop commander of many daring and successful raids. Austria: General Haddick, the raider who briefiv reached serlin in the second year of the war and purchased a dozen gloves for Queen Maria Theresa. Field Marshall Daun, the general who checked the Prussians for the first time at Kolin. Perhaps among these men or others a suitable commander for your tabletop armies may be found. There are many more, some spicier, a few duller and many others of good ability. UNIFORMS One will discover a wide variety of intriguing uniforms to paint given the various armies that trooped across the battlefields of the Seven Years War. Some were complex, others were simple and a few were downright bizarre. As with most periods, painters will find uniforms to satisfy any interest from spit and polish guards to some dusty light infantryman. A review of the photographs will provide a good indication of some of the types of soldiers available. Seven Years War soldiers are neither more difficult nor easier to paint than any other musket era fighting man. One interesting opinion is that they are actually easier to keep track of and identify on the wargame battlefield than are many Napoleonics due to the variety of facing colors and flags used. There was one item of apparel which particularly distinguished Seven Years War soldiers from other musket period combatants. This was the three-cornered hat or tricorne. Usually bordered in white or yellow trim, the tricorne seems particularly attractive and easy to paint. Most soldiers, whether on foot or horseback, wore this hat. Armies tend to wear what might be called national coat colors by branch. In the line infantry, France, Austria and Saxony wore white. The Prussians, Hessians and Brunswickers wore dark blue while Russia wore dark green; the English and Hanoverians wore red. The smaller states wore variations of the same. Light infantry coat colors were generally green while artillerymen were different yet. For example, France, Prussia, England, Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick sported dark blue. Saxon gunner's coats were green. Photo at right: 25mm Converted Swiss Grenadiers (Hincliffe) and Swiss Battalion Courten (Scruby) assault the Prince Henry's Prussian Fusiliers (Hincliffe). Swiss line by Bill Protz; others by Rob Oldenberg. Austria's coats were unbelievably brown while Hanover and Wurttemburg wore light blue. Russians wore red. Cavalry coat colors were somewhat more varied. France had dark blue, grey, red and green. Others wore variations of light blue, white, dark blue and red. Hussars, particularly Russians, could be any color, even pink. A little research will reveal the army most pleasing to your eye. The variety is there for the looking. TACTICS If the Ancients are remembered for their use of dense mob-like formations and Napoleonics for columns, then surely Seven Years War soldiers should be known for their use of "linear tactics" upon the battlefield. Certainly the Ancients and Napoleonics used verities of other formations. So, too, did Seven Years War soldiers but we may say that the linear system dominated. What was the linear system? Basically, it supposed that the use of deployed lines in battle was best. It was ". . . the disposition of an army for battle, with its front extended in a straight line as far as the ground and the numbers will permit. Each line is divided into a right and left wing. Ideally the flanks at each end should be anchored on a natural obstacle, such as a river, swamp, wood or rough ground, to prevent the enemy from attacking the position from either flank or from the rear." (Luvaas, Jay, Frederick The Great on the Art of War. p. 368) Imagine your army of twelve battalions and as many squadrons of horse. There in the middle of the field, say one foot from your baseline six of your battalions are deployed in line side by side extending right and left awaiting the enemy. A few pieces of artillery are interspaced here and there with three squadrons drawn up also in line on each flank. Then say one foot to the rear, the other half of your command is deployed similarly. Such a deployment is the linear system. We may complicate the affair though by using other formations. On the wings or on rough ground we might deploy skirmishers in the form of light troops (hussars, mounted jagers, grenzers, pandours, jagers, chasseurs and even grenadiers) to distress our able opponent. Additionally, we might just once in awhile situate a column or two in a likely place to exploit breakthroughs. Their ability to win against a line in close action will be limited, but then on some rare occasions such a tactic may just work. Primarily, the column will be used to march from place to place quickly. Upon arrival, deployment into line usually will be the order of the day. Lest you think the tactics of the time require pretty much only a straight-on confrontation, let me say that though this is true to a great extent, the various movements and maneuvers one develops should be essentially designed as Frederick said, "... (to) turn (the flanks and rear) of the enemy." (Luvaas, Jay, Frederick The Great on the Art of War. p. 176) The Seven Years War tabletop general should therefore develop a variety of movements to bring his army or brigade into a flanking position against his opponent to drive it in and win the battle. One theoretical situation might develop as follows. Near your right flank but closer to your opponent's extreme left some rough terrain is situated. Somehow you divine or hope that past practices will be repeated and that your opponent will secure the area in a defensive posture with some light troops and maybe a battalion in reserve. You draw a deep breath, beef up your own left with guns in a refused wing posture, pray that they will hold and commit your finest brigade to a bullish line and column bayonet assault through the rough terrain with some hussars sweeping wide. Once through you will wheel left and present your friend with the best you have on his flank while your reinforced left holds him in place! Before I give more intended plans away to my buddies, let me quickly move onto a beneficial side-effect of wargaming in the Seven Years War which you may likeÄits economy! It is economical because any game system predicated upon the use of lines rather than columns or deep formations will find the wargamer needing very few units. The imaginary example earlier of twelve battalions and twelve squadrons wouldn't be much in a Napoleonic battle. One can even select miniature warriors from amongest all the beautiful 25mm figures now available from such manufacturers as Garrison, Hinchliffe, Miniature Figurines and Scruby. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. 2 #1 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1980 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com