The wargamer reading about The Thirty Years may be faced with many unfamiliar terms and troop types that may not be described in any detail in the article, book, etc he is reading. If the player has ever been interested in the English Civil War or Renaissance, much will already be known, but various tactics and innovations may not be understood.

The following will try to briefly remedy this lack and further expand interest in this area. Who hasn't been drawn to a table full of pikemen and wished they knew who was doing what to who and why? Although I won't try to explain The Thirty Years War, I hope to answer some questions about arms and tactics, and suggest how to try to integrate on the wargames table. one final note, everyone carried a sword for melee.

MUSKETEER: "The armor of a musketeer is good courage" (Monck). The musketeer was the fire power of the infantry. Armed with a matchlock musket, good troops could fire 2 rounds in 3 minutes. The musket could penetrate armor at close ranges. Defenseless against cavalry, musketeers relied on pikemen for defense. The ratio of pike to musket was I to I from about the 1580's until the Swedish entry into the war. The ratio tended to be 2 musket to one pike thereafter, partly to lack of men able to carry the pike.

PIKEMEN: Armed with an 18 foot pike, the anchor of the infantry unit. The protector of the musketeer and often the battle winner after 'push of pike'. Until the 1630's , paid double wages. Pikemen were usually armed with helmet, back and breastplate, and tassets, ( which protected the thighs).

LIGHT CAVALRY: (Croats, Hussars, Cossacks, Etc) Used for classic light horse duties and lightly armed. Most armies used dragoons because of limited horsemen available. Light cavalry used evasive tactics and were armed with bows, pistols OR lance, swords and little armor.

MEDIUM CAVALRY: The lack of either 3/4 armor or suitable horses created this expedient. Armed with helmet, back and breastplate, sometimes a heavy coat or buff coat, and a pair of pistols, the medium cavalryman fell between cuirassier and light horse. Inferior to both light cavalry when used as such, or cuirassier when called upon to perform as battle cavalry, it was often asked to do both. Most English Civil War cavalry would be considered medium cavalry.

CUIRASSIER: Armored from head to knee or head to waist. Heavy leather knee boots completed their defensive armor ( and made a nifty place to stick a spare pistol). Cuirassiers carried two or more wheellock pistols and a sword for offensive action. Replaced the fully armored knight as the cavalry component in battle. The wheellock pistol was an expensive item that used friction to ignite its charge, ( not unlike a Bic lighter). Cuirassier charged at the trot and fired their pistols prior to melee. Often would not melee if the pistol fire did not disorder their opponent. Also caracoled, a technique in which each rank of horsemen would close to fire and then trot to the back of the unit to reload. The Swedes taught the German cuirassier a different method.

THE LANCER: What was left of the knights from the medieval ages. Most heavy lance units in the Thirty Years War were guard units. and performed little better in battle than cuirassier. old habits die hard among the nobility.

DRAGOONS: "Dragoons are still infantry to whom horses have been given to enable them to move more rapidly" (Montecucculi). Rarely armored at all and used arquebuses or carbines for fire power. Used as light horse to seize crossroads, bridges and defend cavalry proof terrain. Usually fought dismounted.

ARQUEBUSIERS: Mounted troops that provided additional firepower for cavalry. The Imperialists used more often than the Protestants. Armed with an arquebus or carbine and armored like medium cavalry. Fought mostly as mounted dragoons. Duties included 'shooting in cuirassier'.

This involved moving up and firing at enemy about to be charged and them getting out of the way. This practice declined as Swedish methods and improved rates of fire for muskets made the tactic obsolete. It is more difficult to 'shoot in' when your opponent is galloping cuirassier paired with commanded shot.

SWEDISH CAVALRY CHARGES: The Swedes upset the status quo by charging at the gallop and then using pistols in melee. This made it much more difficult to stand and receive a charge. Swedish experience against the Poles and Swedish cavalry being of lower quality made necessity a virtue.

COMMANDED SHOT: Used by the Danes and Swedes beginning in the 1620's. Prior to Swedish entry into the war, perhaps up to 1/4 of the musketeers would be detached to defend artillery and cavalry proof terrain. Sweden paired them with cavalry to provide extra fire power at the expense of mobility. The increase in musketeers after Breitenfeld testifies to their effectiveness.

PLUG BAYONETS: Some French Guard units used this weapon at Rocroi. The Dutch were using even earlier. In game terms, perhaps guard units could be so armed from 1640 on. Of course, a plugged musket is merely a poor pole arm for the remainder of the battle.

HOTSHOT: (for sieges) Red hot cannonballs and mortar shells. Bautzen surrendered (1620) soon after the Saxons starting firing a few of these over the city walls. Very dangerous to the crew, but would start fires inside the besieged camp.

TAPLOADING: This technique was used mostly by Bavarian troops. The ammo would be poured down the barrel and then the butt of the musket would be struck against the ground, rather than use a ramrod. This allowed faster loading, but was not without risk. Wittstock was said to have been lost partly because Bavarian defenders bullets rolled out the barrel pointing downhill against the advancing Swedes. I suggest a -1 for Bavarian Troops defending a hill.

PEASANT TROOPS: In my game, allow only I in 4 figures to fire for peasants armed with musket or troops with peasant morale. Tap loading could be used to offset this restriction. Allow peasants 2d6 muskets per unit and consider as arquebuses for firing.

IMPROVED MUSKETS: Sweden was the innovator in using paper cartridges. Combined with lighter muskets and training that increased loading speed; Swedish troops could fire much faster. Allow 1 shot per 2 figures.

ARTILLERY: A doubtful auxiliary turned into an indispensable part of the battle during this war. Swedens' example of having the artillerists join the army, as opposed to being contractors, improved the quality of the king of battle. Unfortunately, the horses and wagons used to move the guns was still contracted, making movement once the battle commenced difficult.

LIGHT GUNS: Sweden and Switzerland experimented with in the 1620's. Two men could move on the battlefield. Leather guns were used against the Poles, but proved unreliable and were replaced with 3 lb. regimental guns. Cartridges made out of silk bags increased the firing rate. The effect of the Swedish gun was like adding a machine gun or weapons team to an infantry assault in WWI and WWII.

TACTICAL HINTS

ARTILLERY: Usually ineffective on the battlefield but will reduce avenues of attack. Artillery can be deadly when on target, and Swedish light guns are real killers.

INFANTRY: Lateral movement is difficult or impossible on the battlefield. An astute opponent will punish attempts at later movement with infantry. The infantry should shake the enemies' morale with fire and then break them with the pike. The pike was of limited use in garrison and siege work but pikemen still commanded twice the pay of musketeers until at least the 1630 battles were why.

CAVALRY: These are the guys to use for lateral movement. Heavy cavalry in 3/4 armor (cuirassier) were battle winners. Other types of cavalry were more useful in all types of actions, except battles. Mostly made up of nobles ( or those who were filled with the warrior ethos) cuirassiers were difficult to control. Placed on the wings, the winner of the cavalry action would combine with the remaining infantry and artillery to destroy any amount of infantry in the field. Remember, the general with the last uncommitted cavalry will win the cavalry action, and thus the battle. Also, cavalry in motion is much more potent than cavalry not in motion. Finally, cavalry movement and the potential threats a unit in motion presents, may be more useful than the assault itself

DRAGOONS: Useful for scouting, forlorns, rapid operations movement to seize towns, bridges, outpost and guard duty. Classical light horse duties with greater punch, do to the arquebus. May also be used as commanded shot.

COMMANDED SHOT: Detached musketeers used to 1) provide fire support to cavalry; 2) follow the king as a reserve to reenforce at the critical moment; 3) defend a geographic position such as artillery, baggage train or cavalry proof terrain; or 4) act as a forlorn hope. Forloms were formed bodies of infantry used to protect the main battle line. Faster rates of fire would turn these suicide troops into skirmishers in the following century.

USE OF COMBINED ARMS (and luck) is the key to winning.

ARMY LISTS

BOHEMIAN ARMY (Mansfield and Moravian also)

CAVALRY: 20 to 35% of total of army); 1/2 cuirassier; 1/4 to 1/2 light cavalry (bow & sword Transylvanian); up to 1/4 Hungarian light cavalry or Arquebusiers.

FOOT: (65% to 80% of army); Dutch system or battlia (1000). Mansfield and Moravians used battlia exclusively. Transylvanian foot. All musket and sword or 1/2 bill/ polearmed 1 or 2 units in army. Peasant foot. May be fielded. 1 in 4 fires and 1 musket to 2 pole arm ratio. Fieldworks are permitted but would not be constructed by troops. 1 to 3 for firing. Artillery ratio. 1 gun per 4000 troops, mostly heavy guns.

Sample Army
points unit 2 1 baggage and 3 leaders (Mansfield, Thum, Christian of Anhalt) 1 2 light cavalry 1 1 Arquebusier 3 3 cuirassier 1 1 peasant foot (36 figures) 1 1 battlia (1000) (Moravain Guard or Mansfield Color Regiment) 2 4 Dutch BNS OR 2 3 Dutch BNS and 3 flags 1 2 Heavy guns

DUTCH ARMIES

Cavalry 20 to 30 %, of total army; up to 2/3 cuirassier of total cavalry and rest arquebus or dragoons. (no lances).

Foot. Dutch Bn or battlia (1000). 1 to 3 fire, after 1630 1 in 2 fire. Ratio 1 to 1 , after 1625 up to 2 to 1 (elite) Artillery 1 to 3/4000 ratio.

Flintlocks 1625 on (dragoons first). Plug bayonets starting 1635. Neither weapon more than 25% of foot.

Sample Army
Unit Points
baggage & 3 leaders 2
2 cuirassier 2
1 arquebus or dragoon 1
8 Dutch BNs 4
upgrade Inf to regular 2
2 heavy guns I

French Army

Cavalry 20 to 40 %. 1/3 to 1 cuirassier (Gendarmes) 1/6 Croats or dragoons. 1/3 medium cavalry. (some Gendarmes may use lances)

Foot. 1 to 1 in battila 1000 or 1500. 1 in 3 fires. Guard, Swiss, Scots, or Weimar foot may be fielded if used and paid for as elite. Artillery ratio 1 to 3/4000. Light guns, plug bayonets, improved muskets- I to 2 fire; available in later war armies. Croats only after 1635.

Sample Army pre 1635 army
unit points
1 gendarmes (lance) 1 1/2
baggage & 3 leaders 2
2 medium cav 1 1/2
1 dragoons 1
1 Swiss foot (elite) 2
2 battalia 2
2 heavy guns I
1 cuirassier I

SAVOY ARMIES

As the French EXCEPT less cavalry (by 10%) and may use light cavalry at any time. The infantry may use terico.

IMPERIAL ARMY (Danes, Saxons, Austrian, and Wallenstein)

Cavalry: 20 to 40%; up to 2/3 Cuirassier and the rest light or medium cavalry. Infantry. 1 to 1 ratio in 1000 or 1500 battlia. 1 to 3/4000 ratio for artillery. Light gun after 1635 and commanded shot after 1635. Danes used cmd shot starting in the 1620's. Wallenstein may have a lance unit. Light guns and Cmd shot after 1631. Catholic League and Bavarians used Tercios instead of battlia until the 1630s. Saxon artillery ratio was usually closer to I to 1600/3000.

Sample Army
Unit Points
Baggage wagon & 3 leaders 2
3 cuirassier 3
4 battlia (1000) 4
2 medium or 2 heavy guns 3/4 or 1
2 light cavalry 1
1 arquebus 1

Austrian Armies against Turks
Unit Points
Baggage wagon & 3 leaders 2
3 cuirassier 3
9 inches fieldworks 1/2
(Additional Grenzer instead of works is allowed)
grenzer (12 skirmish) V2
4 battlia (1000) 4
2 heavy guns 1
2 light cavalry or 1 arquebus or 1 dragoon (1630) 1

OTTOMAN TURKS

CAVALRY 30 to 50%; 1/3 Spahi, 1/3 medium (Gonullu), 1/3 light cavalry (Akinjis)

FOOT UP TO 15 % skirmish foot, either musket or bow armed. 1 unit usually. 1/2 to 2/3 Janissaries musket and spear armed; 1/2 to 1/3 Arab foot 1/2 bow and 1/2 spear armed. 3rd world guns, 1 to 4000 ratio. used fieldworks, Wagonburgs.

Sample Army
Points Unit
2 baggage and 3 leaders
32 Spahi (lance armed)
1 1/2-22 medium cavalry
1 2 light cavalry
2 2 Janissary foot
1skirmish foot (muskets, 12 figures)
1 Azab foot
3/4 2 medium guns
1/4 fieldworks 41 inches.

Polish Armies

Cavalry 30 to 50 %; 1/3 cuirassier. 1/3 medium Pancerni. 1/3 light cavalry. (1/6 dragoon or arquebus possible)

Foot. Up to 25% German foot, either 1500 or 1000 battlia. All other foot pole armed. 1 to 3 fire. 1 to 1 ratio. opt. May use 1 unit Janissaries, after 1630. 1 to 4000 artillery ratio.

Sample Army
Baggage & Leaders 2
1 Wing Hussar (Lance) 1 1/2
1 Cuirassier (Hussar) 1
2 Pancerni(medium) 1 1/2
2 "Cossack" light 1
2 Polish Foot (Polearm) 2
1 German Foot 1
2 Heavy Guns 1
1 Arquebusier 1

Spanish Armies

Cavalry 15 to 30 %; 1/3 to 1/2 cuirassier; 1/3 arquebus; the rest light cavalry or medium cavalry; (lights and cuirassier may use lances) OR 1630 on, 1/3 to 1/2 cuirassier; V2 Dragoons, or medium, or Hussars. 1/6 light, with lances if desired.

FOOT: Tercios 1 to 1 ratio. 1 to 3 firing. Forlorns permitted after 1635? 1 to 3/4000 ratio for artillery.

Sample Army
Unit Points
baggage & 3 leaders 2
2 tercios 4
upgrade morale to regular 2
1 light cavalry I
heavy gun I
1 arquebus 1
2 cuirassier 2

SWEDISH ARMIES

Cavalry: 20 to 40 %;. 1/3 to 1/2 cuirassier. Finns (as light cavalry) 1/6 or 1/4 not in Germany; 1/6 to 1/3 dragoon. Remainder medium cavalry.

FOOT. Swedish BNs 3 to 2 ratio. I to 3 fire , after 1628 1 to 2 fire. German mercenary or allied foot may be fielded, up to '/2. Up to 1/3 of shot may be commanded shot.

ARTILLERY: Light gun after 1625, one per brigade. Swedish Brigades were 3 bris before 1630 and 2 bns after. Does not count against artillery ratio. Artillery ratio 1 to 2/3000. Swedish feather in Poland, count troops defending as armed with spears the first round of melee.

Sample Army
Unit Points
baggage & leaders 2
1 cuirassier 1
2 medium cavalry 1 '/2
4 medium guns 1 1/2
4 Swede BNS 4
2 light guns I
1 elite upgrade I

TRANSYLVANIAN Army

Cavalry: 30/ 50%; 1/3 Spahi; 1/3 Hungarian or Dellis (mediuni); 1/3 Cossacks or Akinjis (light).

Foot: up to 25% Grenzers., The rest peasant infantry with pole arms and muskets or Azabs (1/2 bow and 1/2 spear). Optional: one unit either janissaries or German mercenaries. 3rd world guns 1 to 4000 ratio.

Sample Army
unit points
baggage wagon & 3 leaders 2
2 Spahi 3
2 Hungarian (medium) 1 1/2
2 light cavalry 1
1 Azab- 1
1 grenzer (12 skirmish) 1/2
1 German foot 1
1 peasant foot 1
2 medium guns 3/4
4 1/2 inches field works 1/4

Related

Thirty Years War Miniatures Rules