From 1808 to 1813 the various nations involved in Napoleonic Wars had the following tactical features: British possessed a considerable number of rifle units; no armoured cuirassiers; no lancers; had shrapnel howitzers; no 12-pdrs; no Guard Light Infantry battalions; had moderately effective rocket batteries; fire of Line Infantry Battalions was highly effective; very high percentage of skirmisher infantry; battle lines formed two-ranks deep rather than the normal three. The French used assault field columns; high percentage of heavy and light Guards; armoured cuirassiers with a possible slight protection from musket fire over ranges of 20 yards; high percentage of artillery and used dismountable Dragoons. Austria - Austrian cuirassiers were unarmoured in the rear; heavy cavalry did not charge in column or boot-to-boot,but rather in looser Turkish style; line infantry regiments did not contain skirmishers; jagers operated in two company detached units; no Guards; Grenadiers used in separate battalions. Prussians - No howitzers; Grenadier battalions had light artillery as a part of their organisation; no armoured cuirassiers; used large quantities of Landwehr militia in action; used assault columns French style; Grenadiers and Light Infantry formed in separate battalions; capable of limited dismountable Dragoon action. Russia - Had Guard armoured cuirassiers; jager battalions do not deploy skirmishers; very large musket calibre; used Cossacks as Light cavalry. For the later Napoleonic period suggested line battalion of infantry is 24 Privates, 1 Standard Bearer, 3 Officers (1 mounted) and 2 musicians (usually drummers). The privates are mounted on company stand if required. All line formations are in single rank as this gives perhaps a truer proportion between the depth and length of a formation. When skirmishing there must not be more than 1 man to each inch of front. The following was the composition of Line Infantry battalions in the later Napoleonic period: France - 6 Companies, 4 of Fusiliers and I of Grenadier and I of Voltigeurs. Normal fighting formation was in close column of fusilier companies with the eagle in the centre of the leading company and the drummers in the rear. Flank companies were right and left of the main column in the rear, each company formed in a little column of two lines. Skirmishers formed from voltigeurs or from both flank companies. British - 10 Companies (with the greatly reduced numbers of a wargames battalion they would be so small that six companies might be preferable). 1 Company with Grenadiers and 1 the Light Company. Men will fight in formation was in line with the Grenadier Company on the right and the Light Company on the ieft, mounted officer and drummers in the rear, Colour in the centre. Skirmishers formed from the Light Company sometimes with additional skirmishers from rifle regiments. Prussians - 4 Musketeer Companies with a normal fighting formation in close column of companies with Standard in the centre of the first company and drummers between second and third. If skirmishers are required then two schutzenzuge can be formed by detaching a third of each company to the right and left - they function like French flank companies. Austria - 6 Fusilier companies in a normal fighting formation of line or column of division (double company column the Standard is on the left of the third company and the drummers between the third and fourth. Austrians rarely used skirmishers and only when the battalion was in line. An advance guard was formed from one-third of each company on the Prussian system but this operated well in front of the battalion and only a third of them were deployed as skirmishers. Russia - 4 Companies three being musketeer companies and one Grenadier company which consisted of a Grenadier and a Jager platoon. The normal fighting formation was line or close column of companies. In line the Standard was in the centre with the Grenadier platoon on the right and the Jager platoon on the left. In column the Standard is in centre of the leading company and the Grenadier company in the rear with the drummers behind it. Skirmishers may be formed from one-third of each company, from the Jager platoon or from the whole Grenadier Company. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 168 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1976 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com