Starter Army lists ... for 1815 ... help needed

[Rich Jones]

Trying to make an army builder type affair - a bit like in Lasalle for people
down at our club to choose a Nap army to play throw together games with. The
idea will be to have a core force for 1815 that has to be taken and then a
choice of other units to add to this core. Not hugely historic I know but will
work for the guys at our club.

SO my question is how many battalions should the brigades (I know the term is
rather loose) have in general terms ... I am thinking:
French - 3 battalions and some arty for a brigade.
Brit/Allies - this is where we are wavering - should it be 3 or 4?

Cavalry - really should be 2 I suppose but this is hopeless in game terms as
they break at 1 ... two routes here spring to mind, one lump some cav in with
the infantry 'brigades' or have all the cav in one brigade as the lights will
have maurader I suppose.

Any help much appreciated ...

Rich

[Evan]

how about the actual OBs

http://napoleonic-literature.com/Waterloo_OB/Theoob.htm

[Evan]

how about the actual OBs

http://napoleonic-literature.com/Waterloo_OB/Theoob.htm

[Rich Jones]

Thanks

But we want it more for club games as a throw together 1000 point type affair so not really useful (I have them in full) also 'brigades' in BP terms are not really Brigades as such ... really want to make up a BP force lists and we 'arguing' as to whether the English should be 3 or 4 battalions to a Brigade as a generality etc.

Thanks again though.

[Rich Jones]

Thanks

But we want it more for club games as a throw together 1000 point type affair so not really useful (I have them in full) also 'brigades' in BP terms are not really Brigades as such ... really want to make up a BP force lists and we 'arguing' as to whether the English should be 3 or 4 battalions to a Brigade as a generality etc.

Thanks again though.

[Gallowglass]

Examining the British Waterloo OOB above shows an average of four British infantry battalions per brigade. British cavalry brigades appear to be three units strong on average.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatre_Bras_order_of_battle

You can see pretty much the same overall British brigade strengths at Quatre Bras. That would seem to me to be a historical "generality" if you're specifically looking at "The Hundred Days" campaign in 1815, as those were the two big engagements involving British troops.

Allied/Dutch-Belgian brigades at Waterloo and Quatre Bras appear to be between 4 and 6 units strong.

Personally, I'd go for a minimum of 4 British battalions to the brigade in 1815, and also a minimum of 4 for the French. Almost every other French brigade at Waterloo had either 4 or 6 battalions. 3-battalion brigades strike me as being a tad on the small side for the French or the British in 1815, although it would be an excellent generality for the average number of British battalions per brigade in the Peninsular campaign.

[Gallowglass]

Examining the British Waterloo OOB above shows an average of four British infantry battalions per brigade. British cavalry brigades appear to be three units strong on average.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatre_Bras_order_of_battle

You can see pretty much the same overall British brigade strengths at Quatre Bras. That would seem to me to be a historical "generality" if you're specifically looking at "The Hundred Days" campaign in 1815, as those were the two big engagements involving British troops.

Allied/Dutch-Belgian brigades at Waterloo and Quatre Bras appear to be between 4 and 6 units strong.

Personally, I'd go for a minimum of 4 British battalions to the brigade in 1815, and also a minimum of 4 for the French. Almost every other French brigade at Waterloo had either 4 or 6 battalions. 3-battalion brigades strike me as being a tad on the small side for the French or the British in 1815, although it would be an excellent generality for the average number of British battalions per brigade in the Peninsular campaign.

[Colonel White]

I agree on average there was four battallions per brigade. not sure if rifle detachemnts were added as well during the 100 days campaign.

If doing Peninsular then as above plus a rifle detachment usually 60th rifles.

For a Portuguese brigade using my 3rd diivision as a template then 4 battallions plus a battalion of Casadorres of which half was used as a rifle detachment .

[Colonel White]

I agree on average there was four battallions per brigade. not sure if rifle detachemnts were added as well during the 100 days campaign.

If doing Peninsular then as above plus a rifle detachment usually 60th rifles.

For a Portuguese brigade using my 3rd diivision as a template then 4 battallions plus a battalion of Casadorres of which half was used as a rifle detachment .

[Rich Jones]

Thanks guys ... knew I could count on you :)