Kneeling musketeer

[mikeland]

Does anyone know of a range that do a kneeling musketeer figure. I notice that most of the pictures and contemporary illustrations of the time do not show musketeers kneeling, however I have seen that at many of the re-enactment events the musketeers will kneel to fight. However I have mnot come across a manufacturer that makes this position, is it because:A. Many wargamers don't like this position for figures (I have come across several people whinging about the kneeling figures in the victrix boxes)B, Because there is no historical evidence for this poseor C."It's not that it's wrong, but we just don't do it"I understand it wouldn't be too popular because of the 16th C formations for battle didn't do the ranked fire in the same way that later periods did, but it would be good for skirmishers/forlorn hope to have a couple.Anyone any thoughts.Warlord Games any chance of producing one?

[paulsmodellingworkshop]

As far as I understand it, especially in the TYW, the kneeling position was used by musketeers.The swedish using sometimes a 3 line tactic of firing a salvo from all three lines at once to cause maximum disorder before charging in. 

[Guest]

Perry miniatures do some kneeling musketeers. They are listed as forlorn hope or dismounted dragoons, but they look like regular infantry (no riding boots etc).

[TheGreatMarquis]

Perry Miniatures do a set, ECW11, called "Dragoons/Forlorn Hope" that includes two kneeling musketeers. The Wagner book often quoted in these threads has at least one illustration I can remember that shows kneeling musketeers.Hope this helps.Rob.

[Cubster]

I guess kneeling is second nature to modern re-enactors because it is second nature to us these days that soldiers reduce their profile in order to make themselves less of a target. As ridiculous as it seems, the static firing line with musketeers upright and leaning in to the weapon was the norm for a long time after the ECW period.Remember the huge kick the muskets had, the fact that rests only began to fade during the mid seventeenth century, the fact that it was hard to reload unless the operator was upright (I believe it could be done, and drills for reloading from prone did exist, but how common was it in practice?) and how inaccurate the powder weapons were. The firer probably felt the advantages of standing outweighed the disadvantages.However, it still makes sense that people still did crouch to fire, reload, hide or even have a little breather, especially the likes of dragoons and others used for skirmishing. A carbine, musketoon, pistol etc.. would presumably be a lot easier to fire and load so troops using them might be more likely to park their bum during action.

[TheGreatMarquis]

Have been able to check since my earlier post. The Wagner illustration is on page 115. It shows musketeers firing and loading whilst kneeling. Wagner deals with the Thirty Years' War rather than ECW but it does suggest that, as SP said above, in Europe at least, kneeling was rather more common than some might say.There is little difference between loading the ECW period musket and, for example, an ACW period three-band enfield. The enfield is smaller, at 53 inches, whereas Wagner (page 249) puts the matchlock at approximately 59 inches; but the technique involved in loading the enfield while kneeling is exactly that shown by Wagner. It really isn't significantly more difficult to load.It is always said that large numbers of soldiers experienced in the TYW took part in the Civil Wars here. I would suggest that the knowledge/skills learned in the Swedish service would have travelled with them.

[Guest]

Ah my lucky friends  .my band of brothers....wait just a tad more and kneeling musketeers shall be yours a plenty..... 2 sorts to come....  in early new year I think!! fear not! john s

[paulsmodellingworkshop]

'as SP said above'  --  do I get his rank as well then  as I appear to have been assimilated...... There is at least one illustration of the NMA using a kneeling front line of musketeers in the Osprey pike and shotte tactics book. They also mention it was used quite frequently in the TYW possible conversion from a victrix/perry set of kneeling legs?...anybody.... Paul.

[TheGreatMarquis]

Ah Paul, I do apologise! It was very late at night for me (at my advanced age)!  Shame about the promotion, though.Rob.

[mikeland]

@allThanks for all the comments, glad there is historical evidence for the kneeling musketeer, and am glad to hear there are some in the pipeline! @paulsmdelingworkshopYes a conversion might be possible, however I am getting low on P&S spures (only 1 sprue left and they are earmarked) so I might just wait.