Russians and Black Powder

[grant]

The prophet is often without honour in their own land. Now all you have to do is resist pointing the finger and saying, I told you so when they start playing.

I am going to offend some I know, when I started playing I bought some ready painted units, arranged them in line, column and square formations. Took photos of them. printed the photos out and stuck them onto card. Lo instant armies!

Yes, it would have been nice to have a few follow the light!

[grecian1959]

I do 24's for all nationalities(napoleonics) except the hungarian battalions of the austrain army those i will make 30's or 32's when i get to them; as they were larger generally.

[tomrommel1]

I do 24 figure battalions too and 12 figure cav squadrons works good for me!

[Correus]

Okay, let me throw my 2 "Napoleons" or should I say "Rubles" worth.....

I'm of the 'Big Battalion' school of though so I with the 'ITGM' rules figure ration/basing method.

Let me break down the typical Russian Musketeer Battalion I create. The one I'm currently working on is the Simbirsk Musketeer Regiment. It was virtually wiped out during the fighting against Marshal Davout at the fleches at Borodino.

During the Battle of Borodino, the Simbirsk Musketeer Regiment was a part of the 27th Infantry Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Neverovsky and attached to the VIII Infantry Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. Mikhail Mikhailovich Borozdin. The VIII Infantry Corps was part of Prince Peter (Ivanovich) Bagration's Second Western Army. During the battle the Regiment was commanded by Capt. R. Baykovsky.

Following is what the regiment's flags looked like:



The Russian infantry battalion of 1812 consisted of 1 Grenadier and 3 Infantry companies, composed of 2 platoons each. Of special note, the Grenadier company consisted of a Strelki platoon and a Grenadier platoon.

This is what the typical Russian infantry battalion would look like in "Closed Column by Division".



So, at a 'miniature to real man' ratio of 1:20 this Russian battalion will have 32 miniatures.

This is what the miniature battalion will look like (sorry - the right side of the pic has been cut off but it does still show all four of the Grenadier minis).



O = Officer; F = Standard Bearer; D = Drummer; S = Strelki; G = Grenadier X = Infantryman.

I have finally organized the core of my Russian army. This should give me a good table top army and one that is easily added to.



Following the organization chart is a break down of the figures.

4 Musketier Regiments (32 figures each = 128 figures)
2 Jäger Regiments (32 figures each = 64 figures)
1 Pavlovsk Grenadiers (32 figures)
1 Cossack Regiment (20 figures)
1 Hussar Regiment (32 figures)
1 Dragoon Regiment (32 figures)
1 Cuirassier Regiment (32 figures)
1 Foot Battery (3 Guns & 12 figures)*
1 Horse Battery (3 Guns & 12 figures)*

NOTE* The artillery batteries will eventually double per the ITGM rules.

This comes to a total of 365 miniatures + 6 artillery pieces; and does not count a General or other personalities.

I do plan to add additional miniatures such as limbers w/crew; caissons w/crew and other assorted baggage wagons and such.

Each of my Napoleonic armies is based on the same principle and will have a 'core' army that can be added to.

Геэз - I guess I better get painting!!!!

[grant]

Terrific research and breakdown, Correus! I was reading about the fleches this morning. Great timing.

[Bill Davis]

I've been a wargamer for 30 years or more and played my first Napoleonic game with Black Powder, it was great and i must confess it was with 15mm figures. There was about 2,500 figures per side ( French v The rest of the world ), this was played on a 12x5 table It was something to write home about. At our February meeting we hope to double the size and figures, again in 15mm. Will keep you informed if your interested. All the best Cato