French Revolutionary Wargames 1789-1802: Privateers in the French Revolutionary Wars

Wargame Rules, Ratios, etc

RAISING MINIATURE ARMIES FOR THE LATE 18TH CENTURY

I am very keen to keep my wargame rules as simple as possible, yet capture the character of the 1790s. Morale dominates the games as the opposing sides are very different. Most of the French troops are 'levee' battalions, which I have chosen to base in column as their ability to change formation on a battlefield must have been limited, nor do I believe their volley fire had any great value. Of better quality, able to change formation, will be white-coated regular and blue-coated volunteer battalions, aided by a fair number of skirmishers. The British, Austrian, Dutch and German armies are often outnumbered, but they maintain the discipline and order of typical 18th century armed forces. Interestingly, French revolutionary cavalry have little in common with their later Napoleonic counterparts, the former are few in number, often poorly mounted, and no match for those in the service of the Allies. All figures are 28mm in scale, using a 1=25 ratio.

Sunday 8 March 2015

Privateers in the French Revolutionary Wars

With the outbreak of war between the French Republic and Great Britain in 1793 large numbers of privateers were kitted out on both sides of the English Channel. The City of St.Malo was the operational base of a fair number of privateers, or 'corsairs', the most successful being Robert Surcouf. This corsair even preyed on British shipping in the Indian Ocean. Although St.Malo is in Brittany it appears the local population had a strong, independent spirit. They had little attachment to the Bretton peasantry, who where strongly Catholic and sympathetic to a Royal restoration. It appears the residents of St.Malo had only a slight regard for the French Government, as the authorities were hostile to privateering, wanting all who were able to join the French Navy.

My small fleet of privateers are scratch built of plastic card. Worn-out paintbrushes, wood glued into blocks of wood, serving as masts. They are quite robust for game purposes.

With Royal Navy vessels in the making, and a landing party that is already painted and ready, I am looking forward to some interesting scenarios. MGB