French Revolutionary Wargames 1789-1802: January 2014

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.

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

French Revolution Hussars

Some time ago I purchased off Ebay some WF hussars. The recent holidays provided the time to finally paint them. I claim one figure is equal to forty so units of six mounted are not out of place for French and British light cavalry during the revolution. Those in blue are the French 4th Hussars, while the black and white are Salm Hussars. The latter were originally financed by the Dutch government but later transferred to British control. The recruits were a mixture of Emigres and other Europeans. Both hussar units used sheepskin horse furniture which was useful as some northern states continued to use the earlier dog-tooth shabraques.

Also painted and converted another four Paris National Guard chasseurs, in bicornes. MGB
.