Battalion-level OOBs

Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 1 Location: New Jersey, USA

I'm interested in creating my own battalion-level forces, but I can't find any info on composition or organization. I figure I'll make the mechanics similar to the Soviets in FoW with companies as the smallest operable force. To narrow down the search, I'm looking for the composition of a French Line Infantry Battalion, British Line Infantry Battalion, French Dragoon Squadron, and British Heavy Dragoon [what did the Brits call their cav. battalions???]

Thanks,
Rivers

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:02 am

I've got a few books on French forces in particular but others as well. 3 companies was the basic but Russians and Austrians usually had 4 companies per Infantry Battalion

French

1 Grenadier Company
2 Line Companies
1 (optional) Light Company

British
1 Grenadier Company
2 Line Companies

Austrian

1 Grenadier Company
3 Line Companies
1 (optional) Jaeger Company (elite light infantry)

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:03 am

Rivers, I'd say if you want to make a battalion list then look at some real OOBs that should have some info for you. Although I imagine they are more help at Brigade/Division level games.

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:20 pm

The easiest thing to do is just take multiple companies. Idea

Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 1 Location: OXFORDSHIRE, UK

French line battalions (and allies organised on the French model) had 6 companies. 1 x Voltigeur, 4 x Fusilier (line), 1 x Grenadier. Each coy had @120 men.

French Guard battalions had 4 companies of @200 men ea.

British line battalions had 10 companies. 1 x light, 8 x centre & 1 x Grenadier. Each coy had @60 men.

British Guards were organised the same but usally had @90 men per coy.

Russians had 4 companies per battalion. 3 x line & 1 x (1/2 light & 1/2 grenadier. Normally 200 men per coy.

Prussian, Austrian + other nations information is available if required.

Hope this helps.

Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

Battalion organisation depends on a given year for some countries.

e.g. French Line 1800-03 had 1 Grenadier and 8 Fusilier companies, changing in 1804 to 1 Grenadier, 1 Voltigeur, and 7 Fusilier companies, further changing in 1808 to 1 Grenadier, 1 Voltigeur, and 4 Fusilier companies.

Many of the German states who later joined the CotR followed the Prussian battalion organisation, some did change to the French organisation after joining the CotR.

Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 55 Location: Washington

How many battalions would make up a Regiment??

Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Fort Worth, TX

This also depends upon period and even regiment.

Wellington wrote:

How many battalions would make up a Regiment??

Site Admin Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 174

:chuckle:

"it depends" seems like such a common phrase when studying all things Napoleonic. Smile

Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Naples, Fl

Rivers wrote:

I'm interested in creating my own battalion-level forces, but I can't find any info on composition or organization. I figure I'll make the mechanics similar to the Soviets in FoW with companies as the smallest operable force. To narrow down the search, I'm looking for the composition of a French Line Infantry Battalion, British Line Infantry Battalion, French Dragoon Squadron, and British Heavy Dragoon [what did the Brits call their cav. battalions???]

Thanks,
Rivers

Typically, British regiments consisted of one or two battalions. However, in the case of a second battalion, it was usually a 'depot' battalion--- a force kept at home used to re-inforce the losses of the 'in theater' battalion. The composition of the battalion is as yoda explained:

Quote:

British line battalions had 10 companies. 1 x light, 8 x centre & 1 x Grenadier. Each coy had @60 men.

British Guards were organised the same but usally had @90 men per coy

In addition, the British utilized Rifle battalions, composed of just the eight center companies. As elite units, the Rifles were kept closer to full strength, with 80-100 men per company. The Rifles rarely fought as a battalion--- they were usually deployed in 2-4 company assignments.

There were no cavalry battalions. On paper, the British fielded regiments composed of four squadrons, though it was not unusual to see only two squadrons in the field. A typical squadron was made up of 120 troopers.

Don

Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 16

Any time you look at OOB you have to be careful. Theoretical establishment was often way different from reality. For instance:

British battalion in theory had 10 companies each of 100 =1,000

On campaign battalions were rarely this large. By the end of 1811, only 9 of Wellington's battalions had more than 700 men, eleven had under 400. The Foot Guards were the only battalions consistantly near strength (seldom under 800 men.)

The British tended to allow battalions to become depleted where as the French used used draft recruits to keep numbers up.

Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 34 Location: NZ

Have a look in here, you'll find orgs for most countries - a very useful site I use all the time for reference

http://web2.airmail.net/napoleon/NAPOLEON_FOREVER.html

cheers,

Evan

Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Naples, Fl

Great site, Evan. I don't know how I missed your post til now. I've added it to my favorites. Thanks

Don

Site Admin Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 174

Yes, that is quite helpful!

It looks kind of familiar. I remember an old site that went down a long time ago that had similarly detailed information on several nations.