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Post by paintdog on Apr 14, 2020 1:44:28 GMT
Having finished my Prussian SYW, I thought I'd parade the little Prussians for my enjoyment.  The whole army  Most of the cavalry  You can see Fred. The G. surveying his troops  left flank  Right flank Somewhere in the middle
Infantry overwhelmingly HaT, cavalry mostly Italeri. Throw in some ACTA & Zvesda & a few metals.
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Post by minuteman on Apr 14, 2020 8:47:34 GMT
Great to see the whole army in battle array. A tremendous amount of detailed work in this project, quite clearly. The massed Prussian infantry (HaT) look very fine indeed.
Thanks for sharing this with us, donald.
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Post by paintdog on Apr 14, 2020 9:17:53 GMT
Thank you for your kind comments. The reason the army is "finished" is that I’m short of cavalry. Several dragoon regiments & some more cuirassiers would be great….but until/if HaT does anything about this, I’ll put things on hold.
The existing non-hussar cavalry are all conversions & have various inaccuracies (shabraques etc) so I'm not keen to create more & will replace this lot when HaT yadda yadda yadda.
donald
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Post by minuteman on Apr 14, 2020 12:46:05 GMT
Re: shortage of cavalry and lack of suitable set(s), yes, very much noted and supported. I did wonder in your great photos if one cavalry wing was 'hidden' off table about to appear, perhaps led by Hans Joachim von Zeiten.. ! (I think I spotted a von Seydlitz figure on the table already??). I entirely understand why you have halted in building your cavalry arm in this case.
We know from their recent statement that HaT are looking into the AWI as their next 'tricorne' project potentially, although there are other things (Napoleonics, ACW) before this in the pipeline.
BUT...it's really only two sets that are needed for the mid 18th century, isn't it. One is a generic set of cuirassiers (OK, let's call them Prussians). The other is a generic set of dragoons (let's call them Austrians). Both well sculpted and posed, 24mm in height, same style as the HaT Prussians and Austrians, mounted on big horses which are trotting, not charging at full pelt.
For any manufacturers out there, it's ONLY TWO sets.....But how well they would sell.
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Post by paintdog on Apr 14, 2020 19:57:09 GMT
. ! (I think I spotted a von Seydlitz figure on the table already??). You're good.
And the "Two Sets of Cavalry" theory is sound as well.
I've included a photo that shows some of my French heavy cavalry: two Zvesda GNW sets a metal unit from a now defunct manufacturer. They fill a gap but aren't completely desirable IMO.
donald
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Post by paintdog on Apr 14, 2020 23:27:16 GMT
. ! (I think I spotted a von Seydlitz figure on the table already??). You're good.
And the "Two Sets of Cavalry" theory is sound as well.
I've included a photo that shows some of my French heavy cavalry: two Zvesda GNW sets a metal unit from a now defunct manufacturer. They fill a gap but aren't completely desirable IMO.
donald
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Post by minuteman on Apr 15, 2020 8:41:12 GMT
Another very inspiring photo, donald. I think the Zvezda GNW Swedish cavalry work well as mid-century French, although I appreciate your reservations. Proper, accurate SYW cavalry are still required!
Pleasing to see that Royal Roussillon and Piedmont (?) appear to have halted their columns to let the charging mass of heavy cavalry through. Not sure about the blue-coats in front though...did they survive?
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Post by waynew on Apr 15, 2020 18:04:05 GMT
Very impressive display. My compliments on your painting and organization. In other words - thanks for the eye candy.
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Post by paintdog on Apr 15, 2020 20:06:25 GMT
Pleasing to see that Royal Roussillon and Piedmont (?) appear to have halted their columns to let the charging mass of heavy cavalry through. Not sure about the blue-coats in front though...did they survive? I don't think you'd make an easy opponent in a wargame. You have perceptively hit on my failure to manoeuvre effectively.
The photo was of an earlier game & I will admit, my inclination to try to use my SYW French like their Napoleonic counterparts, often led to disaster. Our SYW rules rightly make the French sluggish compared to their usually better drilled Prussian enemies. The French, for example, can only move or change formation in a turn whilst the Prussians can often do both. And fighting in column against lines is almost suicide.
So to charge around in column was to invite disaster. I have learned to be conservative with the French and form into neat, ordered lines as soon as possible, even at the expense of tamely surrendering points of tactical strength. And in terms of cavalry, the judicious use of them is necessary. Most decent infantry units, in good order with few casualties, can see off cavalry charges with little trouble. The use of supported squadrons, rather than Napoleonic mass cavalry charges, is a tactic that can pay dividends.
Oh, & the "blue coats" who are light infantry, were also a learning experience. You can game the SYW without any light infantry. They have limited uses but certainly don't depend upon them to screen or harass with any great effect.
My record with my beloved French is not great but they score the odd victory & even when they lose, they do it stylishly.
donald
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Post by minuteman on Apr 16, 2020 13:19:29 GMT
It sounds as if the rules you have devised/are using for the SYW are about right, donald. Linear formations of ordered infantry win over most opponents, unless they become disordered through casualties, are hit by a flank attack or suffer poor morale. This is the way it was on a European battlefield in the mid 18th century. Otherwise one or other of the SYW commanders would surely have hit upon tactics involving attack columns preceded by masses of light infantry skirmishers...40 or so years before Napoleon and all that!
Notwithstanding the sporadic 'success' (or otherwise) as you declare it of your French army, they do look magnificent. Thanks again for sharing.
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