European Wars: Polish Army mid 16th C - mid 18th C

Polish Artillery 17th C,

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No problems here.

Polish Winged Hussar 17th C

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But a word or two about this.

Winged Hussars or husarze as they are called in Polish (Husaria is the name of the unit) are quite a legend in Poland. In history, in culture, as an icon, in pop culture and still present in military badges etc.

That means there is an awful lot of sources, some of them confusing.


I will try to make that simple.

Husaria was reformed three times in the XVIIth century. The main reform which also happend to councide with a change in fashion happened in the mid-XVIIth century.

Husaria c. 1647 can be called the best looking and the best trained husaria ever. Unfortunatelly most of those veterans (mostly cadres, officers and most professional soldiers) were lost in ambushed while fighting on foot during the Cossack Rebellion, especially at Korsuń (1648) and Batoh (1652).

Anyway they were quite similar to what you've made, but there were some differences.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/husarialate2.jpg

Namely the armour and the pennant which usually was white and red.

Also they were often fighting using a longsword called koncerz which as before (earlier husaria also used it) was taken when the lance was broken which was supposed to happen during the first charge (lances were one-use only) just like here:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/husarialate1.jpg

roughly as shown here (the formation is wrong - they were charging in a close order, but that is just a movie anyway).

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/?action=view&current=szarza.flv


Overall - change the pennant and make some minor adjustments to the armour. The hussar should also rather discard the lance after breaking it than keep it.

Polish Pikeman 17th C,

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Looks good.

Polish Musketeer 17th C,

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Perhaps the furcap could be modified a bit?

see this (BTW - there is also early grenadier shown here):

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/piechotasobieskiego1.jpg

I think it could be smaller or the fur made a bit more brownish.

Polish Pancerni,

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Probably the only animations made in this pack which I didn't like at all.

I think the Iron-mailed should be in more metallish shades. The cap isn't the best part too.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/petyhorcy1.jpg

(ignore the lance - Lithuanian Petyhorzec is shown, but I will explain below why it is almost identical).

Also those guys very often were using carbines. They even fought in a caracole when necessary (sometimes called wężyk - little snake).



The bow shooting animation might be used to produce light cavalry.
(explained below in another post)

Polish Hussar 18th C,

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They appeared, true, but if you want to you could make XVIIIth century Winged Hussars and add it as well.
The main difference would be winged helmet. I can provide images if necessary.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/armourandhelmet.png

Here for example.


What is missing and is important?

Pretty much two units:


Polish dragoons from the XVIIth century. Literally essential in every Polish army from that period, especially in Lithuania where army was a bit different (explained later).


Dragoons:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/dragoon1.jpg

Blue or red uniforms - blue was very popular in Poland, red was used by more elite units very often (red clothes were more expensive).

Dragoons (in pol. Dragoni) fought usually dismounted, but acted aslo as light cavalry, especially during Sobieski's era.


Second thing is the light cavalry - unarmoured Kozacy (Pancerni before they were named pancerni were called Kozacy and were not Cossacks), lisowczycy, Tartars, Lithuanian Petyhorcy, Wallachians and all forms of volunteer and mercenary cavalry units which could be always easily formed.

In greish or bluish uniforms armed with a sabre, pistols and often bows (especially Tartars and Wallachians). Later also were using spears which became cavalry lances in the XVIIIth century. They were later called Ulhans after elites of the Tartar cavalry in the Commowealth army.

typical light cavalry

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/Kmicicowa_kompania.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/10761088107210751091108510994y.jpg

Lisowczyk mercenary

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/?action=view&current=kossak_juliusz_lisowczyk.jpg




Now the Lithuanians.

In general there were very few differences:

- less infantry, though each regiment was considered important,

- more dragoons (even 40% of the army),

- small numbers of Winged Hussars who were mounted on smaller horses, were less armoured and were sometimes used as lighter cavalry (but usually without lances),

- greater importance of the Pancerni (some regiments were the real elite of this army, not the Hussars)

- presence of larger numbers of Tartars and from the XVIth century - some 50 yers earlier than in Poland,

- smaller numbers of western style units - the army was even more 'polish' than in Poland,

- presence of Petyhorcy - lance (even Hussars'' lances were used) armed light and later lance armed Pancerni-style cavalry which supported or replaced the Hussars in some battles,

- smaller size of the army,

- very weak artillery,



Ok. That should be all.



To finish this long description I am adding an image of XVIIIth century units - from 1700 to 1794.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/cegorach/polskieoddzialyxviiiwiek.jpg

That would be all.

Regards Cegorach

Nice read, cegorach. I think this was very polite and constructive.

But I need to emphasize that I really appreciate the work that was done here, and add a big "Huzzah!" to imperator.

Hey cegorach! If you are the same cegorach at TWC I know you. Well, I know your posts because I read all of them. Many thanks for the suggestions and the pics. I will use them for new units for this unit pack.

@Ares de Borg

True, I should have said it.


I guess I am too used to announce my interest and praise by simply discussing something at all.

@imperator1961

Yep, that is me.

I must admit your animations (among other factors) made me interested in modding again.

My biggest challenge (right now I cannot use PMs yet - too new account) is converting them to the old, MTW format.

Sad but true - a fast way to replace pinks with greens would be appreciated.

especially with those units:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=6403350#post6403350

I'd appreciate any help. Full credit etc guaranteed obviously.

After so much commentary I'll simply say, "Splendid, Sir." - Magnificent, really.

All The Best,

Oz

Thank you for this pack. Poor poles have so little units in this game...



P.S. Samnites ? Don't be silly : Samnites don't have cannons !

Im so happy I can just cry...
Very good units Imperator! Long Live Sandris!
Unfortunatly I'm not in my Civ 3 mood now days; but I will come back and make a mod these units can be proud of

Great units

Wow, what a huge unit pack. Such variety and great design! Very nice work on the look of all the units, and well animated.

These are great units! You've given them a very distinctive look - I love that arquebusier. You've really been putting that Smoke Ball through its paces. Very good work.