Dutch/French Carabiniers
Shield: 110 Move: 2 Att: 5 Def: 4 HP: 1
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation, offensive
A carabinier is a cavalry soldier armed with a carbine (a short version of a musket), which is a more appropriate firearm for a horseman than a full-length musket, since it was lighter and easier to handle while on horseback.
Carabiniers saw action during the Napoleonic wars in Europe, including the Battle of Waterloo, and many other conflicts throughout the 19th century. Carabiniers differed from army to army and over time, but typically were medium cavalry, similar in armament and tactical role to Dragoons. Dutch carabiniers are equipped like cuirassiers with helmets and breastplates (though these are of brass and brass-skinned iron), and were no longer equipped with carbines.
Dutch/French/Prussian/British Dragoons
Shield: 120 Move: 2 Att: 6 Def: 4 HP: 1
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation, offensive
Previous to the Napoleonic Wars, dragoons were mounted infantry that fought dismounted and often assumed a cavalry role, though lighter than armored cuirassiers. Dragoons rode larger horses than the light cavalry and wielded straight, rather than curved swords. During the Napoleonic Wars, dragoons took on a more traditional cavalry role, and Napoleon had organized some twenty to thirty regiments of dragoons which were deployed as heavy cavalry. French dragoons were especially successful at the Battle of Ocana against the Spanish in the Peninsula War and British heavy dragoons preformed a devastating charge against French infantry at the Battles of Salamanca in 1812 and Waterloo in 1815.
Dragoons can be considered part of the mainstay of mounted troops for the period and are capable of either scouting or full fledged combat and heavy charges. As well as straight heavy-cavalry swords, dragoons had pistols and short carbines and these allowed them to dismount and fight on foot as highly mobile infantry.
This advantage saw them used widely in the anti-guerrilla warfare in the Peninsular War, as well as on independent roles on the army's flanks.
Dutch/French/Prussian/British Grenadiers
Shield: 150 Move: 1 Att: 8 Def: 8 HP: 1
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation
The origins of grenadiers date back to the armament of infantry units with primitive grenade-like weapons with fuses that would be lit and throw as an explosive. Deemed a type of elite assault force on the battlefield, physical size was considered important for grenadiers, thus height and weight was a determining factor for selection into grenadier companies. On the other hand, the British preferred to draw on veterans from the regiments of foot for appointment to the grenadier companies (one of eight companies in a British foot regiment)
By the early 19th Century, grenadiers were no longer armed with their namesake weaponry and were considered to be elite units used in shock troop fashion.
Dutch/Fench/ Prussian/British Hussar
Shield: 110 Move: 3 Att: 6 Def: 4 HP: 0
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation, blitz
The hussars played a prominent role during the Napoleonic Wars as light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, and deployed to fight skirmish battles and for reconnoitering . Most of the great European powers raised hussar regiments and the armies of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia had included hussar regiments since the mid-18th century. In the case of Britain four light dragoon regiments were converted to hussars in 1805. Hussars were notoriously impetuous, and Napoleon was quoted as stating that he would be surprised for a hussar to live beyond the age of thirty due to their tendency to become reckless in battle, exposing their weaknesses in frontal assaults. The hussars of Napoleon created the tradition of sabrage, the opening of a champagne bottle with a saber.
The uniform of the Napoleonic hussars included the pelisse: a short fur edged jacket which was often worn slung over one shoulder in the style of a cape, and was fastened with a cord. This garment was extensively adorned with braiding (often gold or silver for officers) and several rows of multiple buttons. Under it was worn the dolman or tunic which was also decorated in braid. On active service the hussar normally wore reinforced breeches which had leather on the inside of the leg to prevent them from wearing due to the extensive riding in the saddle. On the outside of such breeches, running up the outside was a row of buttons, and sometimes a stripe in a different color. In terms of headwear the hussar wore either a shako or fur busby. The colors of dolman, pelisse and breeches varied greatly by regiment, even within the same army. The French hussar of the Napoleonic period was armed with a brass hilted sabre and sometimes with a brace of pistols although these were often unavailable.
Dutch/French (Chasseur)/Prussian (Jager)/British (Rifle) Light infantry
Shield: 80 Move: 1 Att: 6 Def: 5 HP: 1
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation
Throughout the history of warfare, armies often relied on irregulars to perform the duties of light infantry as skirmishers. In the 18th and 19th centuries, most infantry regiments had an attached light infantry company that were well-versed in fighting in open order rather than the traditional disciplined ranks. Light infantry were used as both skirmishers as well as being deployed to advance in front of an attack to disrupt enemt formations or artillery crews.
Its members were selected from the smallest and nimble soldiers of veteran status, capable of using initiative. Of light infantry can be considered rifle regiments of Britain and Jager regiments in Austria and Prussia, while the French had voltigeurs. Some nations of the era raised entire regiments of light infantry and were considered to be elite troops. The British and Prussian light infantry had a distinct advantage over their counterparts as they were armed with rifled muskets instead of the more traditional muzzle-loading musket of the time. With a grooved barrel, the rifled musket had more accuracy and range but was compromised by a slower loading speed.
Dutch/French/Prussian/British Line Infantry
Shield: 90 Move: 1 Att: 5 Def: 5 HP: 0
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation
The bulk of 19th century armies was line infantry and generally were deployed in the traditional line, coulm or square formations on the battlefield. Each of these formations has its own unique purpose in attacking or counter-attacking the enemy and no doubt play a huge role in battlefield tactics. The line formation was the most favored amongst the British infantry. The line formation offered the maximum firepower to any enemy, about 1000 to 1500 bullets per minute. The French, however, favored column formation, forming a narrower front of fire but deep enough to punch through enemy lines with it weight.
While the line or column formation may seem to be the best against infantry, they are not protected from the rear. A leash of the enemy's cavalry would send the frail lines into chaos and horrendous casualties. Therefore it was necessary, to form the line into a square, as soon as possible, when cavalry was approaching. The square was the best protection against cavalry, as no horse would go near a row of bayonets three (or more) deep. Only on very rare occasions were these squares destroyed, e.g. at the Battle of Salamanca 3 French squares were destroyed by the cavalry of the King's German Legion. The bayonet was primarily used to finish an action, already virtually decided by musketry opposing regiments when formed in line and charging with fixed bayonets, 'never' meet a struggle hand to hand and foot to foot; and this for the best possible reason, that one side turns and runs away as soon as the other comes close enough to do mischief. Thus the fear of the bayonet, rather than the bayonet itself was the deciding factor. One of the few battles were the bayonet was used extensively was the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro.
Dutch/French/Prussian Cuirassiers
Shield: 110 Move: 2 Att: 5 Def: 4 HP: 1
Notes: foot unit, zoc, ranged attack animation
Cuirassiers were regarded as the decisive arm of early 19th century armies whose commitment to a battle could very well turn the tide with the sheer weight of their heavy cavalry charge at the right moment. Cuirassiers wore a cuirass (breastplate) and iron and brass helmets; to carry such a burden the trooper’s mount needed to be big and strong, adding even more to their devastating charge.
There has been debate over the value of this survival since a breastplate does not provide significant protection against musket fire. It would however have had some psychological effect (effectively making the cuirassier more willing to plunge into the thick of fighting) and would have added weight to a charge, especially in cavalry against cavalry actions. In addition, while they were not entirely bullet-proof, the breastplates usually did provide protection against the swords of other cavalry troops.
Indeed, the AI makes some pretty bizarre choices.
