This list of formation types is designed to help beginning
Republique players to relate real life Napoleonic formations with those used
for game play. The list indicates only very basic averages, and players should
remember that real life units varied enormously in both quality and size. In
some armies, "green" troops were fully trained and could perform very
impressively. In other cases, regular troops who had been allowed to become
demoralized put in very poor performances. Unit descriptions include type,
average size (number of bases) and average troop grade. The infantry lists also
include skirmisher availability and quality. The cavalry lists include a
classification of cavalry types. At the beginning of each section is a short
description of each army, along with an average ratio of artillery batteries to
infantry/cavalry bases. These recommended artillery ratios are purely for
reference to help players develop a fair sense of usage.
The Skirmish column describes the number and type of
skirmish markers which a unit type is allowed to deploy. A lower case
description beginning with "one" indicates that the entire unit may deploy only
one skirmish marker at any one time. An upper case description beginning with
"All" indicates that unit type may deploy one skirmish marker per active combat
base present. For example; a French light regiment with three active combat
bases may deploy three skirmish markers, but an 1813 French line regiment with
three combat bases may only deploy one skirmish marker.
The Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars was usually
composed of solid German and Hungarian line recruits, and considering the
stubborn conservatism of the officer corps, the rank and file performed well.
Early in the wars Austrian troops performed well, and through 1809, Austrian
regiments maintained a constantly professional bearing. By 1812, Austria was at
the end of its rope, with no money left in the treasury and barely any
equipment left in the country. The force which marched into central Germany in
1813 was quite literally Austria's last and only available field army, it was
poorly trained and equipped, and had very little winter clothing.
Austrian cavalry was considered very good through 1809, although like
the rest of the army, it had not been trained in grand-tactical maneuver, and
so could rarely counter the more nimble field maneuvers of its most common
opponent. Austrian light infantry units were severely constrained by army
doctrine, and even the better units like jagers and grenzers were not fully
trained for, or employed in methods fully benefitting their theoretical roles.
For game play, the artillery is usually average morale grade.
Through 1805, the Austrian Army was still using the
"Regimental Pool" system, assigning units to leaders who commanded temporary
"columns". By 1809 they had theoretically adopted the Corps system, but it was
never truly instituted, and commanders continued to employ a kind of divisional
group system through the end of the wars. Austrian command category in
Functional. May start using French system of maneuver in 1812. Recommended
artillery ratios: 1800 - 1809 = 1 battery per 7 bases.
Infantry regiments |
Size |
Grade |
Available skirmishers |
Line (1796) |
5 or 6 bases |
Average |
- |
Line (1805) |
4 or 5 bases |
Average/Green |
- |
Line (1809) |
5 or 6 bases |
Average |
- |
Line (1813) |
4 or 5 bases |
Green/Militia |
one poor |
Grenadier (brigade) |
5 bases |
Veteran/Elite |
- |
Jager |
2 bases |
Average |
All Adequate |
Grenzer |
1 or 2 bases |
Average |
All Poor |
Cavalry brigades |
Size |
Grade |
Type |
Cuirassier |
4 bases |
Average |
Armored |
Dragoon/Uhlan |
4 bases |
Average |
Medium |
Hussar |
4 bases |
Average |
Light |
Infantry Divisions |
Infantry regiments |
Cavalry |
Artillery |
1809-1814 Line |
4 Line |
none |
2 medium foot |
1809-1814 Light |
2 Jager & Grenz bat. |
2 bases light cav. |
1 medium horse |
1809-1814 Grenadier |
2 Grenadier (brigades) |
none |
1 medium foot |
Infantry Corps |
Infantry Divisions |
Cavalry |
Artillery |
1809-1814 |
2 Line, 1 Light |
none |
2 Heavy foot art., 2 or 3 medium foot art. |
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