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REPUBLIQUE
GRAND-TACTICAL NAPOLEONIC WARFARE IN MINIATURE



Russian Troop Lists
average unit sizes and abilities

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 Russian Armies of the Napoleonic wars were famous for two things: their apparently endless numbers, and their apparently nonexistent supply system. Russian Armies coming to the "aid" of continental allies were commonly just as feared as the French because of the knowledge that the Russian troops would scour the land around them of all consumable items, usually brutalizing the population in the process. Indeed, on several occasions, the Austrian government nearly refused Russian aid for just this reason. The Russian Army itself performed very well when defending home territory, as was seen during the 1807 and 1812 campaigns. When fighting outside of its territory, their initially brave and solid recruits tended to suffer greatly from lack of supply, especially food and medical services. The Russians which marched to Italy in 1799 arrived confidently, but within six months, poor supply and several rough encounters with the newly organized French armies had changed them. By the end of the year, one British observer noted "...the Russians were almost totally demoralized...their withdrawal is due to the almost unanimous desire to return to Russia and to an evident dread of meeting the French." The Army sent into central Germany in 1813 was, like most others on both sides, a large, but nearly spent force, with many regiments operating at a fraction of their original strengths.

Through 1805, the Russian Army used the "Regimental Pool" system, drawing from a general unit pool and temporarily assigning them to "column" or "wing" leaders. In 1806-1807 they switched to the "Division Group" system and in 1811 they switched to the "Corps/Army" system for the rest of the wars. Russian command category in Cumbersome. The French system of formation change may be used after 1812, although this is seriously questionable, and players should probably keep the Russians on the Prussian system throughout. Recommended artillery ratios: 1807 = 1 battery per 7 bases. 1812 = 1 battery per 5 bases.

Infantry regiments Size Grade Available skirmishers
Musketeer (Line) 3 bases Average -
Grenadier 4 bases Average -
Jager 2 bases Average All Poor
.
Preobrajenski Guards 4 bases Veteran -
Other Guards 3 bases Veteran -
Guard Jagers 2 bases Veteran All Good
Cavalry brigades Size Grade Type
Cuirassier 3 bases Average Heavy
Dragoon 3 bases Average Medium
hussar/uhlan 4 bases Average Light
.
Chev/horse Guards 3 bases Veteran Heavy
Dragoon/uhlan Guards 3 bases Veteran Medium
Guard Hussar/Cossack 3 bases Veteran Light
Infantry Divisions Infantry regiments Cavalry Artillery
1807 1 grenadier, 1 jager, 4 musketeer 1 brigade medium 1 Heavy foot, 2 medium foot
1812 Line 4 musketeer, 2 jager none 1 heavy foot, 2 medium foot
1813 Line 3 or 4 musketeer, 1 or 2 jager none none
Cavalry Divisions Cavalry Brigades Artillery
1812 Cuirassier 2 or 3 cuirassier none
1812 Dragoon 2 dragoon, 1 hussar/uhlan 1 medium horse
Infantry Corps Infantry Cavalry Artillery
1812 Infantry 2 Divisions 1 brigade light or medium 1 Heavy foot
1812 Cavalry none 2 Divisions none
1813 Infantry 2 Divisions none 1 or 2 heavy foot, 2 medium foot
 
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