Example Battalion
Deployments
These example
deployments show the many different ways that infantry battalions might be
formed within the deployment zones covered by regimental combat bases. The grey
rectangles in the figure are the footprints of hypothetical combat bases, the
blue lines are example battalions. This is for example only, players have
almost no control over the battalions inside of a regiment, which are
considered under local command control. |
Formations - The standard unit of maneuver Republique
is the infantry regiment. Brigades are also commonly used, as those represent
groups of weak regiments at field-strength. Basically, whatever gets the
average unit strength on the playing field into the three to six base strength
range will be what is used. An extreme example might be the Battle of the
Beresina, where some four-base units might actually be titled as corps!
Each regiment is made up of bases which represent that unit's
deployment area. As noted in the rules, players do not have direct control over
the battalion formations present within each deployment area. They are
considered under the control of local command, which might be any of several
different possible variations. See the example deployments list at right, which
includes an extended graphic outline of regimental deployment areas, overlain
with possible battalion formations that could exist in the respective
footprints. The list is not exhaustive, but does serve to show that in many
cases, anything is possible.
Command & Orders of Battle - At the beginning of
the French Revolutionary period, the highest permanent formations were usually
regiments. Eventually, nations began grouping regiments into permanent or
provisional divisions and by the later part of the wars, these divisions were
grouped into permanent corps which had their own resources. This was not a
perfect process and there were various hybrid organizations, or purely
theoretical adoption of more modern methods which were not in reality learned
in time by the rank and file (or even command). Here are a few notes on the
three modes of operating that are used in Republique"
Regimental Pool System: This was an
old-fashioned system which represented an intensely hierarchical mode of
operation, common in the conservative monarchies of the time. The
commander-in-chief of an army or other force was allotted a general pool of
units which he then doled out to various officers under his command. These
subordinates then operated their own "wings," either independently or as part
of a larger army. During battles, the commander-in-chief would commonly assign
these wing commanders to the army's left flank, center, right flank and
advanced guard. Units in these wing forces had rarely or never worked together
and had little or no idea of grand-tactical maneuver or training.
Divisional Column System: This is similar to
the previous method, retaining many intensely conservative and controlling
elements, except that column commanders (similar to the previous "wing"
commanders) were assigned divisions and brigades instead of regiments. Each
division might be a semi-permanent organization of infantry, artillery and/or
cavalry, but in many nations even the divisions were not particularly permanent
and so units were still new to each other and often lacked grand-tactical
training that permitted units to quickly adapt to battlefield surprises.
Corps System: In this system, autonomous"
corps" are assigned their own semi-permanent commanders and divisions. Each
division is permanently assigned certain regiments and has organic cavalry,
artillery and possibly other engineering elements. Each divisional leader and
his troops are controlled by the corps commander who may assign additional
assets from the corps reserve. In order for this system to work, the troops in
the corps will have trained and/or fought together at grand-tactical scales of
engagement. In some cases, their level of sophistication could be quite high.
There may also be army level reserves which can be issued to the various corps,
or which operate as independent divisions directly under the control of the
army commander. The army commander issues orders to all corps and (if present)
independent divisions. There may even be another command layer on top of that,
with a national leader present who controls the decisions of one or more army
commanders.
Some armies of this period tried to adopt the corps system
at certain points in time, but failed to provide the necessary staff and
grand-tactical training needed to make it actually work. So while they might
show as army corps on the historical orders-of-battle, they might not have met
the criteria for operating at that level. The Austrian Army of 1809 is an excellent
example of this effect and its negative consequences.
Maneuver Doctrines - Maneuver doctrine is the system
by which combat formations move and change their configuration. For our
purposes, there are two broad levels to this: tactical (battalion level) and
grand-tactical (brigade, division and corps level). A nation might rigidly
drill its troops on tactical maneuver, but leave grand-tactical training mostly
or entirely off the books. Due to the already complicated nature of the
instruction and the finances involved, plus the ongoing effects of the regular
outbreaks of warfare, the later problem was extremely common outside of France
and often not remedied until after 1815.
Prussian Maneuver System - The Prussian
system of maneuver was used by most nations of Europe for a great part of the
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The system varied slightly by
country, but they all shared the strict system of evolutions needed to change
formations at battalion level. It is treated for game purposes as a low-level
doctrine that does not convey much higher-level grand-tactical guidance, hence
the slower and more rigid restrictions on regimental level formation changes.
Because a majority of European governments had closely imitated Prussian
doctrine for years, all countries fighting against France during the
Revolutionary and Napoleonic Periods should be considered to be on the Prussian
system unless otherwise specified. See the troop lists by nationality (listed
on the main Republique page) for more information.
French Maneuver System - The French system
of maneuver was pioneered by Comte de Guibert and his son after many years of
research following the Seven Years War. Guibert's system was not known as the
"French" system during this period. It was still considered a variation of the
Prussian system and was referred to as such. However, the system itself and the
pioneering grand-tactical guidance that accompanied it can be safely flagged a
separate system for purposes of game play.
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