Quick Question on DKs OOBs
I was just wondering about the Austrian OOB for Kolin (I am building this to go with my Saxon cavalry). What I would like to know is whether the Austrian Battalions are with or without their grenadiers given that some units have 24 figures and some 20.?

As I understand it the battalions are without their grenadier companies. Some battalions have less figures to represent understrength units due to losses in previous actions/attrition etc.

Thanks for that, this makes things easier. Though does this apply to the chart near the start for normal unit strength? I ask because the Saxon units appear to be way over strength on this chart with 20 figures to a five squadron cavalry regiment for example. The few sources I hace so far checked seem to indicate 4 squadrons with say 16 figures. Infantry battalions much the same. You might manage 20 figures to a Saxon battalion if the grenadiers are present.

Skaran, Taz hit the nail on the head. The paper strenght of an Austrian battalion in DKK is 24 figures. At Kolin, several units were slightly under-strength, hence a few have just 20 figures. I could well have messed up the paper strength of Saxon cavalry, so if you have better information, then feel free to use the strength you think is more historically accurate. Our rule of thumb when giving unit sizes is to work out what the full paper strength was, then reduce the total slightly, rounding down as it were, to reflect normal non-batle campaign losses, and to produce a neater unit size (e.g. 16 figures, rather than 17 etc.). I hope that helps Angus Konstam www.edinburghwargames.com

Thanks Angus, Personally I blame you for me getting into 7YW in the first place. Your Edinburge Wargamers site was just too good to resist. Antony

Well, if you're building an Austrian and a Saxon army, then you're not only hooked, your fully committed! Besides, we're all weak-willed when it comes to adding to our lead mountains!

Perhaps I should be fully committed. I'm also putting together a French Revolutionary army. (Havn't decided on rules for this yet though)

Skaran, I'm doing that period too (bless you, Eureka), and we use General de Brigade

Definately a thumbs up to Eureka. I am starting with Victors brigade at Lonato. At the rate I paint by the time these are done Eureka should have the legere and cavalry ready.

Greetings Skaran, Taz hit the nail on the head. The paper strenght of an Austrian battalion in DKK is 24 figures. At Kolin, several units were slightly under-strength, hence a few have just 20 figures. I could well have messed up the paper strength of Saxon cavalry, so if you have better information, then feel free to use the strength you think is more historically accurate. Our rule of thumb when giving unit sizes is to work out what the full paper strength was, then reduce the total slightly, rounding down as it were, to reflect normal non-batle campaign losses, and to produce a neater unit size (e.g. 16 figures, rather than 17 etc.). I hope that helps Angus Konstam www.edinburghwargames.com From the pre-Kolin strength returns of 12 June the Saxon cavalry units had strengths of: Leib-Garde 370 in 8 companies, Pr Karl 610 in 4 escadrons, Pr Albrecht 460 in 4 escadrons, Graf Bruhl 650 in 3 escadrons. Infantry regimental strengths include grenadier companies which seem to have been converged for the action at Kolin. Assuming (a big assumption) that company strengths were even and all battalions had six companies present, the battalion strengths excluding grenadiers range from 360 (d'Arberg) to 696 (Arhemberg), average is about 500. In fact it's probably more complicated than that because the 3rd battalions that were present may well only have had 4 companies. Hussar strengths ranged from 60 to about 217 per squadron averaging 122; Dragoons from 80 to 126 averaging 86 and Cuirassiers 83 to 109 averaging 97. I have assumed for this that the elite companies are half squadron strength. Regards Edward

This does make the "field" strength of Saxon units rather smaller than the guidlines in the rule book" With these figures working out at around 9 to 16 figures for the cavalry and 9 to 17 for infantry battalions using the normal 1:40 ratio.