Napoleonic Basics Austrian Heavy Cavalry

Join us as we take a look at the two types of cavalry we didn't cover in part 1, the dragoons and cuirassiers. We'll also check out the rules for them on the tabletop. I've left out the Austrian cavalry specific special rule as they willl be in a separate, coming soon video!
Hope you enjoy!
Tim

[@vicentgalvan70]

I don't play wargames, but I love your knowlodge and quotes.

[@kevindotchin1209]

Excellent talk on Austrian heavy cavalry

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

Was it true the Austrian Heavy Cavalry kept the use of the "Lobster Pot" helmet well into the 1700's? I always thought it a very practical and sturdy looking helm and know the Dragoon and Curassier helmets from the Napoleonic era tend to be rather more flamboyant, but in my mind there are still similarities to be seen

[@vanpallandt5799]

certainly the War of Spanish Succession but certainly gone by the 7 Years War

[@justanothercaptain6566]

I absolutely love the history lessons on the various troops! Thank you!

[@tomascornell2038]

One reason the Austrian cavalry didn't mass like the French was that infantry commanders wished to have some attached. Thus they had protection in their assault. But just like artillery being parcelled out it diminished the effectiveness. Better to mass the guns and the horse

[@davidcollins2648]

Enjoyed it very much! Austrian artillery had some substantial differences from French in terms of equipment, portability, crew size, training etc. Their horse artillery was particularly quick to get in to action. Yes, you should do a video on Austrian artillery. You know you love doing the research. We're patient. Thanks in advance! You're a champ.

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

SWEET Great info I REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MORE NAPS OF Austrians ....really nice info thou .....the sword thing yaaa

[@spqrd13]

Pretty sure that Polish sabre was basically a secondary Lance, used like a ww1 British cavalry sabre. So once they broke their Lance they still had another weapon to give point with.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They had 2 swords, certainly in Winged Hussar times. I was lucky enough to speak to the current rotamaster about it when they visited Leeds. Certainly swords would be used in a similar fashion to a lance when charging by all nations

[@spqrd13]

@@NapoleonicWargaming yes, the long one was a back up for the lance and the normal curved one wss for close combat

[@maryhinge6334]

I’ve raced through these today. Really enjoyed them. 👍

[@JP-ml4zh]

Thanks for all the great inspiration, you’ve prompted me in these lockdown blues to have a go at a video of a game of General D’armee, let me know if you like it and we may try again ....

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Send me a link dude! And so glad you're enjoying it! I know this lock down sucks, but it wont last for ever... unlike Napoleonics! 😂

[@philRminiatures]

Great job, splendid Austrian cavalry!

[@darthmassif95]

Firstly, I love your vidoes! Very well researched and down to earth! I'm curious how many factions you play in Black Powder? I'm interested in getting started. I have experience in 40k, but I love the histoy and individuality found in the Napoleonic era

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks for the kind words! Too many! I mainly play French, British and Russian. I've got a small Austrian army and am currently building an Ottoman army! I'm looking to do a video for players of say 40k or other games, what type of stuff would you like to see/would be useful for you?

[@darthmassif95]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I have a couple ideas for future videos and material. Is there an email or other way to maybe discuss some with you?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

@@darthmassif95 absolutely. You can email [e-mail]

[@popskypopsky7461]

hi!! another great video. About the big difference between french and austrian cuirassiers, it was mainly the way they were used on the battlefield. they were both good fencers and riders. You can see the whole arguments in a former text I let under your previous video about cuirassiers. As you say here, french Cuirassiers were used in mass, in whole cavalry Divisions and Corps . Further more they were used to break the ennemy line. Austrian cuirassiers were mainly kept to protect the army in case of difficulty. Best Regards

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Absolutely. It was that message that led me to look at multi regiment use (or lack of!)

[@Oversamma]

Would you happen to have the source for the image at 15:20?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'm afraid I dont. It got it from a stock photo site. If anyone else knows though, I'd like to find out!

[@Oversamma]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I see. Thank you all the same.

[@EdwardEast-x1j]

Should have some Perry Austrian Cav arriving today! Looking forward to getting them and making an Austrian Army in the new Year!!

[@Radio4ManLeics]

Lieb (Leeb) Kürassiere = Love Cavalry Leib (Lype) Kürassiere = Life (guard) Cavalry

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hahaha. Good to know! Thanks

[@Radio4ManLeics]

You'll need some tie-dyed tunics and hippy hairdos on yiur Lieb Kűrassiere! Im really enjoying your vids btw. Working through your Vistula series atm. I've always hesitated to paint on the sprue, so interested in seeing the rest of the series.

[@martinradcliffe4798]

Excellent video once again. More info than you can shake a stick at! Like your cuirassier rule-makes perfect sense.

[@stewartjohnson5053]

IIRC the Palash was long enough so a horseman could reach a prone infantryman once the lance had shattered.....

[@JP-ml4zh]

Oops and here’s the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp6VZqOndqesrqc

[@steffenb.jrgensen2014]

Napoleon lost three battles, two of them to Austrians (Aspern and Leipzig), when Napoleon and his Army were in their prime. The Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars is grossly underevaluated. Not at least because the history of the Napoleonic wars was written mainly by Prussians, who provided the main souce and inspiration for English language history on continental matters. And the Prussians were in intense rivalry with Austrians over who should command the German soul in 19th century.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's a legitimate point!

[@rhysnichols8608]

Good point, however at Leipzig although Austria provided majority of the troops and overall command was Austrian, Prussia and Russia and Sweden also played large roles, so I’d say Leipzig was an allied victory not Austrian. I do agree aspern is impressive since Napoleon was at his height and Austria did it 1 on 1. No other amy beat Napoleon alone in battle while he was emperor. Not even at the end of his career

[@steffenb.jrgensen2014]

@@rhysnichols8608 Leipzig indeed was an allied victory but the Austrian role IMHO has been grosly underestimated. The overall campaign plan after Dresden was laid by Radetzky, the Austrian Chief of staff - avoid Napoleon and strike at his subordinates - and worked perfectly but also meant that Napoleon spent most of his time chasing Austrians while Prussians, Russian and Swedes were allowed to strike at his subordinate commanders. And evetually at Leipzig itself it was mainly the Austrian that withstood Napoleon and his main force onslaught until Prussian could engage from the north and further Russians arrive from the east. The Austrians also have been accused of not really wanting to beat Napoleon decisively, but it was the Czar who refused to deploy any troops west of Pleisse-Elster, so here the III Austrian AC could only perform a diversionary attack and not a cut off of the French main force.

[@rhysnichols8608]

@@steffenb.jrgensen2014 Fair enough thanks for the explanation.

[@jonathanowen9917]

Once again Austrian generals not knowing how to best utilize their soldiers. You mass your heavy cavalry (eg like the German Panzers in 1939-41) instead of splitting it up into piecemeal units (eg like the char d'assaut - French tanks in 1939-40). When wargaming as the Austrians what is the best way to replicate these smaller cuirassier divisions: 18-, 24-, 32- or 36-man units? Did the dragoons also operate in small subunits like the cuirassiers? What size unit and figure count should they use? I came away from your light horse video thinking that they were massed like other nations. What size units/figures should the hussars, uhlans, and chevaux legers be?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They did tend to mass them...to an extent. They might put 2 regiments of dragoons or cuirassiers together, while the French would put 4! Their main problem was their Regimental level tactics, which are very difficult to replicate at this scale. The squadrons would be far less aggressive than the French, who seemed to practice better coordination to create a series of constantly charging squadrons. Unit size, yeah the were massive! Clash of Eagles suggested breaking down each cavalry unit into 2 or 3 units of 12 and that's what we do. Be warned though, that does make Austrians a very tough army to face!

[@danielmccarthy4062]

Very nice. Another enjoyable video.

[@BrushQuill]

Very interesting topic

[@bjkernowpaintingandmodelli9119]

Nice update

[@edthilenius7530]

What an excellent job you did for this video! Very impressive! 🤗

[@mrkillerovsky]

Is the Discord still up? I tried joining in, but the invite appears to no longer work.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'll get another one up in my next video!