Franco - Prussian War 1870-71

[T13A]

Hi

Ok, I'm coming around to the idea that the Franco- Prussian War is going to be my next project in 10mm. My problem is finding out information as to how the armies were organised. I can find information regarding OOB's on the web but not the basic information regarding things like number of companies/squadrons in a battalion/regiment, number of battalions in a regiment etc. I'm also looking for some comprehensive information on uniforms. Obviously there are the Osprey series but was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction.

Many thanks, Paul.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Not at a computer at the moment, but when I get home later in the week I will send you my source list, or I'm sure Mollinary, Nik, Cameronian, Le Manchoux, Dour Puritan or Hertsblue (all absolute gents and incredibly helpful) will chime in before I get organised.
Welcome
Mad Lemmey

[Leman]

Send me your address and I'll photocopy the entire Airfix series on the FPW. It's incredibly comprehensive on uniforms. You can get me at:
A.Fuller, 23 Brooks Road, Formby, Liverpool, L37 2JL.

Also try Steven Shann's booklet on the war if you can find a copy (try Caliver Books),

[Leman]

How silly of me to forget this. Bruce Weigle's 1870 rules are actually a fantastic source of info, whether you play the rules or not. They are definitely obtainable from Caliver.

[nikharwood]

I found these old Foundry painting guides really useful for mine:

http://vintagewargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/wargames-foundry-franco-prussian-war.html

Here's mine:
French: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,5832.0.html
Prussian: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,6237.0.html

On-table:
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,6404.msg63577.html#msg63577
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,6430.0.html

[Hecoma]

May I suggest this interesting blog (unfortunately in french  ) :


http://antan.unblog.fr/category/uniformes/

[Fenton]

Haven't uniformology released a Franco Prussian uniform guide?


http://www.timewalkertoys.com/Armies-of-Bismarck-s-Wars-p/cas-9781935149231.htm

[Hertsblue]

Basic organisation for each army was as follows:
French
Infantry
Line infantry, zouaves, turcos - 6 companies per battalion. Grenadier and voltigeur companies no longer existed. All infantry now "soldats". Three battalions per regiment - the 2nd (centre) battalion carried the eagle. Chasseur battalions were of eight companies. Two regiments formed a brigade and two brigades a division. A chasseur battalion was normally attached to the first brigade of each division. An army corps could be of 2, 3 or 4 divisions plus artillery and cavalry components.

Cavalry
Cavalry regiments had, on paper, 6 squadrons of 200 men each. However, most mobilised only four. 2 or 3 regiments formed a brigade, and 2 or 3 brigades formed a division. Each army corps normally had a cavalry division included in its OoB. Additionally, a reserve cavalry corps of 3 divisions was formed at the start of the campaign. 

Artillery
The French army maintained 15 field regiments and 4 horse regiments of artillery. Each regiment comprised 8 batteries each of 6 guns. The majority fielded the 4pr rifle although there were still 22 batteries of re-bored rifled 12prs in the corps reserves. Each infantry division was allocated 2 foot batteries and a battery of Mitrailleuses. Each cavalry division was supposed to have a horse-artillery battery and each army corps , in addition, had a reserve of 2 light foot, 2 heavy foot and 2 horse batteries.

Imperial Guard
The Guard consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 1 cavalry division. The 1st division comprised 4 voltigeur regiments in 2 brigades. Each regiment fielded 3 battalions of 6 companies each. The division also contained the Guard Chasseur battalion of 8 companies. The 2nd division contained 4 regiments of grenadiers with the same organisation as the voltigeurs and the Guard Zouaves of 2 battalions of 6 companies.
The cavalry division consisted of 3 brigades; 1st - Guard Guides and Guard Chasseurs a Cheval; 2nd - Guard Lancers and Guard Dragoons; 3rd - Guard Cuirassiers and Guard Carabiniers. The 2 infantry divisions had the same artillery allocation as the Line, but the Guard reserve artillery comprised 6 horse batteries.

Prussia
Infantry
Prussian corps structure was rigid. Each army corps contained 2 divisions, each of 2 regiments, each of 3 battalions. A battalion was made up of 4 companies for a total of about 1,000 men. The first 2 battalions in each regiment were designated as "musketeers" whilst the 3rd was designated as "fusiliers". The first 12 regiments in the Prussian list were designated as "grenadiers" although it should be stressed that all these designations were purely titular. One division in each corps was also allocated a jager battalion, organised in the same way as the Line. 

Cavalry
Cavalry regiments fielded 4 squadrons each of 150 men. Each infantry division had a light cavalry regiment (hussars, uhlans or dragoons) attached as close escort. The remaining regiments were grouped into cavalry divisions, each of 2 or 3 brigades, each of 2 or 3 regiments which were allocated to the individual armies.

Artillery
The Prussian artillery fielded 12 artillery regiments, each of 3 divisions. Each regiment was allocated to an army corps, where it provided a division to each infantry division and the 3rd as corps reserve. Each division with the infantry consisted of 4 batteries, usually 2 x 4pr and 2 x 6pr. The 3rd division could also have 2 horse batteries included. Each battery consisted of 6 guns.

The Guard
The Guard Corps was organised in exactly the same way as the Line except that it had an integral cavalry division. The 1st division comprised 4 regiments of Foot Guards and the Guard Fusiliers in 2 brigades. All regiments were of 3 battalions of 4 companies. Also attached were the Guard Jager battalion and the Guard Hussars. The 2nd division comprised 4 regiments of Guard Grenadiers and the Guard Schutzen battalion and the 2nd Guard Ulans. The cavalry division had 3 brigades; 1st - Garde du Corps & Guard Cuirassiers; 2nd - 1st Guard Uhlans & 3rd Guard Dragoons; 3rd - 1st & 2nd Guard dragoons. Each brigade had a horse battery attached.
Artillery was the same as for the Line.

This only scratches the surface of the subject - there are all the minor German states to be considered too. But it will at least get you going. I'll let the membership point any errors and omissions.
   

[T13A]

Many, many thanks to all who replied. 

Dour Puritan - particular thanks for the offer of photocopying the Airfix series on the FPW but I'll try to get hold of the Bruce Weigle rules you mentioned. Incidentally, do you use them or other rules?

Nik - lovely figures as usual and thanks for the info.

Hertsblue - thanks for all the info, just off the top of your head do you happen to know the strength of French line and chasseur battalions (and in practice was there much difference in how they were used)? Don't worry if you have to look it up as I'm sure it will be in some of the sources people have given.

Cheers Paul

[Leman]

I use Weigle, Field of Battle 2, Black Powder and will also consider the rules in Wargaming in History 8, which covers 1866 using a variant of Regimental F&F, but I'm still awaiting the re-printing of this book. Other rules to consider are There Are Your Guns using the General de Brigade system, and Volley and Bayonet. I have also played a FPW variant of Square Bashing which one of my regular opponents developed and this worked extremely well. We managed Spicheren on a 3'x4' table which produced a very enjoyable game with an historical outcome.

[nikharwood]

Nik - lovely figures as usual and thanks for the info.

Cheers Paul

You're welcome, Paul - let me know if you want me to bung up my painting notes up & I'll dig 'em out  

[Hertsblue]

Hertsblue - thanks for all the info, just off the top of your head do you happen to know the strength of French line and chasseur battalions (and in practice was there much difference in how they were used)? Don't worry if you have to look it up as I'm sure it will be in some of the sources people have given.

Cheers Paul

Paper strength of a French Line battalion was 726 men (i.e 121 per company). On mobilisation, however, many were understrength, so I would probably go for a campaign strength of somewhere between 600 and 650. The chasseur à pied battalions had a paper strength of 152 per company for a total strength of 1,216 per battalion. I would think a fighting strength of about 1,000 wouldn't be too far off the mark.

The chasseurs were regarded as an elite in the French Line. They normally got the brightest and most able officers and at one time they were something of an experimental corps. Like the Prussian jagers, they were expected to perform skirmishing duties and to operate independently of the brigade or division. They were reckoned to be more mobile than the line and their uniform was designed to be less obtrusive. However, since most of the actions they took part in at the start of the war were mainly defensive I would doubt that their tactics varied much from those of the line.