Re-Starting Seven Years War

Although I've been gaming with metal figures for over 35 years, the SYW never really interested me until recently.

Back in 2008 the idea of Imagi-Nations inspired me so I painted two contingents - Prussian and Swedes - along with several battalions and regiments of my own Grand Duchy of Kolanhomm. To this was added several battalions of Austrians, British and Saxons.

The after one battle however the project stalled for five years because the rules I was using didn't give the sort of game I wanted. Looking to clear some space I sold the Swedes and put the rest away until inspiration grabbed me again.

Then I found the Volley & Bayonet rules so I went back to my figures at the beginning of this year. The 2/3 scale is tempting but I've decided to go full scale, so I'm rebasing like mad and hopefully I'll have enough for a first game in April

Which Rules For an Imagi-Nation ?

Creating an Imagi-nation is one thing, making it fit with a set of historical wargame rules is another matter. However Volley & Bayonet makes this fairly easy because it is such a high level game. The tabletop unit is the regiment or brigade of 1-2000 men, so national quirks are not part of the game system.

Kolanhomm has five 2 battalion infantry regiments plus a battalion of grenadiers. In V&B terms this is 1 x 3SP Lieb (Grenadier) regiment, plus 4 x 2SP Infantry regiments. The infantry can have their battalion guns (or not as the secenario dictates).

The cavalry form up as 1 x 2SP Regiment of Horse, and 1 of Dragoons. The Hussars and Friekorps are the eyes of the army so are represented as a small unit (1SP)  of cavalry and one of infantry.

The Ducal Army

As the time for war grows close, His Highness the Duke has asked me to set down how our army is organised and will be deployed in time of battle.

The army of our Duchy comprises of 4 regiments of Foot, 4 of Cavalry and the Artillery regiment. In time of extreme danger there is also the Loyal Militia. In order of seniority the regiments of Foot are -

Lieb
Von Schmetterling
Markgraf Hussen
Platzach
Danzach

The Lieb regiment has 600 bayonets in 6 companies, while the regular infantry have 1200 bayonets in 10 musketeer and 2 grenadier companies. When on campaign, the 8 grenadier companies are usually merged to create two grenadier battlions. These are brigaded with the Lieb regiment to form the Lieb Brigade.

Each Foot regiment includes two 3pdr guns commanded by the junior lieutenant. Each gun has two NCO's appointed by the Artillery regiment, and the balance of the gun crew is drawn from the regiment itself.

The Cavalry comprise -

Lieb Ryttar - 8 squadrons
Klinkerhof Dragoons - 4 squadrons
Munchplitz Dragoons - 4 squadrons
Mantrow Hussars - 4 squadrons

The Ryttar wear black cuirasses and are the senior regiment in the army. Each cavalry squadron is comprised of two companies.
The artillery regiment comprises five companies -
No 1 company 4 x 18 pdr - Garrison Artillery at Grafstein
No 2 company 4 x 18 pdr - Garrison Artillery at Kaubenstein
No 3 company 6 x 12 pdr - Army reserve battery
No 4 Company 4 x 6 pdr - Army Field battery
No 5 Company is responsible for training and assigning NCO's to the regimental gun batteries. It also provides technical support and tests new guns before they are sent to regular units.

In time of war the Duke usually authorises that a unit of Friekorps be raised to support the army.

Finally there are the Loyal Militia regiments. Each comprises 4 fusileer companies based on a local town or group of parishes.