SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

For your Wargames Wittering
User avatar
Count Belisarius
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 4493
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 2:13 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Contact:

SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Count Belisarius »

How much more cavalry should I paint for my ImagiNation forces? If the foot contingent of one side is about 12-14 battalions, how much cavalry provides a good balance?
User avatar
Spanner
Gaynor
Posts: 1160
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 6:02 pm
Location: NSW south coast

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Spanner »

It varies, Andy, but one CAV brigade for every two to three INF brigades seems to be the ratio that commanders tried to achieve. Plus a few hussars and dog-robbing light infantry for the advance and flank guards (and to look good on parade), of course. My SYW contingents average out as two cavalry brigades for each five infantry brigades, with a regiment or brigade of light cavalry for the major contingents.
If "The System" is the answer, who asked such a bloody stupid question?
User avatar
BaronVonWreckedoften
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 9262
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: The wilds of Surrey

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by BaronVonWreckedoften »

I think Spanner has it pretty much spot-on there. Remember that this is the age where remount schools/stud farms first appear, so the military world was clearly geared up to equip large quantities of horsemen.
Kein Plan überlebt den ersten Kontakt mit den Würfeln. (No plan survives the first contact with the dice.)
Baron Mannshed von Wreckedoften, First Sea Lord of the Bavarian Admiralty.
User avatar
Count Belisarius
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 4493
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 2:13 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Contact:

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Count Belisarius »

The remount schools and stud farms could never keep up with the Gateway though...
User avatar
Jeremy
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 9735
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:29 am
Location: Purgatory

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Jeremy »

It depends on the size of the table Andy. Your column that marches and counter-marches along your base edge will have to fit accordingly.
User avatar
Essex Boy
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 6506
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2017 4:22 pm
Location: South Essex
Contact:

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Essex Boy »

Count Belisarius wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 11:42 am How much more cavalry should I paint for my ImagiNation forces? If the foot contingent of one side is about 12-14 battalions, how much cavalry provides a good balance?
I think you mean "12-14, or 13-15, or 14-16.....up to, maybe 17, 18 at a pinch.....certainly no more than 19........although 21 can be divided by three"?
User avatar
BaronVonWreckedoften
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 9262
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: The wilds of Surrey

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by BaronVonWreckedoften »

Count Belisarius wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 12:41 pm The remount schools and stud farms could never keep up with the Gateway though...
Nor could their own commander, so I've heard.....
Kein Plan überlebt den ersten Kontakt mit den Würfeln. (No plan survives the first contact with the dice.)
Baron Mannshed von Wreckedoften, First Sea Lord of the Bavarian Admiralty.
Willz the Wargamer
Gaynor
Posts: 1558
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 8:29 pm
Location: Devon

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Willz the Wargamer »

With 12 - 14 battalions of infantry I would have 6 - 8 regiments cavalry.

Willz.
User avatar
Essex Boy
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 6506
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2017 4:22 pm
Location: South Essex
Contact:

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by Essex Boy »

BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:59 pm
Count Belisarius wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 12:41 pm The remount schools and stud farms could never keep up with the Gateway though...
Nor could their own commander, so I've heard.....
Rude
FreddBloggs
Grizzly Madam
Posts: 3650
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2017 9:39 am
Location: left forum

Re: SYW proportion of cavalry to infantry

Post by FreddBloggs »

I would go 2 or 3 heavy, 3 or 4 light, possibly 2 or 3 dragoons
Post Reply