Let us come up with some interesting historical units

[Oleander Ardens]

For fantasy units use the other thread, thanks


1. Tyrolean Sharpshooters or Marksman ("Scharffschitzn" or "Scheibnschitzn")

Renowned for their loyality to the crown and their Kaiser these men are organized in guilds in every larger village of Tyrol and are eager marksmen. Regular training sessions are a requirement and a man which does not find the time to train must pay a heavy fine to his fellow shooters. Great competitions sponsored by the Kaiser attract thousends of shooters. Equipped with rifles of the famous Southgerman and Austrian gunsmiths there are able to hit targets from a surprisingly long range, but at the cost of firespeed. Usually they would use every cover on the field, ambush from a safe position and try to snipe from afar. Their reputiation was umatched in Europe.

History: As a matter of fact the inflictated their french and bavarian heavy defeats starting around 1700. They had a natural tendency to ambush enemy columns from high points with good cover and to surround them slowly. They often barricated the exit of narrow canyons and initiated prepared landslides of rocks and treetrunks. Only required to defend their homeland they fought hard and bravely but were averse to cavalry. They won practically every battle against the french and bavarians, only loosing once when few picked up their rifles after feeling traited by Austria once more. After 1809 they formed the mold for the famous german jaeger units which played an important role in freeing the german states. Some Tyroleans even fought in their ranks after Tyrol became a part of Bavaria.

Trivia: The traditional lament of the German forces was propably written under impression of the 1809 rising in Tyrol, from a bavarian viewpoint.

A Part of it goes:

"A bullet flew towards us
is it meant for me or meant for you?
It took him away,
he lies beneath my feet
like a piece of myself."



Number 2 is to come soon

[Rhyfelwyr]

I think this is a great idea for a thread, its early days in the development of ETW so if Lusted or the CA crew have a look we might just get a unit into ETW.

Ropaire

Factions:   Rebels (or any Irish factions if they are included)
Unit Type:  Melee Infantry
Abilities:  Expert at Hiding in Forests
            Can Hide in Long Grass
            Combat Bonus in Woods or Snow
            Bonus Fighting Cavalry
            Good Stamina

Due to irregular warfare throughout Ireland up until the 1700's, guerilla warfare was quick to develop throughout the 17th Century as Irish Catholics fought for James II against the Presbyterian Scots settlers and later the more generally Protestant armies of William of Orange. Ropaire, also known as "Rapparees", are effective ambushers armed often with a half-pike for use in melee. Consisting of mainly Irish Jacobites, these are hardy soldiers, although they must depend on the element of surprise if they are to stand against professional armies, as well as being able to reach the enemy before they are brought down under gunfire.

[Mithradates]

Would i be right in thinking about an Irish regiment called the Wild Geese that fought for France during this period, might add some flare to what could be an army of blue coats?

[Forward Observer]

I want these guys (Scots Royal Greys)

I drool at the thought of restaging a glorious charge like this from the famous painting by Lady Butler
Scotland Forever


Their initial charge into the 45th French infantry at Waterloo was a great success, but unfortunately they were fired up and would not stop. They continued on attacking some of Ney's artillery when they were counter attacked by heavy French lancers. Their commander was killed and their unit so decimated that they were no longer an effective fighting force in the battle.

Of course I plan to pull them back just in the nick of time if they are used in Empires--lol

[Matt_Lane]

My choice would be Horse Artillery or in particular Ramseys H Troop, British Royal Horse Artillery



Available towards the end of the game Horse Artillery would be able to provide a highly mobile close fire support to infantry and cavalry alike. No longer limited to placing artillery to the rear the general will be able to move these units to where they are needed then scoot them out before the enemy can engage them in melee.

The mobility and firepower offered by these units is a forerunner of the modern tank and self propelled gun. Its introduction offers a change of tactics, an interruption of the trinity between cavalry, infantry and artillery. Infantry form square to defeat cavalry and line to lessen the impact of artillery. By accompanying the cavalry into battle the Horse Artillery are able to inflict substantial damage on the infantry squares.

The Royal Horse Artillery are the elite units of the British Royal Artillery. Each Troop consists of three, two gun Divisions. Each single gun, sub division had a six pounder gun and livery pulled by a team of horses, ridden into the fray by the gun crew. Uniformed and armed as light cavalry the gun crew where expected race into position, wheel about and have the gun ready to fire shot or canister in under a minute.

Despite being at the sharp pointy end of the battle not one gun was lost by the Royal Horse Artillery to the French during the entire Peninsular Campaign. During the battle of Fuentes de Onoro the 7th Infantry Division were rescued from over whelming French cavalry by the Light Division and the Royal Horse Artillery. During the exchange Ramsey's two gun division became surrounded by the French cavalry. Rather than surrender their guns they mounted up, drew saber and fought through their way back to the British lines.

It could not be said that the Royal Horse Artillary unit type was unique, the Prussians were the first to adopt this unit and the French horse artillary far out numbered the British. However their versatility, penash and battle honors make them my favorites for the above title.

[Elmar Bijlsma]

Interesting units? Won't get much more interesting then Austrian air rifle troops.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girandoni_Air_Rifle

btw
It would be incorrect to state that the RHA was the elite part of the Royal Artillery. It did not get the pick of the recruits. The RHA was created to work alongside the cavalry. Aside from this role a RHA battery was not very different from other batteries.

Further btw,
The Union Brigade's Waterloo charge is exactly why Wellington despised his cavalry. I think he was somewhat harsh on his light cavalry by including them in his blanket disdain but his heavy cavalry was indeed unfit to fulfil their tasks.
You can't deny they had courage. They just lack the good sense and leadership you'd want also. In Spain too they repeatedly mistimed charges, went without orders altogether or just plain didn't stop when they should. Almost always with the predictable terrible results.
At Waterloo D'Erlons Corps had already been defeated by the Dutch, Hanoverian and British infantry. A charge by heavies wasn't all that needed, though if done well it would succeed in kicking the French when they were down, always a good practise. Had they stopped their charge in time it would've been a splendid charge. Instead, they were virtually destroyed by their overconfidence in charging the French guns and not retrteating straight after.
Ponsonby robbed his commander of the further use of his British heavies, and only saved himself from disgrace by getting himself killed. Pity he took half his unit with him.