For example, if we classify infantry, cavalry and artillery.
Infantry (1): Overview
In Napoleon's time, infantry was the main body of the army. Compared with other arms, infantry often suffers the most casualties, but it is often the key to victory or defeat. Infantry are usually divided into three categories: line infantry (also called fusilier); Grenadier; Light infantry. Grenadiers will be made up of the bravest and strongest soldiers. Personally, I think that "grenadiers" are heavy infantry, and grenadiers are just a name, not really "throwing bombs". Light infantry consists of "small" and "agile" soldiers. Different countries have different names for light infantry: French hunters and British riflemen. I don't understand several other languages, which probably means hunting soldiers. ) The first two types of infantry usually form a close formation, thus developing firepower. Light infantry will form a "skirmisher line", which will be used to shake the enemy's defense when attacking; In self-defense, it is used to disrupt the enemy's attack rhythm.
At that time, most of the infantry were equipped with large-caliber muskets, and the principle and structure of muskets in different countries were not much different. 1740 land mode rifle imported from Britain, with a barrel length of 46 inches (1 17cm) and a caliber of 0.75 inches (19mm). After the seven-year war, the barrel was shortened to 42 inches (107cm) and the caliber remained unchanged. After the outbreak of the war with France, due to the lack of stable sources of raw materials, Britain turned to the East India Company to manufacture a large number of "Indian model" rifles. By 1797, this 39-inch (99 cm) barrel musket had become the standard equipment of the British army. The huge output not only met the needs of the British army, but also equipped the countries of the anti-French alliance. 1802, the British arms department introduced a new type of rifle, but only equipped with a small number of troops. Although the accuracy is not good, the British musket system is still very popular with the army and is called "Brownbeth" by the soldiers.
The "1777" musket, which is mainly equipped by the French army, has a length of 44 inches (1 12cm) and a caliber of 0.69 inches (17.5mm). The total length of the gun is 59.5 inches (15 1cm), which is slightly lighter than the British gun (about 10 lbs = =4.54kg). The trigger is reinforced, the detonator made of brass is used, and the barrel is fixed with a retaining ring for easy replacement. During the French Revolution, only the 1777 musket was slightly modified (becoming the "nine-year model"). In addition to the infantry type, there are many variants of this musket, which are used to equip cavalry. These variants are different from infantry in length and decoration, but the caliber and shooting part remain unchanged.
The muskets of other participating countries are: Prussia 1782, Norhart musket (1805) and Prussian New Style (1809), but in fact, after the defeat of 1806, Prussia basically relied on British aid and prisoners to make a living. The 1770 used by the Austrian Army has made some improvements on the firing device of 1798. The equipment of Russian muskets is quite chaotic, and there are no fewer than 12 kinds of muskets. Among them, the model 18 10 of Dangtutula Arsenal has the best performance.
The low hit rate was the main disadvantage of muskets at that time. Because the firing time is too long, the muzzle jitter is inevitable from pulling the trigger to igniting the charge. This sloshing and only one front sight (no rear sight) seriously affect the shooting accuracy. Black powder will leave residue in the barrel after burning, and there is no time to remove this residue in the fierce battle. In order not to interfere with shooting, the only solution is to use smaller projectiles. The clearance (clearance) between the bullet and the barrel of musket in various countries is in the range of 0.07 ~ 0. 10 inch (1.78~2.54mm). Clearance ensures smooth shooting and greatly reduces the hit rate. Pu Jun once conducted an experiment on muskets in Franco-Prussian countries. On a target (3.05× 1.83 m) with a width of 10 ft and a height of 6 ft, Pu Jun 1782 fired 100 rounds with a step of 100 (pace = 0.76 m). ; 76m) can hit 60 rounds; 200 steps and 40 rounds; There are only 25 rounds in 300 steps, and the performance of French 1777 musket is not much better. Considering the influence of battlefield environment, smoke, fear, noise and other factors on soldiers' minds, the hit rate is far below this ideal test. 500 people volley an attacking infantry column twice at a distance of 100 yards (9 1.4m), which can theoretically hit 500 to 600 rounds. However, according to the experience of the armies of various countries, playing 150 rounds on the battlefield is the best result. At that time, the theoretical effective range of the musket was 300 steps (228 meters), but actually shooting at this distance was a complete waste of ammunition.
Poor reliability is another big problem. In the fierce battle, there will be many problems in the whole process of loading and launching. For example, the powder in the firing slot does not lead to the main charge; Flint used it old but forgot to replace it; Excessive deposition of muzzle residue, etc. According to statistics, in a long-term engagement, the probability of not firing is as high as 20%.
There are often netizens who are puzzled by the form of fighting in the Napoleonic era and feel that the target of the attack is too great. In fact, after reading the above introduction, I think your question should have a partial answer. At that time, the firing rate of infantry was about 2-3 rounds per minute. Coupled with low hit rate and high failure rate, the firepower of a single musket can be ignored. Only by lining up in a row or column and concentrating firepower can we have a good killing effect. On the other hand, a good formation can respond to the impact of cavalry in time. (I will talk about this later, so I won't elaborate here. )
In Napoleon's time, soldiers of various countries usually carried 50 to 60 rounds of ammunition in their ammunition bags. A battle consumes about 20 rounds on average. In the battle of Victoria, Spain, the British army consumed a lot, with an average of 60 rounds per person, and the whole army consumed 3.5 million rounds of ammunition. However, the hit rate is surprisingly low, and every 450 rounds only cause 1 enemy casualties. Fortunately, the supply situation in Wellington was very good at that time, and the ammunition consumed was quickly replenished. In marengo, the battalion of French captain Coignet ran out of ammunition. At the critical moment, the guards who arrived in time with enough ammunition saved them.
Lack of training is another important reason for the low hit rate. In most armies, the training of musket shooting is simply perfunctory. Because the forces of the skirmisher line are scattered, it is very important to improve the shooting accuracy. Nevertheless, during the Great Revolution, the French army, which emphasized skirmisher tactics, still seldom conducted targeted training, and light infantry could only improve themselves in actual combat. According to French soldiers, Napoleon had no shooting training before he became the first ruler. 1800, Bertie issued an order: French recruits must receive training in loading, gun operation, aiming and shooting, and must ensure that live ammunition is fired several times before going to the battlefield. However, in fact, there is not enough ammunition and time to ensure adequate training. The British army has done a good job in this respect, but only 30 live ammunition and 50 bullets without ammunition.
What is said here is muskets, but at that time, more accurate rifles with rifling have actually appeared in the armies of various countries. The French army experimented with rifles for some time, but by 1807 Napoleon had banned rifles, and other countries had small-scale light infantry or hunters equipped with rifles. The high hit rate of rifle improves the combat effect of skirmisher line, but its main disadvantage is that it takes a long time to load and is easy to block. Considering the manufacturing cost and the time required for special training, rifles are obviously not suitable for equipping large corps like muskets. Therefore, even the British army, which is more receptive to rifles, has only two light infantry regiments equipped with rifles-60 and 95 infantry regiments.
Flint is essential for muskets and rifles. Mining flint is usually carried out in wet weather. After drying, it is crushed and shaped by skilled workers. Britain produces high-quality flint not only for its own use, but also for its allies in continental Europe. Champaign and Piccadilly also produce flint. Saxony is another flint producing area in continental Europe. In contrast, Prussia lacked flint resources and had to use ineffective substitutes to get British assistance. I wonder what it is? Because of the importance of flint, soldiers basically have a spare piece, and each battalion also keeps a considerable amount of reserves. Flint is one of the items that must be checked before fighting. On the eve of the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon personally reminded the guards: "Tomorrow, a new flint will be of great use."
Another item that must be checked is ammunition. A cardboard bag contains about 65,438+050 grains (about 65,438+00g) of black powder and a lead bullet. After being made in the arsenal, each box 1000 bags will be distributed to the troops. The officers of the company are responsible for checking the soldiers' ammunition every morning.
Infantry (2): basic formation
At that time, the limitation of firearms made the army rely heavily on formation to improve the shooting effect of muskets. In the early days of the French Revolution, due to the large number of volunteers who lacked training and discipline, the traditional three-row horizontal line could be formed in defense fashion, but it was impossible to form an effective formation battle in attack. Commanders had to increase the size of the skirmisher line, and sometimes even the whole battalion of soldiers became "skirmishers". At the same time, all countries in continental Europe maintained the linear horizontal line popular in the18th century, whether attacking or defending. These countries have not reformed because France's "stragglers" tactics cannot pose a threat to their formation. Austrian generals believe that "sporadic shooting by stragglers can't shake a well-trained infantry team at all." With the continuous improvement of the training level of the French army, the role of formation has been gradually valued. There is usually a battalion column behind the skirmisher line to support it. This tactic achieved good results at that time. After Napoleon came to power, European armies also introduced the skirmisher tactics, which greatly reduced the interference effect of the French skirmisher. The task of shaking the enemy's front is more accomplished by artillery. Therefore, the skirmisher line was appropriately weakened and the attack column was greatly strengthened. In the later battles of Napoleon, the whole division was even used to form an attack column to attack the enemy's defensive positions (Waterloo was used). Comparatively speaking, the three-column linear formation in other countries is a bit thin. 1806, the Austrian army adopted an attack column similar to the French army. The Pu Jun Army of 1807 and the Russian Army of 18 10 have also carried out similar reforms. The only country that keeps the level is Britain (both offensive and defensive). The British army regulations stipulate three horizontal lines, but Wellington and other British generals often use two horizontal lines. Their reason is also simple: to maintain a wider front and give better play to firepower.
Battalion was the basic tactical unit of the army at that time. Due to the lack of information from other countries, we have to take France and Britain as examples. In the early French army, a building system had eight companies. 1808, according to Napoleon's instructions, it was changed to six companies, but the number of the whole battalion did not change much, but the scale of the company increased. No matter 6 or 8 companies, they all include a grenadier company and a hunter company, and the rest are fusilier companies. According to the instructions, a battalion of the French army should have about 800 people, but most troops can't reach this number. Usually, a French battalion has about 600 ~ 700 people. In the Battle of Waterloo, the average number of French troops per battalion was about 560. The picture below shows a marching attack column of Company 6 (similar to Company 8), followed by grenadiers and hunting companies. If it is necessary to form a skirmisher line, the hunting company will be taken away, leaving only one company. Grenadier companies are not always behind. When morale is low, the elite grenadier company is behind, which can stabilize morale and prevent the troops in front from collapsing. When morale is high, throwing grenades often leads the attack in the right front of the column. Keep three rows continuously, and the row spacing is about 1 m. The interval between companies is about 8 ~ 10 meters, and the depth of the whole column is about 25 meters, which may be wider when marching. The positions of officers and noncommissioned officers have been marked on the map. (In Chinese with Photoshop, "battalion level staff officer" is probably equivalent to battalion level deputy, but the French army classified it as staff officer. The last one is also a sergeant, and I don't know how to translate it. Everyone help to have a look! Sometimes, a battalion column lacking a hunting company will have one company as the front and five companies in turn, but this kind of column is rare.
A British barracks consists of 10 company, including a grenadier company and a hunting company, with about 640 officers and men. The picture below shows the general formation of the defense and attack of the British military camp-two horizontal lines. The front is about 200 meters wide. The legend of an officer is basically the same as that of the French army, and the black spot is the drummer. The British army's marching formation is also one column, with two columns for each company, and 10 company is lined up in turn.
The existence of cavalry is undoubtedly a great threat to infantry. Although the expanded infantry queue can cope with the frontal cavalry impact, the weak flank and rear are extremely vulnerable to attack. The most effective way for infantry to deal with cavalry is to form a "phalanx"-an outward-facing "bayonet cluster". Forming a phalanx involves a series of complicated troop movements, so it takes some time to complete. In a complex battlefield, infantry may suffer heavy losses because they did not form a phalanx in time. During the Spanish-French war in Britain, Colborn's trip was covered by the sudden heavy rain. After the rain stopped, two French light cavalry regiments were found preparing to attack. In desperation, the three battalions did not have time to form a phalanx. As a result, in just five minutes, the three battalions suffered a devastating blow-80 officers and 1248 soldiers were killed or injured.
Although phalanx can effectively deal with cavalry, it also has obvious shortcomings. First of all, the battalion front has been greatly reduced, and the original firepower cannot be exerted. If the enemy cavalry and infantry cooperate properly, they will use the temporary firepower of infantry to kill a large number of infantry in the phalanx. Secondly, a dense phalanx is an excellent target for artillery. According to a British soldier's memory, in Waterloo, two Brunswick phalanxes collapsed under the heavy artillery fire of the French army and did not persist under the impact of the French cavalry. Finally, if a part of the phalanx is shaken or even collapsed under the strong psychological pressure of cavalry charge, then the rest of the infantry will inevitably be completely exposed to enemy cavalry. Experienced cavalry often seize and even create such opportunities. In the Battle of Vagram, the 20th Hunting and Riding Regiment of French cavalry Colonel Castex abandoned the Austrian battalion that should be attacked, and instead charged a nearby Austrian army array that had just gone too far. The Austrian infantry, who had not had time to reload, was stunned by the sudden change, and the whole phalanx fell into chaos in an instant.
The previous introduction is only the basic tactical formation of battalion level. On the battlefield, more senior commanders will use the above formations flexibly according to the situation. In addition, on the basis of battalion-level formations, the armies of various countries have also created some regimental and divisional formations. For example, a French "regiment" with three battalions must expand the middle battalion and keep the battalion columns on both sides. Another example is the "division" column of the French army-the battalions in the division are scattered into a horizontal line, and the first battalion is the front of the column.
Infantry (3): bayonet
During the Napoleonic period, the bayonet of musket was a triangular iron with a length of 15 to 18 inches (38 ~ 45 cm) and edges on three sides. When mounting the bayonet, put the handle on the muzzle and tighten the screw to fix it. When not in use, the bayonet will be put into a special scabbard.
Due to the short length of rifles, in order to make up for the shortage, the bayonet of British rifles is as long as 25 inches (63.5 cm). Moreover, it is shaped like a sword. The picture below shows the British rifle and its bayonet. Unlike muskets with bayonets, for convenience, the bayonets of rifles are only installed on the guns when necessary.
During the revolutionary period, the French army attached great importance to the use of bayonets. Carnaud (member of Kano government) signed an order in February 1794: "French soldiers must be ready to use bayonets (bayonet action on every shelter)". Napoleon also attached equal importance to this cold weapon. Brazer, the captain of the French army, recalled: "Your Majesty seems to have a special liking for the way bayonet kills people." The military theory at that time even thought: "Only the first volley is effective, and the subsequent battles must be completed by bayonets and swords." (Gay de Vernon) Because of this, the Austrian army and the Pu Jun army also emphasized the importance of bayonets. Even Charles, a recognized reformist archduke, thinks bayonet is the best melee weapon. As for the more weaponized Russian army, Wilson, the British general sent to Russia for inspection, wrote in his report 18 10: "Bayonets are simply weapons designed for Russians ... they are better at charging with bayonets in dense columns."
But it is not common to fight with bayonets in actual combat. In Ostritz, the Russian guards carried out a typical Russian 300-yard bayonet charge, but after breaking through the first line of defense of the French army, they were repelled by the subsequent French fire. Laray, the health director of Napoleon's "big corps", once made some statistics on the casualties of the French army, and found that compared with 1 19 cases of gunshot wounds, only 5 cases were caused by bayonets in a battle. So he thinks that the psychological function of bayonet is far greater than the actual function. Similarly, guthrie, a senior medical officer in Wellington, thinks that it is difficult to achieve the expected effect of hand-to-hand combat and foot-to-foot charge with bayonets. It was not the charge that was repelled by gunfire; Is that the defender can't stand the psychological pressure and flee. The doctors' views were further confirmed by the front-line commanders. Jomini claimed: I have never seen bayonet hand-to-hand combat (I have never seen such a thing on a conventional battlefield). (The author's original conclusion is that bayonet hand-to-hand combat cannot have a decisive influence on the outcome of the battle. But I can't completely agree with this view. Isn't the result of psychological action the result? The role of spirit is often more obvious in war. In history, it is not uncommon for an army that has not suffered heavy casualties to be defeated mentally, and the battle of Feishui is a good proof. So in my opinion, the above statement can only be summed up as melee does not happen often. )
Although not common, bayonet melee is still necessary in some cases, such as fighting after breaking into a fortress, or when ammunition cannot be fired in rainy days. In the rainstorm in Katzbach, the military bayonets and gunstocks fought fiercely with the French army, causing great casualties to the French army.
As mentioned earlier, countering the impact of cavalry is another main function of bayonet. From this point of view, bayonets are essential in the face of possible cavalry attacks at any time. In the early days of the French Revolution, in order to make up for the shortage of musket bayonets, spears, an outdated weapon, were re-used as a substitute for bayonets. Earlier 1792, several cities in France successively produced a large number of spears, ranging in length from 10 to 15 feet (3 ~ 4.5 meters). 1792 In August, the Legislative Assembly ordered the distribution and use of spears in the French army. From then until the summer of 1793, many newly recruited troops went to the front with this crude weapon. At that time, General Caster of the Northern Corps once said to his subordinates: It is not only our army that lacks guns in France. We have to use these spears to make up for the shortage of muskets. Although it works well in melee, it cannot change its weakness of no firepower. With the increase of rifle production, spears gradually disappeared from the French arsenal.
cavalry
(A) the composition and types of cavalry
With the continuous expansion of the army in the Napoleonic era, the proportion of cavalry showed a downward trend. Duke Marlborough (British general at the end of 17 and the beginning of 2008) has a cavalry ratio of 20%-40%. William the Great's cavalry also accounted for 23% to 42% of the total force. In contrast, in Napoleon's huge legion, the cavalry at the peak only accounted for 23% of the total force. In the late expedition to Russia, due to the lack of materials, the cavalry was only pitiful 5.2%. In all the battles in Spain, the British cavalry in Wellington only remained at the average level of 12%.
At that time, cavalry can be roughly divided into light cavalry and heavy cavalry. Further subdivision includes: armored cavalry; Carabinier: The literal translation of this word should be "carbine". Only this kind of cavalry was equipped with muskets in the early cavalry, hence the name. But in Napoleon's time, cavalry basically had muskets, which were not unique to this kind of cavalry, so I don't know if this translation is appropriate, please help! ); Dragon cavalry; Light cavalry; Chasseur lancer; Cossacks, Russia, and so on, and so on. Let's take a look at these types of cavalry one by one.
Heavy cavalry:
As the name implies, heavy cavalry riders and horses are taller and stronger than light cavalry. The early Napoleonic armored cavalry even required a height of 1.8 meters, and the horses used were limited to a strong breed in Normandy (the details are unknown)! Heavy cavalry is an important assault force on the battlefield, which is used to break through the weak links in the enemy front; Give a devastating blow to the already shaken enemy. In view of this, at that time, the armies of various countries rarely appointed heavy cavalry to engage in tasks other than battlefield killing. Heavy cavalry includes: breastplate cavalry, musket cavalry and English dragoons.
Breastplate cavalry: The obvious feature is that the rider is equipped with breastplate. The breastplate consists of two decks, the main material is iron, and the buckles and rivets are brass (France), which are connected by belts and the surface is polished. The breastplate weighs about 8 kilograms. At that time, all countries in continental Europe had armored cavalry, and only Britain did not introduce armored cavalry until after the Battle of Waterloo. Whether to use breastplate has always been controversial. Undoubtedly, the main advantage of breastplate is that it can protect rifle bullets and improve the survival ability of cavalry. In addition, the polished breastplate can play a certain psychological deterrent role. The disadvantage is that the heavy breastplate has higher requirements for personnel and horses, so the cost of supplying breastplate cavalry is far greater than other types of cavalry. Once the mount is lost, the heavy armored cavalry can't move. In addition to breastplates, breastplate cavalry are also equipped with helmets. The French helmet is also made of iron, with fur around the lower part and a raised headdress of brass at the top, supplemented by horse mane.
Dragon cavalry: The early dragon cavalry was a cavalry regiment, and later it gradually evolved into a kind of cavalry. In Napoleon's time, the situation of dragoons was more complicated. Because there is no breastplate cavalry, dragoons are one of the heavy cavalry in the British army (the other two are guards: life guards and dragoons). In addition to dragoons, the British army also has "light cavalry" as a kind of light cavalry. In Russia, Austria, Portugal and other countries, dragoons are considered as light cavalry. France is even more difficult to say clearly. Some books at hand think that French dragoons are heavy cavalry, while others think that they are light cavalry. However, several authoritative authors believe that the dragoons of the French army are a separate category. I prefer this statement. It is no exaggeration to say that dragoons are "multi-purpose arms" in the French army. In addition to the usual tasks of light and heavy cavalry, such as chasing, reconnaissance, covering traffic lines, attacking enemy lines, etc., Napoleon also used dragoons to dismount and fight retro. This combines the mechanical strength of cavalry and the firepower of infantry, which is quite a bit of a "motorized infantry". What is even more exaggerated is that in 1805, the French army actually organized a number of "dragon cavalry on foot" groups, with the aim of using Yingma after crossing the sea and landing in Britain! The use of dragoons varies from country to country, and so do their costumes. Most dragoons in France, Austria, Russia and other countries are equipped with helmets, the top of which is either mane or crown. British dragoons are either equipped with helmets or bearskin hats, and light cavalry is an ordinary cylindrical military cap. The dragoons in Prussia and some small countries are equipped with ordinary military caps.
Light cavalry:
The requirements for personnel and horses are relatively low. For example, the Hungarian hussars in the Austrian army require the height of the rider to be above1.68m and the height of the horse to be around1.48m.. Because the light cavalry has no heavy armor and the rider is lighter, the power is higher than that of the cavalry. Therefore, in addition to battlefield tasks, light cavalry is more engaged in reconnaissance, pursuit, coverage of traffic lines and other tasks. Light cavalry mainly includes: light cavalry; Hunting cavalry; Lancers and Cossacks.
Hussars: It was a kind of European light cavalry at that time. The word Hussar comes from Latin cursarius, which means an intruder or attacker, especially a robber in the northern Balkans. Later, it was borrowed by Hungarian magyars to call light cavalry. The hussars are famous for their gorgeous costumes. They like to distinguish themselves from other cavalry by dazzling uniform colors, weaving methods, patterns, headdresses and lace. The obvious sign is a cloak-like coat hanging from the left shoulder, which originated from the Turkic tribes in Madzar. In addition, because the clothes of hussars are tight and have no pockets, storage bags for personal belongings have become another major feature of hussars. The storage bag is attached to the armed belt and hangs naturally, generally with various decorative patterns. The magnificent appearance of the cavalry and the primitive Bohemian ranger style make the hussars often romantic and informal in their private lives.
Hunting cavalry: It is unique to France. 1779, hunting cavalry was established for the first time in the French army. During the Napoleonic period, hunting cavalry became the main force of French light cavalry. Compared with hussars, the clothing of hunting cavalry is simpler and cheaper, which is conducive to expansion and supplement. Even so, by 18 15, there are still at least 18 kinds of military caps used by different French cavalry regiments. It is worth mentioning that the colonel uniform of hunting cavalry is one of Napoleon's favorite clothes.
Lancer: once considered by the French army as an outdated cavalry type. Britain has never had a lancer system. 1792 the Austrian army retained six regiments of lancers, 1805 there were three regiments. Throughout the Napoleonic era, Russia and Russia have always had lancers. The above three countries are called Lancer Ulun, not Lancer. Napoleon was attracted by the fighting capacity of Polish lancers in the Battle of 1807 Poland, so he recruited Polish volunteers from four squadrons to join the Guards. 1809 was reorganized into the Guards Polish Lancer Corps (Guards No.1 Lancer Corps). 18 10, the Dutch lancer (the second guard lancer) was established. Because its uniform is pure red, it is also called "Red Lancer". 18 1 1 year, due to the excellent performance of the lancers, the dragoons of the six regiments were further transformed into lancers. The role of the lancer is also controversial. Its greatest advantage is that it can counter the infantry phalanx to a certain extent. The spears used by French lancers are 2.7 meters long, which is longer than any rifle with bayonets, so the lancers can attack the infantry in the phalanx first without being hit by bullets. The disadvantage is that the lancers are not suitable to perform reconnaissance and alert tasks on complex terrain such as forests, and some functions of the hussars have been lost. Besides, the lancers need more training. Because the spear is too clumsy when fighting with the other cavalry, the lancer must switch to sabre, so the lancer should not only master the skills of using the spear, but also skillfully use the sabre. There used to be 55 memoirs of different rifle cavalry training plans, 22 cavalry, 18 infantry, 15 basic training!
Here is a brief introduction to the composition of cavalry in various countries. Because the cavalry establishment of various countries has been changing, I only look at the general situation of a certain period of time here, mainly to give you a general concept of the proportion of various types of cavalry, which is not perfect. Cavalry squadron (squadron, I wonder if literal translation is appropriate? ) was the basic unit of cavalry in various countries during the Napoleonic period, equivalent to the "battalion" of infantry. Squadron usually consists of two companies, each with about 72 ~ 120 people. The French cavalry regiment usually consists of three or four squadrons, and individual dragoons or light cavalry regiments will have five or even eight squadrons. Theoretically, there are about 800 ~ 960 officers and men in the French heavy cavalry regiment, and there are about 1000 ~ 1200 men in the dragoons and light cavalry regiments. But in fact, few troops have reached this upper limit. In Waterloo, the average French cavalry regiment is only over 400! Usually two French cavalry regiments form a cavalry brigade, with cavalry divisions on it, and then form a cavalry army. In addition to the independent cavalry, each infantry will be equipped with a division (or brigade) of dragoons or light cavalry. The heyday of Napoleon's cavalry (1809 ~1812) * * includes: 14 regiment armored cavalry; Two musketeers; 30 dragoons (6 later converted into lancers); 13 light cavalry regiments; 30 regiments of hunting cavalry; Nine lancers. The British Cavalry Corps usually consists of three squadrons, each with about 450 people. Three regiments form a cavalry brigade, some of which belong to a cavalry division, and some of which are independent units, freely equipped and temporarily organized. There are only 20 regiments of British cavalry, including 7 regiments of heavy cavalry and 3 regiments of light cavalry/kloc-0, usually mixed with several small allied cavalry. The establishment of the Austrian Cavalry Corps is relatively large, generally with 6 to 8 squadrons, each with 130 ~ 150 people. The number of armored cavalry and dragon cavalry regiments of the Austrian army is basically maintained at around 1 000, while the number of hussars and lancers varies from 1 300 to 1 500. Therefore, although the number of cavalry regiments is small, the size of Austrian cavalry is not small. 1805, the Austrian army had eight regiments of armored cavalry; Six dragoons; Chevauxleger of 6 regiments (unique to the Austrian army, but actually not obviously different from the dragoons); 12 light cavalry regiments; Three lancers and cavalry regiments, plus Hungarian hussars, total 58,000 people. Pu Jun Cavalry Corps consists of two or four squadrons, each with 100 to 150 men. 18 13 Pujun has 36 regiments of regular cavalry, including 4 regiments of guards; Four armored cavalry regiments; Eight dragoons; 12 light cavalry regiments; Eight regiments of lancers, * * *12,800 men. In addition, Pu Jun has 18000 informal light cavalry (Landwehr). I don't have detailed information on the establishment of Russian cavalry at hand. I only know that the Russian army in 18 12 was: 6 regiments of guards cavalry; Eight armored cavalry regiments; 36 regiments of dragoons; 1 1 regiment hussars and 5 regiments of lancers. In addition, there are nearly 30,000 Cossacks.