Rebels and Patriots for the Crimean War

I want to use Rebels and Patriots for some Crimean actions so I have to fit the various troops in the right categories.  I’m keeping in mind comments by Michael Leck one of the co-authors as I do so.  The aim is to provide a recognisable Crimean flavour to the game. 
I hope the following is of interest.

First the Russians, who according to William Russell* the British infantry considered tough soldiers:

The Russian line infantry (4 points) tended to be in large units (+1 points) and were trained to be Aggressive (+1 points) so that’s six points for a unit of 18 figures. However, they were equipped with obsolete muskets and often had little Musketry training so we can consider them Bad shooters (-1 point) which means that our Russian line infantry unit of 18 figures will only cost 5 points.

In terms of firepower our Russian infantry unit will only hit on a 6 but will fight better in melee and because of its size will absorb casualties better and keep coming.   I think that fits with the historical record.  If I wanted to represent one of the better Russian Guards regiments I could upgrade them to Veteran (+2points) bringing the cost up to 7 points a unit.

Sometimes Russian Battalions deployed as Skirmishers (2 points) with instructions to shoot the enemy officers.  They seem to have done this quite well but not well enough to elicit comparisons with the Rifles or Chasseurs from their British or French opponents.  So, no upgrade to Good shooters (+2 points) for them, let alone Sharpshooters (+4 points).  Though there will be a lot of them which might compensate.

A minority of Russian infantry like the Caucasian Rifles were equipped with modern rifles and got plenty of fire practice and could be deployed as Skirmishers (2 points) and be upgraded to Good shooters (+2 points).

The Russian Artillery were good. I’ll mostly be using them as Medium Artillery (6pts).

Cossacks are classic Light cavalry (4 points) dangerous in the right circumstances.

The Russian Cavalry was good but poorly handled in the Crimean War and there were lots of them so basic Shock cavalry (6 points) for them.

The British

The British Army in the Crimean War was a good one with all infantry, save Cathcart’s Division, having modern rifles. On the other-hand the soldiers were often cold, seriously ill and hungry.

It’s tempting to upgrade the Guards to the maximum but, in reality they performed no better than most and once excited Sir Colin Campbell’s ire by running away. That said the entire army was highly professional with an impressive emphasis on disciplined firepower.  Some units, the Cavalry, Highlanders and Irish also had a reputation for aggressive behaviour. So, let’s look at some options.

British Line infantry (4 points) all, save Cathcart’s Division, Good shooters (+2 points) and all Aggressive (+1 point) costs 7 points a unit and is a reasonable reflection of the capabilities of British infantry.  If I field Cathcart's Division the cost of a line infantry unit will be 5 reduced to points and they will still shoot better than their Russian foes.

Highland Shock infantry (6 points) all Good shooters (+2 points) would be in keeping the military attitudes of the time and gives some table top flavour.  Costing 8 points a unit of 12 figures.  This means they will a-historically shoot at a shorter range than their compatriots which we will finesse by recalling that Campbell their commander favoured precisely that tactic.

If we set aside Sir Colin’s view’s we could envisage the British Guards as Line infantry (4 points) all Good shooters (+2 points) and Veteran (+2points) costing 8 points a unit of 12 figures.

The Rifles are naturally enough Skirmishers (2 points) and Good shooters (+2 points) and could be Veteran (+2points) if you want to spend more points. There will only be six of them in the unit for 4 or 6 points so keep them out of trouble.

British Artillery, I’ll be using Medium Artillery (6 points) or I will be once I locate them-they were seconded to the BAL for a Carlist War game and have gone missing .

British Light cavalry (4 points) are Aggressive (+1 point) Costing 5 points a unit of 6 figures. Or, they could be brigade'd into a unit of 12 Aggressive (+1 point) Shock cavalry (6 points) costing 7 points.

British Heavy Cavalry will be Veteran (+2pts) Shock cavalry (6 pts) costing 8 points for a unit of 12 figures.

That's it, I may revise some of ratings following a game or two. 

The toys pictured are all from Lancashire Games and have been especially resurrected from their box and re-based for Rebels and Patriots.

*Russell was the Times 'War Correspondent' on the ground at the Front and in my view a must read for the Crimean War you can pick up his Crimean Book very cheaply.